1To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 29 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Bearer of this a Private in Colo. Rawlins’s Regiment made his escape from the Enemy in New York yesterday, he is an intelligent Fellow, and brings information that upwards of ten thousand of the Enemy embarked on Sunday last, under the Command of General Clinton, the place of their destination uncertain; some of them informed him they were gone to Carolina, others say to the Eastward....
2To George Washington from Maj. John Clark, 25 September 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Maj. John Clark, Jr., 25 Sept. 1777. GW wrote Clark on 29 Sept. : “I recd yours of the 25th from Elizabeth Town.”
3To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 6 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
Cadwalader Jones a Quaker on whom I can rely, is just returned from Philadelphia, & informs me that about 2000 Hessians crossed the Schuylkill at the lower ferry Yesterday on their way towards Chester, that he was informed by Friends in the City at Yearly-meeting that Brigadier Agnew was killed & one or two other Generals mortally wounded, it was the current report in the City, that the Rebels...
4To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 6 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you by Express at 5 this Evening which I hope you have reced—A Gent. an intimate acquaintance this moment arrived from Philadelphia (his name I must conceal for particular reasons) which place he left at 11 oClock this Day—& confirms what I wrote you & further Ads—Gen. Knyphausen is wounded in the hand—Genl D[e]peisters son an A.D.C. is killed as also Cols. Abercrombie, Bird, Walcot, &...
5To George Washington from Maj. John Clark, 22 October 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Maj. John Clark, Jr., 22 Oct. 1777. GW’s secretary Robert Hanson Harrison wrote Clark on 23 Oct.: “His Excellency received last night your favor of Yesterday” ( DLC:GW ).
6To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 27 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
By two persons just from Philadelphia I have received the following information Vizt that the Enemy brought on shore thirty three Boat load of wounded Soldiers and Seamen on the 23d Inst. and that they have taken several Companies of Marines from on board to do duty as Foot, they curse Fort Mifflin heartily, & say, it has given them more trouble, than any thing they ever met with. the Shipping...
7To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 3 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
This moment my Spy from Philadelphia came to me he is an exceeding intelligent Fellow, I counterfeited the Quaker for once, & wrote a few lines to Sr Wm informing him the Rebels had plundered me, & that I was determined to risque my all in procuring him intelligence, that the bearer wou’d give him my name; a noted Quaker, who I knew had assisted him. The Letter was concealed curiously & the...
8To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 4 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your agreeable favor came to hand a few Minutes ago. I thank you for your approbation of my conduct, and shall not fail to do as you have directed; in return, I expect immediate intelligence of every design—from the Enemy. I am just returned from below Marcus Hook, & Chester, have carefully viewed every Ship of War & Transport in the River at these places, & can assure you there is not a...
9To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 8 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Capt. Little late of Philada has just returned from the neighborhood of New Castle—he fell in with Lieut. Linsey of Blands dragoons, who had just taken two Captain’s belonging to the Enemy’s fleet: one of them was under orders to sail for England in a packet, and came ashore to take leave of the inhabitants who are continually supplying them with every necessary. Lindsy says if he had had only...
10To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 12 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
This will inform you I left New Castle Yesterday Evening, at which place there lay about one hundred sail of Men of War & Transports, chiefly of the later, one large Ship of Force at the mouth of Christiana—Day before Yesterday thirty five sail of Transports hove in sight & soon after taking advantage of the Flood, moved up & joined the Fleet at Chester—The Inhabitants say they had no Troops...
11To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 16 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Having received information that the Enemy were landing at Chester I immediately dispatched an intelligent person to bring information, he is just returned and informs me there has not been any on shore & that there are not above three or four hundred on board. & those are a part of the Invalids left on Staten Island I am also informed by a Gentleman who viewed all the Transports as the came...
12To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 16 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am sorry to acquaint you of the disagreeable News of the evacuation of Fort Mifflin—I’ve just seen two persons from Philadelphia the news of the Fort being taken was bought by three Light Horsemen into the City at 12 oClock—the Enemies Lines are compleat from Delaware to Schuylkill—They were at a quarter of a pound of Beef allowance ⅌ Man—great Betts were held of their quitting the City—an...
13To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 17 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
This moment I have seen a Gentleman (a Friend) who left the City Yesterday Evening, the report of the evacuation of Fort Mifflin was generally believed by the Citizens—’twas also said the Troops on board the Transports at Chester wou’d immediately land in the Jersey shore and march to attack red bank—a Captains Guard are on the West side Schuylkill—on the East, the seventy first Regiment and a...
14To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 17 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Col. Tilghmans Letter I have received. The Enemy are gone over to Jersey I will endeavour to get an exact account of the numbers & transmit you in haste I am your Excellency’s Obedt Hble servt a Gentleman of credit says they marched in a solid Column & were an hour & half crossing Derby Bridge, without any impediments. ALS , DLC:GW . Although this letter is undated, its context suggests that...
15To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 18 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Col: Fitzgeralds favor of 6 oClock last Evening I received. A Young fellow of Character has been recommended to me (by a Gentleman of my acquaintance in whom I can entirely confide) as a suitable person to give information of the Enemy’s designs—He is now in the City—& will be with you so soon as he makes the discoveries I have ordered—If they attempt Redbank, by throwing our Troops from the...
16To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 18 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
A few Minutes ago one of my Friends came to me & informs me about 5000 of the Enemy crossed from Philadelphia at the Middle Ferry; they are on the Chester Road encamped a few Miles from Chester—they have a great many Baggage Waggons & a number of Field pieces, one of the Officers waiters assured my Friend the whole Army were moving on—others of the Privates say they are going to cross the...
17To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 18 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
The bearer of this has been employed by me to bring intelligence of the Enemy’s movements at Chester, from which place he has just arrived, & informs me the Enemy have been busy since their arrival putting their Horses on board, & embarking Troops, a Ship, & a Brig, were loaded & hauled of from the Wharf into the Channel before he came away, he immagines they have at least 3000—are encamped at...
18To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 19 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am informed by a person in this place that Lord Cornwallis commands the party that came down from Philadelphia they compleated their embarkation about Sunset Yesterday the following Regiments are with his Lordship Vizt the 5th 15th 17th 33d 77th & 56th exclusive of the Hessians & Light Infantry with 12 pieces of Cannon & several Howitz, the Troops went from this with the greatest reluctance,...
19To George Washington from Maj. John Clark, 20 November 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Maj. John Clark, Jr., 20 Nov. 1777. Clark wrote GW on 22 Nov. that the “Day before Yesterday I wrote to you.”
20To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 22 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
This will inform you one of my Spies has this moment come to me from Philadelphia, he delivered the Dispatches to Sr Wm & has been through his Army says those remaining at Philadelphia do not exceed 5000, the Soldiers much fatigued & grumble at the severe duty they are obliged to do & are exceedingly averse to the service their Redoubts have from two to three Feild pieces in each, in front at...
21To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 22 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
A few Minutes ago my Spy whom I expected had waited on you Yesterday, came to me, he left Philadelphia after 12, this Day, confirms the account, transmitted you in my Letter of this Date, & says the Troops from Jersey, have not returned, that the Enemy have their Waggons paraded along the line, where they are encamped, that they are busy hauling Fascines up from the Neck, that a number of...
22To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 24 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am this moment returned [from] Mr Philip Prices near the lower Ferry, at which place I thought to have taken a view of the River, but was prevented by the thickness of the Air occasioned by a Smoak on Province Island, I immagine the Enemy are about to evacuate it, by a Person of distinction from Philadelphia (a Friend) this Evening, I am informed, the Enemy are exceedingly alarmed, Orders...
23To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 26 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Yours of the 25th I received, and will strictly adhere to the contents thereof—this moment my Friend from Philadelphia came to me and informs me he left the City this Evening—previous to his departure he viewed the Wharfs & Streets none of which have any Cannon on, this Day upwards of thirty Sail of Transports came up the River, above one hundred now ly opposite the City—several of which have...
24To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 29 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Favor of the 27th I received last Night and will pay a particular attention to your request—By a Gentleman of veracity (a worthy Friend) who left Philadelphia the Evening before last, I am informed that General Howe is Billeting his Troops on the Citizens, two to every Housekeeper, which has occasioned a universal murmur among the Citizens—By a person who left the City Yesterday Evening,...
25To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 1 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
A few Minutes ago my Friend Mr J. F. returned from the City, in which, he says there are a great many Troops Billeted, the Streets remain without any Cannon in them six or seven Frigates have got up, none ly above Mark⟨et⟩ Street Wharf, neither do they carry above twenty Guns each, the Transports have not as yet unloaded but a little Suga⟨r⟩ and a few pieces of Linnen—Lord Cornwallis has at...
26To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 3 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
Col: Laurens Letter came to hand this morning. I am sorry a Guard of Militia under the Command of Colonel Warner took up one of my Friends going into Philada which has prevented my getting some very material intelligence as I had formed a channel through which every thing in that way wou’d have come with secrecy & for that purpose had sent a little provision to my Correspondent in Philada from...
27To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 3 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
One of my Spies this moment arrived from the City, which place he left this Day at 12, oClock—he confirms the account transmitted you this Day at one oClock with respect to the Enemy pressing Horses & Carriages—but seen no Boats &c. on Carriages—he went thro the greatest part of the City assures me Troops are quarter’d in almost every House—they are pulling down a great many frame Buildings...
28To George Washington from Maj. John Clark, 9 December 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Maj. John Clark, Jr., 9 Dec. 1777. In his letter to Clark of this date , GW wrote: “I am favd with yours of 8 OClock this Morning.”
29To George Washington from Maj. John Clark, 15 December 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Maj. John Clark, Jr., c.15 Dec. 1777. On 16 Dec. GW wrote Clark that “Your Messenger went away before I got home yesterday, or I should have answered your letter.”
30To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 18 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you sometime since, concerning some Provision I had sent by a Spy, taken by Warners Militia, & deposited in the hands of Col. Rankin—Your Excellency was kind enough to request me to give General Potter, a state of the matter, & let him know, “’twas your desire, that it shou’d be delivered to the guard,” all this has been done by me, Mr Trumbal waited on him Yesterday, but to no...
31To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 19 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
since the reception of your favor I dispatched several Spies into the City, to endeavor to find the intended hour of the Enemy’s march; one of them this moment returned from Philada, which place he left at three oClock this afternoon, at that time, they were leading about three hundred Horses covered with Blankets on the Commons, & were very busy throwing up a ditch from the Road above Middle...
32To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 20 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you last Night, & informed you that I expected a Spy from the City every hour —he has this moment come to me, & brings intelligence that near 1000 of the Enemy, crossed over to Jersey yesterday with six feild pieces from 4 to 6 pounders, with design to let the Country people have the benefit of the Market, the Militia hitherto having prevented—this Day, about 30 Waggons escorted by 100...
33To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 21 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with yours of this Date, a Spy from the City & the Express arrived a few Minutes ago, the former confirms the account of the Enemy’s intention to plunder, they intend to visit Derby, Marple & Springfield Townships this Week, so says “Mr Nat. Vernon in confidence to Mr Joshua Humphreys of Philada.” Yesterday six large flat bottom’d Boats (with about 70 Privates) returned from...
34To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 22 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
A large Body of the Enemy are on their march to Derby, where they must have arrived by this time, the number uncertain, but you may rely are formidable, they certainly mean to forage where I mentioned in my Letter of Yesterday—at 8 this morning about 20 Dragoons of the Enemy came up to the Fox Chase, to give the alarm, & then took the route to Derby—I have alarmed Morgan—the Genl is rode out...
35To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 22 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have just returned from Springfield, having met one of my Spies on the Road, he informs me Genl Sr Wm Howe Sr Wm Erskine & a number of other Generals are with the party at Derby, refreshing the Troops—they have a very formidable Body with them—my Spy was taken by their advanced Guard one Mile this side Derby, on the Springfield Road—& carried to the Generals at Derby—they’ve made great many...
36To George Washington from Maj. John Clark, 22 December 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Maj. John Clark, Jr., 22 Dec. 1777. Clark says in the postscript of his letter to GW of 23 Dec. that “I wrote you by Express last Evening.”
37To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 23 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
One of my Spies has just come from General Howes quarters at Mr Prices, he went down the private Road from Garrets undiscovered ’till he got to the General quarters almost, his Troops are encamped all along the Road from the Ferry, to the high Ground on this side Derby, at Justice Parkers on Springfield Road, their picket on this side, is kept at the intersection of the Providence, &...
38To George Washington from Major John Clark Jr., 25 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
This morning a party of the Enemy with a few Field pieces moved from Derby towards Chester, near the White Horse Tavern they fell in with a small party of our Troops, and a pretty smart Skirmish ensued, the Enemy played their Artillery so warm, that our Troops were soon obliged to give way, we have one man killed, & another wounded with a Cannon ball—& we have taken two prisoners, with their...
39To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 26 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you yesterday at one o Clock P.M. , informing you the Enemy had moved towards Chester, after which, I took a circuit round them, their design appeared only to disperse our light parties, to make room for their Waggons to hall the remainder of the Hay from Tinicum Island, & the Hook, My Spy from the City has just arrived, & informs me General Knyphausen commands in Philada, & has but a...
40To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 28 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
Early this morning, a Spy came to me from Philadelphia, which place he left late last Evening, at that time, Sr Wm Howe had just arrived, & the Van of his Army had got over Schuylkill, a great many Troops were marching from this side the ferry towards the City, so that e’er this, I immagine they’ve all returned from Derby, ’twas the common talk in the City, that the Army was returning—I shall...
41To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 30 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Spy mentioned in my Letter of Day before Yesterday, returned last Night, and informs me the Enemy are all over the Schuylkill except a Guard at the middle Ferry, they have taken up their Bridge at Grays, & say, that so soon as they’ve haul’d their Wood from this side, they will take up that at middle Ferry also, & continue Boats for the benefit of the Market People, I must now inform you...
42To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 30 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
The bearer Christian Bittinger with whom I am nearly connected has been in the service near three Years, during which time he has found himself in Cloathes for the most part—he has been with Colonel Morgan to the Northward, & is desirous of going home on furlough the Col. has this morning wrote me that his conduct merits one, but he was fearful if he granted it that others wou’d expect the...
43To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 13 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your kind letter of recommendation, I had the honor to deliver to His Excellency the President, who laid it before congress in my absence. since which, they have appointed me an Auditor with Mr Clarkson to settle & adjust the accounts of the main Army—whether I am equal to the task assigned me, or not, I cannot presume to say; but shou’d I accept The appointment, I flatter myself under your...
44To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 3 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Maj. John Clark, Jr., 3 Aug. 1778. On 14 Aug., GW’s secretary Robert Hanson Harrison wrote Clark: “The multiplicity of business in which his Excellency has been engaged, would not permit him to take the subject of your Letter of the 3d Inst. into consideration before to day. It seems but reasonable that the public should have the emoluments arising from desertion or the...
45To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 10 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
A difficulty has arisen between the Officers of the State of Newhampshire & me, in settling their Accounts: The State some time since, transmitted to the Board of Treasury a list of Monies advanced to the Officers, including the Continental Bounties, which have since been transmitted to me: I have called upon the Officers & they alledge they ought not to be charged with those sums—as the State...
46To George Washington from John Clark, Jr. and James Johnston, 12 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
In virtue of a Resolve of Congress of the 3rd Inst:, We have digested a Plan for setling the accounts of back rations: as also a hint to the Officers, on the subject of settling their Accots agreeable to your late order; and directions for the Regimental paymaster’s of the line : all of which, are intended to promote the public good; and facilitate the settling and adjusting the Accounts of...
47To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 28 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I must now solicit your good advice on a matter which concerns not only the Army, but the public in general; and I flatter myself from your usual candor you will grant it me. By the resolves of Congress lately transmitted to me, I find Congress not as yet, disposed to make any further allowance to Officers that have been sent on the recruiting service, and I am directed to put their...
48To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 29 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
Lieut. Crittenton has produced an Account of sundry sums of Money paid by Order of Col. Mason to Officers & Soldiers of different Corps in the Virginia line—He says he has Vouchers to prove his Expenditures—But as Col. Mason stands charged in this Office for the whole of the Money thus paid, I think he ought to settle Mr Crittentons Acct as it don’t appear for what purposes many of the sums...
49To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 11 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
I waited at your quarters yesterday evening in hopes of seeing you, but was informed you were engaged; upon this, I requested Doctor McHenry to inform you I wanted leave of absence to regulate several matters in my department, as the Board of Treasury have lately made a new arrangement therein. They have by a Resolve of the “23rd Feby 1779 appointed three Audrs for the different Districts, Wm...