1From George Washington to Artemas Ward, 11 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the Honor of writing to Mr Sever, Yesterday, I received your Favor of the 2d Inst. contradicting the intelligence transmitted thro’ him and which had been done before by a letter from Genl Heath of the same date and purport of yours. Having written to Mr Sever upon the subject of Genl Howes departure from the Capes of Delaware and of the incertainty we are in respecting his designs...
2George Washington to Major General Artemas Ward, 3 March 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] March 3, 1777. Accepts Ward’s resignation. Appoints Major General William Heath to succeed Ward. Df , in writings of H and John Fitzgerald, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
3From George Washington to Major General Artemas Ward, 3 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
In consequence of your application to Congress to be relieved from your present command, the matter having been referred to me, I have appointed Major Genl Heath to assume your place, which you will therefore be pleased to resign to him —I beg you will accept my thanks for your zeal & services, and believe me to be with all due respect, Sir your most hum. servt. Df , in the writing of...
4From George Washington to Major General Artemas Ward, 20 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I acknowledge the receipt of yr two favours of the 23d Decr & 17th January. The former introducing Mr Faneuil, a French Gentleman, who did me the honour of delivering it himself—The latter Monsr de Bourneuf, who also delivered it in person. The French Gentl. come to me in such Shoals, many of them with nothing more than introductory Letters, that I am under the most disagreeable Dilemma what...
5From George Washington to Major General Artemas Ward, 13 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have been favoured with your two Letters of the 3d & 6th Instt. in answer to the first, I am not only willing, but shall be much obliged by your Settling with the Gentn to whom Money was advanced for purchasing Arms & for which purpose I have transmitted a List of the Warrants that were drawn in their favor. Before I left Cambridge some of the Gentlemen, (three, four or more of them)...
6From George Washington to Major General Artemas Ward, 26 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am now to Acknowledge the Recpt of yours of the 15th and 19th Instant and am much obliged for your care and dispatch in forwarding the Two Sea Morters which I wish may come safe to hand, The number and Strength of the Enemy and the many different posts we have to occupy together with the late Manœvre’s of General Howe render it utterly impossible for me to relieve you by sending a General...
7From George Washington to Major General Artemas Ward, 13 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I could not have supposed the Company of Artificers under Capt. Ayres would have insisted on their Wages being augmented in Consequence of their being ordered to this place, the consequences of raiseing their pay would be an Immediate Application from all those in Service as Artificers to be put on the same footing, if not refuse doing Duty any longer than absolutely bound. But these men...
8From George Washington to Major General Artemas Ward, 12 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the 4th Instant is safe to hand. an answer to the Several particulars it contains will be given soon, time will but allow me to Request your forwarding with all possible Dispatch, Two 13 Inch Sea Mortars of the best in Boston to this place with their Beds & every thing Compleat. I am sir Yr &c. LB , in Samuel Blachley Webb’s writing, DLC:GW ; Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
9From George Washington to Major General Artemas Ward, 29 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
Yours of 22d Instant I Received pr Post, and note the Contents, The Company of Artificers you mention are much wanted, would have you order them on with all convenient Dispatch, it was necessary the troops on their March for Ticonderoga should be furnished with powder & Ball, I have wrote several times about the remaining part of the Arms which you have not noticed in your Letters—there is yet...
10From George Washington to Major General Artemas Ward, 19 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
In my Letter of the 7th Instant I mentioned the propriety of forwarding a quantity of Powder and lodging it between this and Boston. I am now more fully convinced of the Necessity of such a measure, and would wish You to forward with all convenient speed, five Hundred Barrels to be stored at Norwich in Connecticut ’till further Orders, In a post[s]cript to my Letter of the 9th Inst. I was of...
11From George Washington to Major General Artemas Ward, 11 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
Since writing you on the 9th Instt I have been honored with a Letter from Congress, Inclosg a Resolve, a Copy of which you have transmitted herewith, empowering me to call to the Assistance of the army here, the other Two Regimts. of Continental Troops now in the Massachusetts Governmt & not Ordered in my last to be detached to Join the Northern Army. I am now to request by advice of my Genl...
12From George Washington to Major General Artemas Ward, 9 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Inclosed Decleration will shew you, that Congress at length impelled by necessity have dissolved the Connection between the American Colonies & Great Britain and declared them free and Independent States, and in compliance with their order I am to request you will cause this Decleration to be immediately proclaimed at the head of the Continental Regiments in the Massachussets Bay. It being...
13From George Washington to Major General Artemas Ward, 7 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
I Received your favour of the 30th Ulto and doubt not but the powder claimed by the Assembly of New Hampshire was lent the Continent—The Exposed Situation of their Frontiers renders every precaution necessary for their defence. I think It would be proper to send a Quantity of it to some safe place on the Communication, betwixt this & Boston there to be ready in Case of Accident—or If it should...
14From George Washington to Major General Artemas Ward, 4 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Distress we are in for want of Arms induces me again to urge your sending on all such as can possibly be spared with the greatest expedition, The enemy have landed under cover of their Ships and taken possession of Staten Island—from which in all probability they will soon make a decent upon Us, the Arms would have sent to Norwich and from there by Water to this place provided there is no...
15From George Washington to Major General Artemas Ward, 1 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
I received your favors of the 20 & 23 Ulto and am happy to hear of the further success of our armed Vessels in the Capture of the Transport with the Highland Grenadiers. If they have been fortunate enough to take the 11 Ships mentioned in your last I suppose we are in possession of a large share of the Highlanders Ordered against us. I am extremely sorry for your Indisposition & wish to afford...
16From George Washington to Major General Artemas Ward, 26 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
Being in the greatest distress here for Arms without the most distant prospect of obtaining a Supply, and as Several have been lately brought into Boston belonging to the Highlanders That have been taken, I request that you will immediately forward the remaing Two Hundred Carbines which in my Letter of the 28 Ulto I desired to be kept at Boston to the person at Norwich to whose care the others...
17From George Washington to Major General Artemas Ward, 23 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
By last nights post I was favoured with yours of the 16th Inst., containing the Interesting Intelligence of your havg Obliged the Kings Ships to quit their Station, and of the further Captures of Two Vessels from Glasgow with Highland Troops on board—These events are extremely pleasing & I flatter myself the former will be attended with salutary consequences—It will give our little squadron a...
18From George Washington to Major General Artemas Ward, 16 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am now to acknowledge the receipt of your favors of the 27 Ulto & of the 3 & 6 Instant and in Answer to the 1st think you was right in your direction to Mr Bartlett about the Brigantine Hannah as Mr Morris had wrote for one—The two schooners, considering their force & number of men certainly behaved extremely well in repelling the Attack made by such a number of boats, and It is only to be...
19From George Washington to Major General Artemas Ward, 28 May 1776 (Washington Papers)
On Saturday morning I was favoured with yours of the 17 Instt, giving the agreable Intelligence of the Important and valuable prize made by the Armed Schooner’s in the Continental service & am hopefull, that If a vigilant lookout is kept, that others not less valuable will fall into our hands. Congress having passed a Resolve respecting this Cargoe as you will see by the Inclosed Copy, I...
20From George Washington to Major General Artemas Ward, 13 May 1776 (Washington Papers)
your favor of the 4h Inst. with return of the division of the Army under your Command is Come to hand. the acct you give of your progress in fortifying the town & Harbor of Boston is very agreeable, when the works are Completed I think you will have but little to apprehend from the enemy shoud they incline to pay you another visit. Inclosd is a petition from Col. Varnum which I beg you will...
21From George Washington to Major General Artemas Ward, 9 May 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your Letters of the 27 & 28 ultimo Came in Course to hand, I am glad that you have given your attention to the works, which I doubt not, are by this time Completed. it will give me pleasure to hear that they are, for should these accounts of Hessian & Hanoverian Troops Comeing over prove true, it is possible the enemy may make some attempts to regain a footing in your Province. I have...
22From George Washington to Major General Artemas Ward, 29 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
It is with great concern I learn, from every hand, that your Works for the defence of Boston and the Harbour, go on exceeding slow —I must entreat you therefore to push Colo. Gridley on to a deligent and faithful discharge of his duty in this particular—We cannot possibly tell where the Enemy will pitch their Tents next—if Boston is left open, and unguarded, it may be a temptation to go there;...
23From George Washington to Major General Artemas Ward, 18 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
I received your favor of the 11th Instant in answer to Colonel Glovers application to you, I am of opinion that all accounts respecting the Armed vessels, shoud be paid by the Agents only, and as the trial of the prizes Cannot be much Longer defferd, they will have Cash for the goods which may be Condemnd, in their hands, much more than Sufficient, to answer the demands upon them—if there is...
24From George Washington to Major General Artemas Ward, 6 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have given such instructions to Mr Park the assistant Quarter Master General that if he pays a proper attention to them you will have Little trouble, with his department, however I woud reccommend to you to Keep him attentive to his duty, and as it is probable he may want more money to defray the necessary expences, of the Army you will grant him a warrant, for what he may have occasion for,...
25Orders and Instructions for Major General Artemas Ward, 4 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
You are hereby Ordered and directed to take upon you the Command of the Continental Forces remaining in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay for the defence and security of the same and for the protection of the Continental Stores. You are therefore to observe the following Orders and Instructions. Vizt: 1st You will comply with any requisition of the General Court or Council of said Province...
26From George Washington to Major General Artemas Ward, 29 March 1776 (Washington Papers)
As General Green is ordered to march with the next Brigade on Monday and as Generl Spencer will follow with the last (leaving four or five Regiments in this department for Defence, Protection of the Stores, Erection of works ect.) & should be glad, if you are not afraid of the Small Pox & Incline to continue longer in the Service that you lately talk’d of, if you would remove in to Boston...
27From George Washington to Major General Artemas Ward, 24 March 1776 (Washington Papers)
I shall be obliged to you to send the Inclosed Letter to Colo. Quincy, either to Night, or early in the morning. As these favourable Winds do not waft the fleet from Nantasket, my Suspicion’s are more and more roused. I wish therefore the Fire Rafts talkd of by Colo. Tupper, could be attempted in a Windy, or dark Night, I think this would discover their designs if no other good effect resulted...
28From George Washington to Major General Artemas Ward, 3 March 1776 (Washington Papers)
My Letter of last Night would inform you that the Genl Officers at this place thought it dangerous to delay taking Post on Dorchester Hills, least they should be possess’d before us by the Enemy, and therefore Involve us in difficulties which we should not know how to extricate ourselves from—this opinion they were Inclind to adopt from a belief, indeed almost a certain knowledge, of the...
29From George Washington to Major General Artemas Ward, 2 March 1776 (Washington Papers)
After weighing all Circumstances of Tide &ca—& considering the hazard of having the Posts on Dorchester Neck taken by the Enemy, & the evil consequences which would result from it, the Gentlemen here, are of Opinion that we should go on there Munday Night. I give you this Early notice of it, that you may delay no time in preparing for it, as every thing here will be got in readiness to...
30From George Washington to Major General Artemas Ward, 1 March 1776 (Washington Papers)
A Gentleman or two from Maryland, having some business of Importance to negotiate at the Lines, have applied for, & been refused leave to attend personally; but I have indulged them in letting Colo. Mifflin go; a meeting with whom being desird by Major Small, on some business he thinks, relative to the Prisoners at Philadelphia. Let none but the Officer of the Guard, or one of your Aids go...
31From George Washington to Major General Artemas Ward, 27 February 1776 (Washington Papers)
We were falsely Alarmed a while ago with an Acct of the Regulars coming over from the Castle to Dorchester—Mr Baylor whom I immediately sent of is just returnd with a contradiction of it. But as a rascally Riffle man went in last Night & will no doubt give all the Intelligence he can, wd it not be prudent to keep Six or Eight trusty men by way of Lookouts or Patrols to Night on the point next...
32From George Washington to Major General Artemas Ward, 17 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
The Applications for Liberty to go to the lines, are so frequent, that they cause much trouble—you will therefore Sir Grant passes to such as you may think proper at the same time I would recommend to you, that the officer who will attend upon these occasions be a person of sense & one who will carefully attend to the conversation of those who meet on the Lines. I am &c. LB , in Robert Hanson...
33From George Washington to Major General Artemas Ward, 4 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
The Officers for the Regiment of Artillery still remaining unfixed, and of consequence the Inlisting men for it greatly impeded, I should be glad as I am a perfect stranger to that Corps if you, with Genls Thomas and Spencer would assist me in Scrutinizing a list given In by Colos. Burbeck and Mason at my desire. For this purpose you will please to be here to morrow at 11 Oclock. I am with...
34From George Washington to Major General Artemas Ward, 17 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
As the Season is fast approaching when the Bay between us and Boston will, in all probability be close shut up, thereby rendering any movement upon the Ice as easy as if no Water was there—and, as it is more than possible that General Howe, when he gets the expected reinforcements will endeavour to relieve himself from the disgraceful confinement in which the Ministerial Troops have been, all...