1731To George Washington from Colonel Thomas Lowrey, 19 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
By Information from Brunswick last night I have to inform your Excellency, the Body of English Troops now lying at Brunswick & the Landing have had a late Reinforcemt, the whole consists of between seven & eight thousand Men, This day a number more of them is expected to the same places—Genl Howe & Ld Piercy are arrived at Amboy with a number of Troops, it is expected a movemt will be made in...
1732To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 19 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Friends of Capt. Wells of Glassenbury in the State of Connectt have applied to me to procure Him exchangd & releasd from his Imprisonment; As tis not a Matter I am impowerd to transact I have referd them to your Excellency Capt. Wells’s Case is perhaps as distressing as that of any Prisoner, A Numerous Young Family, his Wife an Invalid; his Parents very aged these are the Persons who...
1733To George Washington from the Continental Congress Executive Committee, 20 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed papers were sent to our Office this morning by the Council of Safety for our direction upon the subject matter of their contents: but we have deemed it the more elegible to transmit them to your Excellency and at the same time We beg leave to recal your attention to our letter to you respecting these prisoners wrote some time since. General Gates, who is now present, and to whom...
1734To George Washington from Brigadier General Philemon Dickinson, 20 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
Immediately upon the Receipt of your Excellency’s Letter, I sent an Express to Genl Putnam, & shall agreable to your request, give the earliest Intelligence of the Situation & movements of the Enemy, to Genl Green—I shall send into Brunswick on Saturday next, & hope to receive some interesting Intelligence; by the return of the Person sent. I have added a second Picket, they both stand 1¼...
1735To George Washington from Major General Nathanael Greene, 20 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 18th came to hand last Evening—I shall pay due attention to its contents—but I fear my situation is too remote to carry on a communication of intelligence to advantage—Ever since I have been here I have been revolving the matter over and over in my mind respecting the subject of intelligence Nothing more elligible has occurd than the plan your Excellency suggests—but I hope...
1736To George Washington from William Livingston, 20 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I received a Letter from Collo. Shreve yesterday from Burlington applying for a Barrack Master & Commissary, for wood & for straw; & informing me that the Barracks want repair; from what I collect that the Collo. intends to make Burlington the Seat of his Residence longer than I think his Duty to the Service, requires—He has not furnished me with a Return; but I am informd that he has with him...
1737To George Washington from Robert Carter Nicholas, 20 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
My Son, Majr Nicholas, of the 10th Regiment embodied in Virginia, will have the Honor of presenting you with this Letter. Presuming on the Intimacy & Frindship I have had the Pleasure of cultivating with you, I take the Liberty of recommending him to your Countenance & Civilities. He stept forth very young in the Service of his Country & I trust will ever continue warmly devoted to her truest...
1738To George Washington from Capt. Benjamin Tallmadge, 20 February 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Capt. Benjamin Tallmadge, 20 Feb. 1777. GW wrote to Tallmadge on 1 Mar . “in answer to yours of the 20th last Month.”
1739To George Washington from the New Hampshire Committee of Safety, 21–22 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Committee had the Honour to receive yours of the 23d Ulto. And are very Sensible of the great Dificulty’s you have been reduced to for want of a Regular Army. And at the Same time are Agreably surprized with the Glorious Stand you have made with so few men, and many of those wholly undisiplined. The Officers appointed for the new Army, have but lately come home, and without money to pay...
1740To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel John Brooks, 21 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
Major Willm Hull, the Gentleman your Excellency was pleased to appoint to Colo. Michael Jackson’s Regt, finds some inconvenience in not haveing his Commission As your Excellency gave him his appointment (in the Room of Major Swasey) the Commissioners of this State, do not think, they have a Right to commissionate him. Coll Jackson still continues very lame & unfit for Duty; and I have no body...
1741To George Washington from the Continental Congress Executive Committee, 21 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
We have just rec’d the inclosed resolves from Congress which the President desires us to send forward to you, & we have the pleasure to inform you they are to adjourn next Tuesday from Baltimore to Philadelphia where we hope they may long remain undisturbed, so that the Public business may meet that dispatch which is now become so essentially necessary. Your Excellency will find herein a...
1742To George Washington from Richard Peters, 21 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am directed by the Board of War to inform you that it is the Opinion of Congress that the Men of the Corps of Virginia Light Horse under the Command of Major Bland receive the usual Bounty on their reinlisting for three Years or during the War into the Continental Service. General Ward having declined the Command of the Eastern Department I have it in Direction to enclose a Copy of his...
1743To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 21 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am honoured with yours of the first Instant and altho it would have made me very happy to have been able to procure a release of all our Officers in Captivity, I freely acknowlege and acquiesce in the Justice and Impartiality of the Measures You have taken respecting them. We have now granted to our Proportion of the sixteen Battallions the additional Bounty of Thirty three Dollars and one...
1744To George Washington from Brigadier General David Wooster, 21 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I take this oppertunity to acquaint Your Excellency, that since General Heaths departure to Boston, I have taken Post at this place, with seven hundred men exclusive of Officers, being part of three Regiments from Connecticut, and Colol Humphreys Regt from the State of New York; which consists only of eighty five men Rank & file. Two Men of War lay continualy off this place; And at...
1745To George Washington from Brigadier General John Armstrong, 22 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
On my return from Baltimore & travelling the West⟨ern⟩ part of the County of York, I am favoured with your Excellencys Letter of the 19th Ulto —and Sorry to find that so few of the Pennsylvania Militia who were actually on foot ever reached to head Quarters & also for the Short Stay of those who did—when I spoke of 20,000 it was including the bones of the Old Army & her few new recruits. The...
1746To George Washington from Landon Carter, 22 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
If any thing could alleviate my feelings for you in your Pro virili retreat indeed! A Small remnant of an army, who respected their general & their country, more than they did a visit to their wives and families, under all the ravagements & ravishments of an enimy, if not properly withstood: I say if any thing could alleviate such feelings, it was my active anxiousness, to encourage the...
1747To George Washington from the Continental Congress Executive Committee, 22 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
We have dispatched an express to Congress this Morning with your letter of the 20th which will be with them in time to prevent their adjournment next Tuesday from Baltimore, We have had a Conference with the Council of Safety and after Communicating to them the intelligence Contained in your Excellencys letters to Genl Gates and that to Congress We requested them to give immediate orders for...
1748To George Washington from Colonel Thomas Hartley, 22 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I received your Favour of the 3d inst. recommending Lieutenant Harrison—and tho’ an Appointment had in some Measure taken Place, yet hope to be able to take in Mr Harrison—I have wrote to him to meet me at Baltimore next Week—when I shall fix the Matter. I intended to have gone towards Virginia last Week—but the Recruiting Service hereabout, and the Providing Arms prevented it. The greater...
1749To George Washington from William Livingston, 22 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
In pursuance of the inclosed Resolution I am to desire the Favour of your Excellency to explain the Nature of the Oath to be Administred by virtue of your Proclamation, as soon as your Leisure will permit. I have had frequent Complaints of the Troops stationed at the two Ferries at Trenton, & at another above it, respecting their Conduct towards Passengers; As that they oblige them under...
1750To George Washington from Brigadier General George Clinton, 23 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
Being summoned to attend Convention a Day or two before the Express arrived here with your Excellency’s Letter of the 19th Instt I had not the Pleasure of receiving it till on my Return Home Yesterday Evening—Before this can reach your Excellency you will doubtless have a Return of the Men raised in this & Orange County pursuant to a Resolve of the Convention of this State with any Orders to...
1751To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 23 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I had the Honour to receive your Letters of the 19th & 20th on Fryday Night, The principal parts thereof have been fully answer’d by the Honble The Committee of Congss, their Letter will also be deliverd to Your Excellency by Colonel Fitzgerald; Colonel De Haas left this City the day after I sett out for Morris Town, & is not yet returnd, I understand his Son was extreamly Ill, which...
1752To George Washington from John Hancock, 23 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honour to enclose you sundry Resolves of Congress, to which I have only Time to refer your Attention, nor indeed, is any Thing further necessary as they are so very explicit. I have forwarded Commissions to the Majors General, and shall forward, by the next Opportunity, Commissions for the Brigadiers General. As I am empowered to adjourn the Congress from Baltimore to Philada on...
1753To George Washington from Brigadier General Peter Muhlenberg, 23 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Honble The Continental Congress, pass’d a Resolve the 21st of last Month, Ordering that part of my Regiment, which was still to the Southward to return to Virginia, & that all the Companies belonging to the Regiment, should be Recruited to their full Complement of Men, & Marchd to Camp as soon as Compleat. The Detachment from the Southward Arrivd here this Week, in a Shattred Condition,...
1754To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 23 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
having receivd Information that a Vessel was laden with Provisions in a Harbour on the East End of Long Island & bound to New York I sent Lt Wait with a Party of Men to bring her over to the Main; they left this Place the 16th Inst., but the Shippers of the Wheat &c. having receivd some Information of the Party coming over, removd the Provisions into different Parts remote from the Water that...
1755To George Washington from Jonathan Bryan, 24 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
24 February 1777 . “The Bearer John White Esquire is appointed Colonel of the fourth Battalion of Musquetry, for the State of Georgia; and as we are in great want of Men, we are obliged to send him to the northern States, on the recruiting Service.... Your Excellency we are well assured will give him every indulgence & encouragement, when we inform you of our alarming Situation, surrounded...
1756To George Washington from Maj. Gen. Stirling, 24 February 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Maj. Gen. Stirling, 24 Feb. 1777. GW wrote Stirling on 25 Feb . that “I was last night favoured with your Letter of the 24th Instt.”
1757To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 24 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am now to acknowledge the Receipt of your several Favours of the 31st ulto and the first, sixth, ninth Tenth and eleventh Instant, also of sixty Thousand Dollars of which I have forwarded Twenty Thousand to General Knox agreable to your Request, the remaining Forty Thousand I shall divide out to the Colonels of our Battallions as needed, having regard to the Sums they have already received...
1758To George Washington from John Hancock, 25 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
From the Resolves, which I have the Honour of transmitting herewith, you will perceive the Measures Congress have taken to reinforce your Army at this Juncture. I have wrote to the Convention of New York to place a proper Guard of Militia at the Passes in the Highlands, in Case you should think proper to call to your Assistance the Troops under Genl Heath, which will be highly agreeable to...
1759To George Washington from Maj. Gen. Israel Putnam, 25 February 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Maj. Gen. Israel Putnam, 25 Feb. 1777. GW writes in his letter to Putnam of 28 Feb. that “your several favours of the 25th & 26th Inst. came to hand.”
1760To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 25 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am honoured with yours of the sixth Instant and observe the Contents, we are under great, and, I fear, insurmountable Difficulties with respect to procuring Arms for the Continental Troops raising in this State, altho all persons capable have been employed near two Years in manufacturing them. many of our best Arms were stopd last Year at Roxbury, and at the End of both Campaigns at the...
1761To George Washington from Colonel George Baylor, 26 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am a few days retur[ne]d from the Southward, where I have a prospect of geting my horses. As the Quarter Master of this department is unwilling to Let me have any thing for the use of the Regiment, I should be glad to know of you, and have your instructions to him, for what we are to be allowed; is it not reasonable that the Men should be firnished with a Sute of Clothes? that is a Coat,...
1762To George Washington from the Continental Congress Executive Committee, 26 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
We have this Night received from Congress the dispatches sent herewith, by these you will see the promotions that have taken place and that no deputation of Members of Congress are to meet Genl Lee, who I suppose will be much disapointed but surely he shou’d have pointed out more clearly the design of his request, as the consequences of complyance or even of the refusal may be important. It...
1763To George Washington from Brigadier General Philemon Dickinson, 26 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I shall take care in future, to communicate to your Excellency by Letter certain Intelligence that may be received; my Reason for sending him up, was to give your Excellency an Opporty of asking many Questions, which perhaps I had omitted. I am much obliged by your Excellency’s Permission to purchase the Horse, I shall have him valued, & pay the Money, as proposed—shall observe your...
1764To George Washington from Major General Charles Lee, 26 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am extremely glad that Morris is so far recover’d that there is a probability of his leaving Philadelphia Where I left him (as I thought) in a very bad way from the effects of his Southern expedition—I have the sincerest love and affection for him—his excellent qualities, his good sense and integrity must endear him to evrybody who knows him—Eustace I consider as my adopted Son. considering...
1765To George Washington from Major General Israel Putnam, 26 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
Capt. Smith is induced by Arguments I have used to return and accept of the Offer you was pleased to make him, of an Independant Company of 100 Men, I could wish as an additional Requisite, he had, to pay and cloath them him self—His Experience last War and the Spirit which to my Knowlege he has shewn in this, convince me, he is capable of rendering his Country particular Services in the Way...
1766To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 26 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I had the Honour of receiveing your Excellencys letter of Yesterday’s date with the Several Inclosures. on Communicating the Contents of the Letter to Capt. Thruston he was perfectly Satisfyed with the propriety of reasons which determined your Excellency’s Conduct with regard to his Commission, the rest of the Gentlemen will feel great Satisfaction in receiveing their Certificates. I now send...
1767To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 26 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
Major Wyllys having returned to New York, is again permitted to return Home upon his parole to negotiate his Exchange, and yesterday presented me with a Letter from Mr Loring Commissary of prisoners in which is the following paragraph. “having received a Letter from General Washington, by Brigade Major Wyllys, desiring he might be exchanged the first after Capts. Dearborn & Trowbridge who go...
1768To George Washington from General William Howe, 27 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
Some Days having elapsed since the Conference between Lt Col. Walcott and Lt Col. Harrison without hearing from You for the further Prosecution of the Business relative to Prisoners of War, I am to trouble You with my Request to have a second Meeting at the same, or at any other Place You shall appoint, and to desire You will vest Lt Col. Harrison with proper Powers for reducing to the Form of...
1769To George Washington from Richard Henry Lee, 27 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
My brother Delegates are of opinion that the inclosed papers may avail you something in settling some disputes about rank that may come before you, and therefore it is sent. Congress never did any thing in this matter, as the business was put into other hands. I realy think that when the history of this winters Campaign comes to be understood, the world will wonder at its success on our part....
1770To George Washington from Robert Morris, 27 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have your favour of the 22d Inst. which wears a very serious countenance and the opinion I entertain of the Strength of your judgement and propriety of your observations, creates doubts in my Mind which I confess I had discarded, as to the safety of this City. from various Accounts I have been taught to believe that the Enemy have since Christmass lost so many Horses, are in such want of...
1771To George Washington from Major General Philip Schuyler, 27 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday I was honored with your Excellency’s Favor of the 9th Instant. My future applications for Ordnance and Ordnance Stores shall be to General Knox as your Excellency directs—He has sent me two Orders on persons in Jersey for a Quantity of Shot; As I neither know the persons nor any person in Jersey whom I can request to forward it to me, I am under the Necessity of beging your...
1772To George Washington from John McKinly, 28 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I received Directions from the General Assembly of this State just before their adjournment, a few Days agoe, to acquaint your Excellency that on the Receipt of your Letter of the 31st January last, they passed “An Act against Desertion & harbouring ⟨Deserters⟩ or dealing with them in certain Cases” which I flatter myself will answer the intended purpose —I also have it in charge to inform You...
1773To George Washington from Colonel Henry Beekman Livingston, March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I just Received Your Orders of the 12th Instant Accordingly have sent You My Return enclosed being a true State of the Regiment Orders Are already issued for Assembling the Recruits at Peeks Kill the Greatest Part are Collected and ready for a March at any warning a Sufficiency of Officers have been left for the Recruiting Service And Your Excellency May depend that no Pleas for Delay will be...
1774To George Washington from the Continental Congress Executive Committee, 1 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
The dispatches from Congress sent herewith came up last Night & we send them forward this Morning soon as the Express can be ready after delivering them to you he is to go on to the Convention of New York with the enclosed Letter from Congress to them, and you will please to deliver it to him for that purpose unless some conveyance equally safe & expeditious but less expensive offers, in that...
1775To George Washington from William Shippen, Jr., 1 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am honor’d with your’s by Lieut. Cock, & have directed all the inoculated Troops, on this side the Delaware, and shall prevent any more from being sent to any town on the great road for the future. In my last I mentioned to your excellency that the 2d & 7th virginia regiments were to pass by without suffering inoculation; but I either misunderstood Mr Morris, or he was misinformed; for the...
1776To George Washington from William Duer, 2 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I should have done myself the Honour of Answering your Excellency’s Letter of the 3d Febry last but have not as yet been Able to Learn from Colo. Weisenfelts, or Mr John Livingston whether, with the Assistance of a proper Major, they would engage to raise a 6th Battallion in this State. I expect to see Mr Livingston here every Moment, and shall then Inform your Excellency with the Result of...
1777To George Washington from Major General Joseph Spencer, 2 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
we have made the necessary preparations for making a Descent on Rhode Island in almost Every perticular and Should have soon proceeded if we had not been Intirely Prevented for want of men, I was in hopes of having troops Sufficient for that purpose after I have permission from your Excellency to Call in some Continental troops so as to have made the tryal before the troops now at this place...
1778To George Washington from Brigadier General David Wooster, 2 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s favor of the 24th Ult. came to hand yesterday. I am sorry to inform that it was not in my power to persuade my Troops to continue at New-Rochelle, so near a much superior force of The Enemy: and having very good inteligence that about fourteen hundred from Long-Island had actualy landed on City-Island with design to surround and attack us. But a Storm prevented their landing...
1779To George Washington from Colonel James Irvine, 3 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
pursuant to my Instructions from Major General Gates, I have examined the Ferrys from Bristol to Easton, a Report of their present State I now inclose. I have given strict Orders to Col: Erwin & Majors McIlvain & Labar to collect & bring over all the Boats in their districts respectively, and secure them in proper places on the West side of the River upon the least Alarm of the Enemies...
1780To George Washington from William Livingston, 3 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have had the Honour of receiving your Excellency’s Favour of the 22d of february, & find myself extremely happy in your concurring with me in opinion against extorting Fines from the Militia; but alas that I fear will be our only chance of obliging some of the poorer sort to turn out at last; for our long expected Militia Bill in its present form, and as it will undoubtedly pass respecting...