1From John Adams to Joseph Reed, 7 July 1776 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday your Favour of the 4th. Instant was handed me by the Post. Am much obliged to you for it, and will give all the Attention I can to its Contents. Am not certain that I know the Gentleman whom you recommend by the Name of Henshaw—but I believe I do. There are several very worthy Men of that Name: which of them this is, I am not clear. The Difficulty is that We dont know what Vacancies...
2From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Reed: Three Letters, 19 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
(I) LS : New-York Historical Society; copies: Library of Congress, Pendleton Satterthwaite, East Orange, N.J. (1955); (II) LS : New-York Historical Society; (II) and (III) copy: Library of Congress I have just received the Pamphlet you did me the Honour to send me, by Monsr Gerard, and have read it with Pleasure, not only as the clear State of Facts, do you Honour, but as they prove the...
3From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Reed, 1 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and two copies: Library of Congress A Gentleman from Holland, one of the Senators of Ziricsee, M. Van Noemer, being desirous of settling in our State, with his Family, and being well recommended to me, as a Person of Character, for Learning & Virtue, & likely to make a good & useful Citizen, I beg leave to present him to your Excellency, and to request for him those Civilities &...
4From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Reed, 17 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been honoured with your Excellency’s letter proposing the actual extension of our mutual boundary. I presume therefore that the propositions contained in the Resolutions of our Assembly of [July 4, 1780] which I had the honour to communicate to your Excellency have been approved by your State and that the Boundaries are to be run on the principles therein proposed. No mode of...
5From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Reed, 3 June 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The proposition made in your Excellency’s letter of May 14. for deferring the ultimate settlement of our boundary till the 1st. of May 1782. is perfectly agreeable. The observations necessary to fix it with accuracy could not be made in the present season. I also concur in the further proposal to extend Mason and Dixon’s line twenty three miles by an ordinary surveyor and to have it marked in...
6From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Reed, 3 December 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Your acceptable present came duly to hand. Tho I had not the happiness of a personal acquaintance with your excellency, I never needed evidence of the propriety of your conduct on any occasion. A circumstantial development however of Governor Johnstone’s essay cannot but have good effects in satisfying the world at large, that the same pure spirit of patriotism which produced this revolution,...
7From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Reed, 22 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Excellency’s Favor of the 6th Inst. came to Hand Yesterday. The Movements of the Enemy since I did myself the Honor of writing to your Excellency on the Subject of our joint Boundary having rendered it necessary in the Opinion of the General Assembly for them to adjourn to this Place, the Executive have of Course come hither for a Time. This has placed us at a great Distance from Mr....
8From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Reed, 18 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I have had the pleasure to receive your Excellency’s favor of March 27. and am to return you our sincere thanks for your interposition in favor of the operations carrying on by General Clarke, operations which I hope will result equally to the benefit of yours as of our State, and which if successful will give us future quiet in our Western quarter. I beg you to be assured that Colo. Broadhead...
9From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Reed, 18 April 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
I have had the pleasure to receive your Excellency’s favor of March 27 and am to return you our sincere thanks for your inter-position in favor of the operations carrying on by General Clark, operations which I hope will result equally to the benefit of yours as of our State, and which if successful will give us future quiet in our western quarter. I beg you to be assured that Colo. Broadhead...
10[From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Reed, 17 July 1780] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Richmond, 17 July 1780 . From the Minutes of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, Penna. Colonial Records , xii , 444 (7 Aug. 1780): “A letter from his Excellency Governor Jefferson, of Virginia, dated the 17th of July, enclosing a resolution of the Legislature, confirming the line agreed on by the Commissioners in August, 1779, between the two States, on certain conditions, was...
11Thomas Scott to Joseph Reed, 29 November 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
My indisposition of body of which I informed you in a former letter still continues so as to prevent my seeing Philada. altho (other obligations aside) the present circumstances of this county requires it in a more than ordinary way and hath made me conceive it my duty to dispatch the bearer Mr. Andrew Linn express to you, with the following intelligence vizt. In the latter end of July last...
12John Thaxter to Joseph Reed, 19 September 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to acquaint your Excellency, that Mr. Adams has for sometime past been confined to his Bed with a Fever; and tho’ at present upon his Recovery, yet is still too feeble to write. He has therefore directed me to acknowledge the Receipt of your Excellency’s two Letters of 14th. and 21st. July to the Honorable Mr. Searle, who sailed about a month since in the South Carolina,...
13Virginia Delegates to Joseph Reed, 13 July 1781 (Madison Papers)
RC (Historical Society of Pennsylvania). Written by JM, except for the other delegates’ signatures. Docketed, “1781 July 13th. from Honble Delegates of Virginia.” The Underwritten Delegates from the State of Virginia have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency’s letters of the 10th. & 12th instant, and to express their entire satisfaction at the readiness shewn by the Supreme...
14From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 19 October 1780 (Washington Papers)
With respect to prisoners of War mentioned in yr Excellency’s Letter of the 3d Instt—I beg leave to observe that it has been my wish from the beginning of the contest to the present day, that no distinction should exist with respect to them—that the whole should be considered on one general & liberal scale as belonging to the States, and not to this or that State—be exchanged according to...
15From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 23 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor of transmitting the Committee of arrangement the inclosed from Colonel Cadwallader. It is in answer to my letter at the white-plains, which accompanied one of the committee’s on the same subject. I could wish the committee to consider, if there is any method, yet remaining, by which his scruples might be removed, and the affair settled in a conclusive and satisfactory manner....
16From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Reed, 10 February 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your obliging favours of the 28th Ulto & 1st Instt are now before me, & claim my particular thanks for the polite attention you pay to my wishes, in an early, & regular Communication of what is passing in your Quarter. If my dear Sir, you conceive that I took any thing wrong, or amiss, that was conveyed in any of your former Letters you are really mistaken—I only meant to convince you, that...
17From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 9 February 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor of your Excellency’s favr of the 5th instant inclosing sundry Resolves of the Executive Council respecting the Conduct of Major General Arnold during his command in the City of Philada: previous to the Rect of your letter, General Arnold, who had arrived at Head Quarters the day before, had shewn me a letter from the Council to him accompanied by a Copy of the same Resolves,...
18From George Washington to James Potter, 21 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I returned yesterday to this Place from Rhode Island, and now take the earliest opportunity to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of the 19th Ulto which was put into my hands on my arrival. I am extremely obliged to you, Gentlemen, for this communication of the Proceedings with respect to the late unhappy affair, which has taken place in the Pennsylvania Line—Sensible that the circumstances...
19From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Reed, 15 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 13th was this Instt put into my hands—scarce time enough to acknowledge, the receipt of it (by this Post) and to thank you for your great care and attention in providing my Camp Equipage—whatever the list you sent, may fall short of your Intention of Providing, can be got here; and may be delayed; as the want, or not of them, will depend upon Circumstances. I am exceedingly...
20From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 23 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
I had last night the honor to receive Your Excellency’s letter of the 16th with the papers you have been pleased to refer to me. There is certainly a good deal of weight in the observations and objections which Colo. Hazen has made, and it were very much to be wished, that the supplies of Cloathing and necessaries in every instance were perfectly equal to the officers & men respectively,...
21From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 28 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your Excellencys Letter of the 18th inst. and observed with much Pleasure the Train into which the recruitg the proposed Rifle Corps is thrown—& hope they will soon be obtained. As this Body of men will be exceedingly essential to our Designs, & may be very usefully employed in Detatchments, I have to beg of your Excellency that you will be pleaced to give Orders, that...
22From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 15 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
The appeal contained in your letter of the 11th instant, is equally unexpected & surprising. Not knowing the particular changes which are alledged against you, it is impossible for me to make a specific reply. I can therefore only say in general terms, that the Employments you sustained in the year 1776—and in that period of the year, when we experienced our greater distress, are a proof that...
23From George Washington to Colonel Joseph Reed?, 27 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I was this morning favoured with yours & thank you much for your kind congratulations & wishes. I regret much the Accident that prevented the passage of our Troops. had it not been for that cause and the Several attacks intended, had been made, I am persuaded our Plans would have succeedd to our warmest wishes. I have several Letters to write & therefore must refer you to Colo. Cadwalader who...
24From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Reed, 30 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
After you left this yesterday Mr Tudor presented me with the Inclosed—as there may be some observations worthy of notice I forward it to you, that it may be presented to the Congress; but I would have his remarks upon the frequency of General Courts Martial consider’d with some degree of caution, for although the nature of his Office affords him the best oppertunity of discovering the...
25From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 15 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to thank you most sincerely for your Congratulations conveyed in your Favor of the 27th ulto. That our Success against the Enemy in the State of Virginia, has been so happily effected, & with so little Loss— and that it promises such favorable consequences (if properly improved) to the Welfare & Independence of the United States— is Matter of very pleasing Reflections. I beg...
26From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Reed, 25 March 1776 (Washington Papers)
Since my last, things remain nearly in Statu-quo—the Enemy have the best nack at puzling People I ever met with in my life. They have blown up—burst—and demolished the Castle, totally; and are now all in Nantasket Road—have been there ever since Wednesday; what doing the Lord knows—various are the conjectures; the Bostonians think there stay there absolutely necessary to fit them for Sea, as...
27From George Washington to Colonel Joseph Reed, 12 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
Yours of the eleventh is Come to hand if the account the prisoners give be true it is a very agreeable & important one. the order you Sent to Colonel Winds has interferd with a plan, Concerted by Generals Sullivan & Maxwell, whenever you have occasion to order a Movement of any part of the Army, it will be best to apply to the Commanding Officer, Lest it may, [(]as it has in the present...
28From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 15 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
I am much indebted to your Excellency for announcing my election as a member of the Philosophical Society. I feel myself particularly honored by this relation to a society whose successful efforts for promoting useful knowledge have already justly acquired them the highest reputation in the literary world. I entreat you to pres[en]t my warmest acknowledgments, and to assure them that I shall...
29George Washington to Joseph Reed or Colonel Cornelius Cox, 7 April 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] April 7, 1777. Orders release of “Mr. Smith” who had been acting as a spy for the Americans and was mistakenly arrested by Major General Benjamin Lincoln. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Joseph Reed had resigned as adjutant general and was residing in Philadelphia as a private citizen.
30From George Washington to Joseph Reed or Colonel John Cox, 7 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am informed, there is a certain Mr Smith, who has been lately taken up by General Lincoln as a spy & sent to Philadelphia under that character. I believe for several reasons that he is the man who was imployed by you to act for Us, in that capacity, and that the apprehending him is a mistake, which may be attended with ill-consequences. Lest he should be precipitately tried and punished, I...
31From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Reed, 19 March 1776 (Washington Papers)
We have, at length, got the Ministerial Troops in this Quarter on Ship board. Our possessing Dorchester Heights, as mentioned in my last, put them (after they had given over the design of attacking us) into a most violent hurry to Imbark, which was still further precipitated on Sunday Morning by our breaking Ground on Nukes hill (the point nearest the Town) the night before. The whole Fleet is...
32From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 5 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your favr of the 29th March reached me a day or two ago—I cannot conceive from whence can arise the antipathy of Colo. Proctor and His Officers to the Uniform adopted by all the other Regiments of Artillery. In every service, it is customary to distinguish Corps by particular Uniforms, and as Black and Red has been pitched upon for that of the American Continental Artille[r]y, it is...
33From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 16 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Board of War having informed me, that the city-light horse were held in readiness to march to the army, whenever I should signify the necessity of their services —I am to inform your Excellency, that in the present posture of things, they would be of very great utility, and therefore I should be glad, they might march as speedily as convenient. If they ⟨come⟩ I hope they will be able to...
34From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 9 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
Doctor Hodges will have the Honor of presenting this to Your Excellency. The Inclosed, a Copy of a Letter from Governor Trumbull, will inform you of the business he is upon. It is important & interesting and I am persuaded the Doctor will meet with every assistence that you can give him in the prosecution of it. I have the Honor &c. Df , in Robert Hanson Harrison’s writing, DLC:GW ; Varick...
35From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 16 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with your Excellency’s Favor of the 7th. I am exceedingly happy to find that the mode of procuring the specific Supplies demanded of the state is now upon such a footing that we may hope for a full & regular Compliance in future: and I doubt not but if the other States will follow the Example, and appropriate a proportion of their Revenue to the Disposal of the Superintendant of...
36From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Reed, 30 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
Two days ago I wrote fully to you by Captn Blewer—to this Letter I refer—since which your favr of the 20th with the agreeable Post[s]cript of the 21st, is come to hand, and demands my acknowledgements for the Civility intended Mrs Washington, by you &ca. I have a very singular pleasure in informing of you, that by Express last Night from Cape Ann, I received the glad tidings of the Capture of...
37From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Reed, 23 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have been favourd with several of your Letters since I came to this place, some of them indeed after getting pretty well advanced on the Road towards Boston—My extreame hurry, with one kind of business and engagement or another, leaves me little more than time to express my concern for your Indisposition, and the interposition of other obstacles to prevent me from receiving that aid from you...
38From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 27 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
In a line of yesterday, as I did not think it proper to detain the express & delay the notice then given till I could prepare a more explicit answer, I only briefly acknowledged the receipt of your two letters in Council of the 24th and 25th inst, to which I should have added that of the 26th —I am now to enter into a particular consideration of their contents, and to offer such explanation as...
39From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 29 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have a pleasure in acknowledging the receipt of your obliging favor of the 15th Instt, and in finding by it, that the author of the queries “Political & Military” has had no great cause to exult in the favourable reception of them by the public. Without a clue, I should have been at no loss to trace the Malevolent writer; but I have seen a history of the transaction, and felt a pleasure...
40From George Washington to Colonel Joseph Reed, 23 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
The bearer is sent down to know whether your plan was attempted last Night—and if not, to inform you that Christmas day at Night, one hour before day is the time fixed upon for our Attempt on Trenton. For heaven’s sake keep this to yourself, as the discovery of it may prove fatal to us, our numbers, sorry I am to say, being less than I had any conception of—but necessity, dire necessity...
41George Washington to Joseph Reed, 16 June 1780 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Springfield, New Jersey ] June 16, 1780 . Asks Reed to send on the “city light horse.” Df , in writings of Richard Kidder Meade and H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress; LS , in the handwriting of H, Park Collection, Morristown National Historical Park, Morristown, New Jersey.
42From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Reed, 23 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
Real necessity, compells me to ask you whether I may entertain any hopes of your returning to my Family? if you can make it convenient, and will hint the matter to Colo. Harrison, I dare venture to say that Congress will make it agreeable to you in every shape they can—My business Increases very fast, and my distresses for want of you, along with it—Mr Harrison is the only Gentleman of my...
43George Washington to Joseph Reed, 8 May 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
Middlebrook [ New Jersey ] May 8, 1779 . Discusses plans for Major General Benedict Arnold’s trial. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
44From 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,...
45From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 26 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
I was last evening favd with yours of the 22d and the day before with that of the 21st. I should have concurred with your Excellency in the propriety of keeping the Militia embodied for the reasons and under the circumstances you mention, had I not last night received dispatches from Count Rochambeau, from which I think it more than probable that the 2d division will not arrive before the...
46From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 25 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have received Your Favor of the 15th and am exceedingly sorry to find that your indisposition continued so long. I hope it is now entirely over—and that the change of season will prevent a return of it. As there is nothing that is more interesting to us, than œconomy in our public expenditures—both in money and provisions—I am happy that nothing more was done, with respect to your Militia,...
47George Washington to Joseph Reed and the Pennsylvania Council, 26 April 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
Middlebrook [ New Jersey ] April 26, 1779 . Announces postponement of Major General Benedict Arnold’s trial. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Reed was president of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania.
48From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 20 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 15th is just come to hand —I cannot suffer myself to delay a moment in pronouncing if Arnold by the words (in his letter to his wife) “I am treated with the greatest politeness by General Washington and the Officers of the Army who bitterly execrate Mr Reed and the Council for their villainous attempt to injure me” meant to comprehend me in the latter part of the expression...
49George Washington to Joseph Reed and the Pennsylvania Council, 14 June 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
Smiths Clove [ New York ] June 14, 1779 . Encloses return of Pennsylvania battalions. States that Major General Benedict Arnold’s trial has been postponed. Sends news of enemy movements. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
50From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Reed, 26 February–9 March 1776 (Washington Papers)
A Line or two from you by Colo. Bull, which came to hand last Evening, is the only Letter I have receivd from you since the 21st of Jany —this added to my getting none from any other Corrispondant to the Southward, leads me to apprehend some miscarriage. I am to observe thô that the Saturday’s Post is not yet arrived—by that I may, possibly, get Letters. We have, under as many difficulties...