51From 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...
52From 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...
53From 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...
54From 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...
55From George Washington to Elias Dayton, 12 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your favr of this date. You will remain where you are ’till further orders, but you will make me an exact Return in the morning of the force which you have brought with you. However desirable a supply of Cloathing may be, I have no authority to allow it to be procured in the manner which Mr Caldwell mentions. I am Dear Sir yr most obt Servt CSmH .
56From George Washington to Elias Dayton, 21 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
You will this evening detach a party of 100 men to take post upon the Heights at Fort Lee and those above it opposite to Spiten Devil and wherever any shipping may lay. I would wish the Officers to be intelligent and capable of observation—and to make remarks upon the seeming strength of the enemy if they turn out upon an Alarm and how they in such cases dispose of their troops—The Business of...
57From 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.
58From 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...
59From 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 :...
60From George Washington to Elias Dayton, 17 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
You will be pleased to detach from the Brigade under your command upon the receipt of this, a Capt. & 50, with orders to patrole the Country between Closter and the New Bridge, the Officer must not consider either of these places as his post, but continue to range the intermediate space untill he receives further Orders. I wish you to be particular in your orders to the officer, that he may...
61From 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...
62From 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...
63From George Washington to Elias Dayton, 24 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
Be so good as to use your best endeavours to obtain intelligence from York and Staten Island, that we may know what effect our late movements have produced. ascertain the strength of the Enemy on Staten Island, & whether any Troops have arrived from Virginia—What Boats could, on an emergency, be procured between Newark &and Amboy for transporting Troops if they should be required. and hold...
64From 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...
65From 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 .
66From 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 .
67From 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...
68From 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...
69From 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...
70From 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...
71From George Washington to Elias Dayton, 1 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Letter of the 22nd of Febry enclosing the Proceedings of a Court Martial on James Fury a Soldier of the 2nd Regt of Jersey who is sentenced to death for desertion—I have approved the Sentence, without appointing the time for his Execution—Should it, upon farther consideration, be deemed necessary that an example of this kind should be made at the present time, and that the...
72From 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...
73From 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...
74From 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.
75From George Washington to Elias Dayton, 7 May 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Letter of the 6th and am obliged to you for the Papers & Intelligence contained therein—Altho I can by no Means imagine the Enemy will give over an Offensive Naval War, or that all the Reports respecting their granting Independence, have any other design or tendency than to lull us into a state of more profound security & inactivity, if possible. Some time ago the...
76From George Washington to Elias Dayton, 10 May 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have given the most peremptory Orders, that no Flag from the Enemy shall be received at any other place or post but Dobbs Ferry, on any business or pretext whatsoever—and that no Flag from us to them shall, (for any reason however pressing) be permitted to pass to the Enemies Lines, except from the same place. You will take measures for carrying this Order effectually into execution, so far...
77From 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...
78From 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...
79From 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...
80From 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...
81From George Washington to Elias Dayton, 11 June 1782 (Washington Papers)
I am informed by casual report that a Captain of the 57th Regt British, lately taken by Captain Hyler at the Light House, is on his Parole at Elizabeth Town, or in that vicinity, as it is improper he should remain at any place so near the Lines, & as I am informed he is wounded in such a manner as to be incapable of being removed to a distance, I wish you to pay immediate attention to the...
82From 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...
83From George Washington to Elias Dayton, 22 June 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have received your two Letters of the 17th and 18th Instants. The only object I had in view, in ordering Captain Asgill to be confined at the Hutts, was the perfect security of the Prisoner—this must be attended to; but I am very willing, and indeed wish, that every Indulgence, which is not inconsistent with that, may be granted to him—And so with respect to Captain Schaack. When I first...
84From 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.
85From 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...
86From George Washington to Elias Dayton, 3 July 1782 (Washington Papers)
From the inclosed information of Captain Stevens there is reason to apprehend, the business of driving Cattle to the Enemy is carrying on with great Art and assiduity. It would be a happy circumstance if the Villains concerned in it could be detected. I have therefore to request you will take such precautions as you shall judge best calculated to learn whether any such Cattle are passing in...
87From George Washington to Elias Dayton, 5 July 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have reced a Letter of the 1st Instant from Cap. Dayton informing me that Lt McDonald of the 71st British had come from the Enemy. Many reasons may be alledged to justify the Desertion of a Private Soldier, but such a Conduct in an Officer cannot but impress a very unfavorable opinion of his Character—Experience has proved that I am right in my suspicions of such People and therefore I wish...
88From George Washington to Elias Dayton, 11 July 1782 (Washington Papers)
Notwithstanding the pointed orders which have been issued against receiving Flags at Elizabethtown, & the Subsequent one, which appeared to me, before , altogether unnecessary; as the first certainly included the other, that no Persons should come from, nor communication be had with New York, I am informed that People are daily coming out & the intercourse as open with the City, as ever. I...
89From 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...
90From 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.
91From George Washington to Elias Dayton, 25 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
You will be pleased to commence the march of the Jersey Brigade by the left on thursday morning the 29th Inst. towards the Hudson—your movements will be conducted so as to reach Kings Ferry on the Evening of the third day’s march: the route will be by Dodds’, Suffrans, & Kakeate, near the first mentioned place you may halt the first night, and in the vicinity of Suffran’s the second—this will...
92From 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...
93From George Washington to Elias Dayton, 31 March 1783 (Washington Papers)
I have received information that Captain Ogden of the Jersey Line has lately been into the City of New York—As I conceive there is a great Military impropriety in such conduct unless he had proper authority for the purpose, and as I am totally unacquainted with any permission he could have had, I must request you will please to order him to the Army immediately, that a public investigation may...
94From David Humphreys to Elias Dayton, 7 April 1783 (Washington Papers)
The Negro Boy, whom it is said Captain Ballard attempted to sell, waits upon you with this—he reports that the Person who pretended to purchase him consents to give up the Bill of Sale, upon his obtaining a Certificate that Captn Ballard had no right to dispose of him as a Slave—Justice & Humanity require the Matter should be enquired into, that, in case it shall appear the lad is free, or was...
95From 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.
96From 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...