1801To George Washington from Colonel Benjamin Ruggles Woodbridge, 22 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
Cambridge, 22 December 1775 . Certifies “that Sergt Joseph Foster ... should be dischargd from the Army On account of the Sickness & Distress of his Family.” ADS , DLC:GW . Although this document is not addressed to GW, his discharge of Foster on this date indicates that it was sent directly to him. Joseph Foster, a sergeant in Captain Dwight’s company of militia from Ware, Mass., was...
1802To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Reed, 23 December 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Reed, 23 Dec. 1775. On 4 Jan. 1776 GW wrote to Reed : “I have recd your obliging favours of the 19th & 23d Ulto.”
1803To George Washington from Lund Washington, 23 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the 26th Novmbr I have recceve’d—in it you Express a desire to have your mill swamp cleard up for meadow in Consequence of a former letter (which you think may be a missg one) I was determine’d to have all the spare hands imploy’d in it this fall & winter, but we have had such repeated Rains that it is really impossible to worck in it—I have endeavour[ed] to keep the Coopers in...
1804To George Washington from William Watson, 23 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
The bearer Capt. Samuel Jackson comes with six prosoners, a Midshipman & five Sailors put by Capt. Talbot of the Nigar Frigate on board the Brigantne Peter, which Brigtn. was taken by sd Frigate about 18 days ago, near the Island of Barmudas, and orderd into Boston—This Brigantine was Retaken last Wednesday by our people, and was bra’t into this Port—Capt. Jackson the Bearer of this will...
1805To George Washington from Phillips Callbeck, 24 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
Winter Harbor, District of Maine 24 December . “I should but ill deserve the generous treatment Your Excellency has been pleased to shew me had I not gratitude to acknowledge so great a favor. . . . Fearfull I should encroach on Your Excellency’s time I have declined giving You a detail of the continued distress and persecution that has attended me since I had the Honor of taking my leave—I...
1806To George Washington from Jonathan Glover, 25 December 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Jonathan Glover, 25 Dec. 1775. A memorandum of a letter to Glover of 26 Dec., which Stephen Moylan apparently wrote on behalf of GW, begins: “Acknowledged rect of his of the 25th relative to the sloop Sally” ( DLC:GW ).
1807To George Washington from James Lyon, 25 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
You doubtless remember to have seen an application from the committee of safety in this place, for leave to go against Nova Scotia, which might probably have been taken then with very little difficulty: But we were informed, that such an expedition could not be carried on at that time, with proper secrecy; & that there was imminent danger from the Kings ships. The same difficulties may,...
1808To George Washington from Lieutenant Henry Edwin Stanhope, 25 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
Yr Excellency will no doubt be much surprised at being troubled by one, who is an entire Stranger to You; neither should I have been prompted to it but by the Desire of my enlargement, which I dont doubt but yr Excellency will grant, when the Circumstances are made known, viz. (that Captn Wallace offered some Prisonners in Exchange for me). The Respect with which I have ever heard yr...
1809To George Washington from Matthew Thornton, 27 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 23d Instant Respecting the Great want of Blankets for the Army, I Receeiv’d this Day; & Communicated the Same to the Congress now Setting, Who Immediately went into the Consideration, And Resolv’d to take the Most speedy and effectual method, in order to purchase all that Can be Spared within this Colony; tho’ we are fearful whether any Considerable Number can be Obtaind:...
1810To George Washington from the Gloucester Committee of Safety, 29 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
At the request of Mesr Jacob Green & Co. owners of the Sloop Speedwell Cory Master lately taken by Capt. Broughton and sent into this Harbour we have, maturely considered the within Inclo. Accot so farr as its carried out and are of opinion that the Charges are reasonable and that the Losses were sustained And are further of opinion that the Captors in Justice should pay it with the remainder...
1811To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Reed, 30 December 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Reed, 30 Dec. 1775. In a letter of 14 Jan. 1776 to Reed , GW acknowledged “the receipt of your favour of the 30th Ulto.”
1812To George Washington from Lund Washington, 30 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the 11th Inst. I have recieved, tho too late to prevent my writeg to Mr Mercer, that I woud in consequence of Colo. Tayloe’s Instruction diliver the Bonds to him, which I did by Post, The Post from the Northward did not come until after the Southward Post set out owing to the Ice in the River—I will again write by Post on monday to Mr Mercer, not to send for the Bonds, for that...
1813To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 1 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
Upon Receipt of your Excellency’s Letter of the 23d ulto I employed Two Persons to apply to the Housekeepers in this Town individually for Blankets for the Army. They have collected about 180 which will be sent forward this Day. It is full as large a Number as I expected to procure considering how we have been exhausted by Supplies to various Parts of the Service. I shall immediately take...
1814To George Washington from John Smith, 1 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
Agreable to your desire to his Honor the Gove[r]nor, what Blankets could be collected in this Town are now sent you by Mr Hale who will give you the cost of them, the number sent is 182. am sorry the number is so small tho believe that a Quantity might be collected in the Country Towns in some little time if you think it needful please to let me know and I will endeavor to procure them. I am...
1815To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 1 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
I received the 20th of last month your Excellency’s Favour of the 15th enclosing a list of the Officers & Companies under the New Arrangment with the No. of men inlisted—and at the same time another of the 17th with the information from several persons, who then had lately came out of Boston—I return my thanks for both—by Accounts received from the various parts of the Colony, the recruiting...
1816To George Washington from Colonel Alexander McDougall, 2 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
I was honored with your favor of the 4th Ultimo, on the Subject of the Cannon. I should not have been So long Silent on this matter, but that none of the brass cannon were finished, till a few days ago, and the Convention were So much out of temper, by the powder lent to the Continental army not being repaid, which they greatly wanted for their own defence, that I thought it most expedient to...
1817To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 2 January 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Major General Artemas Ward, 2 Jan. 1776. On 2 Jan. Robert Hanson Harrison wrote to Ward: “In Answer to yours of this date by Mr Pope, I am to inform you by his Excellencys command, that he desires you to send a Captn, Two Subaltern & fifty men to take Charge of the Military Stores, provisions &c. at Squantum & to remain there till further orders” ( DLC:GW ).
1818To George Washington from Colonel John Glover, 3 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am to informe your Exellencey, that John Thorner, (Stuward) willi⟨am⟩ Clark, wm Wallis, & thos Gerthrop, Seamen, of the Ship Janney Capt. Foster: made an attem[p]t to Desert from Said Ship, & to Go on board His Majestys Ship Foye, (now at ancor before this Harbour) but was Discoverd, & prevented by information of andrew Rogers Second Mate, & John Roberson, Cabin boy of Said Ship, whom I have...
1819To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 3 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
Capt. Kellog applies for Leave to take the Command of Capt. Hubbard’s Compy who is now in Canada. Capt. Kellog has behaved like a good Officer the past Campaign & is desirous of the above Favor only upon this Account: he imagines he can be very serviceable in gitting the Compy fill’d up; & is willing to resign the Command to Capt. Hubard when he returns from the Northward; if he desires to...
1820To George Washington from the New Hampshire Provincial Congress, 4 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
Sir—A complaint being made to the Congress of this Colony by our pay-master Col. Saml Hobart Esq. residing at Medford that he has within a few Days past been extremely ill treated by a party of Colo Stark’s Regiment without any apparent just cause, By which means a sum of money to the amot of Two hundred & sixty pounds has been pilfer’d from him, and at the same time the Honour of the Colony...
1821To George Washington from the Northampton Committee of Safety, 4 January 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from the Northampton Committee of Safety, 4 Jan. 1776. On 24 Jan. Robert Hanson Harrison wrote to this committee: “I am commanded by his Excellency General Washington to Inform you, that Major Hawley laid before him your Letter of the 4 Instant. As to discharging the persons therein mentioned from confinement, his Excellency leaves the matter entirely with you, either to do...
1822To George Washington from Major General Philip Schuyler, 5–7 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
I do not hesitate a Moment to answer My Dear General’s Question in the Affirmative, by declaring that now or never, is the Time for Every Virtuous American to exert himself in the Cause of Liberty & his Country, and that it is become a Duty, cheerfully to sacrafice the Sweets of domestic Felicity to attain the Honest & Glorious End, America has in View, & I can with a good Conscience declare,...
1823To George Washington from Colonel Henry Knox, 5 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
I did myself the honor to address your Excellncy from Fort George on the 17 Ult.—I then was in hopes that we should have been able to have had the Cannon at Cambridge by this time the want of Snow detain’d us some days & now a cruel thaw, hinders from Crossing Hudsons River which we are oblig’d to do four times from Lake George to this Town—the first severe night will make the Ice on the river...
1824To George Washington from Major General Charles Lee, 5 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
The consequences of the Enemy’s possessing themselves of New York have appear’d to me so terrible that I have scarcely been able to sleep from apprehensions on the subject—these apprehensions daily increase—You have it in your power at present to prevent this dreadfull event—if I do not mistake, the Congress have given you authority to take any step in that place as well as here which you...
1825To George Washington from John Hancock, 6–21 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor of enclosing you sundry resolutions passed yesterday respecting Mr Lowell. The Congress are desirous to know your opinion what rank it would be proper the aids de camp of the general Officers ought to hold in the army and on this head I am directed to write to you & request yr answer. Just after the receipt of your letter Conolly & Cameron were brought to town. By some...
1826From John Adams to George Washington, 6 January 1776 (Adams Papers)
As your Excellency has asked my Opinion of General Lees Plan, as explained in his Letter of the fifth instant, I think it my Duty to give it, although I am obliged to do it in more Haste than I could wish. I Suppose the only Questions which arise upon that Letter are whether the Plan is practicable; whether it is expedient; and whether it lies properly within your Excellencys Authority,...
1827To George Washington from John Adams, 6 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
As your Excellency has asked my Opinion of General Lees Plan, as explain’d in his Letter of the fifth instant, I think it my Duty to give it, although I am obliged to do it in more Haste than I could wish. I Suppose the only Questions which arise upon that Letter are whether the Plan is practicable; whether it is expedient; and whether it lies properly within your Excellencys Authority,...
1828To George Washington from William Bartlett, 6 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
After Receiving yours ⅌ Yesterday togeather with The Resolve of Congress inclos’d I find by Examining there appears to me to be a Contr[a]diction in this parragraft which I now inclose a Coppy which please to inform me. Resolved that all Transport Vessels having on board any Troops Arms Ammunition Cloathing provissions or Military or Naval Stores of what kind Soever, and all Vessels to...
1829To George Washington from the Stonington Committee of Safety, 8 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Comtee of Correspondence & Safety in this place, to whose Consideration Your Excellency, by letter dated the 27th of Novr last was pleased to refer the affair of one Denny, and his captur’d Vessel & Cargo; having on the first of December transmitted to You, Their Proceedings relative thereto; beg leave now to report further—that (having notified all Persons concern’d) after a full hearing...
1830To George Washington from Colonel Loammi Baldwin, 9 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have nothing very Remarkable to acquaint your Exceellency of only inform that last night upon the first apparanc of the Fire in Charlestown we heard a Very great noise & Clattering in Boston Lanching of Boats weighing Anchors towing Carrages &c. it appeared to me that the Pier of Vesels that lay at the east Sid of the town were all Desingaged & Some of them moved off f[r]om the Whorves we...