1From George Washington to Elias Dayton, 7 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your favor of the 30th ulto. I take if for granted that this letter will meet you upon your march from Morris Town. Should you not have advancd too far towards Kingsferry to turn off towards Dobb’s without much Disadvantage, you will be pleased to do it, & inform me of your Arrival upon the West Side, where you will remain till further Orders. I believe I before mentioned my Desire...
2From George Washington to Colonel Elias Dayton, 31 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have this moment receiv’d information from Philadelphia that the Enemies Fleet made their appearance at the Capes of Delaware yesterday, you are therefore to march as expeditiously as you can with your own and Colo. Ogdens Regts to Philadelphia by the way of Trenton where Boats will be prepar’d to carry you across. you will take care and not over march your Men. I am yr most Obet Servt. come...
3From George Washington to Colonel Elias Dayton or the Officer Commanding the New Jersey Brigade, 16 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
You will immediately, agreeable to the General Order of this day, augment the two light Infantry Companies to the number directed, and you will also be pleased to order three other Companies of equal numbers to be formed by detachment from the Brigade, taking the same care in the choice of Officers and Men as for the light Companies. To enable you to do this more effectually, you may, if you...
4From George Washington to Elias Dayton, 1 February 1782 (Washington Papers)
Mr Skinner th Commissary of Prisoners has informed me, that the communication between our Posts & those of the Enemy is stop’d, by the Sheriff’s having confined two persons who came in the last Flag. I should not be sorry for this circumstance, was it not of some consequence that the business Mr Skinner has in hand should be completed. I will thank you to make the necessary inquiry into this...
5From George Washington to Elias Dayton, 21 August 1783 (Washington Papers)
I inclose to your Care my Answer to the Address of the Magistracy and Inhabitants of the Borough of Elizabeth which I pray you will have the goodness to communicate to them. With great esteem and regard I have the honour to be &c. DLC : Papers of George Washington.
6From George Washington to Colonel Elias Dayton, 29 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
The intercourse between the inhabitants of the States and the Citizens of New York, by means of the Flag Boats which pass from the latter to Elizabeth Town, has become so very frequent that it excites suspicions and jealousies in the minds of many of the well affected among us, and puts it much in the power of the Enemy to gain intelligence, and to propagate injurious reports, thro’ the...
7From George Washington to Elias Dayton, 15 January 1783 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure to congratulate you on your late promotion to the Rank of Brigadier General which took place in Congress the 7th Inst. Your Commission arrived here yesterday and I shall keep it till I can have the pleasure to deliver it to you in Person which I must request may be as soon as possible and that you come prepared to remain with your Brigade the remainder of the Winter. If...
8From George Washington to Elias Dayton, 21 August 1783 (Washington Papers)
It gives me the most pleasing sensations to find so cordial a welcome on my return, in peace, to this pleasant Town, after the vicissitudes of so long and obstinate a Contest. On this happy occasion, suffer me, Gentlemen, to join you in grateful adoration to that divine Providence, which hath rescued our Country from the brink of distruction, which hath crowned our exertions with the fairest...
9From George Washington to Colonel Elias Dayton, 8 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with yours of the 20th Feby and am sorry to find from it that the ill state of your health added to the situation of your private Affairs renders it highly inconvenient on the last account and impossible upon the former to remain in the Service. I am so well convinced that you have no others motives for quitting the service than those you have alledged, that you have my consent as...
10From George Washington to Elias Dayton, 26 February 1782 (Washington Papers)
At the request of Sir Henry Clinton I have promised an escort to a sum of Money which he is to send out for the use of the prisoners of War at Philada and other places—The Officers having charge of it will apply to you upon their arrival at Elizabeth Town, upon which you will furnish a Guard commanded by a sensible spirited Subaltern, who is to accompany them to Philada. Upon his arrival there...
11From David Humphreys to Elias Dayton, 4 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
Before the departure of His Excellency the Commander in Chief for Philadelphia, he wrote a Letter to you, dated the 11th of July, of which he has received no acknowledgement, & therefore suspects it may have miscarried; the purport of it was, to relieve Capt. Dayton, to stop all Correspondence with Ward McMichael & every other person within the Enemy’s Lines, and to hold the Brigade in...
12From George Washington to Elias Dayton, 25 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have rec’d your’s of the 23d, you must consider your present post of importance and the nearer you are to the point to be defended the greater will be its security it would therefore be more proper should the ground be eligable to pitch your Camp as near as possible to the Block than to occupy a position one or two miles either to the right or left. The sending your horses to pasture even at...
13From George Washington to Elias Dayton, 28 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
The late accounts from New York are mysterious and perplexing, but they at any rate demand that we should be in readiness to move. You will therefore concentre, as much as possible, your Brigade and put them under marching orders. The parties at the Clove are not to be immediately called in, but the Officers commanding them warned to be in readiness. Should an evacuation of New York take...
14From George Washington to Colonel Elias Dayton, 1 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
Having recd information that the Fleet have left the Capes of Delaware and steered Eastward, you are immediately upon the Rect of this to return and keep upon your march till you reach Peekskill. If you find any Ships thrown into King’s Ferry way, you are to proceed to New Windsor and cross there. I am &c. Df , in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW ; Varick transcript , DLC:GW . An endorsement...
15From George Washington to Colonel Elias Dayton, 31 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
I recd your favr of the 28th: That of yesterday reached me late last Night. I most sincerely wish that your suspicions of the truth of Rivingtons publication may prove well grounded, but I confess it bears too many marks of authenticity. Should you receive any further confirmation of your opinion be pleased to let me have it. It was always my intention that your own Regiment should remain with...
16From George Washington to Elias Dayton, 19 February 1782 (Washington Papers)
I received your favor of the 9th instant in due time, accompanied by a very particular Return of the Cantonment and strength of the enemy, for which I am obliged. I directed the releif of the whole Garrison of Wyoming upon a supposition, from the tenor of your former letter, that the Men as well as Officers were anxious to be releived, but if you think that making a change of Officers only...
17From George Washington to Elias Dayton, 20 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
Altho’ it seems probable that matters will remain tolerably quiet in New York for the remainder of the season; yet it may not be amiss to keep a Channel of intelligence open, that if any thing material should occur we may have the earliest information—You will therefore be pleased to take measures for the purpose. The principal thing to attend to, will be any movement of Troops and their...
18From George Washington to Elias Dayton, 18 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
You will be pleased to give the Officer commanding the Artillery upon the West side of the River such assistance as he want in embarking the heavy Cannon. I am Sir Yr most obt Servt P.S. You will prepare for a March to morrow Morning, with the Jersey Continental Troops under your Command—You will receive further Orders this Evening—Baggage & every thing else which appertains to the Troops is...
19From George Washington to Elias Dayton, 11 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
I inclose you Copy of the General Order confirming the sentences on Gibbs & Young—You have also a blank Warrant—which you will fill up with the name of either of the Prisoners whom you may think it best to make an immediate Example of. You will have your Brigade in as collected a State as possible and held in readiness to move at the shortest Notice. I am &c. DLC : Papers of George Washington.
20From George Washington to Colonel Elias Dayton, 16 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have recd both your favors of the 15th announcing the arrival of Admiral Greaves, which is rather an unlucky circumstance—I have only to desire you to endeavour to ascertain his force exactly, and to gain a knowledge of what preparations they are making for defence of the harbour, and where they seem disposed to dispute the passage. You mention a talk in New York of a further embarkation to...
21From George Washington to Colonel Elias Dayton, 3 April 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Assembly of this State, at their last sitting, passed a law for the payment of the provision which the Army were under the necessity of taking from the inhabitants during the scarcity in Camp and between the 15th Decemr and 15th January —The law directs that no provision seized as aforesaid shall be paid for, unless upon a Certificate signed by the Commander in Chief, or by some person...
22From 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...
23From George Washington to Elias Dayton, 21 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed for General Forman is of so much importance that I do not care to trust it to a common hand. If there should be an Officer in the Jersey Brigade who has any business in Monmouth he may be sent with it. If there is none under such circumstances, I must request you to send one on purpose. I am &c. DLC : Papers of George Washington.
24From George Washington to Elias Dayton, 10 June 1782 (Washington Papers)
It is extremely painfull to me, to have continually to remark on the irregular manner in which business seems to be conducted at your Post. In my Letter of the 27th May, I directed Colo. Ogdin to transmit Governor Livingston a particular State of the circumstances respecting Mr de Peyster and to take his orders, and if the Governor directed him to be delivered to the Military, to send him with...
25From George Washington to Elias Dayton, 28 January 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favor of the 12th and am glad to find you have got rid of the person who imbarrassed you. Inclosed you have my acceptance of Colo. D’Harts resignation, which be pleased to deliver to him. I cannot grant that of Major Hollingshead before he himself signifies a desire of leaving the service—When he does that, let him mention the time he looked upon himself as out of the...
26From David Humphreys to Elias Dayton, 23 June 1782 (Washington Papers)
I inclose you by the Commd of his Excellency a Warrant for the Execution of George Cook, the time & place are left to your appointment. I am Sir Your Hble Servt. DLC : Papers of George Washington.
27From George Washington to Elias Dayton, 28 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
It is long since I have been extremely solicitous to cut off all communication with the Enemy as much as is practicable, and to regulate the affair of sending & receiving Flags so as to prevent all improper intercourse thro that channel—but not having yet been able fully to digest a plan for the purpose (the Matter being now before the Commissioners) I can only repeat, that it is my earnest...
28From George Washington to Colonel Elias Dayton, 24 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have been for some days past under apprehensions for the safety of your Regiment—It is certainly too much exposed in its present position—I therefore desire that you will remove it some distance into the Country where it may be less exposed and yet answer the purposes for which it was sent into the neighbourhood of Elizabeth Town —It appears to me that West Farms would be a good position as...
29From Edward Hand to Elias Dayton, 2 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I did myself the pleasure of writing to you the 28th of March last importing his Excellency’s surprize that the Jersey Brigade had not made returns to the orderly Office since the late arrangement took place in the army and desiring that you might be punctual in sending a Monthly state of the Line to the orderly Office so as to reach it by the last Saturday in every Month, yet no return has...
30From George Washington to Elias Dayton, 30 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
Imediately on the Receipt of this you will be pleased to collect all the Troops of your Brigade (except the Compy at Wyoming) & put up them in motion on their March towards Kingsbridge. As the Operations of the Campaign are on the Point of Comencing, you will use your utmost Diligence that the Troops come on with Dispatch. It will be v ery inconvenient (to say no more) to be loaded with...
31From George Washington to Elias Dayton, 11 June 1782 (Washington Papers)
After writing to you Yesterday, your Letter of the 8th came to me—a Letter from Justice Symes, remandg Mr Depyster to be delivered over to the civil power, accompanied yours. I more & more lament the Conductg of this Matter—your knowg that a habeas Corpus was taken out to rescue the prisoner from the Military, ought at least to have Occasioned your delaying to send on Mr Depyster, until you...
32From George Washington to Elias Dayton, 19 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
You will march immediately with the Jersey Line and Hazens Regt to the Heights between Chatham and Springfeild—You will take the most eligible position and encamp there. You will give Colo. Seely orders to remain at Dobbs’s Ferry untill Wednesday when he is to march and join you. You will order him, in a very particular manner, to keep scouts and Patroles towards Bergen, and to take every...
33From George Washington to Elias Dayton, 3 January 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have received yours of the 27th Ulto. It appears by accounts from General Forman that the Fleet with the detachment supposed to be for Charles-Town had Sailed. I will leave the entire management of McMichals affair to you—There are reasons why I cannot with propriety interfere. I am Dr Sir Your most Obedt Humble Servt CSmH .
34From George Washington to Colonel Elias Dayton, 26 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed Letter, from Majr Burnet, just now came to Genl Greene. You will compare the Intelligence, which you obtain with the information contained in this Letter, and after making such Observations & remarks upon the whole, you will transmit the same with this Letter to Lord Stirling. I am Sir Yr Hble servt P.S. I wrote you today by One of Blands Light Horse upon the subject of...
35From Alexander Hamilton to Colonel Elias Dayton, [24 June 1780] (Hamilton Papers)
I am sorry that we have not yet been able to get a return for the papers I last sent you, as the Minister makes it an object to have them in regular sucession. I send you some late Philadelphia papers, which I entreat you to get exchanged and if possible to get all the papers since the last exchange. Your’s with great resp ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Dayton was at Springfield,...
36From George Washington to Elias Dayton, 12 January 1782 (Washington Papers)
You will be pleased to furnish a Subalterns Guard upon the order of the Secretary of War, who will give directions to the Officer. They are intended to collect the prisoners of War in Jersey and conduct them to this place. I am Sir Yr most obt Servt NjMoNP .
37From Jonathan Trumbull, Jr. to Elias Dayton, 11 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
Some Convoys are coming on from the Jersies to Dobb’s Ferry—for their Security against the Enemy—you will be pleasd, by Order of the General, to throw out some Parties from your Comand thro’ Springfield to Aquacanack with Directions to scour below towards Newark—& continue till the Convoys are safely arrived. I am &ca P.S. in your Comand you will include the Militia lately arrived. DLC :...
38George Washington to Colonel Elias Dayton, 14 August 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Camp at Cross Roads [ Pennsylvania ] August 14, 1777. Instructs Dayton to send information on strength of the enemy at Kings Bridge and on Staten Island. Also asks Dayton to send account of number of boats available in that area. LS , in writing of H, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
39From George Washington to Colonel Elias Dayton, 17 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have recd yours of the 15th. I shall be glad to be informed whether the Fleet mentioned by you, as having sailed on thursday last, consisted of armed ships or Merchant men, and if the former, their number—force, and destination. I am Sir Yr most obt Servt. Df , in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW ; Varick transcript , DLC:GW . The previous Thursday was 11 May. Tilghman inadvertently wrote...
40From George Washington to Elias Dayton, 21 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
I propose setting out for the North River in a short time, & wish you to detach a Capt. & 40 Men from the Jersey Brigade so as that the party may be at Somerset Court House by Monday night next without fail; it will be expedient for them to be furnished with three or four days provision, to provide against any contingency of bad weather or unforseen delay—I am Sir. DLC : Papers of George...
41From George Washington to Elias Dayton, 25 May 1782 (Washington Papers)
After maturely considering the Circumstances that attend the communication with Mr & the little advantages that have originated from it I am Induced to belive that he is acting a double Part for private & self interestd Purposes, if nothing more in View by it and that he is conducting it in such a manner as to render it almost impossible for you to detect him, this with other particular...
42From George Washington to Elias Dayton, 14 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been favd with yours of the 2d instant. It is very unaccountable that so many Indications of an evacuation of New York should be reported to You and that they should come from no other quarter—I have a very good channel of intelligence by the way of Long Island and no movement is mentioned but that of a fleet bound to Europe—I cannot help suspecting that there may be some design in...
43From George Washington to Elias Dayton, 4 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Annexed is a duplicate of what I had written to you on the 27th ulto the original I fear miscarried last Week as the post is missing and supposed to be carried into New York. The intelligence contained in yours of the 30th ulto "that the fleet was laying at the Hook the 28th" must have been ill founded, as I see by a York paper that they had been spoken with the 21st to the southward of the...
44From George Washington to Elias Dayton, 28 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
I was Yesterday favored with your Letter without Date. Had not the Enemy made the Movement which you mention, I should, by that Time, have given you Directions to have drawn your Brigade towards this River in present Circumstances, you will be pleased to draw together as much as possibly you can, the whole Brigade (except the Parties in the Clover) to one Point, at Morris Town, where you will...
45From George Washington to Elias Dayton, 18 May 1782 (Washington Papers)
Yours of the 14th Inst. I have received, and am obliged to Observe that the proceedings of the Court Martial of which Lt Colo. Cummings is President, are executed in such a manner as to carry the strongest Marks of Hurry & Inattention. The opinion of the Court is noted in a most singular Manner; viz. "The Court are of opinion after the most mature Deliberation that three of the Prisoners are...
46From George Washington to Elias Dayton, 24 June 1782 (Washington Papers)
I enclose you the Copy of a Letter from His Excellency Governor Livingston to me, informg that two Persons coming from N.York in a private manner to Elizabeth Town have been suffered to pass from thence by Captain Dayton—this (whatever the particular circumstances might be) is so diametrically opposite to the spirit of my directions expressed in my Letter of the 10th of May to you, that I must...
47From Jonathan Trumbull, Jr. to Elias Dayton, 16 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
Inclose You three Letters for Lord Fairfax & two others for the Reverend Denny Martin of Leeds Castle in Scotland which His Excellency requests You to send to New York by the first Flag. I am Sir Your most Obedt Servt DLC : Papers of George Washington.
48From George Washington to Elias Dayton, 11 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I last night recd your favr of the 9th. The intelligence you communicate is interesting and what you will be pleased either to confirm or contradict as speedily as possible and with as much precision as you can as to the number of ships of War—Troops and destination—The number of ships of the line mentioned by your informant must be false except the enemy have received a reinforcement. I have...
49From George Washington to Elias Dayton, 4 June 1782 (Washington Papers)
I am just informed by the Sectry at War that Capt. Asgill of the British Guards, the unfortunate Officer who is destined to be the unhappy Victim to atone for the Death of Capt. Huddy, was arrived in Philadelphia, & would sett off very soon for the Jersey Line, the place assigned for his Execution—He will probably arrive as soon as this will reach you—and will be attended by Capt. Ludlow, his...
50From George Washington to Col. Elias Dayton, 20 January 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Col. Elias Dayton, 20 Jan. 1777. Dayton’s letter to GW of 13 Jan. is docketed in part “Ansd 20th.”