1To George Washington from Colonel Anthony Wayne, 14 May 1776 (Washington Papers)
In Obedience to your Excellencies Commands I have waited on the Genl and find Sufficient of Arms for the Remainder of my Battalion—for which I Obtained an Order, and expect they will be put into proper repair, by the time Liet. Col. Johnston Arrives with the troops—except Bayonet Scabbards which cannot be procured for want of Leather. I also have the pleasure to Inform your Excellency that...
2IV. Brigadier General Anthony Wayne’s Opinion, 7 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
Genl Wayne’s Opinion of the Defences necessary for the River and Land in case the Enemy should Attempt the Reduction of Phila. The Works, as Contracted by Agent De Coudre to be Compleated and Supplied with Six or Eight pieces of Artillery and men Sufficient to fight them with about 500 Troops—One Redoubt on the High Ground at Darby Creek Sufficient to Contain 200 men. the fleet fire ships &...
3To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 2 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I took the liberty some days since to Suggest the Selecting 2′500 or 3′000 of our best Armed and most Disciplined Troops (exclusive of the Reserve) who should hold themselves in Readiness on the Approach of the Enemy to make a Regular and Vigorous Assault on their Right or Left flank—or such part of their Army as should then be thought most expedient—and not wait the Attack from them. This Sir...
4To George Washington from Brig. Gen. Anthony Wayne, 18 September 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Brig. Gen. Anthony Wayne, 18 Sept. 1777. GW wrote in his second letter to Wayne of this date : “I have this Instt recd yours of ½ after 3 Oclock.”
5To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 19 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
On the Enemies Beating the Revellee I ordered the Troops under Arms and began our March for their left flank—But when we Arrived within a half a Mile of their Encampment found they had not Stired—but lay too Compact to admit of an Attack with prudence—Indeed their Supineness Answers every purpose of giving you time to get up—if they Attempt to move I shall Attack them at all Events. this...
6To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 19 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Enemy are very quiet, washing & Cooking—they will probably Attempt to move towards Evening —I expect Genl Maxwell on their left flank every Moment and as I lay on their Right, we only want you in their Rear—to Complete Mr Howes buisness—I believe he knows Nothing of my Situation—as I have taken every precaution to prevent any Intelligence getting to him—at the same time keeping a Watchful...
7To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 21 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
About 11 OClock last Evening we were alarmed by a firing from One of our Out guards—The Division was immediately formed, which was no sooner done than a firing began on our Right flank—I thought proper to order the Division to file off by the left, except the Infantry and two or three Regiments nearest to where the Attack began in order to favour our Retreat—by this time the Enemy and we were...
8To George Washington from Brig. Gen. Anthony Wayne, 22 September 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Brig. Gen. Anthony Wayne, 22 Sept. 1777. GW wrote Wayne on 23 Sept. : “I received Your favor of Yesterday morning.”
9To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 27 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I feel myself very much Injured until such time as you will be kind Enough to Indulge me with an Enquiry into my Conduct Concerning the Action of the night of the 20th Instant. Conscious of having done my duty I dare my Accusor’s to a fair and Candid hearing—dark Insinuations and Insidius friends I dread—but from an Open and avowed enemy I have nothing to fear. I have no other mode of drawing...
10To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 4 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
After we left the field of Battle the Troops, who took the Upper Rout were formed at White Ma[r]sh Church under Genl Stephens—it was thought Advisable to Remain there for some time in Order to Collect the Straglers from the Army. the Enemy made their appearance with a party of Light Horse and from 1500 to 2000 Infantry with two field pieces—the Troop[s] upon this were Orderd off—I took the...
11To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 17 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
Altho’ I am Confident that your time is Necessarily taken up on the most Important business—yet my own Honor and Charecter—Induces me to Request your perusual of the Enclosed Defence —every part of which I have fully proved by Indubitable Evidence and however the Gentn who Composed the Courts of Enquiry may have Determined—yet so Concious am I of having done my Duty—that I am very Desirous of...
12To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 22 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I must Acknowledge that the Opinion of the Court of Enquiry has given me both pain and Surprise—Surprise to find Gentn go on the most Erronious ground in two facts from which they seem to found their Opinion i.e. with Reguard to the Distance, and the Carrying off of one of the Piquets. the Distance between the nearest part of the Enemies Camp and where I lay—was near 4 Miles w[h]ich was...
13To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 19 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Light Infantry who were Encamped on the Right between third & fourth Street have Struck their tents this morning—their Picquets are drawn in—we took possession of the Advanced Redoubt made of Rails when they Vacated this day—I am just proceeding along the line to the left—they have turned out the Guards from a house near the City with a few of their Horse but don’t seem Inclined to...
14To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan and Brigadier Generals William Maxwell and Anthony Wayne, 23 … (Washington Papers)
May it please your Excellency, We the Subscribers, General Officers in the American Army, beg leave to represent, That we have severally been accus’d of unsoldierly Conduct, dangerous Neglect, and other Crimes, which, had they been prov’d, must have blacken’d our Characters as Officers, and sunk us beneath the Reproaches of our Country. In Consequence of these malicious Accusations, Courts...
15To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 25 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
After the most Dispationate & Deliberate Consideration of the Question your Excellency was pleased to propose to the Council of General Officers last Evening; I am Solemnly and Clearly of Opinion; that the Credit of the Army under your Command, the Safety of the Country—the Honor of the American Arms—the Approach of Winter which in a few days will force you from the field—and above all the...
16To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 1 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
The procuring good and easy Winter Quarters for the Troops under your Excellencies Command—and Covering the Country from the Depredations of the Enemy as far as Possible without too much fatigue to the Army—are Objects of the first Consequence, & to which too much Attention can not be paid. A Chain of Cantonments has been proposed (and Supported with very plausible Arguments) from Lancaster to...
17To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 4 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am not for a Winters Campaign in the Open field—the Distressed and naked State of your Troops will not admit of it. But if taking post at Willmington & the Villages in it’s Vicinity—or Hutting at the Distance of about Twenty Miles West of Phila. (which will not only support the Honor & Reputation of Your Army in the eyes of the Enemy—and the States of Europe —but will give Confidence to...
18To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 26 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Inhabitants from being acquainted with me are perpetually lodging their Complaints against the proceedings of the Deputy Commissaries Quarter Masters & Soldiery—they say that all the provision & Provender which they had laid up for their family use and Stock during the Winter, has been taken and Carried off by force—that money will not Replace it, and that they must either Starve or remove...
19To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 28 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
If I am rightly Instructed, Genl Woodfords pretentions to rank is founded on his Serving as a Colonel in the State of Virginia against Govr Du[n] more in the Year 1775. I have no Idea of his being Entitled to rank in the Continental line from holding a Commission at that time in the State—especially if he Adverts to the Distinction which that State drew between the Rank of Militia, Minute men...
20To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 25 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I landed in New Jersey the 19th and proceeded to salem the same Evening—the next Morning I sent out several Detachment to Collect Cattle &ca pursuant to the within Order; at the same time Dispatched the enclosed Letter to B. Genl Ellis. It was difficult to meet any Cattle, Altho the Country abounded with them; as the Inhabitants had Secreted all such as were fit for our use in the...
21To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 26 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
The flat Bottomed boats which I mentioned to have passed down the River landed yesterday Morning about two OClock at Billings Port—about Two thousand in Number—fifteen Hundred of which Encamped last Night within Seven Miles of Selem—and I doubt not but that they are now Employed in Collecting the Cattle &ca which the Inhabitants in that Quarter took great pains to hide from us—finding means at...
22To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 5 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
Soon after I wrote your Excellency from Mount Holly —I recd Intelligence that the Enemy had Detatched themselves into small parties and were Collecting forage Cattle &ca in the Vicinity of this place, Coopers and Timbers Creeks & this Induced me (altho my Numbers were few) to make a forced March and Endeavour to drive in or cut off some of these parties, at Nine oClock at Night we arrived at a...
23To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 14 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
Wishing to prevent the Enemy from Receiving any benefit from the forage in the Vicinity of the River, and anxious to save as much from the Fire as possable (by Obliging the Inhabitants to carry it into the Pines ) took me up more time, than I at first expected—but that Business being now perfected—I have put the Detatchment on board of the Gallies—to be landed at Bristol, where I expect to...
24To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 14 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am this Moment favoured with yours of the 12th Instant but wish it was not so urgent, as I am but too well assured that my presence on the Occation, on which it’s required—will give me more pain—than executing any Order—which your Excellency would please to favour me with in the field. my presence will be Indispensibly Necessary in this place tomorrow, the next day you will be waited upon by...
25To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 19 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
In pursuance of your Excellencys Orders, a Considerable Number of Horses & Cattle were collected in the State of New Jersey—in Feby and March —for which the Inhabitants Recd Certificates for the price or Weight signed by Col. Ricd Butler Duplicates of which are now in his possession and will serve as a Check against forgery or Impossition. In these Certificates the people are Informed that...
26To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 21 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
I took the Liberty (some time since) to Suggest to your Excellency the Idea of making an Offensive Campaign against such place as afforded the Greatest prospect of Success to us & Injury to the Enemy—but the Object will depend upon your force—the first and most Desireable would be Mr Howe’s Army—the next New York. The Question will then arrise how is our Army to be supplied and the Stores...
27To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 23 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have endeavoured to Investigate the Questions Offered by your Excellency —and am fully and Clearly of Opinion—that the Recovery of Phila. and the Distruction of the Enemies Army there—are the first and greatest Objects—but in Order to Effect this—it will Require at least Twenty five Thousand Effective men—i.e. Eighteen thousand in front of their Lines—five thousand in New Jersey—and two...
28To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 30 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have not heard whether the Arrangement has yet taken place by which a light Corps was to be formed, your Excellency must have been well Convinced of the Utility as well as Indespensible necessity of such a Corps previous to your Recommendg it to Congress—the time is now arrived when that Corps will be wanted to act in the field—all I wish is to be made one of the Number. I have not often...
29To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 18 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have Maturely Considered the Matters which your Excellency was pleased to lay before the Council of General Officers last Evening —and am Clearly of Opinion that any Attempt on the City of Phila. with your present force whilst Defended by the Number of Troops that may be brought to act against you, will be Ineligible. but it is my wish & Opinion that you cause the sick in camp & it’s...
30To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 24 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
The purport of the Questions Offered by your Excellency this morning to the Consideration of the General Officers were As to the first I am not for Risquing a General Action with them—unless Circumstances should Render Success Certain—or at least such as not to leave you in a Worse Condition or Situation if Unfortunate, than you would have been if you had not Attacked. And in Answer to the...