1To George Washington from Lafayette, 27 December 1797 (Washington Papers)
It is a Melancholy thought to Me that While I Could Be So Happy at Mount Vernon, I am Still Almost As much Separated from you as I have Been for five Years in the Coalitionary prisons—But Altho’ I Lament, yet I Cannot Repent the determination we Have Been obliged to take—Much Less on Account of My Health which Has Been Recovering fast Enough, than for the very Bad and Lingering Condition in...
2To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 26 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
I hope you have receiv’d my letter from Cramberry where I aquaint you that I am going to hice town tho’ we are schort of provisions—when I got there I was very sorry to hear that Mister hamilton who had been riding all the night had not been able to find any body who could give him certain intelligences—but by a party who comes back I hear the ennemy are in motion, and theyr Rear about one...
3To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 26 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
Clel Laurens having Been Appointed By Congress to Go to france and Sollicit Succours for the Next Campaign he has also been directed to take Your orders at head Quarters—I am By order of Congress to have A Conference With him, and intend Giving him Many letters for france —As in Your instructions to Laurens The presence of one who Knows these people May be Agreable to You, I shall Set out for...
4To George Washington from Lafayette, 3 August 1787 (Washington Papers)
I Have Received Your first favour from Philadelphia with the Greater Satisfaction, as it promises me the pleasure to Hear Again from you Before long —a pleasure, My Beloved General, which Your friend’s filial Heart wants to Anticipate, and Enjoys most Affectionately—I Have not Been surprised to Hear of Your Attendance at the Convention, and would indeed Have wondered at a denial—on the success...
5To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 1 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
From the Bottom of My Heart I Congratulate you upon the Arrival of the French Fleet—Some Rumors Had Been spread, and spy accounts sent out—But no Certainty untill the Admiral’s dispatches Came to Hand—Inclosed I send you His letter and that of Mis. de St Simon Both of whom I Request you will Have translated By Tilmangh or Gouvion alone as there are parts of them personal which I do not choose...
6To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 22 July 1783 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 10th of May is the last one that Came into My Hands for which I Beg leave to offer You My Best thanks—and in Case former Answers do not Arrive, I Must Again tell you How Happy You Made Your friend By Your letters inclosing the proceedings of the Army—In Every instance, My dear General, I Have the Satisfaction to Love and to Admire you—the Conduct You Had on that Occasion was...
7To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 31 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
in Consequence of A Note from me the Admiral Came to Last evening, and defensive ideas Gave way to offensive plans—our Conversation was long and is not yet ended—But I hasten to write you a Summary of what past Betwen the Count, the Chevalier, and Myself. I first Began in My own name to Give them a pretty exact Account of the Situation we were in three Months Ago, of the Super natural efforts...
8To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 9 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I can not let go back my guide without taking this opportunity of wraiting to your excellency tho’ I have not yet public business to speak of—I go on very slowly some times pierced by rain, sometimes covered with snow, and not thinking many handsome thoughts about the projected incursion into canada —if succèss were to be had it would surprise me in a more agreable manner, by that very reason...
9To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 20 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
having heard of an express from Rhodeisland being Going through the Continental Village I sent for him as it would not delay him More than an hour —inclosed I have the honor to send You the letter from general heath which I have oppen’d and also two letters from the french Generals to me —it seems, My dear General, that they have Anticipated the desire you express’d Yourself of settling our...
10To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 26 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have Receiv’d your excellency’s favor notifying your arrival at cramberry and am glad to have anticipated your orders in not going too far—I have felt the unhappy effects of the want of provisions for I dare say if we had not been Stopp’d by it, as we were already within three miles of the ennemy’s rear, we would very easely have overtaken them, and fouht with advantage. I have Consulted the...
11To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 26 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your orders have reach’d me so late, and found me in such a situation that it will be impossible to follow them as soon as I could wish—it is not on account of any other motive than the impossibility of moving the troops and making Such a march immediately for in receiving your letter I have given up the project of attaking the ennemy, and I only wish to join general lee —I was even going to...
12To George Washington from Lafayette, 5 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
I Have Had some time Ago the pleasure to write you a letter the duplicate of which shall Accompany this —The intelligence Has Since Come to Us of your Having Accepted the Command of the Armies—But you will Not be the less pleased to hear of the dispositions to a fair Reconciliation on the part of the French directory which I Hope will be Reciprocated By the American Governement—To what I took...
13To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 30 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Maj. Gen. Lafayette, c.30 Oct. 1778. GW wrote Vice Admiral d’Estaing on 31 Oct. : “I received a letter yesterday from the Marquis.”
14To George Washington from Lafayette, 4 February 1788 (Washington Papers)
Your letters Become More and More distant, and I Anxiously Wish for your Speedy Appointement to the Presidency, in order that You May Have a More Exact Notice of the Opportunities to Write to Me. This Will not tell you Much of politics. The two Imperial Courts are preparing for a Vigorous Campaign Against the turks. Russia intends Sending a Squadron into the Mediterranean, and altho’ it does...
15To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 13 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
In Revolving into My Mind the Chances of discovery By the Moon light, and on the other hand the inconveniences of staying longer than you Wish under our tents, I have thought if there was Some position which Might enable us to take the advantage of the first hours in the Night—how far the Sending of the pensilvanians towards Aquakanac, and Going ourselves to the hakinsac position May Awaken...
16To George Washington from Lafayette, 5 May 1787 (Washington Papers)
Altho’ I Cannot omit an opportunity of writing to You, my letter will not Be so long and Minuted as I would like to make it, Because of the Constant Hurry of Business occasioned By the Assembly—every day, Sundays excepted, is taken up with General Meetings, Committee’s, and smaller Boards—it is a pretty extraordinary sight at Versailles, the more so as great deal of patriotism and firmness Has...
17To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 20 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
This letter is not By Any Means directed to the Commander in chief, But to My Most Intimate and Confidential friend—I will lay Before you My Circumstances and My wishes—Certain I am You will do whatever You Can for me that is Consistent with Your public duty. When I went to the Southward You know I Had Some private objections—But I Became Sensible of the Necessity there was for the detachement...
18To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 24 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have Sign’d the paper because I have been told I schould Sign it, and because almost all the others who were of the same opinion as I am have also sign’d —for, Sir, I will easely schow you that there were Six gentlemen for more than fifteen hundred and only six for fifteen hundred . they are as follows. general lee baron de Stueben Some of the Second column were for 2500, but would...
19To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 25 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
inclos’d I have the honor to send you a letter from General Sullivan which I took the liberty to oppen —if the suppos’d expedition against providence has taken place we can not Come up time enough as to prevent it—but I am Rather inclin’d to believe we wi’ll find the ennemy fortifying themselves, and therefore the Sooner we may begin our visit the better it will be. I have found general Varnum...
20To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 22 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I hasten to inform you that the Missing transport is safely arriv’d on the 19th at Boston —she is said to be a two decker and to have on Board a vast deal of powder with pieces of ordinnance, and also the Baggage of the officers of Bourbonnois —The intelligence Came this instant By an officer of our Army who Saw the Men encamp’d on the Commons from where they were to March to providence—Two...
21To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 24 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
This letter will be Handed By cll Morris who waits upon Your Excellency with Gal Greene’s Sentiments upon the different ways to Improve Count de Grasses assistance. I Have Been desired to Add my Accounts But the last letter I Had the Honor to write Has Anticipated the Informations Which Gral Greene wanted me to give. The Light Infantry are 850—the Pennsylvania 600—Virginia exchanged soldiers...
22To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 18 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have Receiv’d Three different Accounts from Newyork, and Tho’ the Authorities Are Not Unquestionable I will lay them Before you that we May Compare them with other Accounts. A Man Sent in By dr Burnet Says That part of the Cork fleet is Arriv’d, Betwen twenty and forty Sails—That the Rest is given over for lost —The troops in Newyork about 1500—at Bergen 250—There was an alarm on the 15th at...
23To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 11 January 1779 (Washington Papers)
The Sails are just going to be hoisted, My dear General, and I have But the time of taking my last leave from you—I may now be Certain that Congréss did not intend to Send Any thing more By me—The Navy Board, and Mister Nevill write me this very morning from Boston that the North River is passable, that a gentleman from Camp Says he di’nt hear of any thing like an express for me—all agree to...
24To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 28 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
The News I have got from france, the Reflexions I have made by myself, and these which have been Suggested to me by many people, particularly by the Admiral, increase more than ever the desire I had of Seeing again your excellency—I want to Communicate you my Sentiments, and take your opinion upon my present Circumstances—that I look upon as of An high moment to my private business and...
25To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 2 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your Letters of the 25th and 26th are Both Come Yesterday to Hand, which Shows that the Expresses Have Not Made Great dispatch —I would Have done Myself the Honor of writing to Your Excellency, Had I Not Every Minute waited for intelligences from the South ward. Your Excellency Remembers that our Shortest Calculation on the Arrival of the troops at Head of Elk Was for the 6th of March—I am...
26To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 1 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
that there has been an action fought where I could have been and where I was not, is a thing which will seem as extraordinary to you as it seems so to myself—after a long journey and a longer stay from home (I mean from head quarters) the only satisfactory day I might have finds me in the middle of a town—there I had been sent, push’d, hurri’d by the board of general officers, and principally...
27To George Washington from Lafayette, 16 April 1785 (Washington Papers)
To My Great disappointement I Had no letter from You By this packet—it is However the only Regular Way to Get intelligences, and Mercantile Opportunities are not By far So much to Be depended on—I warmly Beg, my dear General, you will not let me Be Uneasy for want of a line from You—the distance is already so great in itself, and So much Greater for the feelings of the tenderest friendship,...
28To George Washington from Lafayette, 26 April 1798 (Washington Papers)
This letter will be presented to You By Mr Forster whose father, The Celebrated professor and Captain Cooke’s fellow traveller Has Requested In Behalf of His Son these Recommandatory Lines—I am sure His Name Was to You a Sufficient Introduction—and in His personal merit there is also a Sufficient inducement to wish for his wellfare—Yet I should be Highly pleased to Hope that My Recommandation...
29To George Washington from Lafayette, 15 October 1787 (Washington Papers)
This letter will Be delivered By Mr du Pont the Son of a Very Sensible and Honest Gentleman, who Has Been Much Emploied in Affairs of Administration, and is Now Very zealously Engaged in drawing Up A Report for our Commercial affairs. His Son Goes out for His instruction, and With a wiew to fit Himself for future Emploiement. I Beg leave to Recommend Him to Your patronage and Advices, and am...
30To George Washington from Lafayette, 10 January 1784 (Washington Papers)
The departure of the Washington Has Been So Sudden that I Could not get in time on Board the Particular letter which you ought to Have Received—So that My Correspondance Has Been Confined to an official Cincinnati letter, and a Bill of plated wares, which was not By Any means my intention —inclosed I Send you a duplicate of the letter Respecting our Assossiation —Major L’enfant tells me a...
31To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 27 October 1780 (Washington Papers)
From what you have heard from dr hagen about the Boats when on your way to head quarters, I don’t Believe that You may have kept any hope for our Succes—the Boats have been it Seems Reduc’d to five, and from the Time when they were yet at the little falls you May See that they Could not be here at the appointed hour. I will not permit Myself to Reflect on this Moment upon the Many Blunders...
32To George Washington from Lafayette, 20–21 August 1798 (Washington Papers)
However uncertain I am of the fate of My Letters, I am Happy in the Opportunities to Let you Hear from me, and altho’ the filial and Grateful Sentiments which from my Youth Have Animated My Heart Need Not Being Remembered to you, it is to me, while so unwillingly Separated from you a Great and Necessary Consolation to Express them—in Case you Have Received Some of the accounts of myself and...
33To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 3 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I Can’t let Mons. de la Neuville go to headquarters without Recalling to Your Excellency’s memory an inhabitant of the Eastern Rhode island schore, who long much to be again united with you, and Conceive now great hopes from Sir henry Clinton’s motion to Newport, that you will Come to oppose him in person—I think if we mean to oppose the ennemy in this quarter that more troops are absolutely...
34To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 3 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
Having Been Empowered By Congress, the Board of War, and the Virginia delegates to oppen Any Letter directed to them, I also took the liberty of Reading that of Baron de stubens to Your Excellency Wherein I found Useful intelligences. My presence Had Been Necessary to forward Every Article from philadelphia—as soon as it Could Be spared I Came Here with all possible Speed—But Notwistanding...
35To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 1 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
The bearer of my letter, Chevalier de Lambert, a French gentlemen, will do himself the honor to wait upon you, and I beg leave most earnestly to recommend him to your Excellency’s kind patronage.—You know, my dear General, I have ever been averse to the introduction of foreigners in our army, and since I am in France I have been deaf to every application of that sort. In the present instance,...
36To George Washington from Lafayette, 1 January 1788 (Washington Papers)
I am fortunate in this Opportunity to wish you a Happy New year, and to devote the first Moments of this day to the Heartfelt pleasure to Remind you, My Beloved General, of your Adoptive Son and Most Affectionate, devoted friend. I Beg you will present My Best Respects to Mrs Washington. Madame de Lafayette joins in the Most tender Compliments to you and to Her and I Hope, My dear General,...
37To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 30 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I went Yesterday morning to Head Quarters with an intention of Speaking to Your Excellency But You were too Busy and I shall lay down in this letter what I wished to Say. I don’t Need telling You How I am Sorry for all what Happens Since Some time it is a necessary dependence of my most tender and Respectful friendship for You, which affection is as true and Candid as the other Sentiments of...
38To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 2 March 1783 (Washington Papers)
On the 5 Ulto I Had the Honor to write You a Letter, and as Count d’Estaing was pleased to let me Have a Vessel to Carry it, I am not without My Hopes to Have Given You the tidings of a General peace—I also Have informed You that Upon My Going to Sail for America, I Had Received a letter from Mr Carmichael Entreating My Immediate Assistance at Madrid—I therefore Gave up My darling Plan, and...
39To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 8 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 2d 7ber is just come to Hand. Mine of Yesterday Mentionned that the ships in York River Had gone down. Inclosed is the Account I Receive of an engagement off the Capes. What disposition has been made for the internal protection of the Bay I do not know. Iames River is still guarded but We Have not as Yet Rreceived any letter from Count De Grass relative to His last...
40To George Washington from Lafayette, 25 May 1788 (Washington Papers)
In the Midst of our internal troubles, it is a Comfort to me that I May Rejoice in the Happy Prospects that oppen Before My adoptive Country. Accounts from America Give me Every Reason to Hope the New Constitution will Be Adopted. Permit me once More, My Beloved General, to insist on Your Acceptance of the Presidency. The Constitution as it is Proposed Answers Most of the Purposes, But, Unless...
41To George Washington from Lafayette, 2 January 1788 (Washington Papers)
I Have writen to You By way of England, and will only inclose a duplicate of the arrêt of the Council and letter to Mr Jefferson which I Hope May Serve the Commerce of the United States —I Am the More wishing for an Encrease of intercourse Betwen the two Nations, as Mr Jefferson and Myself Have pledged ourselves with the Ministry that it would Be the Case. And indeed it is Equally Necessary to...
42To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 4 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
You know, My dear General, that I Am Very Anxious of Seeing the Army well Cloathed for this Campaign—the importance of Such A Measure is on every Account obvious, and from the knowledge I have of the Auxiliary troops that Are Coming I Can so well demonstrate its Necessity, that I shall for the present But Attend to the Means of executing it. in the Space of Six Month (we know from experience)...
43To George Washington from Lafayette, 8 October 1786 (Washington Papers)
This Will Be presented By Mr le Coulteux a Relation to the Respectable House of french Merchants By that Name who is Going to Settle in America—I Beg You to Honour Him With Your patronage and Advices. Not Knowing when this Will Reach You I only add My Respects Most Affectionate to Mrs Washington—Remember me to George, to the Young ones, to all friends. A treaty of Commerce is Signed Between...
44To George Washington from Lafayette, 9 April 1784 (Washington Papers)
Among the Numberless Applications I Have Had for our Society, there is One which, in duty to My feelings, I Cannot decline to present, on my first Voyage to America, Monsieurs de Mauroy, Lesser, Valfort, and du Boismartin were with me, and Altho these Meritorious officers Had an Engagement with Mr Deane, Congress did not think it in their power to Employ them —My instructions Being positive, I...
45To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 29 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 22d Came to hand last evening and I hasten to answer At least to a part of its Contents —I Shall Begin By the disagreable disappointement I met with on account of our cloathing —inclos’d, my dear General, you Will find the Return of what has been put on Board of the fleet which I have sent By a vessel to providence, and which will be forwarded to head quarters as soon as...
46To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 18 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Bearer of this Mr Lavaud Came to Me with a Recommendation from Viscount de Choiseuïl in the West Indias, and an other from Major General Lincoln who By this time Must Be with the Army—He wishes to Serve as A Volonteer, But I told Him that my family was full, and could not Be increased with french aids de Camp—that my detachement was Small, and Had No Room for Volonteers—He then asked me a...
47To George Washington from Lafayette, 22 January 1792 (Washington Papers)
This is a Very different date from that Which Had Announced to You My Return to the Sweets of Private life, a Situation Hitherto Not very familiar to me, But Which I, after fifteen Revolutionary Years, I Had Become Quite fit to Enjoy—I Have Given You an Account of the Quiete, and Rural Mode of Living I Had Adopted, in the Mountains Where I was Born, Having there a Good House, and a Late Mannor...
48To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 16 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
You have desired, My dear General, I would put in writing a Summary of the ideas which I Gave as My opinion in our Conversation of last Night—This I am the More inclin’d to do, that, tho’ I feel for Your delicacy on the occasion, I would think it very wrong not to go the same length with the french forces as you would do with those of the United States. The idea of Starving Newyork has been By...
49To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 6 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Embarkation Which I thought and I do Still think to Have Been destined to Newyork Was Reported to Have Sailed up the Bay, and to Be Bound to Baltimore—in Consequence of which I write to Your Excellency, and as I Had not Indulged Myself too Near portsmouth I was able to Cut Across towards Frederiksburg—But instead of Continuing His Voyage up the Bay My Lord Entered York River and Landed at...
50To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 26 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I had this Morning the honor of writing to You By general heath’s express and inform’d you that we had from every official and private quarter minuted accounts of the ennemy’s Coming in Great force to attak this island—for my part, I have been long time a disbeliever of the intelligence—But So many letters Came to hand that at lenght I was forc’d to take the General opinion about theyr...