1From George Washington to Major Generals Charles Lee and William Heath, 14 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
As an Exchange of Prisoners, is likely to take effect, as soon as the circumstance of the case will admit, and as, in the course of the transaction, it may possibly happen, that an attempt may be made by the Enemy to redeem their prisoners by men in their possession, who were never ingag’d in our service, I must request you, to direct the Colonels, or Commanders of Regiments under your...
2From George Washington to Major Generals Charles Lee and William Heath, 16–17 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
You will perceive by the inclosed Resolves, that Congress have entered into some New regulations respecting the Inlistment of the New Army, and reprobating the measures adopted by the State of Massachusetts Bay for raising their Quota of Men. As every possible exertion should be used for recruiting the Army as speedily as may be, I request that you immediately publish in Orders that an...
3From George Washington to Major General Charles Lee, 22 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
Mr Boudinot, at Comy Lorings request, met at German town yesterday; from whence he is just returned, after having agreed on a final exchange of yourself and other Officers with that Gentleman. That delay may not produce danger, I shall send in a flag tomorrow for your parole—when obtained, I shall most cordially, and sincerely, congratulate you on your restoration to your Country, and to the...
4From George Washington to Major General Charles Lee, 9 May 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 5th Ulto from Williamsburg (the first I have receivd from you since you left this City) came to my hands by the last Post. I thank you for your kind congratulations on our Possession of Boston—I thank you also for your good wishes in our future operation’s—and hope that every diabolical attempt to deprive Mankind of their Inherent Rights and Priviledges, whether made in the...
5From George Washington to Major General Charles Lee, 12 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed you will receive a Copy of Sundry Resolutions of Congress, which came to hand since I left the Plains. They will discover to you their Opinion as to the necessity of taking the most early measures to levy the New Army. The Resolves cannot have any Operation but in the instance of the Rhode-Island Regiments, Commissioners having come from the States of Massachusets & Connecticut and...
6From George Washington to Maj. Gen. Charles Lee, 2 December 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Maj. Gen. Charles Lee, 2 Dec. 1776. GW wrote Lee on 3 Dec. : “Having wrote you fully both Yesterday and to day of my situation, It is unnecessary for me to add much at this time.”
7From Benjamin Franklin to Charles Lee, 11 February 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Justin G. Turner, Los Angeles (1959) The Bearer Monsr. Arundel is directed by the Congress to repair to Gen. Schuyler, in order to be employ’d by him in the Artillery Service. He purposes to wait on you on his Way, and has requested me to introduce him by a Line to you. He has been an Officer in the French Service, as you will see by his Commissions; and professing a Good Will to our...
8From George Washington to Major General Charles Lee, 24 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you this morning of the probability, that some of your letters, to me, had fall’n with the mail into the enemy’s hands; My apprehensions on that head, have been since confirmed. By direct intelligence from their camp, I am informed that a letter from you, is confidently said to have come to their hands, & that measures are taking to intercept your march; To prevent them from effecting...
9From George Washington to Major General Charles Lee, 1 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am to inform you, that Congress not perceiving that any advantage would be derived either to yourself or the public Interest from an interview between you and a part of their Members, could not consider ⟨them⟩selves at liberty to comply with your request. At the same time I am to assure you, that every ⟨means⟩ will be pursued to provide for you⟨r safety and⟩ the attainment of your liberty....
10From George Washington to Maj. Gen. Charles Lee, 3 December 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Maj. Gen. Charles Lee, 3 Dec. 1776. GW wrote Lee on this date : “Having wrote you fully both Yesterday and to day of my situation, It is unnecessary for me to add much at this time.”
11From George Washington to Major General Charles Lee, 27 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
I last night received the favor of your Letter of the 25th. My former Letters were so full and explicit as to the necessity of your marching as early as possible, that it is unnecessary to add more on that Head. I confess I expected you would have been sooner in motion. The force here when joined by yours, will not be adequate to any great opposition, at present it is weak, and it has been...
12From George Washington to Major General Charles Lee, 10 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I last night received your favor by Colo. Humpton & were it not for the weak and feeble state of the force I have, I should highly approve of your hanging on the Rear of the Enemy and establishing the Post you mention; But when my situation is directly opposite to what you suppose it to be, and when Genl Howe is pressing forward with the whole of his Army except the Troops that were lately...
13From George Washington to Major General Charles Lee, 15 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Letter of this date, and thank you, as I shall do any Officer over whom I have the honor to be placed for his opinion and advice, in matters of importance; especially when they proceed from the fountain of candor, & not from a captious spirit, or an itch for criticism. No man can be more sensible of the defects of our present arrangement than I am—No man more sensible of...
14From George Washington to Major General Charles Lee, 29 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure of enclosing you a Letter from your Freind Robt Morris Esqr. with a draft on Major Small for £116.9.3. S⟨tg⟩. It will afford me the highest satisfaction to receive a Line from you, informing me of the State of your Health and your Situation, in both of which I hope you are as happy as a person under your Circumstances can possibly be. Such further Supplies as you may have...
15From George Washington to Major General Charles Lee, 27 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I last night received your favor of the 30th Ulto. It gave me great pleasure to hear that you were released from your confined situation and permitted so many indulgencies. You may rest assured that I feel myself very much interested in your welfare, and that every exertion has been used on my part to effect your Exchange. This I have not been able to accomplish, However from the Letters which...
16From George Washington to Major General Charles Lee, 26 February 1776 (Washington Papers)
I received your esteemed favor of the 14th Instant, which gave me great pleasure being impatient to hear from you—I rejoice to find that you are getting better, & Coud not avoid Laughing at Capt. Parkers reasons for not putting his repeated threats into execution. I take notice of your intended dispositions for defence, which I request you will loose no time in putting into execution—as from...
17George Washington to Major General Charles Lee, 4 July 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] July 4, 1777. Discusses Drummond’s breach of parole. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Lee was a prisoner of the British in New York City. Lord James Drummond.
18From George Washington to Major General Charles Lee, 30 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
I received your letter (dated thro’ mistake the 1st of July) expressed as I conceive, in terms highly improper. I am not conscious of having made use of any very singular expressions at the time of my meeting you, as you intimate. What I recollect to have said, was dictated by duty and warranted by the occasion. As soon as circumstances will permit, you shall have an opportunity, either of...
19From George Washington to Major General Charles Lee, 10 February 1776 (Washington Papers)
I was very sorry to find by your Letter of the 29th Ulto which is the last I have received from you, that you were confined by the Gout; but having had some casual acct of your Moving on, I expect you have, e’er this, settled some Plan with the Committee of Congress for your Operation’s at New York &ca, & therefore, any direction of mine would be unseasonable. If the Asia Man of War lay in the...
20Instructions to Major General Charles Lee, 8 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
Having undoubted Intelligence of the fitting out of a Fleet at Boston, and of the Imbarkation of Troops from thence, which from the Season of the year, & other Circumstances must be destined for a Southern Expedition—and having such Information as I can rely on, that the Inhabitants (or great part of them) on Long Island in the Colony of New York are not only Inemical to the Rights and...
21From George Washington to Major General Charles Lee, 21 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
It must be painful to you as well as to us to have no News to send you but of a melancholy Nature. Yesterday Morning the Enemy landed a large Body of Troops below Dobb’s Ferry & advanced very rapidly to the Fort called by your Name. I immediately went over & as the Fort was not tenable on this side & we in a narrow Neck of Land the passes out of wch the Enemy were attempting to sieze directed...
22From George Washington to Major General Charles Lee, 16 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I received the favor of your Letter of the 9th Instt on Friday night about 10 OClock. It was accompanied by One for the Congress & by several Others, the whole of which were transmitted by an Express the next morning, whom I directed to proceed without delay. Mr Eustace being in Virginia and Mr Bradford at Rhode Island, I cannot comply with your request respecting them. Mr Morris who was your...
23From George Washington to Maj. Gen. Charles Lee, December 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Maj. Gen. Charles Lee. Lee wrote in his second letter to GW of 8 Dec. : “Major Hoops has just deliver’d to me your Excellencys letter,” and on that same date GW wrote Hancock: “I have no certain intelligence of Genl Lee, although I have sent frequent Expresses to him and lately a Colo. Humpton to bring me some accurate Accounts of his situation. I last night dispatched...
24From George Washington to Major General Charles Lee, 1 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Enemy are advanci[n]g & have got as far as Woodbridge and Amboy, and from information not to be doubted mean to push to Philadelphia. The force I have with me, is infinitely inferior in number and such as cannot give or promise the least successfull opposition. It is greatly reduced by the departure of the Maryland flying Camp men and Sundry other causes. I must entreat you to hasten your...
25From George Washington to Major General Charles Lee, 26 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your uneasiness, on account of the command of yesterday’s detachment, fills me with concern, as it is not in my power, fully, to remove it without wounding the feelings of the Marquiss de la Fayette—I have thought of an expedient, which though not quite equal to either of your views, may in some measure answer both; and that is to make another detachment from this Army for the purpose of...
26From George Washington to Charles Lee, 26 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
I received your favor of the 24th and have transmitted Your Letter for Colo. Butler to General Maxwell, with directions to send it to him immediately by a flag. As some delay might arise from Colo. Butler’s writing to me upon the occasion, I have requested him to advise Genl Maxwell of the day he appoints for the interview, who will inform you, when you arrive at Elizabeth Town—and furnish the...
27From George Washington to Major General Charles Lee, 22 February 1776 (Washington Papers)
I fully expected by the Two last Posts to have received your favours, with an account of the measures you have been & are pursuing for the defence of New York, & of such Occurrences as you might have thought worthy of Notice; As I did not, nor got several other Letters which I expected, I cannot but suppose, they have been Intercepted at some of the Offices, or by some Accident prevented...
28From George Washington to Major General Charles Lee, 4 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
I received your favour of the 7th June, in which you enter into consideration of the breach of parole imputed to Lord Drummond; and give it as your opinion, that his conduct has not been such as to justify the imputation. It can answer no valuable purpose to enter into a discussion of the particulars of this affair, which would probably end as it began and leave his Lordship and myself in the...
29From George Washington to Major General Charles Lee, 24 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
By the negligent and infamous conduct of the post rider, the Eastern Mail of Friday was brought to Heckensec and there stopped to fall into the hands of the Enemy. Supposing it may have contained some Letters from you of a public nature, I have thought it proper to give you the earliest notice, that you may guard against any advantages the Enemy may expect to derive from the Accident. I...
30From John Adams to Charles Lee, 19 February 1776 (Adams Papers)
The Congress have seen such a Necessity of an able Commander in Canada, as to destine you to that most arduous Service. I tremble for your Health, yet I hope the Campaign will rather promote it than otherwise. We want you att N. York. We want you at Cambridge. We want you in Virginia. But Canada seems of more Importance than any of those Places. And therefore you are sent there. I wish you as...