1From George Washington to Brigadier General John Lacey, Jr., 23 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I received your favor dated the 21st Instant & must request that you will exert yourself to fulfill the intention of keeping a body of Troops in the Country where you are posted. Protecting the Inhabitants is one of the ends designed, and preventing supplies and intercourse with the Enemy is the other, this, perhaps with the utmost vigilance cannot be totally effected, But I must intreat you...
2From George Washington to Brigadier General John Lacey, Jr., 8 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
The communication between the City and country, in spite of every thing hitherto done still continuing, and threatning the most pernicious consequences; I am induced to beg you will exert every possible expedient to put a stoop to it. In order to this, to excite the zeal of the Militia under your command and make them more active in their duty, I would have you to let every thing actually...
3From George Washington to Brigadier General John Lacey, Jr., 13 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have yours of the 11th informing me of the reduced State of your Militia. I have wrote to the president on the Subject, and have let him know that unless the number of Men (one thousand) which Genl Armstrong promised should be kept up, are regularly and constantly in the feild, it will be impossible to cover the Country on the other side of Schuylkill. Except such proof can be obtained...
4From George Washington to Brigadier General John Lacey, Jr., 21 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I received your Favors of the 19th & 20th Instant. With respect to the three Men you mention to have taken, when going to Philadelphia, I wish you to examine them & the Witnesses on the subject and to punish ’em in such manner, as they may deserve. If there is any of them, who appear to be great Offenders, & to be proper Objects for Capital punishment, you will send them to Head Quarters with...
5From George Washington to Brigadier General John Lacey, Jr., 2 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I yesterday recd yours of the 27th Feby. I had heard of the loss of the Cattle before it came to hand, and I am sorry to say that the loss is imputed to your having refused to let the drovers have a guard when they applied for one. I shall be glad to know whether it is so, and if true, what could be your reason for refusing. I desire you to send a party of 150 Men, under a good Officer, well...
6From George Washington to Brigadier General John Lacey, Jr., 20 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
Sunday next being the time on which the Quakers hold one of their general meetings, a number of that society will probably be attempting to go into Philadelphia. This is an intercourse that we should by all means endeavour to interrupt, as the plans setled at these meetings are of the pernicious tendency. I would therefore have you dispose of your parties in such a manner as will most probably...
7From George Washington to Brigadier General John Lacey, Jr., 31 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Letter of the 29th and in answer to your Plan of removing all the Inhabitants in the vicinity of the Enemys Lines, with a view of stopping the communication between the city and the Country—have to observe that the measure is rather desirable than practicable—if it could be carried into execution, it would undoubtedly put an end to the pernicious illicit Commerce which at...
8From George Washington to Brigadier General John Lacey, Jr., 4 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
Commissioners from me are to meet others from General Howe on Monday next at Newtown to settle a Cartel for a general Exchange of prisoners. During the sitting of the Commissioners none of our parties are to enter the Town, and you are therefore to give immediate notice to all the Officers under your command to pay strict obedience to this order. The British Commissioners will probably come...
9From George Washington to Brigadier General John Lacey, Jr., 11 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
I recd yours of yesterday inclosing the proceedings of a Court Martial against sundry inhabitants for supplying the Enemy with provision, and a Return of your Brigade. When you have gone thro’ the trials of the whole, I would recommend it to you to send such, as you think dangerous and who would join the Enemy if released, to the president, with a desire to confine them or put them to labour...
10From George Washington to Brigadier General John Lacey, Jr., 3 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I received yours of yesterday giving me an account of your misfortune. You may depend that this will ever be the consequence of permitting yourself to be surprised, and if that was owing to the misconduct of the Officer who was advanced, you should have him brought to trial—It is not improbable that the Enemy, flushed with their success, will soon be out again, if you keep a strict watch upon...