181From George Washington to Major General Nathanael Greene, 15 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
The moment for commencing our operations is so near that no time is to be lost in bringing forward to the North-River, a proper proportion of intrenching tools for an operation against New York with all the tents which can be procured. To you it would be wholly unnecessary to recommend expedition. I am Dr Sir &. P.S. have you intrenching tools in this quarter, or how soon could they be had in...
182From George Washington to Major General Nathanael Greene, 19 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
By dispatches recd the last evening from the Count de Rochambeau I am informed that the French Fleet and Army consisting of eight ships of the Line two Frigates and two Bombs and upwards of five thousand Men have arrived at Newport —This makes them rather inferior to the combined naval force of Arbuthnot, and Greaves; but as a second division of ships and land Forces (a circumstance you will...
183From George Washington to Major General Nathanael Greene, 19 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
In answer to Yours of this Evening—The Whole of the Cloathing & Arms are to be sent to Fish Kill Town in the first instance, unless orders should be given to the contrary, and though it is a matter of great importance and infinitely desireable to save expence by bringing them by a Water transportation part of the way; yet the present state of navigation will not permit it or justify me in...
184From George Washington to Major General Nathanael Greene, 26 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have just received the inclosed plan for conducting the Quarter Master General’s department of the 15th instant, which I transmit for your government. With the greatest esteem I am Sir Your most Obedt servant. Df , in Alexander Hamilton’s writing, DLC:GW ; copy, DNA:PCC , item 11; copy, DNA:PCC , item 39; copy, DNA:PCC , item 152; copy, DNA : RG 93, manuscript file no. 25382; Varick...
185From George Washington to Major General Nathanael Greene, 30 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
You are hereby empowered to impress in the states of Penssylvania and New Jersey, such a number of teams as the exigency of the service requires, for the purpose of transporting provisions and military stores from Easton Sussex &c., for which this shall be your warrant. Given at Robinsons Highlands July 30th 1780 Df , in Alexander Hamilton’s writing, DLC:GW ; Varick transcript , DLC:GW . On 3...
186From George Washington to Major General Nathanael Greene, 3 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
I shall adopt the order you recommend. Tomorrow if we are all ready to ma[r]ch we will begin to cross the River for Dobbs’s ferry. You will therefore discontinue your preparations for the object that brought us here as it has ceased, further than as they may promote the views of the campaign. Endeavour to have every thing in your department ready to day to move the Troops. I am &c. Df , in...
187From George Washington to Major General Nathanael Greene, 15 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
As you are retiring from the Office of Quarter Master General, and have requested my sense of your conduct & Services while you acted in it, I shall give it to you with the greatest chearfulness & pleasure. You conducted the various & important duties of it with capacity & deligence—entirely to my satisfaction—and as far as I had an oppertunity of knowing—with the strictest integrity. When you...
188From George Washington to Major General Nathanael Greene, 24 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
You are appointed to the command of the Light Infantry and four brigades from your own Wing to be employed upon a forage dow⟨n⟩ to Bergen and from thence up to the English neighbourhood. You will make the necessary disposition for your own security and the Waggons employed upon the occasion. Such are the necessities of the Army and such the situation of the Inhabitants being all within the...
189From George Washington to Major General Nathanael Greene, 16 September 1780 (Washington Papers)
Tomorrow I set out for Hartford, on an interview with The French General and Admiral. In my absence the command of the army devolves upon you. I have so intire confidence in your prudence and abilities, that I leave the conduct of it to your discretion, with only one observation, that with our present prospects, it is not our business to seek an action or accept it but on advantageous terms....
190From George Washington to Major General Nathanael Greene, 18 September 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have received New York papers confirm⟨ing⟩ the arrival of Rodney with 10 sail of the line. Major Jammison says 8 and adds that Clinton has ordered the whole flying army to New York and that 70 transpor⟨ts⟩ were ready to receive them —West Point I fou⟨nd⟩ is very weak. I would have you move the army to the vicinity of Tappan ⟨in order to⟩ be nearer all the points that interest us—The garrison...
191From George Washington to Major General Nathanael Greene, 27 September 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have concluded to send Major André of the British Army and Mr Joshua Smith who has had a great hand in carrying on the business between him & Arnold to Camp tomorrow. They will be under an escort of Horse and I wish You to have Separate Houses in Camp ready for their reception, in which they may be kept perfectly secure and also strong Trusty Guards trebly officered & that a part may be...
192From George Washington to Major General Nathanael Greene, 25 September 1780 (Washington Papers)
I request that You will put the Division on the left in motion as soon as possible, with orders to proceed to Kings ferry where or before they will be met by further Orders. The Division will come on light, leaving their heavy baggage to follow. You will also hold All the Troops in readiness to move on the shortest notice. Transactions of a most interesting nature & such as will astonish You...
193From George Washington to Major General Nathanael Greene or Commanding Officer at West Point, 16 October 1780 (Washington Papers)
It is represented to be indispensably necessary in the course of Smiths trial, that Col. Lamb, Col. Livingston, & Mr Kearse the Qr Master should attend the Court Martial as Witnesses—I have to request that you will Notify them, their presence will be necessary on thursday Next, and give them directions to attend accordingly if possible. I am Sir with great esteem Your Most Obedt Hble Servt LS...
194From George Washington to Major General Nathanael Greene, 6 October 1780 (Washington Papers)
There is no disposition that can be made of the Army at this time under our prest uncertainties that may not be subjected to material change (as you will be convinced by recurring to the conversation I held with you on Wednesday last) —It is as I observed to you on that occasion, a matter of great question with me, whether West point will not become the head quarters of the Army when we go...
195From George Washington to Major General Nathanael Greene, 6 October 1780 (Washington Papers)
You will take the command of the two divisions consisting of the Jersey and York Brigades, and Starkes and late Poors Brigades with which you will march by the directest route to West Point—The Troops will go all the way by Land, sending their baggage and Artillery by Water from Kings ferry for the security of which you will take effectual precautions. I wish the Troops to arrive at their...
196From George Washington to Major General Nathanael Greene, 14 October 1780 (Washington Papers)
By a letter received yesterday afternoon from His Excellency, the President of Congress, of the 6th Instt, inclosing the copy of a resolution of the preceeding day, I find it has been their pleasure, to direct me to order a Court of enquiry to be held on the conduct of Major General Gates, as Commander of the Southern Army; And also to direct me to appoint an Officer to command it in his room,...
197From George Washington to Major General Nathanael Greene, 16 October 1780 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with yours of yesterday, accompanied by a letter from His Excellency Governor Clinton, who gives me an account of the incursion upon the Frontiers. I am happy that you detached Gansevoorts Regiment immediately—You will be pleased to order either Weisenfelds or Willets, as you may judge proper, to follow, and to take orders from the Governor or the commanding Officer. This is all the...
198From George Washington to Major General Nathanael Greene, 18 October 1780 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 16th was delivered me an hour since—I am aware, that the command you are entering upon will be attended with peculiar difficulties and embarrassments; but the confidence I have in your abilities, which determined me to choose you for it, assures me you will do every thing the means in your power will permit to surmount them and stop the progress of the evils which have...
199From George Washington to Major General Nathanael Greene, 22 October 1780 (Washington Papers)
Congress having been pleased by their Resolution of the 5th instant, to authorise me to appoint an Officer to the command of the southern Army in the room of Major Genl Gates ’till an enquiry can be had into his conduct as therein directed, I have thought proper to choose you for this purpose. You will therefore proceed without delay to the southern Army, now in North Carolina, and take the...
200From George Washington to Major General Nathanael Greene, 8 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
I am favored with your Letter of the 31st of October, & am pleased to find your appointment so agreeable to the veiws and wishes of Congress. So fully sensible have I long been of the distressed situation not only of the Army in this quarter, but also at the southward, and of all our great departments, from the embarrassed state of our finances , that it has been not only a constant subject of...
201From George Washington to Major General Nathanael Greene, 13 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favors of the 13th & 19th of last month from Mount Vernon and Richmond. I wish your Business had permitted you to have staid longer at the former. It is happy for you, that you went to the Southward prepared to meet difficulties, which I fear will increase as you go forward. I know of nothing which can releive us in respect to Cloathing but the arrival of the quantity long...
202From George Washington to Major General Nathanael Greene, 13 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
It gives me much pleasure to hear, that my letters of introduction were serviceable to you —I am perswaded there is not wanting a disposition in Congress, or the individual States to the Southward to afford you every support the unhappy state of our finance (which seems to be the source from whence flows all our difficulties) will admit; but if any thing in my power can give a spring to their...
203From George Washington to Major General Nathanael Greene, 27 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have nothing to communicate, but that the detachment, which I mentioned in mine of the 13th, on board about twenty transports fell down to the Hook on the 19th and it is supposed went to sea the same day. The numbers in this detachment are variously reported—The Grenadiers and Light Infantry were once under orders, but they were countermanded and other Corps substituted. I have little doubt...
204From George Washington to Major General Nathanael Greene, 2 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
Since my last, I have gained information, thro’ the Channel upon which I most depend, that the embarkation which sailed from New York the 20th of last month, consisted of about sixteen hundred Men, chiefly detachments from the British—German and new Corps. I hear of no intire Corps but the Queens Rangers. Arnold commands. We have various reports, thro’ the New York papers and our own, of an...
205From George Washington to Major General Nathanael Greene, 9-11 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly favored with your Letters of the 7th and 8th of December, together with the Returns of the Army under Your command. It is impossible for any one to sympathize more feelingly with you, in the sufferings and distresses of the Troops than I do: and nothing could aggravate my unhappiness so much as the want of ability to remedy or even alleviate the calamities they suffer, and in...
206From George Washington to Major General Nathanael Greene, 2 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
From the general idea I have been able to acquire of the Country by Maps, as well as from the description you give of it, & its resources, Your Position at the Cheraws, on the East Side of the Pedee seems to have been very judiciously chosen. The Motives for Detaching Brigadier Genl Morgan, And the objects given him in charge, appear also to be supported upon just Military Principles. It will...
207From George Washington to Major General Nathanael Greene, 27 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
Since mine to you of the 2d instant I have duly received your several letters public and private of the 11th 13th 24th and 28th of January. The President of Congress, and Baron De Steuben have just transmitted me copies of your letters to them of subsequent date. I wish I had it in my power to congratulate you on the brilliant and important success of General Morgan, without the alloy, which...
208From George Washington to Nathanael Greene, 21 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I returned the last Evening from Newport to which place I had been upon a visit to the Count de Rochambeau. I have, since my last of the 28th of Feby, received yours of the 9th 15th and 28th of the same month—the last releived me from much anxiety by informing me that you had saved all your Baggage—Artillery and Stores notwithstanding the hot pursuit of the Enemy and that you in turn were...
209From George Washington to Nathanael Greene, 18 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your private letter of the 18th Ulto came safe to hand—although the honors of the field did not fall to your lot, I am convinced you deserved them. The chances of War are various—and the best concerted measures, and the most flattering prospects may, & often do deceive us, especially while we are in the power of Militia. The motives which induced you to seek an Action with Lord Cornwallis are...
210From George Washington to Nathanael Greene, 19 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I duly received your letter of the 17th of March inclosing the copy of one of the 16th to the President of Congress—The motives which induced you to hazard a battle appear to me to have been substantial—I am happy to find by your subsequent letter to Congress, that the retreat of Cornwallis in circumstances of distress corresponded with your expectations. I still however regard your affairs as...