31To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 18 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Bearer of this Mr Lavaud Came to Me with a Recommendation from Viscount de Choiseuïl in the West Indias, and an other from Major General Lincoln who By this time Must Be with the Army—He wishes to Serve as A Volonteer, But I told Him that my family was full, and could not Be increased with french aids de Camp—that my detachement was Small, and Had No Room for Volonteers—He then asked me a...
32To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 16 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
You have desired, My dear General, I would put in writing a Summary of the ideas which I Gave as My opinion in our Conversation of last Night—This I am the More inclin’d to do, that, tho’ I feel for Your delicacy on the occasion, I would think it very wrong not to go the same length with the french forces as you would do with those of the United States. The idea of Starving Newyork has been By...
33To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 6 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Embarkation Which I thought and I do Still think to Have Been destined to Newyork Was Reported to Have Sailed up the Bay, and to Be Bound to Baltimore—in Consequence of which I write to Your Excellency, and as I Had not Indulged Myself too Near portsmouth I was able to Cut Across towards Frederiksburg—But instead of Continuing His Voyage up the Bay My Lord Entered York River and Landed at...
34To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 26 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I had this Morning the honor of writing to You By general heath’s express and inform’d you that we had from every official and private quarter minuted accounts of the ennemy’s Coming in Great force to attak this island—for my part, I have been long time a disbeliever of the intelligence—But So many letters Came to hand that at lenght I was forc’d to take the General opinion about theyr...
35To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 23 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
Since writing the inclosed, My fears Are Gone a way And the 64 Has Vanished into the frigat the iris—the importance of the thing, and perhaps the Mistrust of My first judgement in Occasions upon which I am personally sanguine Had Been the Reasons of My Being so particular—they will Still influence the precaution I take of Sending You the Man, But He is Such a fool or Such a knave that His...
36To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 30 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
You Have So often Been pleased to Ask I Would Give My opinion upon Any subject that May occur, that I will this day take the Liberty to Mention a few Articles. I am far from Laughing at the idea of the Ennemy’s Making a Retreat—it is not very probable—But it is not impossible. Indeed they Have no other way to escape—and Since We Cannot get ships above York I would be still more Afraid of a...
37To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 11 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
From Doctor B⟨illegible⟩ I have Receiv’d intelligence that there has been a very hott press in New york, and that Admiral Rodney is Going to Sail—If we Believe the Report, the Mayor himself was with the press gang; And the Cartmen were taken in the Streets which shows that they are in hurry to Set out —I am taking the Best Measures I can to hear from the islands, But Nothing May be so Certain...
38To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 30 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 13th is just Come to Hand. The Moment a perfect Intelligence Can Be Got, Major Mcpherson will be Dispatched— But Some Expressions in Your last favor will, if possible, Augment My Vigilance in keeping You well Apprised of the Ennemy’s Movements. There are in Hampton Road Thirty Transport Ships full of troops—Most of them Red Coats— There are eight or ten Brigs which Have...
39To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 25 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
My Letter of the 23d to Your Excellency will, I Hope, Be Safely transmitted, and the Bearer of it Mjr McLeane Assured me that in case He was obliged to loose the Dispatch Boats, He Could find Means to Get a Shore and forward the Dispatches By Land. In this Letter I Gave to Your Excellency an Account of what Had past Since I Left Annapolis, and Communicated the Intelligence of a British fleet...
40To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 24 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
You will be surpris’d to hear that I am yet in this city, and that I Could never get out till this time—My own business were immediately done, and I Receiv’d from Congress all possible Marks of kindness and affection—but public affairs do’nt go quite so fast, and I am detain’d for the expedition of projects, instructions, and Many papers which I am to Carry with me—the zeal for the Common...
41To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 25–26 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had expected for answering to your first letter that Some thing interesting would have happened that I might Communicate to your Excellency—every day was going to terminate our uncertainties—nay, every day was going to bring the hope of a succés which I did promise myself to acquaint you off—such was the Reason of my differing what my duty and inclination did urge me to do much sooner—I am...
42To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 7 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
As You will Receive a letter from General St Clair Who had been desir’d By Congress to Go with me to the pensilvania line, I have Nothing to Add But that I am here with him, and that I Impatiently Wait for Your Arrival which has been Announc’d By Mjor fishBurne on his Going through this place. This Affair is the More Serious As the Men have Appointed A Committee Compos’d of theyr Ring leaders...
43To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 14 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
You very well know that for Many and Many Reasons Both on account of the Country and on that of the french, I think it very important, Nay I might Say politically Necessary that Some thing Brillant Be at this time perform’d By our troops—to those Motives Which are very strongly impress’d on My Mind, and which I Might More fully explain in A Conversation, I will, add, My dear General, that I...
44To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 29 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed You will find some Numbers a Copy of Which I Have kept and Which Contain some Names that May probably Occur in our Correspondance. I Need Not telling you, My dear General, that I will Be Happy in Giving You Every Intelligence in My power, and Reminding You of the Most Affectionate friend You Can Ever Have. The Goodness You Had to take upon Yourself the Communicating to the Virginia...
45To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 6 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have receiv’d your Excellency’s favor by general greene, and have been much pleas’d with the arrival of a gentleman who not only on account of his merit, and the justness of his wiews, but also by his knowledge of the country and his popularity in this state may be very serviceable to the Expedition—I willingly part with the half of my detachement tho’ I had a great dependance upon them, as...
46To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 23 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
By Former Letters, Your Excellency Has Been Acquainted with My Motions From My Arrival at the Head of Elk, to the time of My Landing at this place. The March of the Detachement to Elk Had Been Very Rapid and performed in the Best order—Owing to the Activity of Lt Clel Stevens a train of Artillery Had Been provided at Philadelphia, and Notwistanding Some Disappointements, Namely that Relating...
47To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 21 December 1781 to 23 … (Washington Papers)
I am Sorry to think We are not yet Gone, and there Still Remain Some doubts of our Going to Morrow—This delay I Lament not So Much on private Accounts as I do it on the Account of our Next Campaign in the planning of Which Your Opinion as I will deliver it Must Be of Great Use to the Common Cause—As to the departement of foreign affairs I will Be Happy to justify the Confidence of Congress By...
48To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 31 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
A Correspondant of Mine Servant to Lord Cornwallis writes on the 26th july at Portsmouth, and Says His Master, Tarleton, and Simcoe are Still in town But Expect to Move—the Greatest Part of the Army is Embarked—There is in Hampton Road one 50 guns ship, and two Six and thirty Guns frigats &c. 18 Sloops loaded with Horses—There Remain But Nine vessels in Portsmouth who Appear to Be getting...
49To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 16 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency having personally seen our dispositions, I shall only give an account of what passed in the execution. Colonel Gimat’s batallion led the van, and was followed by that of Colonel Hamilton’s, who commanded the whole advanced corps, at the same time a party of eighty men, under Col. Laurens, turned the redoubt. I beg leave to refer your Excellency to the report I have received...
50To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 24 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
the jonction of Lord Cornwallis with the other Army at peters Burg was an Event that from local Circumstances and from thier so Great Superiority it was Impossible to prevent— it took place on the 20th and Having lost Every Hope to Operate a timely stroke in Conjunction with the pennsylvanians, My ideas were Confined to defensive Measures—I therefore Moved up to Richmond where precautions were...
51To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 13 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Had Your Excellency’s Answer to my letter of the 8th Been forwarded with an Equal Celerity with your favor of the 6th I would Have Received it Before this time—But whatever change my New situation Could Make in Your Excellency’s dispositions I thought it my duty in the mean while to obey the positive orders I Had Received—The troops are now crossing the ferry and will with all possible Speed...
52To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 19 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
None of Your Answers to my several letters has Yet Come to hand —I am told that You have writen to Congress Giving an Account of a Large Embarkation Under knypausen —how far it Will influence Your projects, and Of Course Your Advices for my private Conduct I hope to know By your Next letter —A vessel is, it is Said, Arriv’d in Boston After a Short passage from france—her Dispatches have Not...
53To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 18 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
Having been directed by Genl Greene to take Command of the Troops in Virginia, I have also received Orders from him, that every Account from this Quarter be immediately transmitted to Congress and to your Excellency; in obedience to which I shall have the honour to relate our Movements, and those of the combined Armies of the Enemy. When Genl Phillips retreated from Richmond, his project was...
54To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 3 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
the project of calling a large body of militia for such a day, in order to attack the ennemy in philadelphia, seems to me attended with so many difficulties, inconveniences and bad chances, that if it is not looked upon as a necessary and almost desesperate enterprize, tho’ it is a very shining and highly pleasing idea, however I cannot think it is a prudent and reasonable one. the reasons for...
55To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 10 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
By My Letter of the 8th Your Excellency will Have known of My Arrival at this Place and the Preparations I was Making to Proceed South ward. I took at the Same time the Liberty to Inform You that the Great want of Monney, Baggage, Cloathing, Under Which Both officers and Men are Suffering and the Hope they Had of Being furnished with a Part of these Articles from their States would Render it...
56To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 25 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
how happy I have been in receiving your excellency’s favor of the tenth present I hope you’l be convinc’d by the knowledge of my tender affection for you—I am very sensible of that goodness which trys to dissipate my fears about that ridiculous canadian expedition—at the present time we know which was the aim of the honorable board, and for which project three or four men have rush’d the...
57To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 24 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
the Heavy Rain we Had And the extreme Badness of the Roads Have Much Added to our difficulties—But the troops Have Marched with Great Chearfulness and order, and will Be to morrow Very early at Morristown—they will arrive at trenton the 28th, and as I Set out to morrow for philadelphia I will take Care to Have Boats provided for them. I Have Spoken most particularly to Colonel dayton...
58To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 23 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
We are Going to Sail, My dear friend, and the last Account I Hear from the shore, the first one I Am to Give in Europe is a New success of General Grene—fort Anne and 300 men taken, the Ennemy litteraly Reduced to Charlestown and Savahna Will Make a pretty Paragraph in the French Gazette—I Will Make it My Business to Work about the Thing You Must Naturally Wish—God Grant I May Have Soon the...
59To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 31 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
We have Certain Intelligence, My dear General, that Lord North is out of place. He Has Himself Announced that event in Parliament, and Said a New Minister Whould Be Named in the Course of two or three days. It is Generally Believed Marquis de Rockingam will Replace Him—Charles Fox is likely to get into Administration, and there will not be Better principles to be found in the New Ministry than...
60To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 19 April 1783 (Washington Papers)
Having Been told by Mquis de Castries at Whose Country Seat I am, that He Now is Sending a Vessel to America, I Cannot Resist an Opportunity to write You a few lines. My Letter’s journey By land Will Be Almost as long As its Voyage Across the Ocean, and the New England Porstmouth is Very far Distant to the Banks of the Potowmack—for I Suppose, My dear General, that You Intend Spending this...