31To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 26 March 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
By unavoidable Incidents this Letter is delayed beyond the usual Time for which I assure you I am extremely sorry. Your Favor gave great Pleasure as well to the Committee as to several Members of the House who are much pleased with your judicious Caution to distinguish between what you sport as your private Opinion and the weighty Sentiments of the General. No Circumstance could have more...
32To Alexander Hamilton from Robert R. Livingston, 29 March 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
We received your favor of the [22] Instant and am obliged to you not only for your Acceptance of a very troublesome Challenge, but for the Alacrity with which you meet us in the field. We wish it would Afford you as many Laurels, as you are like to reap elsewhere! You have heard of the Enemy’s little Excursion to Peeks ⟨Kill⟩; we wish it may not encourage them, to make a more serious Attempt,...
33To Alexander Hamilton from the New York Committee of Correspondence, 2 April 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
We received Your’s of the 29th. Ultimo and are extream⟨ly⟩ sorry to hear of your Indisposition. In our last we expressed an Apprehension that the Enemy might possibly make Hudson’s River their first Object; not only because they could open their Campaign there earlier than they could go to Pensilvania as in one Case their Army would move by land and in the other by Water; But because having...
34To Alexander Hamilton from the New York Committee of Correspondence, 8 April 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Yours of the third came safe⟨ly to hand⟩ this Day and gave us great Pleasure by certifying your Hea⟨lth. The scantiness of⟩ our Numbers will not permit the Loss of one useful ⟨citizen. It is⟩, therefore, a determined Point that sick or well, you are by no means ⟨to⟩ die. At this Distance it is impossible to determine what the Enemy can or what they can not do. But certainly if we can bring a...
35To Alexander Hamilton from William Smith, 9 April 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
The Convention on having granted a Permission to Mr. Le Roy to repair to head Quarters in order to solicit leave to go to New York; And having omitted to take his Parole, they beg the favor of you to carry the enclosed Resolution into execution. I am Sir Your most Obedt. Servt. By Order. LS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Smith, a delegate from Suffolk, wrote in his capacity as...
36To Alexander Hamilton from Major General William Alexander, Lord Stirling, 12 April 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Basking Ridge [ New Jersey ] April 12, 1777. “… the time of Capt. James Scotts Company will expire the 14th.… I believe it will be best that I be furnished with His Excellency’s dismission of them by the day. I wrote to his Excellency … about the Appointment of Wilcocks. If he is approved of, I wish you would get both McWilliams & him in orders.…” ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress....
37To Alexander Hamilton from the New York Committee of Correspondence, 17 April 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Kingston [ New York ] April 17, 1777. “We are directed by Convention to enclose a resolution passed this day in addition to that of the 1st. of Apl. which we before did ourselves the honor to transmit to his Excellency.…” Asks Hamilton to consult with Washington on propriety of enlisting “ignorant young lads,” who had joined the enemy and now wish “to enlist in our regiments.” ALS , Hamilton...
38To Alexander Hamilton from the New York Committee of Correspondence, 24 April 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Kingston, New York, April 24, 1777. On this date the Provincial Convention of New York adopted the following resolution: “ Resolved , That Major Lawrence and Capt. Rutgers, be a committee to confer with Colonel Robert Livingston on the subject of making field cannon out of wrought iron; and that the committee of correspondence be directed to write to Colonel Hamilton for his opinion on the...
39To Alexander Hamilton from Hugh Knox, [April–May 1777] (Hamilton Papers)
A pretty fair opportunity Just offering for Philada., I could not omit acknowledging the receipt of you⟨r⟩ Very Circumstantial and Satisfactory Letter of the 14th. Feby. The thing has Happen’d which I wish’d for. We have been amased here by vague, imperfect, & very false accts. of matters from the Continent, & I always told my friends that if you Surviv’d the Campain & had an hour of leisure...
40To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 11 May 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Kingston, New York, May 11, 1777. On May 12, 1777, Hamilton wrote to Morris: “I have received the pleasure of your favour of yesterday’s date.” Letter not found. ]
41To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 16 May 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
I had the Pleasure of your two Favors within two Days of each other and am very happy to find that our Form of Government meets with your Approbation. That there are Faults in it is not to be wondered at for it is the Work of Men and of Men perhaps not the best qualified for such Undertakings. I think it deficient for the Want of Vigor in the executive unstable from the very Nature of popular...
42To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 24 May 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Kingston [ New York ] May 24, 1777. Has no news of the destruction of stores at St. Johns. Speculates on future course of the war and discusses need for maintaining health of troops. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. This letter was written by Morris in his capacity as a member of the New York Committee of Correspondence.
43To Alexander Hamilton from Robert R. Livingston, 7 June 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
With my place at Council I resume the agreeable task of writing to you & answering your Letter directed to Mr. Jay. I see with you the propriety of collecting our army to a point & have often been under apprehentions least the enemy should take advantage of our former dispersed state & the necessity that drove us into it. But they have wanted the spirit of enterprize or been deceived greatly...
44To Alexander Hamilton from Robert R. Livingston, [25 June 1777] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Kingston, New York, June 25, 1777. On June 28, 1777, Hamilton wrote to Robert R. Livingston: “Yours of the 25th came to hand last night.” Letter not found. ]
45To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 4 July 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Your Letter gave me the Pleasure of knowing with Certainty what might be depended upon among the numerous Reports circulated Thro the Country with Relation to the Several movements of the Enemy. That Howe wishes to draw you to a General Action is highly Probable because certainly he hath no other Means of conquering the Country, but the time when he wishes to Engage must depend upon a General...
46To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, [18 July 1777] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Saratoga, New York, July 18, 1777. On July 22, 1777, Hamilton wrote to Morris: “Your favour of the 18th ⟨from Saratoga reached me⟩ yesterday.” Letter not found. ]
47To Alexander Hamilton from Robert R. Livingston, 25 July 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
[ July 25, 1777. On July 29, 1777, Hamilton wrote to Livingston: “I have the pleasure of your favour of the 25th.” Letter not found. ]
48To Alexander Hamilton from Robert R. Livingston, 2 August 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
I wish I Could beleive as You do with respect to the Enemies Strenght, but in order to do this I must prefer loose Conjectures to the Greatest Variety of Concurring testimoneys—That prisoners may Endeavour to Deceive I think probable, but that a number of Men should agree to tell a Similar tale, & give like Answers to questions without knowing what those questions will be, I Cannot beleive,...
49To Alexander Hamilton from Robert R. Livingston, 10 August 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
I was much disappointed at not hearing from you by the return of the express, which I attribute in great measure to his negligence in not calling for an Answer to my Letter. I am sorry to inform you that things wear a more gloomy aspect here than ever, that our army instead of being increased daily diminishes, that the Troops of which it is composed are so dispersed, as to be unable to stop...
50Major General John Sullivan to Lieutenant Colonels Alexander Hamilton and John Laurens, [21 September 1777] (Hamilton Papers)
[ September 20, 1777. On September 21, 1777, Hamilton and Laurens wrote to Sullivan : “We have just received your favour of Yesterday.” Letter not found .] Laurens, like H, was an aide-de-camp of Washington. A native of South Carolina and the son of Henry Laurens, John Laurens was H’s closest friend in Washington’s official family.
51To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, [21 September 1777] (Hamilton Papers)
The distressed situation of the army for want of blankets and many necessary articles of Cloathing, is truly deplorable; and must inevitably be destructive to it, unless a speedy remedy be applied. Without a better supply than they at present have, it will be impossible for the men to support the fatigues of the campaign in the further progress of the approaching inclement season. This you...
52To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 22 September 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
I have order’d eight or Ten light Horse more to your assistance, and if you should find a further force necessary to facilitate the business you are upon, there are fifty or sixty dismounted No Carolinians attach’d at present to Colo. Nicholas Corps. These must be subject to your order. I have been just now inform’d, that there are not less than three thousand pair of Shoes in the hands of...
53To Alexander Hamilton from Marquis de Fleury, 15–19 October 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Fort Mifflin on Mud Island in the Delaware River ] October 15–19, 1777 . Discusses defences of Fort Mifflin and the British attack on the fort. Copy in writing of John Laurens, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. MS which is headed “Substance of Captain Fleury’s Letter to Col. Hamilton” can be found in a journal kept by Fleury from October 15 to November 8, 1777. François Louis...
54[To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington], [21 October 1777] (Hamilton Papers)
The Magazine of History , VI (November, 1907), 294. This letter is listed here because it is attributed to H in The Magazine of History . Actually it was written by Robert Hanson Harrison for Washington to Brigadier General James Potter and is printed in GW John C. Fitzpatrick, ed., The Writings of George Washington (Washington, 1931–1944). , IX, 408–09.
55Baron d’Arendt to Lieutenant Colonels Alexander Hamilton and John Laurens, 26 October [1777] (Hamilton Papers)
Fort Mifflin [ on Mud Island in the Delaware River ] October 26 [ 1777 ]. Discusses plans for defence of Fort Mifflin. ALS , MS Division New York Public Library. This letter is in French. There is no addressee on the MS. In unidentified handwriting on the last page the following is written, “Col Hamilton Col John Larens.” The contents of the letter indicate that it was written to someone at...
56To Alexander Hamilton from Marquis de Fleury, 26 October 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Fort Mifflin on Mud Island in the Delaware River ] October 26, 1777 . Describes the situation at Fort Mifflin. Expects an assault. Copy, in writing of John Laurens, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. John C. Fitzpatrick in his Calendar of the Correspondence of George Washington with the Officers John C. Fitzpatrick, Calendar of the Correspondence of George Washington, Commander...
57To Alexander Hamilton from Marquis de Fleury, 28 October 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Fort Mifflin on Mud Island in the Delaware River ] October 28, 1777 . Expects an attack on the Fort. Describes the victory of October 23, 1777. Copy in writing of John Laurens, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Fitzpatrick in his Calendar of the Correspondence of George Washington with the Officers John C. Fitzpatrick, Calendar of the Correspondence of George Washington,...
58To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 30 October 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
It having been judged expedient by the Members of ⟨a⟨ Council of War held yesterday, that one of the Gentlemen of my family should be sent to Genl: Gates in order to lay befor⟨e⟩ him the State of this Army; and the Situation of the Ene⟨my⟩ and to point out to him the many happy Consequences that will accrue from an immediate reinforceme⟨nt⟩ being sent from the Nothern Army; I have thought ⟨it⟩...
59To Alexander Hamilton from Marquis de Fleury, 2–3 November 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Fort Mifflin on Mud Island in the Delaware River ] November 2–3, 1777 . Describes the erection of a battery on the British ship Augusta. Complains of his lack of authority at the fort. Copy in writing of John Laurens, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. This MS is entitled “Major Fleury’s Journal and Letter to Colonel Hamilton.” Fitzpatrick in his Calendar of the Correspondence of...
60To Alexander Hamilton from Marquis de Fleury, 4–8 November 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Fort Mifflin on Mud Island in the Delaware River ] November 4–8, 1777 . Acknowledges receipt of “His Excellencys order authorizing me to exercise the functions of Engineer at Fort Mifflin.” Copy in writing of John Laurens, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Fitzpatrick in his Calendar of the Correspondence of George Washington with the Officers John C. Fitzpatrick, Calendar of...