2011From George Washington to Major General Israel Putnam, 22 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
Upon taking a retrospective View of the Enemy’s Conduct, & comparing one piece of Information with another, I am led to think that Philadelphia must be their Object, & that whenever they move, it will be toward the Delaware with their main body—This belief, the necessity of a proper Attention to the River, & the Advantages which may result from havg some Person on the other side with a few...
2012From George Washington to Major General Israel Putnam, 22 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
Govr Livingston in his Letter to me of the 15th Inst: did me the honor of inclosing Copies of your Letter to him & his Answer, on the subject of imposing fines on the reluctant Militia of this State—His reasoning on this subject, perfectly coincides with my Opinion; they are so full & plain as to render any Obervations of mine unnecessary. I desire therefore that this practice may have an...
2013From George Washington to Thomas Wharton, Jr., 22 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have recd a Letter from Monsr Rouville, in behalf of himself and other French Officers taken at St Johns, desiring that they may be sent to New York for Exchange. As the Rank of these Gentlemen is acknowledged by Genl Howe, they will procure the release of as many of our Officers of equal Rank, as are in the hands of the Enemy. I therefore desire, you will be pleased to order them all to be...
2014General Orders, 23 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
2015From George Washington to the Board of War, 23 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have been honoured with your Letter of the 6th Instt, and beg leave to assure you, that I shall not only be always ready to rectify any Error which I may commit through hurry or Otherwise, but be happy to have them pointed out. I have not the proceedings of Congress at this time, which would apply to the subject matter of your Letter, and therefore, cannot pronounce upon it with certainty...
2016From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 23 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have inclosed the Warrant for executing the Deserter—The blanks you will fill up, and direct the Ceremony as You please. Will it not be adviseable to arrange & equip the Troops under Innoculation in Philada? That, on an Emergency, they may be of some service. Another skirmish happened Yesterday between Genl Maxwell & about 2000 from Amboy, they came to forage—The Genl writes me that he has...
2017From George Washington to John Hancock, 23 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
Congress having resolved that Several Regiments of Cavalry should be raised to form a part of their Army, I beg leave, through you Sir, to lay before ’em, the inclosed List of Officers which appear necessary to be appointed to each Corps, and which they will be pleased to establish. At the same time I should suppose it highly expedient to fix their pay and that of the privates. There is now...
2018From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 23 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Letters of the 13th and 18th Instt are both to hand—the last in date arrived first, the first this Morning only—I am sorry, upon the footing you have put it, and under the apprehensions you seem to be, that I did not accept your Commission as Adjt Genl when you offered it, tho your fears cannot be realizd, because at that time it was mentiond in Genl Orders, that you having resign’d,...
2019From George Washington to Major General Philip Schuyler, 23 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
On the 21st instant, I received the Favor of your Letter of the 15th. Colo. Pelliser’s Plan, I presume You have received, as It was transmitted a Day or two after my Letter of the 9th. Your Wishes respecting Brigr James Clinton will be gratified, I beleive. He will remain at the Post where he now is, at least for some Time. The Intelligence communicated by the Express who delivered my Letter...
2020From George Washington to Francis Wade, 23 February 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Francis Wade, 23 February 1777. On 4 March 1777 Wade wrote to a committee of Congress that "the Genl [GW] in his answer to me on that head the 23d of last month, says I must not by any means leave this post, & if I want men to Call on Genl Putnam, & he will strengthen me, and farther that I must not give an advanced price for sake of a little Credit" ( DNA:PCC , item 78).
2021From George Washington to John Warren, 23 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have yours of the 10th Instant. Your continuing to act in the Hospital, upon the uncertainty of being provided for under the new Arrangement, is very commendable, but I can assure you it was ever my Intention to take particular Care that those who had filled their old Stations with reputation, should not be degraded in the new appointments. The plan for the establishment of the General...
2022General Orders, 24 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
The troops of Genl St Clair’s Brigade are, as soon as the weather will permit, to be drawn together and quartered as near this town, as possible: All the Recruits of Col. Ogden’s Regiment, now quartered at Troy, and elsewhere, to be immediately called together, armed and accoutred; they are to join Genl St Clair’s Brigade, and to be quartered with them. The strictest Attention must be paid by...
2023From George Washington to Patrick Henry, 24 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
Mr Walker has, I doubt not, informed you of the situation in which I have placed him, in Order that he may obtain the best information; and, at the same time, have his real design hid from the World; thereby avoiding the evils which might otherwise result from such Appointments, if adopted by other States. It will naturally occur to you, Sir, that there are some Secrets, on the keeping of...
2024From George Washington to John Augustine Washington, 24 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the 24th Ulto from Mount Vernon came duly to hand, and I thank you for the visit to Mrs Washington—I do not recollect the date of my last to you, but nothing of any great Importance has occur’d of late—I believe there soon will, as Genl Howe has withdrawn great part of the Troops from Rhode Island in order to strengthen those in this State for I should think, (considering the...
2025From George Washington to Brig. Gen. David Wooster, 24 February 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Brig. Gen. David Wooster, 24 Feb. 1777. Wooster’s letter to GW of 21 Feb. 1777 is docketed in part “ansd 24th,” and on 2 Mar. Wooster writes to GW that “your Excellency’s favor of the 24th Ult. came to hand yesterday.”
2026General Orders, 25 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
2027From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 25 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was last night favoured with your Letter of the 24th Instt. I concur in your Lordships proposition so far as it goes for incorporating the three Companies of Virginia Volunteers and forming them into a Batallion; But tho I have a high opinion of the conduct, merit & bravery of Captn Thruston, in whose behalf you have interested yourself, and would wish to do him any Favor, I cannot appoint...
2028General Orders, 26 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
2029General Orders, 27 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
The officers are desired to make Returns of any Rope-Makers, they may have in their respective Corps. The execution of Serjt Porterfield is suspended by the General’s Orders, ’till Friday the 14th of March. Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
2030From George Washington to the Continental Congress Executive Committee, 27 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am honoured with yours of the 20th 21st and 22d Insts. The French Gentlemen having been demanded by General Howe as Officers belonging to the British Army, I gave directions to the Council of Safety of pennsylvania, on the 22d Inst. to send them to Easton, from whence, they might go to Brunswic or Amboy. It will probably be some Months before they reach Canada, for if we deny them the...
2031General Orders, 28 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
2032From George Washington to James Bowdoin, 28 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I yesterday recd a letter from Lieut. Colo. Campbell of the 71st Regt dated Concord Goal 4th of this Month. The Colo., in this letter, gives me such an account of the severity of his Confinement, as is scarce ever inflicted upon the most atrocious Criminals. The following Extract of his letter shews the Reasons that were given to him upon his Confinement. “The first of this Month, I was...
2033From George Washington to John Hancock, 28 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
No military Operation of any consequence has occurred since I had the honor of writing to you last, except, that on Sunday, I recd information that the Enemy were advancing in a manner, and in numbers so much greater than usual, that it look’d like a prelude to an Attack upon our posts, which were immediately put in the best preparation to receive them. It turned out to be only a stronger...
2034From George Washington to Major General Israel Putnam, 28 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your several favours of the 25th & 26th Inst. came to hand —The pass granted by Ld & Genl Howe to William Taylor dated the 18 Int. is of such a nature as not to afford any protection to the Vessell & Crew even on the most scrupulous Construction of the Law of Nations; and she came in so suspicious a manner, without a Flag flying, as would have justified severer treatment than mere...
2035General Orders, Appointing Alexander Hamilton Aide-de-Camp to General Washington, 1 March 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Alexander Hamilton Esquire is appointed Aide-De-Camp to the Commander in Chief; and is to be respected and obeyed as such. Facsimile, Hamilton, Intimate Life Allan McLane Hamilton, The Intimate Life of Alexander Hamilton (New York, 1910). , 37. H’s copy of the General Orders has not been found. Washington’s General Orders of March 1, 1777, are printed in GW John C. Fitzpatrick, ed., The...
2036George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell, 1 March 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] March 1, 1777. Seeks to mitigate severity of Campbell’s imprisonment. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Campbell, a member of the 71st Regiment of the British army, was a prisoner in Concord, Massachusetts.
2037George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 1 March 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] March 1, 1777. Orders investigation of fraudulent recruiting returns. Requests inoculation of two Virginia regiments. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
2038General Orders, 1 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
Alexander Hamilton Esqr: is appointed Aide-De-Camp to the Commander in Chief, and is to be respected and obeyed as such. Isaac Budd Dunn Esqr: will do the duty of Adjutant General, Pro Tempore, and to be attended to accordingly. Varick transcript , DLC:GW . Although the circumstances concerning Hamilton’s appointment as an aide-de-camp to GW are unknown, GW may have requested him to join his...
2039From George Washington to Colonel George Baylor, 1 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your several favours of the 31st Jany & 7th Febry are now before me. I am happy in being informed that the Govr of Virga has consented that their Muskett-factory shall equip yr Regimt with Carbines & Pistols. I have no doubt of your keeping the Workmen closely to their duty; nor of your using your best Endeavours to purchase proper horses. As I am not acquaintd with all the Gentlemen mentioned...
2040From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell, 1 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I last night received the favor of your letter of the 4th instant, and am much obliged by the opinion you are pleased to entertain of me. I am not invested with the powers you suppose; & it is an incompatible with my authority as my inclination to contravene any determinations Congress may make. But as it does not appear to me that your present treatment is required by any resolution of...