121To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 25 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Enemy have been lately out to Horse Neck—I warn’d the Officer of Militia of it, for I had Intelligence of their Intentions—Their Guard however was surpris’d—three were kill’d & two wounded, several Inhabitants carried off & two Houses burnt —They have been, & are collecting Horses from Long Island & elsewhere, & by the Choice they observe in the selecting them, they are for Men, not Teams,...
122To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 10 October 1780 (Washington Papers)
When the Movements of the Enemy made it much more than probable that an immediate Attack upon West Point was intended, the Garrison was unfortunately almost without Provisions of any Sort—& it became requisite by every Method to obtain Supplies in the most expeditious Manner—In this Situation, & at a Crisis so critical & important, I was compell’d to fall upon Measures extraordinary perhaps in...
123To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 8 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s Favour of the 2d Inst: directed to Genl Heath, or Officer commandg at this Post I have just receiv’d —the Contents of which shall be punctually observ’d. Our Party on the Lines took an Ensign of Delancy’s, by Name Vincent I have ordered him to be reported to the Commissary of Prisoners, & sent him upon Parole to such Place as Col. Hay shall point out—A Copy of the Parole I...
124To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 22 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
your Excellency’s Letter of the 16th Instant arrived last Night —Col. Gouvion has been told of your Desire to have him up—He wishes me to inform you that the Want of Forage having rendered it necessary to send his Horses at some Distance from Camp, he can not set out until they are recall’d, which he shall do without Delay, & upon their Arrival will set off immediately. I wish he could have...
125To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 25 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
I am anxious to know the Result of the Enemy’s Enterprize against Paramus—the Alarm reach’d me the Day it happened, & I sent out Persons to learn the Particulars who are not yet return’d. I was witheld from writing to your Excellency upon the Subject from the Certainty that you must have heard of it sooner than I did, & because no Opportunity offered, & I had no Express ready. Your...
126To George Washington from Robert Howe, 25 February 1783 (Washington Papers)
I have delayd answering your Excellency’s favour in reply to mine requesting leave of absence until the matter betwixt Genl Hazen and Mr Edwards was determined, as it appeard to be your wish (to me always a Law) that I should remain ’till it was over. As motives of Business induced the request I made, the delay has not been without inconvenience to me, but my own affairs Shall always be, as...
127To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 6 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have the Pleasure to inform your Excellency that a Party under the Command of Capt. Cushing of the 1st Massachusett’s Regt went down the other Night to the Quarters of Col. Delancey, & brought off three Officers & seventeen Privates from within two or three Hundred Yards of their Work Number Eight—Col. Delancey had, luckily for himself, gone out upon some Occasion in the Eveg, & was...
128To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 26 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I inclose your Excellency the Feild Returns I have received —I expect them all in to Day & they shall be forwarded to Morrow —I recd your Favor demandg them the Day before yesterday, & instantly issued Orders thereupon—I have scarcely a moment to add that all you require shall be most faithfully performed. The Enemy are certainly intending, at least did intend some Enterprize—The inclosed is...
129To George Washington from Robert Howe, 25 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
Every circumstance militates to confirm me in opinion that your Excellency intends marching with the army under your immediate command to the Relief of Virginia, the two Carolina’s & Georgia. I wish you Dear sir in that , as in all other Cases from the Bottom of my soul success, Honour, glory and safety. The wisdom of the measure deserves the highest applause and I anticipate the deliverance...
130To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 26 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
I went out this morning by Day light in order to make my Self acquainted with the Approaches of the Camp And situation of the Guards, and am but this moment Return’d. during this Tour I am inform’d that your Excellency did me the Honour of a Visit, I therefore immediatly Send to know if you have any Business or Commands that I may Attend without Delay Should that be the case, & which with...
131To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 16–17 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have been honourd with your Excellencys favours of the 11th Instt, one of them Reach’d me on the Evening of the 14th, the o⟨ther⟩ Early in the morning of the 15th. I had received informations Similar to yours and had written to your Excellency upon the subject and was just Sending off by Express whe⟨n⟩ your letter arrived and render’d his goi⟨ng⟩ un[n]ecessary. I had also written to Governor...
132To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 1 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
I hear every two or three Days from New York but the Details given me have not been consequential enough t⟨o⟩ be sent purposely by Express, & no safe casual Opportunity has lately happen’d. I have had a pretty good Account of the Troops that have sail’d from New York, & my Informants assure me they did not exceed two thousand—that the British themselves talk’d only of three, but that it is...
133To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 13 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Returns of the Connecticut Brigades were not sent because Genl Huntington said he had given in a Field Return just before He set off for this Post—& that of the first Massachusetts was left out in making up the Packet by Mistake —some small Alterations having happened in that Regiment, a fresh Return is now transmitted. No Recruits have as yet arrived but from the States—of Massachusetts &...
134To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 24 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Excellency’s Letters, which the Hurry I am in, will I hope excuse my not being able to answer fully—Those Measures which you recommend that have not already been executed, shall be carried into Effect with all possible Expidition—what you have said in one of yours relative to Verplank’s & stony Points, will I am much afraid in our present Situation if literally complied...
135To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 3 April 1780 (Washington Papers)
My letters written one on the morning of the 2d Instant, and one on this day, both of which I believe you will receive by Majr Bawman, in some measure anticipate the necessity of this. When I Ventur’d to express a wish, that I might be permitted to call down Poors Brigade, I order’d Barracks to be prepared for their reception, which are now ready, I therefore with gladness dispatch’d an...
136To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 1 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have found Occasion to send down —— with a Flag to new York, as I want him to brighten his chain, and as some late instances give me reason to think the Enemy have Confidence in him; he has not of late given me any intelligence, but if he gets Access to New York I think he must on his return be able to communicate somthing Substantial. Colo. Gouvion is just on the Point of finishing the...
137To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 31 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
The inclos’d Copy of a Letter from Governor Trumbull received last Night, I transmit your Excellency without Delay, & should wish to receive your Directions thereupon —The Incursions of the Enemy into this State, & that of Connecticut, the Injuries the[y] do the Inhabitants, & the Benefits the[y] derive from the Supplies they obtain thereby must excite an earnest Desire in every Bosom to...
138To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 27 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I enter with diffidence, tho’ in compliance with your Excellency’s Request upon the Subjects referred to the General Officers in Council Yesterday; and tho’ Judgment should have but little to do with the Opinion I give you, such as it is; you may be assured it shall be given with Candour. The great Object with us appears to me to be not so much what we can achieve ourselves, as what we can...
139To George Washington from Robert Howe, 13 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
We feel ourselves much obliged to your Excellency for having communicated to us the Plan of Operations concerted between Yourself and the Count de Rocham beau for the ensuing Campaign; and in Compliance with your Excellency’s Request, we shall, you may be assured, through the whole Course of its Operations, give you our Opinion and Advice, either collectively or individually, with that Freedom...
140To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 6 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
Intelligence making it probable that a party of the Enemy might be surprized within their lines, thirty five of Moylans and ten of Sheldons Light Dragoons, with forty Infantry and about fifty Militia Horses were appointed for this command, with Orders to carry the enterprize into execution, if on approaching the Enemy it was found practicable—Lieutenant Colonel White of Moylans conducted this...
141To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 25-26 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been endeavouring ever Since I arrived here, I.E. about one o’clock, to learn with Certainty the Motions and designs of the Insurgents, They were assembled at Chatam, and from thence are Said to be returning to their huts, where, they mean to Negotiate, for tho’ they profess to be inclined to open a treaty, they have, by no Means, adopted those Subordinate Ideas which alone can give...
142To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 5 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s Favors of the 1st & 3d are before me—Notwithstanding the Hand Bill of Mr Rivington I think there are Reasons to doubt the Authenticity of what he says relative to the Reduction of Charles Town—as Informations from New York obtain’d from the Tories left it safe on the 10th of May, & not apparently in Danger of speedy Subduction. In Consequence of the Report of Sir Harry...
143To George Washington from Robert Howe, 7 July 1783 (Washington Papers)
The Troops encamped within Two Miles of this Town on Saturday where They remain still, for having procured Tents for Them. They are permitted to hold little or no Communication with the Town. Immediately on my Arrival I took Measures to carry into Execution the Intentions of Congress to the utmost Extent—but I have it to regret that where so much ought to be known so Little Means of...
144To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 7 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
I inclose your Excellency the Copy of a letter I just received from colonel John Mead of Militia at Horseneck, and also one of Governor Trumbulls to him. Colo. Meads apprehensions by consulting the date they took rise from, seem to have been impressed by those movements of the Enemy, when the thaw prevented their Enterpr[i]se. The Expectation of support from this Quarter upon very trifling...
145To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 6 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
The taking of —— agent has been an ugly accident, and to liberate him without Exciting suspicion requires management he is fearful that the stale trick of letting him Escape will not answer, Especially as he is so lately out of the small Pox and is so very Weak that he can not well be suppos’d to be possessed of agility Enough to make a hasty retreat and the least doubtful circumstance would...
146To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 27 April 1780 (Washington Papers)
Colo. Hay just gave me a call in his way to Morris Town, and has occasion to be so much in haste, that it gives me no time to Write fully—I have such malancholy accounts from Commissaries of every sort, respecting supplies, that I should wound your Excellency’s peace were I to particularise, without answreing any good end, as I am certain you are exerting your self to the utmost to Guard...
147To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 10 April 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have some Time since received Accounts, from various Agents, that Troops of the Enemy in great Force were embark’d, & embarking for South-Carolina—That their Horse which were canton’d out, were all call’d in to New York—that great Quantities of Forage, & a great Number of Waggons were put on Board their Vessels, that all Vessels fit for the Service of their Government were taken up, & all...
148To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 3 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I send your Exccellency by Mr Moylan all the Returns that are come in, & shall be anxious until I hear they are safe in your Hands. you may perhaps think that Stony & Verplank’s are endowed with more Stores than they ought, but they were lodged in them under Auspices different from those which your Excellency’s last Letters have set up —& to have removed them would have intimated to the...
149To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 6 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Informations I had of the Enemy’s Intentions of marauding in Force, & of which I gave your Excellency an Account yesterday, having been confirm’d to me by Intelligence received various Ways last Night, & from Sources that have seldom been mistaken, have induced me to advance Nixon’s Brigade, & to direct Glover’s to possess their Cantonments near & at the Village, that we may not receive...
150To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 27 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
In obedience to your Excellency’s Commands I arrived at this place yesterday evening and found that the Mutineers were returning to their huts. Col. Dayton had offered them pardon for their offences provided they immediatly would put themselves under the Command of their officers and would behave in future consistent with that Subordination So essential to Military discipline. To this they...