3931From George Washington to Major General John Sullivan, 25 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
It is with no small concern, I am constrained to inform you, that I am constantly receiving Complaints from the People living contiguous to the Road of great abuses committed by the Division under your Command in their march through the Country. From their accounts, they have experienced the most wanton and insufferable injuries—Fences destroyed without the least apparent necessity, and a...
3932From George Washington to the Pennsylvania Council of Safety, 18 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have taken the Liberty to trouble you with one Jno: Vandyke, who was taken prisoner in Jersey and delivered up to me as a most dangerous and inimical person. I enclose you Colo. Chambers’s Letter who took him. He has made his Escape several times before and will therefore require good looking after. As he is a person of some Consideration, perhaps he may serve to exchange for some Friend of...
3933From George Washington to Abraham Skinner, 4 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
You will be pleased to give directions to the Commy of prisoners at Lancaster to permit Docr Paush Surgeon of Genl Knyphausens Regt and Ensign Hamilton of the 17th British—to go into New York upon parole. The former to return when demanded—the latter to remain in New York three Weeks—They are to go by the way of Easton to Elizabeth town, avoiding the Main Body and other posts of the Army. At...
3934From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel John Taylor or Major Samuel Hayes, 10 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
It is yet a matter of uncertainty whether His Excellency the Count D’Estaing will come to the Northward with intent to operate, or return to the West Indies. Should he determine upon the former and New York should be the object, the possession of Staten Island will be absolutely necessary: to accomplish which, we should be previously well informed of the Strength of the Enemy upon it—what...
3935From George Washington to General William Howe, 14 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
The difficulty of supplying the Troops of General Burgoyn’s Army with Wood and provisions from the Country in the Neighbourhood of Boston, induces me to request, that you will grant passports for Vessels to be employed to bring them from places on the Coast. I cannot ascertain the number of Vessels that may be necessary for this business, or the names of the persons who may be entrusted with...
3936From George Washington to James Clinton, 16 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
In my Letter of the 5th & 10th Inst. I intimated to you the necessity of keeping the Reinforcements lately sent to the Northward as much together as possible, and in such constant readiness for a movement, as that they might be recalled, if necessary, on the shortest warning: I must now inform you that the Operation which has been concerted between His Excellency the Count de Rochambeau, and...
3937From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 23 October 1780 (Washington Papers)
Mrs Moore, Mother of Mrs General Huntington, having obtained Governor Trumbulls permission to return to New York—you will be pleased to direct an Officer with a Flag to escort her to the Enemys lines at Kings Bridge. Major Alden will accompany Mrs Moore. I am Dear Sir Yr most obt Servt LS , in Tench Tilghman’s writing, MHi : Heath Papers. Elizabeth Channing Moore (c.1729–1805) was the wife of...
3938From George Washington to Brigadier General Thomas Conway, 5 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
a Letter which I receivd last Night, containd the following, paragraph. In a Letter from Genl Conway to Genl Gates he says—“Heaven has been determind to save your Country; or a weak General and bad Councellors would have ruind it.” I am Sir Yr Hble Servt. ADf , DLC:GW ; Varick transcript , DLC:GW . The Varick transcript is dated 9 November. However, Conway’s reply to this letter is dated 5...
3939From George Washington to Major General Arthur St. Clair, 2 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
The two Connecticut Brigades march this morning. I think you had best detain all the Men of that line, who are already down, who are cloathed and in other respects fit for duty—The others may be sent up under Officers to do Camp duty. I am &c. Df , in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW ; Varick transcript , DLC:GW . See GW to St. Clair, 1 February .
3940From George Washington to David Forman, 16 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
I am much obliged by the Receipt of your Favor of the 2d instt which I received last Evening—I most sincerely thank you for the Care & Attention with which you keep me informed of the Motions of the Enemy at N. York. There can be no Doubt, but that Sir Hry Clinton will Attempt everything which he may think practicable, for the Relief of Lord Cornwallis—I cannot however imagine, that a...
3941From George Washington to Major General Nathanael Greene, 26 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have, by this conveyance, written to Congress on the defects of the New System for supplyg the Army. I shall thank you for the News and politic’s of the Town. particularly on the Subject of finance (wch I think evy one ought to support) & the prevailing sentiment respecting our Southern Affairs—The currt opinion of sensible men, on the propriety and practicability of affording further...
3942From George Washington to Major General Alexander McDougall, 20 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
Our advices agree that the enemy have their whole force up the river, & by a letter dated last evening from Col. Butler I am informed they had made a debarkation at stoney point. Sir Harry may wish to retaliate for the loss of that post. I am therefore extremely anxious that we should be prepared to receive them, and of course that the arrangements pointed out in Yesterdays orders should be...
3943From George Washington to Major General Israel Putnam, 8 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
Congress having recommended it to me to send an Engineer to Fort Montgomery, I have instantly dispatched Lt Colo. Radier upon that Service. He is the second in command of four Gentlemen sent out by Docr Franklin and Mr Dean. The Congress have transmitted me Copy of a letter from you to them of the 29th Sepr in which you express your doubts of being able to defend the posts upon the North River...
3944From George Washington to Colonel Thaddeus Kosciuszko, 9 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
In consequence of yours of this morning I have ordered the Commy Genl to procure a supply of Rum if possible for the Men upon fatigue. I shall be glad to know whether there has been any special agreement to give the Artificers draughted from the line any thing extraordinary for their Work. If there has, they must be paid in Rum (if that was the agreement) or an equivalint in Money when they do...
3945From George Washington to Anne-César, chevalier de La Luzerne, 8 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
I am exceedingly obliged to Your Excellency for your interesting Communication of the 1st instant. The Martinico Paper has been forwarded to the Count de Rochambeau. As You promise me the Pleasure of your Company the first Leisure Moment You can find I shall defer entering upon a Detail of public Officers until I shall have the Happiness of a personal Conversation. Indeed the Accidents which...
3946From George Washington to William Butler, 12 October 1782 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 19th of August never reached my hands untill yesterday—Colo. Richard Butler’s remaining at Carlisle was owing to the peculiarity of our circumstances, and not to any design of superseding you. It was imagined when he went from Philada, early in the Spring, that a detatchment of the Recruits might soon have been got in readiness to march to the southward under his command,...
3947From George Washington to Comfort Sands, 25 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
You will be pleased to issue provisions for the Subsistence of the Leviees of this State, which will be assembled at Fishkill in a few Days in Consequence of the Orders of Governor Clinton—taking Care that your Issues to them be made under the same Restrictions & Regulations as are established for your Government in the Issues made to the Continental Troops—& particularly observing that no Man...
3948From George Washington to John Hancock, 21 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
I am particularly to acknowledge that Part of your Favour of the 10th Instt wherein you do me the Honour of determining to join the Army under my Command. I need certainly make no Professions of the Pleasure I shall have in seeing you—At the same Time I have to regret that so little is in my Power to offer equal to Col. Hancock[’s] Merits & worthy his Acceptance. I shall be happy in every Oppy...
3949From George Washington to Amelia Leigh Lloyd, 26 November 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to forward the enclosed Letters to you, and am respectfully Your most obedient most hble Servant P.S. I was upon the point of sealing the packet which contained the above when your favour of the 5th inclosing letters for your friends in England was presented to me. I have put the latter undr cover to Major Murray of New York, and have no doubt of their being in his hands in...
3950From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 18 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
Congress having again directed me to propose to the British Commander in Cheif at New York the appointment of Commissioners to settle forthwith a General Cartel for the exchange of prisoners—taking care that the Liquidation of accounts and settlement of the Balance due for the maintanance of prisoners be provided for therein—I have this day communicated their resolution to Sir Guy Carleton and...
3951From George Washington to Brigadier General Charles Scott, 17 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been favd with yours of the 20th & 26th ulto. You will find the several matters contained in the former sufficiently answered in a letter which I wrote to you upon the 27th July. I am pleased to find by your last that you had at length a prospect of getting the remaining Troops equipped, and I hope that the account of the Enemy having left Charles Town will not damp your exertions nor...
3952From George Washington to William Heath, 17 December 1782 (Washington Papers)
It was not until the arrival of the last eastern Mail, that I was favoured with your Letter of the 29th Novembr. Of the Prisoners you mention to have returned from Canada, not more than five have come on to Camp; nor do I know what has become of the remainder of them; I wish (if it can possibly be avoided) they may not be lost to the public. The report of the relief of Gibralter has proved but...
3953From George Washington to the Portsmouth Committee of Safety, 5 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
I am to acknowledge the Receipt of your Favour of the 2d Instt informing me that the Ship Prince George Capt. Emms from Bristol to Boston with Flour for the Enemy by a Mistake of her Captain, & the spirited Conduct of some of the Inhabitants is now in your Possession. I cannot but consider this as a most providential Event, the State of this Army being alone defective in that Article. It would...
3954From George Washington to Major General Arthur St. Clair, 2 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have received Your 2d Letter of this date. As I wrote You this forenoon I leave the Enterprize in view entirely with You—and the execution to be attempted or not as You may judge proper from a full consideration of all circumstances—the intelligence you have received—and the characters of the persons who gave it. If it should appear to You that there is a strong probability of it’s...
3955From George Washington to John Hancock, 15 May 1776 (Washington Papers)
New York, [15] May 1776 . “Since my last of the 11th Instant which I had the honour to address you, nothing of moment or importance has occurred, and the principal design of this, is to communicate to Congress the Intelligence I received last night from General Schuyler by a Letter of the 10th respecting the progress of our Troops in getting towards Canada, not doubting of their impatience and...
3956From George Washington to John Noble Cumming, 19 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your favor of the 13th Inst. At the request of Major Barber and Capt. Anderson I wrote to the Legislature of New Jersey expressing my approbation of the Exchange which was in negociation between those two Gentlemen, but it was upon the following condition, that the consent of all the Officers junior to Capt. Anderson, and who would be affected by the exchange, should be...
3957From George Washington to Major General Arthur St. Clair, 20 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
You will be pleased to examine critically the long hill in front of Fort Putnam, at the extremities of which The Engineer is commencing some works. Colo. Gouvion or Mr Rochefontaine will be able more particularly to designate the Hill I mean. The possession of this Hill appears to me essential to the preservation of the whole post and our main effort ought to be directed to keeping the enemy...
3958From George Washington to Brigadier General James Mitchell Varnum, 8 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I send you the foregoing duplicate of mine of yesterday to prevent any delay or disappointment from miscarriages; as it is of the utmost importance no time should be lost in forwarding the detachment to the place of its destination. The army here marches this morning from hence to the Baptist meeting house in Montgomery Town ship; whither you will direct your course by the shortest rout and...
3959From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 3 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
General Mcdougall forwarded Major Grays letter to you, to me. I have no account from General Scott of any troops having lately gone from New York to the Narrows. The party that went to Jersey were reinforced, and perhaps that might have occasioned the mistake. I do not apprehend any attempt agt this Army, but to be prepared for contingencies, I am to desire, if the Enemy should make a...
3960From George Washington to John Hancock, 10 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the honor of addressing you Yesterday, nothing of importance has occurred. In respect to the Enemy’s movements, I have obtained no other information, than that they have a number of parties patrolling up and down the River, particularly above. As yet they have not attempted to pass, nor do any of their patrols, though some are exceedingly small, meet with the least interruption...