1Major General Arthur St. Clair and Lieutenant Colonels Edward Carrington and Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 26 … (Hamilton Papers)
In addition to the official report of our proceedings at Amboy, which your Excellency will perceive have terminated in the manner you expected, we have the honor to give you an account of the steps we took, in consequence of the second part of your instructions, relative to a private conversation. But before we enter upon this, we think it our duty to inform you, that we have every reason to...
2Major General Arthur St. Clair and Lieutenant Colonels Edward Carrington and Alexander Hamilton to George Washington … (Hamilton Papers)
We beg leave to inform Your Excellency, that in the private report of our proceedings at Amboy dated the 26th. March, we omitted mentioning, (though it is to be inferred) that in the conversation which passed on the subject of accounts, it was explicitly declared by us, that if any particular sum should be accepted agreeable to the ideas of The British Gentlemen, it was not in any manner to be...
3Enclosure: Major General Arthur St. Clair and Lieutenant Colonels Edward Carrington and Alexander Hamilton to George … (Hamilton Papers)
Plan of exchange for the Troops of Convention, in three Divisions to be formed as equally, as the exchanging by Corps will allow, from the Strength of the Rank & file, each of the two first Divisions to have a Major General and a Brigadier General, and the third The Lieutenant General and a Brigadier General exchanged with them. The Regiments to which the Brigadier Generals belong to be...
4Major General Arthur St. Clair and Lieutenant Colonels Edward Carrington and Alexander Hamilton to George Washington … (Hamilton Papers)
To His Excellency George Washington Esqr. General and Commander in Chief of the Forces of The United States of America. We The Commissioners appointed by Your Excellency “to treat, confer, determine and conclude upon a General Cartel for the exchange and accommodation of prisoners of war including the troops of The Convention of Saratoga and all matters whatsoever which might be properly...
5To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 31 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellencys Letter came to hand about seven OClock last Night at this Place. Colonell Hubley will set out to Day, and by him I shall write to Governour Reed about the Appointment of the necessary Officers after having consulted with the Gentlemen commanding Regiments; I believe they find some Difficulty in getting such Persons to serve as they would wish to recommend, which is the Reason...
6To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 17 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Two Gentlemen, one from General Varnum and the other from the Fleet with Dispatches for your Excellency having this Moment arrived, we took the Liberty to open them—from their Contents I fear that our Journey will be to no great Purpose, but it is the general Sentiment that we proceed; and we shall endeavour to take such Measures as may be most conducive to the public Good, and return as soon...
7To George Washington from Arthur St. Clair, 10 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have been informed by Colonel Magaw, who is lately returned from Head Quarters that your Excellency had made some Enquiries about me, and the Time I proposed to go on to the Army—If your Excellency will please to recollect you proposed to point out the Time it would be necessary, and as I have received no Intimation of that kind; nor have heard with certainty whether any Command was pointed...
8To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 2 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellencys Letters of the 3d and 13th of February came duly to hand, but I delayed answering them from an Expectation that you was a⟨bs⟩ent from the Army, and because I had nothing explicit to inform you of with regard to the Recruiting, that Business not having come before the Assembly untill yesterday, although General Wayne, General Irvine and myself have constantly attended to press...
9To George Washington from Arthur St. Clair, 2 July 1783 (Washington Papers)
The unfortunate and disgraceful Event that has lately taken Place in Philadelphia must have occasioned your Excellency much Uneasiness, and you ought to have received an account of it from me; but I was prevented from giving it by the very ill state of my Health, and the total uselessness of my right Hand from a violent Return of the Gout which I have not been one Day free from since the...
10To George Washington from Arthur St. Clair, 14 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
On the Afternoon of the 9th instant I arrived at this place, and this day will have all the Troops and Stores over the River. You will doubtless be surprised at the time that the Passage will have taken up, and indeed it has been a very mortifying delay to me; but notwithstanding that Major Clayborne, the Quarter Masr Genl for the State had been sent forward to make the necessary preparations...
11To George Washington from Arthur St. Clair, 3 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
General Greenes Army, by the Return, including The Cavalry & Artillery amounts to 2719 Waynes & Gists Brigades to 2112 The Cavalry & Virginia Infantry, suppose 500 5331 The Cloth in Gerlach’s Invoice will make, Coats & Vests for 899 Uniforms made 420 With Genl Greene
12To George Washington from Arthur St. Clair, 29 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been honoured with your Excellencys Letter of the 15th instt which came to hand on the 26th—previous to the receipt of it Congress had ordered me to draw all the Levies of this State to Philadelphia from an Apprehension, that strongly prevailed, and some Intelligence they credited, that Sir Henry Clinton with a Body of about five thousand Men intended, by way of Diversion to your...
13To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 9 January 1781 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Clair, 9 Jan. 1781. On 12 Jan., GW wrote St. Clair regarding “your letter of the 9th.”
14To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 12 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Fleet having entered the Bay of New York, and that City being the Object, it appears necessary to pass some Vessels of Force through the Narrows in order to oblige the Ennemy to discover their Intention with regard to Staaten Island. If they do not mean to keep Possession of it the Garrison will be instantly withdrawn. But it may be that they may chuse to sacrifice some Part of their...
15To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 29 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
After reflecting upon the several Matters that your Excellency was pleased to lay before the Council Yesterday, my Opinion in general is that, at present no Detachment can with propriety be made from this Army. for which Opinion my Reasons are That our operating Force, if all collected to a Point, is inferior to that of the Ennemy in New York and its Dependencies; and that from the Expiration...
16To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 28 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
I arrived at Colonell Hazens Quarters the Night before last and Yesterday, with him, visited the several Posts, which I found to be Raway, Cranes Mills, Connecticut Farms, Elizabeth Town, and New Ark. Elizabeth Town and New Ark are occupied by small Detachments only, and Guards are posted at DeHarts and Halsteds Points—a small Guard is also kept at the new blazing Star, from the Post at Raway....
17To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 3 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
This Moment Mr Smith the Bearer of this arrived at my Quarters with a Letter to your Excellency from Colonell Hay which I opened as I wanted exceedingly Intelligence from the River. I find nothing in it that should induce me to alter the Design I had formed to move from this Ground to Night towards New Windsor, leaving my Artillery and Baggage, and Tents standing, of which I should have...
18VI. From Major General Arthur St. Clair to George Washington, 4 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been revolving in my Mind the Matters your Excellency had under Consideration last Night, and beg leave to submit my Sentiments upon them. They are however only broken hints as I have a very imperfect knowledge of the Local Situation, not having been upon the Grounds for many Years, and then not having viewed them in a military Light. From Fort Washington to the high Grounds at the...
19To George Washington from Arthur St. Clair, 17 April 1783 (Washington Papers)
Your very friendly and obliging Letter of the 19th of feby was Yesterday, together with the Order your refer to transmitted by General Hand, delivered to me on my Way to this City—there seems a strange Fatality to attend Letters that come to me thro’ the War Office, and from that Circumstance I must have suffered the Suspicion of inattention at least. I am fully sensible of the Necessity there...
20To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 10 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Author of the enclosed Letter to yourr Excellency has been waiting at Elizabeth Town for some time past in Expectation of receiving Permission from New York to go in —He is tired out, and wishes to run all hazards rather than be longer detained—His Permission from Governour Reed I have seen. My Messenger that went in to New York is not yet returned —The easterly Storm that happened two...
21To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 2 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
In cantoning the Troops there are two Objects which seem to claim particular Attention—The securing West Point; and covering Jersey in such a manner as to preserve an easy communication with Pennsylvania. But West Point requires 2800 Men, and for the northern Posts dependent upon it, and the necessary Detatchments below, a thousand more will not be an extravagant Allowance. I will suppose that...
22To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 29 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellencys Letter enclosing one to Doctor Mallet came to hand too late for that to be sent to new York to day; it shall be sent tomorrow and the Answer forwarded as soon as it arrives. The Troops are at present pretty comfortably quartered, but, in order to make it as easy to the Inhabitants as possible, they necessarily take up much Ground, which would still be the Case were the Houses...
23To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 9 September 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Attack upon New York always appeared to me a very doubtful and hazardous Enterprise. I think it now out of the Question altogether, from the advanced Season of the Year; the scantiness of our Force; the precariousness of our Supplies; and the want of a sufficient Fleet, in which a decided Superiority is necessary to give the Undertaking the least probability of Success. If the second...
24To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 7 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
Nothing Extraordinary has happened here since my last, neither have I received any Intelligence of Consequence—My Man from New-York not yet being returned; I expect to see or hear from him this Evening—It is said that in consequence of the Report of some Deserters who got in to Paulus-Hook from Connecticut Farms, the day before the Detachment was relieved, that Post is reinforced every Evening...
25To George Washington from Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Clair, 1 June 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letters not found : from Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Clair, 1 June 1779. GW wrote St. Clair on 2 June: “I duly received your two Letters of Yesterday.”
26To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 15 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am sorry to inform you that Congress have not yet entered into the Consideration of my Court Mar[s]hal and that it will probably be three Weeks or a Month yet before they will take it up. This Delay is exceeding irksome but I am obliged to submit. one Reason given for it is that they cannot with any propriety go upon that untill General Lees is determined and it appears to me that they will...
27To George Washington from Arthur St. Clair, 15 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been favoured with your Excellencys Letter of the 8th Inst: which has been in Part answered by mine of the 6th: in that however I was too sanguine as to the Time when the Detachment would march, which I fear it will not do in less than three weeks yet—The Application from the State to Congress for a Loan of so much Money as was necessary to put it in motion miscarried, and there is now...
28To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 4 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have this Moment received the inclosed Letter from Colonell Malcom, which has occasioned me some regret that I did not March last Night as I had purposed. I have no Accounts from the River to Day, but there is nothing extraordinary or I should have heard from the Parties, and I have seen a Person from the Neighbourhood of Kings Ferry, who says things are in the same Situation as when I wrote...
29To George Washington from Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Clair, 2 June 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Clair, 2 June 1779. GW wrote St. Clair in a second letter of this date: “I have received your letter of this date ½ past eight.” GW also wrote St. Clair on 3 June: “I received your favor of yesterday at 10 OClock last night.” For a likely extract from this unfound letter, see GW to John Jay, 3 June (first letter), and n.2 to that document.
30To George Washington from Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Clair, 3 June 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Clair, 3 June 1779. GW’s secretary Robert Hanson Harrison wrote to St. Clair on this date, 11:30 P.M. : “General Woodford has transmitted His Excellency Your favor of this morning dated at ½ past ten A.M. ” ( DLC:GW ; see GW to St. Clair, this date, and the source note to that document).
31To George Washington from Arthur St. Clair, 24 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have now the Satisfaction to inform your Excellency that a Bill passed the Legislature of this State Yesterday from which there is Reason to expect that a considerable Reinforcement will be added to the Line. The Principle of it is to oblige the Classes of the Inhabitants to find a Man each, and in case of Delinquency the County Commissioner is required to provide one, without limitation of...
32To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 22 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
Soon after I parted with your Excellency I met with the Horseman from New Ark—The Person I had sent over was in Paulus Hook, and reports that Horses passed on the Ice, to and from New York, on the twentieth, and it still appeared to be strong— That the Hook is entirely open to the River, except the Redoubts, Block House, and a little Fort of an oval Form next to the Barracks, which he says...
33To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 4 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Enterprise intended against Buskerque’s Corps, the Night before last, I was obliged to give up after every thing was ready for the Execution —The Column that was to have been led by Colonell Hazen would have had seven or eight Miles to march thro’ the Woods, and, as the Night became very dark, and the Air thick, he was unwilling to trust altogether to the knowledge of the Guides without...
34To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 13 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
Colonell Craig waits upon your Excellency to solicit leave of Absence for some Time for the Recovery of his Health—He has been for a considerable Time afflicted with the Scurvy and the Physicians advise him to go to the warm Springs in Virginia and he has requested me to signify to Your Excellency my Approbation of his Application. I cannot have any Objection to it as I am certain nothing but...
35To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 8 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency will have received an Account of the serious Nature of the Mutiny of the Pennsylvania Troops and their apparent Disposition to keep Post at Prince Town by the Marquis’s Letters and mine of Yesterday. Since Which we have no Accounts from them—but last Night a Person was sent to Us, charged with a Letter to their Leaders by Sir Henry Clinton who with Genl Kyhausen, is upon...
36To George Washington from Arthur St. Clair, 21 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
A gentleman is just now arrived here who left New York last Thursday. He says that the British, from every thing he could learn, are certainly about to evacuate that Place—that he is pretty well assured there are not more than eight hundred Troops there, and another Embarkation on foot; that he actually saw some Vessels with Horses on Board, and some of the Troops with their Knapsacks on ready...
37To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 27 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
I was sitting down to inform your Excellency that I had received all the Intelligence respecting Paulus Hook that I thought necessary, and had made my Arrangements for carrying the Attack on that Place into Execution this Evening, when I received an Account from New Ark that the Ice in the North River is broken up; the Bay at Communé Pas quite clear; and that what remained along the Shore,...
38To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 5 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
As you were pleased to desire my Sentiments upon sundry Matters, I have thrown them together upon the following Sheets without Method as they occurred to me—if they should happen to fall in with your Excellencys, it will be to me a convincing proof that I have not been mistaken. It has appeared to me that the Quarter Master Generals Department has been for some time very ill executed, from...
39To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 31 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
Previous to the Receipt of your Excellency’s Letter of this Day, (which arrived about four Hours ago) whilst I was examining the Ground pointed out for the Division to take Post in, I met with Coll Ogden, who informed he had seen a Person, (from New York last Night, that might be depended upon) who informed him that the whole of the Ennemy’s Army were marched towards White Plains. that a...
40To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 23 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
I am extremly apprehensive that the Rains of yesterday, together with the high Winds from the eastward last Night, have rendered the Enterprise on Paulus Hook impract[i]cable; I shall however make the Experiment, and have given Orders for the March of the Troops in such manner as that the whole, by three different Routs, will be assembled at New Ark by twelve oClock at Night, which will leave...
41To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 3 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Reduction of New York together with the british Army, is certainly, of all Others, the most desirable Object, as it would put an immediate End to the War; But the Siege of any Place, altho’ not regularly fortified, furnished with such a Garrison as that will be, is a very serious Business, and tho’ it may finally succeed, carries not with it that Degree of probability that, in our...
42To George Washington from Arthur St. Clair, 20 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Excellencys Letter of the 10th instant, and am very sorry that the Situation of Affairs and the State of the Army will not permit my being employed in that part of it under your Excellencys immediate Command. I shall therefore prepare for a southern March; but there is no probability that it can take Place very soon, as there will be much difficulty and delay in equipping...
43To George Washington from Arthur St. Clair, 4 February 1782 (Washington Papers)
Your very obliging Letter of the 30th of November came to Hand a few Days ago and the Resolve of Congress enclosed in it was immediatly communicated to the Troops with which they appeared to be highly satisfied. Nothing could have been more acceptable than the kind Manner your Excellency has been pleased to speak of my Conduct—I do indeed aspire to your Approbation, and flatter myself that in...
44To George Washington from Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Clair, 23 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Clair, 23 Feb. 1780. On 24 Feb. , GW wrote St. Clair: “I recd yours of yesterday late last night.”
45To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 20 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Ennemy made another Attempt last Night, about eleven oClock, to surprise the Party at New Ark and plunder the Town, but being happily discovered on their Approach, by the Patroles, the Guard, and the Inhabitants were alarmed and obliged them to retire without their effecting any thing, except carrying of[f] two Men, one of whom is supposed to have purposely thrown himself in their...
46To George Washington from Arthur St. Clair, 26 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
On the 22d instant I arrived at Williamsbourough in North Carolina to which place I had gone in advance of the Troops (leaving them to be conducted from Petersburgh by General Wayne) in order to settle the Route it would be proper to persue and take the necessary measures for provisions. A report had prevailed, for a day or two, that the Enemy had evacuated Wilmington, and there I received...
47To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 2 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
I received your Excellencys favour of Yesterday but was at New Ark when the Messenger arrived here, and as it was Night when I returned; detained him untill this Morning least I might have something to communicate. The Intelligence I obtained at New Ark was of little Consequence—but the Person repeats that the Numbers upon Staten Island and at the Hook are as he before informed from all that...
48To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 3 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
Colonel Burr arrived here about 3 oClock, from General McDougal, and brings Intelligence of the Surrender of the Fort on Ver Planks Point yesterday, about eleven oclock by Capitulation. The Garrison are Prisoners of War, and the Officers have Liberty to wear their side Arms. I have no Letter from General McDougal, but he is clearly of Opinion the Ennemy mean to attack the Posts (at least Fort...
49To George Washington from Arthur St. Clair, 4 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
By your Excellency’s Letter of the 23 of June I find that you expect me to go on to the southward as soon as the State shall have such a Number of Troops in their Line as will give me a suitable command; and that the Time of my joining the army must depend on that Circumstance. I must have misunderstood your Excellency very much about this matter, or there is some mistake in it—I think you...
50To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 2 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Attack upon Buskerque as we have digested it, will be conducted in the following Manner—Colonell Hazen with two hundred pickd Men will pass at Halsteds Point and march across the Country, avoiding if possible every House, untill he arrives in the Rear of Donglasses House, which is, as we are informed, near the lower part of the Cantonement, and is to make the Attack—Colonell Willet with...