301From George Washington to Benjamin Lincoln, 4 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Every day convinces me that the Enemy are determined to bend their force against the southern States, and that we must support them powerfully from this Quarter, or they will be lost. Except such support is given in time, it will be ineffectual—The enemy will not only have established themselves in posts, but in the affections of many of the people. The pennsylvania Line is already ordered to...
302From Alexander Hamilton to Benjamin Lincoln, 26 June 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, June 26, 1794. “Inclosed is a copy of a letter to me from the collector of Barnstable, being an application for a Boat for the use of the Inspector at Tarpentine cove. I request your opinion as to the public utility of keeping such a boat at the place mentioned.” L[S] , RG 36, Collector of Customs at Boston, Letters from the Treasury, 1789–1807, Vol. 4, National Archives;...
303From Alexander Hamilton to Benjamin Lincoln, [10 September 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
I have now under consideration the subject of boats for protection of the Revenue. Though they might be built collectively in certain places with most œconomy; as the saving would not be material, and umbrage might be given, I conclude it will be best to make a partition of them among the states. Accordingly, if the President approves my proposition, One will be built at Boston another at...
304From George Washington to Benjamin Lincoln, 18 May 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have been favord with yours of the 13th instant. Disagreeable to me as the Measure is, I am compelled by necessity to give Orders to Genl Hazen to select an Officer from among those under Capitulation or Convention—inclosed are my Instructions to him—which you will be pleased to forward. I think it necessary & expedient that the Aides D. Camp, to the Brigadiers, & the Brigade Majors, should...
305From George Washington to Benjamin Lincoln, 18 May 1783 (Washington Papers)
From the inclosed Transcript of a Letter from M. Genl Greene to me, and the Extract of my Reply to him, you will learn, the Wishes of Genl Greene respecting the Removal of the Troops from the Southward. And you will also observe my Opinion thereon, provided no Reasons of Congress shall militate against it. Will you be pleased to obtain the Pleasure of Congress on this Subject—and in...
306From George Washington to Benjamin Lincoln, 21 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
In conformity to a Resolve of Congress of the 19th of December last I am to make known to you the number of General Officers which I shall judge necessary to be in the Field in the Main and separate Armies and in different parts of the United States. This at the present moment considering the uncertainty of the operation of the Campaign which will depend not only upon the dispositions of the...
307From Alexander Hamilton to Benjamin Lincoln, 22 January 1795 (Hamilton Papers)
Inclosed I transmit to you, the Copies of three several petitions of Jacob Quincy, and John McCalpin to the Judge of the District Court of the District of Maine. I have therefore to request that after maturely considering the facts stated in the said Petitions and the suggestion concerning your Deputy you will be pleased to inform me, whether what is alledged did happen and also what is the...
308From George Washington to Benjamin Lincoln, 17 June 1782 (Washington Papers)
When pressed by Neccessity to adopt a Measure, a Choice is scarcely left us. In answer therefore to your Letter of the 12th Instant, I am obliged to observe, that the Tardiness of the States will compel us to that, which in my Opinion, policy forbids. At this critical Moment, Inclination would not lead me to consent to disbandg any Corps of the Army—But if the States cannot—or what is the...
309From George Washington to Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 11 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favors of the 25th & 28th of last Month, and it gives me very great pleasure to find that you are appointed to a Committee the subject of whose deliberations you are so well acquainted with—and it adds not a little to my satisfaction to hear, that it is generally composed of Gentlemen remarkable for their good sense & patriotism, at a time when there never was greater...
310From George Washington to Benjamin Lincoln, 7 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
A skilful Navigator, and a man of respectable character should be appointed Commodore—He is to give to each Skipper his Orders—fix signals for the whole to be governed by—to keep them in compact order—run them to Burwells Ferry, or James Town on James River, where they are to debark unless they meet other orders, on the passage—and to return with all possible expedition to Baltimore for the...
311From George Washington to Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 28 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
I received your letter of the 8th of July with that pleasure which we always experience in hearing from those for whom we have a real esteem—The details you give me of your attack upon Stono ferry are obliging and satisfactory; and “though all was not done which you wished” I have no doubt that the attempt had a good effect and at least accelerated the retreat of the Enemy—It did no discredit...
312From George Washington to Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 9 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have had the pleasure of receiving your favor of the 25th of December. If prejudices will still prevail against experience, the fatal effects of temporary inlistments must be endured to the risque, if not the ruin, of the cause. The discontents and jealousies arising from this source have at length broke out in the Pennsylvania Line as you will have been informed by General Knox before this...
313From George Washington to Benjamin Lincoln, 28 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
I received with your letter of the 9th instant, one from Mr Minot and also his History of the Insurrections in Massachusetts. The work seems to be executed with ingenuity, as well as to be calculated to place facts in a true point of light, obviate the prejudices of those who were unacquainted with the circumstances & answer good purposes in respect to our government in general. I have...
314From George Washington to Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 12 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
I had the pleasure of receiving yours of the 22d October by Colo. Laurens, to whose information, I am indebted for a very particular account of the situation of affairs to the southward. I had, previous to his arrival, been furnished by Congress with Copies of your dispatches by Major Clarkson, who came forward himself to Head Quarters. By him, I had the mortification of hearing of the ill...
315From Alexander Hamilton to Benjamin Lincoln, 1 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
The Trustees of the sinking fund have thought fit to commit to you the making of purchases of the public debt to the amount of fifty thousand Dollars pursuant to the Act making provision for the reduction of the public debt. To enable you to execute this trust (which I doubt not you will chearfully undertake) I have directed the Treasurer to forward to you fifty thousand dollars in Notes of...
316From George Washington to Benjamin Lincoln, 2 October 1782 (Washington Papers)
Painful as the task is to discribe the dark side of our affairs, it some times becomes a matter of indispensable necessity—Without disguize or palliation, I will inform you candidly of the discontents which, at this moment, prevail universally throughout the Army. The Complaint of Evils which they suppose almost remediless are, the total want of Money, or the means of existing from One day to...
317From George Washington to Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 15 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have duly received your favor of the 9th of last Month, containing an account of the Enemy’s movements till that period. Since the receipt of this I have seen a Copy of a Letter from the Honble Mr Gervais, one of the Council, as low down as the 15th—and was happy to find by it that their Batteries, though they had been opened some days, had done You but very little damage; and I was made...
318From George Washington to Benjamin Lincoln, 6 November 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your lette rs of the 28th and 30th ulto with the several inclosures referr ed to in them. I can not without the positive direction of Congress for the reasons below withdraw the Garrison from the post at Wyoming, notwithstanding the keeping it up, is of material injury to the discipline of the troops stationed there—Upon a bare apprehension of such a matter—I received...
319From George Washington to Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 10 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly favored with your Letters of the 7th 17th & 25th of Janry—The distractions in one part of the Army, and distresses in the other, have engaged me so far as to prevent my acknowledging them until the present time. In addition to the perplexities occasioned, in the first instance, by the revolt of the Pennsylvania Line—the subsequent arrangements for quelling the Insurgents, if...
320From George Washington to Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 30 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
Some days since Major Rice delivered me your letter of the 5th of June last—I am sorry to hear that Col. Laurens received a wound so soon after his arrival with you; as it prevented his following the dictates of his zeal and rendering the service for which he is qualified, at a moment very interesting to his Country and to his own feelings. But I am happy to hear it was slight & that it will...
321From George Washington to Benjamin Lincoln, 26 October 1788 (Washington Papers)
I have been lately favored with the receipt of your letters of the 24th and 30th of September, with their enclosure, & thank you sincerely for your free & friendly communications. As the period is now rapidly approaching which must decide the fate of the new Constitution as to the manner of its being carried into execution & probably as to its usefulness, it is not wonderful that we should all...
322From George Washington to Benjamin Lincoln, 13 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor to enclose a Copy of Lt Colo. Huntingtons remarks upon the claim of Rank preferred against him by Lt Colo. Gray. By which it will appear, that Lt Colo. Livingstons pay was stopped from the 10t of October 1778 and returned to the Pay Mr General—It remains for me to account for the reason of Lt Colo. Livingstons resignation being registered by me as having been accepted on...
323From George Washington to Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 27 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have been successively favored with your letters of the 7th of Novr 23d of Decemr and 8th of January last I am extremely happy to find both for the public and you⟨r⟩ sake that your prospects were less gloomy when you wrote the two last than when you wrote the first. I hope you have had the time necessary to complete your defences on the land side, and will be able effectually to baffle every...
324From George Washington to Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 27 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favor of the 15th. I am glad to hear of Colonel Laurens’s departure—He wrote to me a few days before he sailed and mentioned in the warmest manner your exertions to get the Ship mann’d —The few Continental soldiers you spared on the occasion were well bestowed considering the importance of Colonel Laurens’s mission. By a Resolve of Congress of the 4th of January, the Board...
325From George Washington to Benjamin Lincoln, 14 August 1791 (Washington Papers)
(Private) My dear Sir, Philadelphia August 14th 1791 As it never has been my intention to bestow double Offices on the same person, and my design that those Marshalls who have received Appointments under the late Revenue Act should hold the former (i.e. the Marshalls office) until the first of the present month (the time by which the Census was to be returned, or until this business should be...
326From John Adams to Benjamin Lincoln, 30 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
I received with much Pleasure your favour of the 19th. If I should meet with any “Roses,” in my Path, I shall thank you for your congratulations, and when I set my foot on “thorns” as I certainly shall, I will thank you equally for your condolence. But when you assure me that you “feel a confidence in the safety of our political Bark,” you give me much comfort, and I pray you may not be...
327From George Washington to Benjamin Lincoln, 1 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
The object of your present command consisting of two Regiments (formed into 4 Battalions) under the command of Colo. Scammell and Lieut. Colo. Sprout—of a detachment of artillery under the command of Capt. Burbeck—of the Corps of Watermen under the command of Major Darby, and the Water Guard under the command of Capt. Pray, is to attempt the surprise of the enemy’s posts upon the North End of...
328From George Washington to Benjamin Lincoln, 1 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday honored with your favors of the 19t and 22d ulto. I shall order a particular enquiry to be made into the Auditor and Comptrollers observations upon the issues of provisions and shall inform you of the result. I think it necessary to inclose you the Copies of letters which I have lately received from Brigadier General Clinton 30th Augt and 25:28th Augt Colo. Shepard on the...
329From George Washington to Benjamin Lincoln, 21 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
I inclose to you Copies of two Letters which I have received from Brigr General Hand in Consequence of the Late Arrangement of the Adjutant Genls Department. When I wrote you the 16th instant, I did not know that Genl Hand had obtained any knowlege of the Arrangement—nor did I intend to have communicated it to him, untill I had submitted those inconveniences which appeared to me to have...
330From George Washington to Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 26 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
Lieutenant Colo. Ternant who will have the honor of delivering you this returns to the Southward to execute the duties of his Office of Inspector to the Troops in South Carolina and Georgia. He is furnished with the “Regulations for the order and discipline of the Troops of the United States” approved by Congress on the 29th March and by them directed to be generally observed. He is also...
331From George Washington to Benjamin Lincoln, 2 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
Since my letter of yesterday which will accompany this, I have recd your two favors of the 28th ulto by General Potter and Colo. Magaw. From them, and on account of a letter which I have received from the Delegates of South Carolina, there is an indispensable necessity for your making the application to Congress, which I recommended, in order to know, whether any, or what part of the Army...
332From Alexander Hamilton to Benjamin Lincoln, 10 March 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Herewith you have copy of the Act for the establishment and support of Lighthouses, beacons, buoys and public piers. Among other things contained in it, you will perceive that it is made the duty of the Secretary of the Treasury to provide by contracts to be approved by the President of the United States , for rebuilding when necessary and keeping in good repair the Light houses, Beacons,...
333From George Washington to Benjamin Lincoln, 28 May 1782 (Washington Papers)
I mentioned to you my Intention to submit the Complaints of the Officers against the Contract for the movg Army—to the Superintendt of Finance they now go to him by this Conveyance—I refer you to his Letter for a Disclosure of their Subjects, of the very serious & alarming Circumstances which we are now brot to from that Quarter—serious indeed they are, & of such Importance as to demand your...
334From George Washington to Benjamin Lincoln, 28 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have perused the Plan of Inspection which you did me the honor to put into my hands yesterday. I have compared it with the draft I sent to you a day or two before—and I return them both with the following observations. Artl 2d Instead of the words "and the Secretary at War" I ask if it would not be better to substitute, "Duplicates of which to be, by them, transmitted to the Secretary at...
335From George Washington to Benjamin Lincoln, 25 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
Your private letter of the 2d Instt came to my hands the 20th by Doctr Craik—I am much indebted to you for the sentimts & calculations contained in it. You have however, if my information & estimation of the Enemys strength in New York is right, fallen a good deal short of their numbers—and if I may be allowed to ground an opinion upon present appearances, information and past experience—I...
336From George Washington to Benjamin Lincoln, 20 January 1782 (Washington Papers)
Two things appear to me to be greatly necessary as the basis, and foundation of all the arrangements of the ensuing Campaign—Vizt Effectual measures for filling up the Army, & certain prospects of being able to support it. As the completion of our Battalions as early as possible is a Matter of the utmost importance, and as the success of Recruiting them will depend greatly on putting the...
337From John Adams to Benjamin Lincoln, 19 June 1789 (Adams Papers)
I am honoured with yours of the 30 th. of May, and find We are well agreed in opinion in all points. Nothing Since my return to America, has alarmed me So much, as those habits of Fraud, in the Use of Language which appear in conversation and in public writings. Words are employed like paper money, to cheat the Widow and the fatherless and every honest Man. The Word Aristocracy is one...
338From John Adams to Benjamin Lincoln, 8 May 1789 (Adams Papers)
I have received your kind favour of April 22 d and Shall not be easy till it is answered, though it is not easy to find the time, amidst the Confusion of innumerable Visits, formal Ceremonials, Balls, Commencements, Levees, &c a &c a , blended with the constant more serious Duties of my Situtation.— I agree with you entirely, that among the first dangers to be apprehended is a contest between...
339From George Washington to Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 15 April 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have successively received your several letters of the 23d and 28th of January 12th 14th and 23d of February, almost all of which were come to hand when I wrote you by General Du Portail, but by accident were not acknowleged. As far as it is possible for me at this Distance, and with a very inconsiderable knowlege of the Country, to judge, your reasonings on the best plan for an expedition...
340Enclosure No. 4: Copy of a Letter from Major General Greene to Major General Lincoln, Secretary at War, 5 February 1783 (Hamilton Papers)
An idle surmise of Mr. Banks, and an improper curiosity of General Scott in the State of Virginia, may give an unjust complexion to the late transaction respecting the measures taken to obtain clothing, as the Governor of Virginia writes, that it was considered a mere speculation for private emolument. For fear, such rumors should spread to my disadvantage, I take the liberty to enclose you a...
341Enclosure No. 3: Extract of a Letter from Major General Greene to Major General Lincoln, Secretary at War, 2 February … (Hamilton Papers)
“Lieutenant Colonel Carrington has closed a contract with Mr. Banks for the subsistence of the army, at something [less] than eleven pence sterling. It is high, but it could not be had lower. There was not an offer made but by Mr. Banks, although I wrote to all the principal men in the country. People have not that spirit for engaging in business, here, as with us. “I shall get the troops...
342Enclosure No. 5: John Banks’s Certificate, [ca. 3 January 1783] (Hamilton Papers)
It having been suggested from an interpretation of my letter of October 1782, to Mr. James Hunter, that the honorable Major-General Greene was interested, or intimated a desire of holding a commercial connection with me in Charleston; I do, therefore, as well for the sake of removing such an idea, as to avert from myself any mischief, that a heedless surmise, expressed in a confidential letter...
343Enclosure C: Extract of a Letter from Major General Greene, to Major General Lincoln, Secretary at War, 11 November 1782 (Hamilton Papers)
“I am taking measures to obtain clothing for the troops. We have on hand but a small part of our winter clothing, and after what we shall be obliged to issue to those troops going northwardly, we shall have but a small pittance left. I imagine, our purchases will amount to not less than forty thousand dollars, for which I shall draw bills on the Financier; and, as I provide the clothing, at...
344Treasury Department Circular to the Collectors of the Customs, 15 October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
There is a species of information, which it will be convenient to you to obtain and which will be of important use to the Government: it respects the mode of Navigating of the several States; and of Foreign Nations. With a view to which I have framed a number of Queeries, to which as speedily as the requisite enquiries can be made, I request answers. Thought I do not consider it as a part of...
345Enclosure No. 2: Extract of a Letter from Major General Greene to Major General Lincoln, Secretary at War, 19 December … (Hamilton Papers)
“You will see by some of my former letters, that, in consequence of your orders, I had taken measures, to provide such articles of clothing, as were necessary to complete the troops with their winter clothing. Messrs. Banks and Company have furnished most of the articles we shall want, and will provide the rest. Mr. Hamilton, the clothier, had instructions to contract with such as would supply...