61From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 22 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
your Letter of 18th Inst. I receiv’d last night wherin I find you express a desire to be recall’d from fort Mifflin to Join your Corps. I found it Absolutely necessary to reinforce yr Garrison & that it was impracticable to do it consistently without supersedeing you, this determin’d me to send the Baron DArandt as the Person originally mention’d to you to command there, but would have omitted...
62From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 14 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
Yours of the 12th I received yesterday. I am sorry your attempts to get possession of the enemy’s batteries have hitherto failed. I hope your future endeavours may be more successful. If they once get their batteries fairly erected, the situation of your garrison will no doubt become very trying, but I dare say, they will be duly impressed with the importance of the trust committed to them,...
63From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 29 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I can only lament that necessity which has produced your letter of the 10th, and obliges you to offer your resignation, at the opening of a campaign; at a crisis in which good officers might render the most essential services, by their example and continuance in the army. The proofs you have heretofore given, of your abilities, as a good and brave officer, I am happy in acknowleging; and could...
64George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 5 October 1778 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Fishkill, New York ] October 5, 1778 . Regrets that Captain Edward Norwood cannot be reinstated. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
65From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 23 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
You will proceed with the detachment under your command to Dunks’s ferry on Delaware, if you find in your progress the way clear & safe. When arrived there, you will take the safest & most expeditious method of conducting the detachment to fort Mifflin; by water would be easiest & least fatiguing to your men; and if practicable & safe, will certainly be most eligible: otherwise you will cross...
66From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 4 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Letter dated yesterday—giving an account of the reinforcement which you expect from Genl Varnum and the Supplies of Clothing from Genl Forman, it gives me pain to learn that the latter are likely to be so inadequate to your wants, but hope that by taking proper measures the Contributions of the Inhabitants will not prove so poor a resource as you seem to fear. Inclosed is...
67From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 1 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have this moment receiv’d your favor of Yesterday, & hope General Varnum with the Detachment from this Army, have by this time arriv’d to your support, & that your little Garrison will, with the greatest confidence & Vigor, exert itself to baffle every attempt of the Enemy to reduce it —When I last saw General Foreman I authorized him to collect all the Cloathing such as shoes, stockings,...
68From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 11 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I rec’d yours of the 19th informing of the occasion of the late firing. I imagine the Enemy still persist in their attempt as the firing has continued by intervals ever since. As the rear of the Fort is only defended by a picket work, I think you ought to lose no time in throwing up a Bank against the picket which wou’d strengthen it and make it defensible against shot. If some blinds were...
69From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 1 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with yours of the 27th ulto by Major Mullen and am sorry to hear that you found Matters so much out of order at Fort Mifflin. Much must depend upon your activity and that of the other Officers in Garrison. Two Waggon loads of Ammunition were sent off from Trenton the moment Major Mullens arrived there and I have directed Mr Mease the Cloathier Genl to forward the necessaries wanted...
70From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 7 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with both yours of the 3d and am sorry to find that so dastardly a spirit prevailing in the Navy, but I hope there will still be good men enough left to defend the Fort and obstructions till we can give them a decisive stroke by land. I have the pleasure to inform you that we made a general attack upon the Enemy at Germantown upon the morning of the 4th. We surprised them and threw...
71From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 28 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with yours of the 26th. As there seems to be a doubt of the priority of the date of your or Lt Colonel Greens Comms. I have, in a letter of this date, desired him to wave the matter in dispute for the present, and act under your command, as you have been in the Fort from the Beginning and must be better acquainted with the nature of the defences than a stranger. I have ordered a very...
72From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 18 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
In order to put your garrison in a more effectual state of defence, I have sent you a reinforcement of 200 men under Lt Col. Greene, who marched this morning to join you. Col. Arendt having now recovered from his indisposition will this day proceed to Fort Mifflin to take the command there agreeable to my first intention. Your conduct since you have been vested with it, has been such as to...
73From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 12 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I last night received your Favor of the 10th Instant, and am sorry to find the Enemy’s Batteries had played with such Success against our Works. Nevertheless, I hope they will not oblige you to evacuate them. They are of the last importance, and I trust will be maintained till the latest extremity. I have written to Genl Varnum to afford you immediate succour by sending Fresh Troops to releive...
74George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 14 October 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Towamencin, Pennsylvania ] October 14, 1777 . Hopes that Smith will be more successful in the future in gaining control of enemy’s batteries. Has ordered Colonel Christopher Greene to assist Smith. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
75George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 18 October 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Worcester, Pennsylvania ] October 18, 1777 . Informs Smith that Baron d’Arendt will assume command of Fort Mifflin and that Lieutenant Colonel John Green, with reinforcements, is on the way to the fort. Sends news of the surrender of General John Burgoyne. Suggests a plan to prevent British from preparing floating batteries. Df , in writings of Tench Tilghman and H, George Washington Papers,...
76From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 5 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have attentively considered the memorial you delivered me in behalf of a respectable number of officers in the Maryland line, requesting the restoration of Capt. Norwood —It gives me real pain, that I find myself obliged to refuse their request; but the duty I owe to justice and impartiality outweighs every other consideration. Notwithstanding the honorable testimony which is given of the...
77From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 21 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 18th I received last night and was extremely sorry to find from the Commodores Letter, which made a part of Your’s, that you & he were not in the strictest harmony. This circumstance, I confess, gives me great uneasiness, as I well know that a good agreement between the Navy & Garrison is of the last importance, and that a want of co-operation and every possible mutual aid...