1971From George Washington to Daniel Carroll, 24 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
In obedience to the Resolve of Congress of the 20th Inst. I had taken up my pen to make a representation to Sir Henry Clinton upon the subject of the instructions of the Legislature of New Jersey to their Delegates—But the more I have resolved this matter and considered the unjustifiable conduct of our own people, sometimes acting under the authority of individual States and other times by no...
1972From George Washington to John Hanson, 24 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor to inclose Your Excellency the report of the Commissary General of Prisoners who has just returned from Elizabeth Town—As it contains a refusal on the part of the Enemy to proceed in the exchange of Officers except Lord Cornwallis is included, I must request the further instructions of Congress upon the subject. I have the honor to be with the greatest respect Your...
1973From George Washington to William Heath, 24 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favors of the 12th and 18th Instants—Doctor Cochran is of opinion that the season is favorable for the innoculation of all those who have not had the small pox. The new Contractors have agreed to furnish Stores necessary for the Patients, and the moment things are in readiness, you will be pleased to have the work begun. The Cloathing for the Rhode Island Regiment which...
1974From George Washington to Robert Morris, 24 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
Knowing full well the multiplicity & importance of yr business, it would give me more pain than pleasure if I thought your friendship, or respect for me did, in the smallest degree, interfere with it.—At all times I shall be happy to see you, but wish it to be in your moments of leizure—if any such you have. Mrs Washington, myself and family, will have the honor of dining with you in the way...
1975General Orders, 22 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
Olney’s Regiment will tomorrow take the Guards at present mounted by the Militia in this City and keep them up untill further orders. DLC : Papers of George Washington.
1976From George Washington to William Irvine, 21 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
The secretary at War, to whom your letter of the 3d instant to Congress was referred, reported that—for a variety of reasons which it is not at present necessary to repeat, it was judged inexpedient to remove the principal post from Fort Pitt to Shirtus Creek at this moment, whatever might be done in future, and that you should be instructed "immediately to employ the Garrison in repairing the...
1977From George Washington to Benjamin Lincoln, 21 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favor of the 19th inclosing A copy of the Contract for supplying the Post of West point & its dependencies. The quaeries & observations on it which follow are submitted to you. 1st Do the Contractors mean to supply only the Garrison of West point and the dependant Posts Which May amount to 3000 or 3500 Rations? or will they increase the supply to any number of Men Which...
1978From George Washington to Elias Dayton, 20 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
Altho’ it seems probable that matters will remain tolerably quiet in New York for the remainder of the season; yet it may not be amiss to keep a Channel of intelligence open, that if any thing material should occur we may have the earliest information—You will therefore be pleased to take measures for the purpose. The principal thing to attend to, will be any movement of Troops and their...
1979From George Washington to Abraham Skinner, 20 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed Resolve of Congress has been this moment transmitted to me. You will make the proposal therein directed and report to me as soon as possible whether it will or will not be acceded to. I am &c. see Resolve of this date respecting the Exchange of Govr Burke. P.S. You may throw out a hint that if the Civil Characters are not permitted to be exchanged in the above mode, we shall be...
1980From George Washington to William Irvine, 18 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favor of the 2d instant. I am not at all surprised to hear that you found matters in disorder to the Westward; it is generally the case where a dispute arises respecting command, as the parties make it a point to thwart each other as much as possible, perhaps what is past cannot be amended, as Colo. Brodhead may say, that the delivery of ammunition to the County...
1981From George Washington to Baron de Frey, 17 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
Monsr Charles de Frey obtained the Rank of Captain in the Army of the United States in January 1778—At which time he joined the family of Major Genl the Marquis de la Fayette and continued with him ’till after the Battle of Monmouth in the Month of June following. Capt. de Frey was then appointed to the command of a Company in the Legionary Corps of Brigadier General the Count Pulaski—In...
1982From George Washington to David Forman, 17 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of yesterday reached me at 2 oClock this day. I have little doubt but the Fleet which sailed is bound to Europe, but still I should wish to know, with certainty, their destination. It will probably be public in a few days, and if you can satisfy yourself on the subject, I shall be glad to hear from you. Be pleased to enquire particularly whether any reinforcement for the southward...
1983From George Washington to John Hanson, 17 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your Excellencys favor of the 14th inclosing the requisitions of Congress upon the several States for the deficiencies of their respective quotas of Men. I shall without loss of time call for the returns which are required and transmit them to the Executives of the States. Your Excellency will oblige me by informing me as soon as possible, whether the Resolves have...
1984From George Washington to Plunket Fleeson Glentworth, 17 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
I return you my thanks for this very polite and affectionate address. As I have ever considered a due support of Civil Authority, essential to the preservation of that liberty for which we are contending, I have from duty as well as from inclination endeavoured, so far as possible, to avoid the least violation of it, and I am happy to find that my conduct has met the approbation of those who...
1985From George Washington to Abraham Skinner, 17 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
The unjustifiable treatment and long detention of Jacob Summer the person mentioned in the inclosed representation deserve attention—You will therefore be pleased to make a point with Mr Loring of having him exchanged for some of the Characters out of the military line taken at York. I must again remind you of endeavouring to include the Officers in Canada in your present negociation—By recent...
1986General Orders, 16 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Town Major is desired as soon as Possible to procure and deliver to the Adjutant General a Return of the Officers of the Continental Army now in this City exclusive of those attached to the Corps stationed here, specifying their Names Rank the Corps they belong to, their Quarters and the occasion of their being in Town. DLC : Papers of George Washington.
1987From George Washington to Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 16 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
My last to your Excellency was on the 10th Inst. Since that time nothing material has occurred. It is with pleasure I inform you that Congress shews every disposition to make the most vigorous preparations for the next Campaign—which I sincerely hope may prove, as honorable to the Allied Arms as the past. I have the honor to be with the highest consideration and sincere personal Regard Yr...
1988General Orders, 15 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
By the United States in Congress assembled Resolved That the Resolution passed Yesterday against issuing particular Warrents and respecting the Mode of drawing for Pay and Subsistence be extended to officers of the separate Corps as well as to those in the Lines of the several States. Captain Nicholas White is appointed to do the Duty of Judge Advocate to the General Courtmartial whereof Major...
1989From George Washington to John Dickinson, 15 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
I was in hopes I should not again have had occasion to have troubled your Excellency on the subject of the Hospital at Wilmington: but our distress on the score of money renders it absolutely necessary. The sick are suffering—indeed perishing—for want of Wood and Straw, which have as yet been partially furnished by the exertions of Docr Latimer and the humanity of individuals. As your...
1990From George Washington to Nathanael Greene, 15 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your private letter of the 22d Ulto came to my hands the day before yesterday, and giving fresh assurances of your attachment & regard for me was received with gratitude and Affection. As I feel myself interested in every thing which concerns you it is with unfeigned pleasure I hear the plaudits which are bestowed on your conduct by Men of all descriptions—public & private—and I communicate...
1991From George Washington to Nathanael Greene, 15 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have successively received your favours of the 30th of October, & the 2d and 21st of November. I thank you for your Congratulations on an event which is certainly most important, considered in a public View, and which adds to my personal satisfaction, by finding that it, in some degree, relieves you from that load of difficulty and distress with which you had so long been contending—The...
1992From George Washington to William Heath, 15 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favors of the 3d and 4th Instants—General Lincoln informs me that he has written to you fully on the subject of Cloathing. It having been thought necessary by Congress that an escort should accompany the mail from Fishkill to Morris Town, I do not look upon myself at liberty to judge of the propriety of continuing or discontinuing the measure—The duty must be performed by...
1993From George Washington to John Rutledge, 15 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have particuliar pleasure in putting the inclosed letter under cover to you and adding, that Mrs Rutledge & your family are perfectly well. I shall not attempt to give you the politicks of this place—or say any thing of the disposition of Congress—you will get these thro better Channels—I shall only add that few people can subscribe themselves with more truth. Yr most Obedt & very Hble Servt...
1994General Orders, 14 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
By the United States in Congress Assembled. Resolved That in future no particular Warrants issue infavor of any officers in Actual Service in the Line of any State for Pay or Subsistence but that at all times they draw their Pay and Subsistence with the regiment to which they respectively belong from the Paymaster of such regiment. DLC : Papers of George Washington.
1995From George Washington to James Clinton, 14 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 6th reached me yesterday—I am Sorry that you find the old Hutts of the Jersey Line destroy’d, but as that mode of Cantonment seems to be absolutely necessary not only for safety but for the preservation of Discipline I must leave it with you to fix upon the nearest piece of Ground suitable for the purpose, with only this general direction—that it be as near as possible to...
1996From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 14 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
Upon a supposition that this may reach you upon the North River, I am induced to recommend to your particular attention the collection and preservation of the Boats, if steps have not already been taken for purpose. You will consult with General Heath upon the number that will be wanted for the different services of the Garrison and all the remainder are to be deposited in a proper manner in...
1997From George Washington to Benjamin Walker, 13 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
From the representation which you laid before me yesterday, it appears that the proceedings of the Court are principally impeded for want of the evidence of General Elbert and Colo. Ternant. As to the first, it is more than probable that in ten or twelve days the return of the Messenger will determine whether his evidence can or cannot be obtained, and in the same time Colo. Ternant may...
1998From George Washington to Baron de Frey, 12 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your letter of yesterday’s date. After your application to Congress and their acceptance of your resignation, I do not conceive myself at liberty to recommend you to the Rank of Major by Brevet in the American service, because that would imply a new introduction into the Army. Congress have in their Resolve of the 28th November expressed their sense of your Merits and have...
1999From George Washington to Daniel Morgan, 12 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favor of the 25th of November, and return you my sincere thanks for your kind congratulations upon the late important success of the Allied Arms. I am obliged to you for the trouble you had taken with the prisoners of War, and for the offers which you make of rendering further services in that way: But the Secretary at War, Major Genl Lincoln, into whose department the...
2000From George Washington to Moses Rawlings, 12 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
I received your favor of the 2d inst. by Colo. Thomas. The Secretary at War, Major Genl Lincoln, under whose orders the prisoners of War now more immediately fall, convinced that a strict hand will be necessary over the British in particular, is about removing all those to Lancaster and to this City, where they will be closely confined under Continental Guards. The Foreigners, who are more...