101From George Washington to Steuben, 9 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I yesterday recd the honor of yours from Portsmouth inclosing the Copy of a letter from Messs. Franklin and Dean the original of wh. I shall be glad to receive from your own Hands as soon as it is convenient for you to undertake the Journey. As it will lay solely with Congress to make a suitable provision for you in the American Army you will be under the necessity of prolonging your Journey...
102From George Washington to Major General Steuben, 8 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have received your letter of the 26th brot down to the 29th of January with the papers annexed and have carefully considered the contents, on which I shall give you my sentiments with freedom and confidence. The principal point on which your memorial to Congress turns is the force requisite for the next campaign. To determine this on good grounds we ought first to settle the following...
103From George Washington to Major General Steuben, 26 February 1779 (Washington Papers)
Capt. Walker delivered me your favor of the 10th inst. with the Sequel of your Manuscript—Inclosed I transmit you my Remarks on the first part—the Remainder shall follow as soon as other affairs of equal importance will permit. I very much approve the conciseness of the work—founded on your general principle of rejecting every thing superfluous—tho’ perhaps it would not be amiss in a work of...
104From George Washington to Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin, Baron [von] Steuben, 21 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have not had it in my power, untill the present moment, to acknowledge the receipt of your several favors of the 18th and 23d of Febry & 1st Inst. which were forwarded to me, while on my Journey to Rhode Island, from whence I returned Yesterday. Since the Enemy have turned so much of their attention to the Southern States, the situation of our affairs in them, has become extremely...
105From George Washington to Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin, Baron [von] Steuben, 12 April 1783 (Washington Papers)
Taking it for granted the principle is generally understood, that an Officer holding a Commission in the Line of the Army of a superior grade, to that he possesses in a particular Corps, is to roll on all general duties agreeably to his Commission in the Army, and to be considered in the Line of the State to which he belongs, according to the rank he holds in Corps of that State; the following...
106From George Washington to Major General Steuben, 27 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I received last evening your favour of the 12th instant enclosing copy of one from General Greene. I am much obliged to you for transmitting it. As you conjectured, he did not write me by the same opportunity. Though the return of the enemy’s missing ship has made our allies lose their superiority, which will be unfavourable to my plan of cooperation in Chesapeak bay; yet the Marquis will...
107From George Washington to Major General Steuben, 11 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favor of the 5th and now return you the Sequel of your work accompanied by a few notes. It gives me great pleasure to learn that the foregoing part is in such forwardness for the press—With respect to the Title I think “ Regulations for the Infantry of the United States ” will be sufficient—In a Letter to Congress I have signified my approbation of the work —it remains for...
108From George Washington to Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin, Baron [von] Steuben, 25 June 1783 (Washington Papers)
I refer to your consideration A Memorial of Mr Hoaksley with sundry other papers relative to the condemnation of Merchandize &c. at York Town, said to have been carried in a Flag of Truce from N. York to Virginia—After an investigation of the Papers & the examination of Mr Hoaksley you will please to report your Opinion whether any alteration and what, ought to be made in the former decision....
109From George Washington to Major General Steuben, 22 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favor of the 18th Inst. and am pleased with the attention you are paying to the formation of the New-raised Troops of the State of New York. It will be best I think, to suspend the execution of the plan for forming three complete Companies of Light Infantry from the State Regiments to be joined to those furnished by the York line; until it is known how far the measure will...
110From George Washington to Major General Steuben, 2 April 1780 (Washington Papers)
I duly received your letter of the 15th of March, which hurry of business has prevented my acknowleging sooner. Last night brought me your favour of the 28th—The propositions made by you to Congress for the arrangement of the Army this campaign appears to me upon the whole best adapted to our circumstances; and especially since so much of the season has elapsed without entering upon it I am...
111From George Washington to Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin, Baron [von] Steuben, 1 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favor of the 15th. Had it been possible for you to have carried your plan of marching suddenly into North Carolina into execution it would most probably have occasioned the ruin of Lord Cornwallis—But this is one of the thousand instances which daily shew the evils resulting from feeding and paying troops which can only be used for local purposes. The arms which Capt. la...
112From George Washington to Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin, Baron [von] Steuben, 18 January 1782 (Washington Papers)
Genl Lincoln, with whom I have conversed on the subject of taking Majr Walker into my family as an Aid de Camp, consents freely to leave the determination to his own choice—That this choice may be entirely unembarrassed by a direct application from me, and that Majr Walker may have time to consider the two offers in every point of view I shall be obliged to you to intimate mine to him, and...
113From George Washington to Major General Steuben, 7 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
In a letter which I have been favoured with from his Excelly the cheva[lie]r De la Luzerne I am led to expect the honor of his Compy at Camp in the course of this Month. As it is my wish to accomodate him in the best manner circumstances will admit of (which at best as you well know will be bad enough) and to pay him evy respect due to his high rank and Station I shall thank you for previous...
114From George Washington to Major General Steuben, 2 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
My Nephew waits on you to present his thanks for the honor You meant to confer on him, by appointing him one of your Aids—And, at the same time to assign his reasons for declining the favor. If he should not be explicit in doing this, when I next have the pleasure of seeing you at head Quarters, I shall not fail to do it myself. Be assured my dear Sir, that I shall entertain a proper sense of...
115From George Washington to Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin, Baron [von] Steuben, 23 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your Letter of this date see 22 Oct. inclosing one from Colo. Febiger to you—The representation you have given me of the state of the officers makes me Feel very sensibly for them, and I could wish the means in my power, for their relief, were equal to my inclinations, but as I am divested of them, I can do no more than recommend them, with others, to Congress & their...
116From George Washington to Major General Steuben, 20 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have duly received your letters of the 29th of January and 1st of February containing an account of the enemy’s motions ’till that period, and of your dispositions to counteract them. The effect you mention of deranging the measures of the state for succouring General Greene was to be expected—it is however an evil of the most serious nature, and I am persuaded if the enemy continue in the...
117From George Washington to Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin, Baron [von] Steuben, 26 February 1783 (Washington Papers)
I was favored by the last Post, with the Report of the Board of Officers respecting Captn Segond’s claim of admission into the Legion of Armand; as it appears to be founded in justice & reason it has my entire approbation, and I presume must be satisfactory. As the prospect of Peace (the more promising than it has been at any former period) is somewhat equivocal; I have determined to put the...
118From George Washington to Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin, Baron [von] Steuben, 16 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favor of the 21st of April, and by your letters of a later date, which I have seen published, I am informed of the progress of the Enemy as far as petersburgh. It gave me pleasure to find that the behaviour of the Militia merited your thanks. I hope the advance of the Marquis with the troops under his command would give fresh spirits to the Militia, and enable your...
119From George Washington to Major General Steuben, 18 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have been favd with yours of the 12th and 14th instants. I had recd the Resolve of Congress, of which you inclosed me a Copy, immediately from the president, and in consequence of it; instantly gave the necessary directions for the proper Returns to be brought in to enable me to furnish the States with an account of the deficiency of their Quotas of Troops —This, from the dispersed State of...
120From George Washington to Major General Steuben, 24 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly favoured with your Letters of the 20th 21. and 22 Inst. It was not my intention that the Companies of Light Infantry should finally consist of different numbers—My design was at present to draw out twenty men from each Regiment for that service, and to augment the Companies hereafter to the full establishment, whenevr the strength of the several Regts will admit of it. As the...
121From George Washington to Major General Steuben, 18 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
In answer to the letter which you delivered me yesterday, on the subject of your department. I have to assure you that it is my most earnest wish to conciliate the rights of the Inspectors with those of the officers commanding Corps—and that the public good may be advanced by a perfect harmony between them—with this view the plan proposed in General orders the 15th inst., was made—and it was...
122From George Washington to Major General Steuben, 19 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of receiving a few days since your letter of the 6th instant; I am much obliged to you for the polite assurances you give; and in my turn, I beg you will believe, that when the institution at the head of which you have been placed, can once be established upon a footing mutually agreeable to you and to the army, to which end all the measures I have taken in it have been...
123From George Washington to Major General Steuben, 15 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
I shall ride up to Morris Town this morning and return in the evening. Should you communicate an alarm to the Camp by the firing of your peice of Cannon, I shall direct it to be repeated by the signal Gun at Chatham, by which means it will reach me immediately—You very well know the inconveniencies of giving the Country a false Alarm, and am persuaded you will not, on that account, take up any...