45651To George Washington from Wilhelm von Knyphausen, 25 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
The present sufferings of the Hessian Prisoners of War confined in the Goals of Philadelphia, determine me to address myself to you upon this occasion. The Papers which accompany this letter, point out in the fullest manner, the many attempts which have been made for their relief; the little success which has attended them; and they exhibit some proofs of distress, which men of feeling must...
45652To 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...
45653To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 25 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I received this Evening your Excellency’s favor of the 21st and 22d instant. I am exceeding glad to hear that your Excellency is returned in good health at head quarters. The advices that your Excellency has received from the Marquis de La Fayette, bearing date of the 15th from York, saying that he had not heard of the French fleet, give me a good deal of uneasiness. The going out of the...
45654To George Washington from Jean-Louis Aragon de Sibille, 25 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
The fear I am in, lest the Little notice taken of General de Rochambeau’s Secretary, in comparison of those who fill that honorable place about your Excellency, should be misconstrued in your Excellency’s mind, shall be my Apology for this Letter. The Little regard shewn for a man, who by his post, should Seem intitled to some consideration, must be ascribed to the customs of a monarchical...
45655From George Washington to John Armstrong, 26 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 8th from Carlisle came to me safe, as did the letter alluded to in it; which I should have thanked you for long ’ere this if the public business in which, I am engaged wd yield obedience to my inclination, & indulge me more frequently in the gratification of an epistolary & pleasing intercourse with my friends—I received with much pleasure the acct of your recovered health,...
45656To George Washington from Henry Babcock, 26 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I hope your Excellency is arrived safe at your Head Quarters in Windsor—Last Wednesday a British Officer (who was in Newport in Disguise when Your Excellency was there, and had a Party in Connecticut to have seized you, and carried You Prisoner to long Island) was carried by a whale Boat from Groton to long Island: the Persons who carried the British Officer over, were pursued by two of our...
45657To George Washington from Elias Dayton, 26 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
In my former letter I acquainted your excellency with the difficulty which attended the sending any persons to the city. Those difficulties & indeed greater still subsist, no one within a fortnight haveing been admited to go their & return, very few of the inhabitants of Staten Island are suffered to cross & not even those without a particular permission from the commandt. The fleet which I...
45658To George Washington from Edward Hand, 26 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
It appears that when an Invalid Corps was formed it was intended to answer a Twofold purpose—vizt. To Afford a comfortable Maintenance to men who by Wounds received or Disorders contracted in the Service were rendered for ever incapable of serving in the Field or gaining a Livelyhood if discharged the Service entirely; and as a Nursery for the Reception and Instruction of Recruits destined for...
45659From George Washington to William Heath, 26 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I recollect there was a Gun Boat employed on the River, which was withdrawn at the setting in of Winter, and which is again necessary for the same service, I wish therefore you would have it refitted, & stationed as formerly, for the same purposes. In answer to your Letter of the 25th respecting inoculation, you will be pleased to observe; it was under the idea of the New Hampshire Troops...
45660To George Washington from William Heath, 26 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with your’s of this date. I ordered the gun-boat fitted some ten or twelve days since and sent her to the water guard, with instructions to Capt. Pray to make use of her where she would be most serviceable for the protection of the guard boats—to keep a look-out, &c. I do not know particularly how she was employed or stationed the last year; if differently from what I have...
45661To George Washington from William Heath, 26 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
As justice is undoubtedly a duty we owe to ourselves as well as our country, and to which I think the officers at present serving in the army have a call to pay some attention, I am induced to trouble your Excellency with this, and assure myself your just way of thinking will give it that consideration which it deserves. My journey from Rhode Island to this place the last October, was attended...
45662To George Washington from Samuel Huntington, 26 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
Congress have been pleased to refer to your Excellency the enclosed Letter of the 21st Instant from Colonel Wood, soliciting in Behalf of Lt Colonel Hill the Liberty of being indulged his Parole to go to England, as also the Letter of the 20th Instant from Lt Col. Dubuyson, desiring that a similar Favor for himself may be made the Condition on which Lt Col. Hill’s Request should be granted; if...
45663To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 26 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
As I Hope My letters of the 23d and 25th Have Been Safely transmitted and this will Be Accompagnied By a letter of the Same date forwarded through the Hands of the President of Congress, I Shall only Add such parts of My Information as I Mean to Be Confidential. From My Late Intelligences I am led to Suppose that our Allies Are Gone to Cape Fear—the first Engagement was in their favor and I am...
45664To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 26 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
By Intelligences just Received I Hear that the British fleet Have Returned to Lyn Haven Bay, and that they were Accompagnied By A Number of Vessels Supposed to Be transports from New-york. From A Conversation with A Gentleman who Having Been taken a few days Before the Engagement was during the Action on Board the Charlestown frigat, I Have Got A particular Account of What Has past in that...
45665To George Washington from Richard Peters, 26 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Board have the Honour to transmit for your Excellency’s Information the inclosed Instructions to Col. Wood relative to the Convention Troops & a Copy of the Report of a Comittee of Congress on the Subject which being referred to us to take Order & expressive of the Sense of Congress was the Foundation of the Instructions given to Col. Wood. We have the Honour to be with the highest Respect...
45666To George Washington from Moses Ashley, 27 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
Upon the reasons given, by Lieut. Jno. Soule, of the 5th Massachusetts Regiment, I am induced to recommend him to Your Excellency for a discharge; at the same time unwilling to say it will be no damage to the Regiment; he having fill’d his Post with Honor. I am Sir your Most Obedt Humle Servt DNA : RG 93—War Department.
45667To George Washington from Daniel Brodhead, 27 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with your favor of the 28th ultimo and am thankfull for the Contents. I have acknowledged the receipt of your Letter of the 29th December, and shall give every encouragement to Genl Clark’s intend d enterprize. I wish he may be in readiness before the waters fail, and the Kentucke Settlements are destroyed by the Enemy. But I am informed that little or nothing hath as yet been...
45668From George Washington to Elias Dayton, 27 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your several Letters of the 9th, 15th & 18th Inst. were duly received, while I was absent from this place, on my journey to Rhode Island, I have now to thank you for the intelligence communicated in them. It gives me great uneasiness, to find that the irregular & improper mode of receiving & treating British Flags at Elisabeth Town, should open a channel of intelligence for the Enemy, and...
45669From George Washington to Benjamin Harrison, Sr., 27 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
On my return from New port, I found your favor of the 16th of February, with its inclosures, at Head Quarters. I exceedingly regret that I could not have the pleasure of seeing you, not only from personal motives, but because I could have entered upon the subject of your mission in a much more full and free manner, than is proper to be committed to paper. I very early saw the difficulties and...
45670From George Washington to Udny Hay, 27 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have just received your Letter of the 25th Inst.On the subject of which I have to observe that, it was my intention The Indians in question should be supplied with the same Ration which is issued to our Troops; but you will now be pleased to leave the determination of this Matter to the Commissioners of Indian affairs, agreeably to the Resolution of Congress of the 24th of March 1779. I am...
45671To George Washington from Henry Knox, 27 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
There being no established principles to govern the appointments to the vacancies of officers in the artillery, some doubts have arisen since the last regulation of the army, whether the right of appointment is in Congress, as generally has been the case, or in the States on which the regiments of artillery are apportioned, as part of their quotas. This uncertainty has operated to the...
45672To George Washington from Anne-César, chevalier de La Luzerne, 27 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
J’ai l’honneur d’envoyer à Votre Excellence un paquet ouvert pour M. le Cte de Rochambeau. Vous y trouverez copie d’une lettre que M’ecrit M. Destouches. Je suis peiné du manque de succès d’une expédition; qui, si elle eut reussi, nous auroit été doublement agréable par l’utilité dont elle auroit été à nos alliés et par l’honneur qui devoit en rejaillir sur les armes du Roi. Au reste il paroit...
45673To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 27 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
Our fleet entered yesternight and the Chevalier Destouches has the honor to give your Excellency an account of his engagement, by duplicata, as he already wrote to your Excellency the Hermoine which he sent to Philadelphy, I join here a copy of the Letter which I received from the Baron de Viomenil, and a return of the Loss of our detachment of Land forces. All that has yet reached my...
45674General Orders, 28 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
Untill further Orders Colonel Hughes Deputy Quarter Master General has permission to pass the Guards and Ferries; also his Assistants and others in his Employ having his written passport. DLC : Papers of George Washington.
45675From Edward Hand to James Clinton, 28 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
His Exy desires me to inform you it is his desire that you Order Returns of the Troops under your Command to be regularly made out and transmitted to this Office so as to reach it by the last saturday in every Month agreable to Genl Orders formerly given. I am &c. DNA : RG 93—War Department.
45676From Edward Hand to Elias Dayton, 28 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
His Exy is much surprized that no Returns of your Line have been transmitted to Head Quarters since the late Arangement of the Army has taken place, he therefore desires me to inform you that it is his positive Orders that a Monthly state of the Jersey Line be transmitted to the Orderly Office, so as to reach it by the 25th—or at farthest by the last Saturday of every Month. I am Sir DNA : RG...
45677From George Washington to William Heath, 28 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have no objection to Austin’s having permission to go to Morris Town, if nothing unfavorable has been discovered of him, while employed as you Mention. I am Dear Sir With great esteem Your Most Obed. Servt MHi : Heath Papers.
45678To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 28 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I forward to your Excellency, under cover with this, copies of letters received from Major General Greene and Baron Steuben which will give you the latest state of the situation of things with us and in North Carolina. We had hoped to have received by the French Squadron under Mons: Tilly eleven hundred stand of arms which we had at Rhode-Island, but were disappointed. the necessity of...
45679From Edward Hand to Stephen Moylan, 28 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
His Excellency surprised & much displeased that Monthly Returns of the state of your Regiment are not transmitted to the Orderly Office, has commanded me to desire that in future you may be punctual in making and forwarding your returns so that they may reach my Office by the 25th or at least by the last Saturday of every Month—and to assure you at the same time that it is his determined...
45680From Edward Hand to Thomas Proctor, 28 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
His Exy desires me to inform you it is his Orders that you transmit a Return of the State of your Regt to the Orderly Office as soon as possible, and that Monthly Returns of it may be regularly made out and forwarded so as to reach this Office by the last Saturday in every Month agreable to former Genl Orders. I am Sir &ca DNA : RG 93—War Department.
45681From Edward Hand to Arthur St. Clair, 28 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
His Excy is very anxious to know the state of the Pennsa Division, and desires me to request you to order a Return of it to be made to the Orderly Office as soon as may be, and that Monthly returns may be regularly transmitted so as to reach the Office by the last Saturday of every Month, by regiments if its present situation will not admit of comprehending the whole in one Genl Return. I am...
45682To George Washington from Abraham Skinner, 28 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have this day seen Lieutenant General Knyphausen’s Letter of the 25th instant to your Excellency inclosing Extracts of Sundry Letters from Mr Loring some on the Subject of Passports being furnished to certain British and Hessian Officers for the purpose of Visiting their Prisoners and furnishing them with Cloathing &ca. In Answer to which, I have to inform your Excellency, that an...
45683From George Washington to Lund Washington, 28 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
Since my last, your letter of the 14th Instt is received. If Mr Triplet has got as much Land as he has given, & you have paid him the cash difference with a proper allowance for the depreciation since the bargain was made, I am at a loss to discover the ground of his complaint—and if men will complain without cause, it is a matter of no great moment. it always was, and now is my wish to do him...
45684To George Washington from John Parke Custis, 29 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
On my return to this place, on Sunday last, I had the pleasure of receiving your Favour of the 28th ulto, Your reasoning is so cogent, that no one can pretend to cavil or dispute the Position; I must acknowledge that I wish to quit the public Business, & attend for some time to my domestic affairs, which call very pressing for my attention; but it has never been my Intention to leave the...
45685From George Washington to Elias Dayton, 29 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have never yet heard whether the Officers have had any or what success under the Law for recruiting. You will be pleased to inform me by the first oppertunity. We have a report by the way of Kings bridge that there has been an action between the French and British Fleets, but no particulars. If you hear any thing of it from Staten Island be pleased to let me hear from you. I am Yr most obt...
45686To George Washington from Catharine Littlefield Greene Miller, 29 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
It would be in vain for me to attempt the discription of My Mortification and disappointment at Not seeing your Excellency while I you honourd this state by a visit, the same honour I vainly expected (and I need not add impatiently) untill your very obligeing letter came to hand, which however, was not untill the next day after you left Providence, at which Place I intended at all events to...
45687To George Washington from Nathanael Greene, 29 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed I send your Excellency a Copy of my Letter to Congress for your information respecting the operations in this department. The Marquis de la Fayette has arrived in Virginia; but I beleive his Troops are still in Maryland. some Days since I sent Colo. Morris to confer with the Marquis, and see if he has your Excellencys permission to go farther Southward. I received a Letter from him on...
45688To George Washington from William Heath, 29 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
The distressed condition of the New York regiment, under the command of Colonel Van schaick, on account of their great arrears of pay (sixteen months) and the uneasiness consequent thereon, is encreased by the consideration that the troops of the other states have lately received money, while they get none—their officers are much perplexed and embarrassed and know not what to say or do. I...
45689To George Washington from William Heath, 29 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have this moment received the enclosed from Major Trescott, I think the information given Mr Cushing by the British Officer, if true, is a circumstance from which we may conclude, that the British have met with a handsome drubbing. I have the honor to be with the greatest respect your Excellencys most Obedient Servant DLC : Papers of George Washington. I was mistaken, in my oppinion...
45690To George Washington from John Jay, 29 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
There has long been something about my Heart which urged me to write to You, but I thought it selfish to diminish your few Leisure moments by an additional Correspondent, especially as your Punctuality & Attention would probably have led you to consult my Wishes rather than your own Convenience. The Time I hope will come when the Return of Tranquility will give me an opportunity of conversing...
45691From George Washington to James Johnston, 29 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
You will be pleased to deliver to the Pay Masters of the several Massachusetts Regts the Muster Rolls of the Regts for the Months of May, June & July last, in Order to take Copies of the same to make a settlement with the state, the Sd Pay Masters, having engaged to you to return the Rolls into the Office, as soon as the Copies are Made & Certified by you. DLC : Papers of George Washington.
45692From George Washington to Wilhelm von Knyphausen, 29 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your Excellencys letter of the 25th instant—The complaint, as to provisions, contained in the depositions of the several Hessian prisoners lately exchanged, is the first that I ever heard respecting the quality of that delivered by the American Commissaries to their prisoners of War—Your Excellency will therefore pardon me, if I do not give entire credit to it—The very...
45693From George Washington to Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 29 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your Excellency’s favor of the 21st: I have not received any intelligence from the Southward since the letter of the 15th from the Marquis de la Fayette, the substance of which I communicated to your Excellency in my last. I cannot but look upon this as very unaccountable; for, I think, had either Fleet reached the Chesapeak by the 20th, I should have heard of it,...
45694General Orders, 30 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
A Sub, Serjeant, and twenty watermen to be sent immediately to Newburgh to assist Captain Nevins in floating the rafts to and stretching the chain at WestPoint. Also a subaltern officer to be immediately sent to the same place to relieve the Subaltern now on command there. A return to be made of all the oarsmen in the several regiments digested into Brigade returns and sent into the Adjutant...
45695From George Washington to Board of War, 30 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your favor of the 22d instant inclosing the heads of two plans for the incorporation of the departments of Qr Mr General and Commissaries General of purchases and Issues and that of the Commissary of prisoners in some degree, the whole to be under the direction of the Quarter Master General—If there is an absolute necessity for such a reform, I do not hesitate in...
45696To George Washington from George Clinton, 30 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
We do ourselves the honor to inclose your Excellency Copy of a Message from his Excellency the Governor with a Copy of the Letter referred to therein. Could the Legislature have afforded immediate Relief, or was there the least prospect of procuring any Provisions of the meat kind in time to prevent the Evils, we should not have troubled you on the occasion: But altho’ we have impowered our...
45697To George Washington from Elias Dayton, 30 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
By a person from New york 28th inst. it appears the british fleet were then laying at the hook with the troops on board, The enemy have again vissited Elizabeth Town but have gained little by the excurtion as appears by Capt. Scuders letter inclosed—I have also inclosed the New york account of an action between the french & english fleets by which I think it does not appear the english have...
45698From George Washington to William Heath, 30 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Letters of the 29th. The situation of the New York Troops, I am sensible, is indeed distressing—but I am in hopes their distresses will be in some measure alleviated, by an Order which the Dep. Pay Master has just received on the Treasury of the State for money to pay the Troops of its Line—Should this not be productive of releif, I will make representations to Congress,...
45699To George Washington from William Heath, 30 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with yours of this date—shall communicate to the officers of the New York regiment the case your Excellency has been pleased to take for the relief of the regiment; which I hope will be effectual. I thank your Excellency for your opinion respecting my expences on my journey to this place the last fall. Am sorry that a remedy in the case of expences here does not rest with you: and...
45700To George Washington from William Heath, 30 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed from Captain Selden, who commands at Stoney-point, came to hand the last evening. Just before the receipt of it, Mr Pine, one of our guides came to my quarters with a Mr Swain of Morrisania. Swain left that place on monday last, about ten o’clock A.M.—he informs me that all intercourse between New York and Morrisania is stopped—no refugee allowed to go in or come out—or any flag...