51To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 16 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
There were three Ladies Captured by Barry but he informs no one of the Name of Mitchell they were sent off from New Castle Yesterday with some others having by a Flag obtained permission to send them up by Water in one of our Vessells. We have had the Mouth of the Christiana for some Days blocked up by the Nautilus & some Gallies which has obliged Barrys little Fleet to lye snug here—this...
52To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 18 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
The above is an Extract of the last Letter I have received from Colo. Richardson on the Subject of his Rank & Resignation, which you will observe fixes the latter on the 22d October 1779—and relinquishes Pay and Subsistence from the first of March last—but in a Letter antecedent to this (dated the first of July) on the above Subjects, he intimates, that he should wish to relinquish his Pay and...
53To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 8 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have inclosed you the proceedings, and Sentence of a Court Martial on the tryal of Capt. Norwood, it gives me much pain to trouble you with such business, when I am sensible your engagements are pressing, and your time taken up with bussiness of much more Importance, but from pure Motives of Public good, I find myself constrained to trespass on you thus far, to prevent in future the Service...
54To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 31 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Evening of the 29th I was favored with yours of the 28th Inst., Mr Richmond copying my Ltr omitted the Date, & my being much hurried prevented my adverting to the Omission. You must have been misinformed respecting the Quantity of Hay remaining between Chester & this Place; pursuant to your Original Orders directing my taking post here &c., I have drawn chief of our Supplies of Forage &...
55To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 5 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
By this Opertunity, I transmit the Inclosed Letters, & Mr Franklins Accts of Provision, Cloathing & Cash, furnish’d our Prisoners by him, to be Address’d to Mr Boudinot, which were handed me to day by Lieut. Croxall who has obtain’d his Parole for a Fortnight —to day there was two men of War, Eight Transport Ships, & two Schooners with some Troops on board pass’d by here, & it is said there...
56To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 27 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
On Wednesday Evening the Enemy in a Sloop of war, one Galley, and about 40 Boats fell down the Delaware, and Anchor’d off this Place at Dusk: The Boats were full of Troops & upwards of 30 said to be flat Bottomed from the best intelligence I received, cou’d not distinguish from this Place, as they came down under cover of this shore, and at Dusk made over to the Jersey Shore, & came to an...
57To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 18 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
I think an enterprize against the Enemy in their present Situation in Philadelphia, would be impolitic, and avail nothing, as they either have it in view to evacuate the City upon an Attack, or throw in a reinforcement, both which would be practicable and in the attempt much might be risk’d, which if crowned with Success, would not afford any material Advantage. From a Comprehensive view of...
58To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 13 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
I was favor’d with yours of Yesterdays Date, & your Orders shall be strictly complied with respecting the choice of Officers and Men who may be best qualified to execute the Service you have in view. I have no Baggage or Stores here but such as cou’d readily move in the Regimental Waggons at half an hours warning with the Troops—but if you view our Detention here necessary, ’till the Stores...
59To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 15 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
It is four Days since I wrote concerning the Situa[tio]n of the Troops under my Command, & am afraid the Express has fallen into the Enemys hands; ever since I have been detained in this Neighbourhood for want of Cartridge[s], wch I wrote to you for, and also sometime before that Period sent two Expresses to Governor Johnson to that Effect; I have collected some Public Powder, and am...
60To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 27 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
A Fleet of 59 Ships, inclusive of a Frigate of 28, & a Sloop of 16 Guns came down the River Yesterday, & Anchor’d of[f] the Mouth of Christiana Creek in the Evening, & from the Number of Boats attending them, & stopping short of the Admirals Ship, when both Wind & Tide favored, I was induced to think the Enemy had in View an Attack on this Post last Night, but the Weather proved too...
61To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 10 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I received your Favors of the 7th Inst., & am peculiarly embarrassed, by a Proposition, which I am induced to think you did not mean to extend to an absolute order, as in that Instance you wou’d have been more pointed & precise, & must beg your excuse for not complying wth it, till the following Considerations were submitted, & your further Direction taken. I am persu[a]ded it wou’d be the...
62To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 15 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
On my arrival here I found Genl Sullivan at the Head of his Division, and that he had just inform’d you of the Situation of the Troops under his Command & communicated such Intelligence respecting the Enemy as he had received, together with his Opinion of their Intention to Land in New Hampshire, which I judged rendered it unnecessary for me to write as you required—however I cannot coincide...
63To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 4 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
It will be unnecessary to point out the sufferings of the Continental Troops, from their various hard Duty, & distresses for want of Cloathing, particularly in the Articles of Blankets, Shoes, Stokings, the most essential part to enable them to encounter the severity of a Winter Campaign, and the improbability of procuring those necessary Supplies, without which our prospect of success in an...
64To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 25 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have not yet been joined by one Militia Man, I inclose you Genl Pattersons Ltr, which is not very promising of any considerable Aid from them, tho he is now endeavoring to draw them out. Our Fortifications go on slower than I cou’d wish, as I am not able to procure more Tools than for 150 Men to work wth at once, but every Effort shall be exerted to render the Place tenable. The Eagle & 25...
65To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 22 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
Our March being retarded on the 19th Inst. by the Commissarys not furnishing Provision till the Eveng, prevented our seting off, ’till 4 Oclock in the Morning of the 20th, & after a fatiguing & rapid March, arrived here at 9 Oclock in the Morning of the 21st, with all the Troops Artillery and Ordnance Stores &c. safe; we have compleated one Battery mounting two Guns at the Bridge; and are now...
66To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 21 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I received your Favor of the 16th Inst. by Capt. Lee, who came here on the Evening of the 17th; I dispatch’d him very early the next Morning, with four very active officers, well acquainted with the Country, and best adapted to aid him in the Execution of the design , I also wrote to the President, General Rodney, The Purchasing Commissary, & Capt. McLane, all now at Dover, requesting that...
67To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 17 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have inclosed you the Proceedings and sentence of a Court Martial against one Jetson a person who for some time past has been not less dreaded, than fam’d for his Infamous Practices of Piloting the Enemy in the Night and Aiding them in kid-napping the more virtuous Inhabitants, particularly those who have Manifested an Attachment to, & have been active in Support of the Common Cause, and...
68To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 22 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Officer detach’d to Annapolis has just return’d with dispatches from Governor Johnson which I now forward ⅌ Express & it is with pleasure I am led to acquaint you that I think the full Complement of your requisition will shortly rendevous at the head of Elk. Three Hundred recruits have ariv’d here within this three days and near as many more expected daily—Colo. Pope has swept Bomba Hook &...
69To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 1 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Distresses of the Army, the Inclemency of the weather, & the approaching Season, combine to point out the Expediency of fixing on Winter Quarters; and in doing this, all local Attatchment ought to be sacrificed to the Public Good, to reduce the Enemy, & free ourselves, I wou’d chearfully resign myself to a Den the ensuing & many other Seasons if found necessary—Three Positions have been...
70To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 30 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
When I waited on you the other Evening, before your departure to Philadelphia, I found you too much engaged to impart my Sentiments on two Subjects, which I have ever had in view to mention at the close of the Campaign—There are Circumstances in my present Situation, which have long wounded my Feelings, & have become so injurious, that they must I fear force me (tho’ with Reluctance) to quit...