151To George Washington from John Hancock, 13 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
You will percieve, from the enclosed Resolves, the fixed Determination of Congress to retaliate (as nearly as lies in their Power,) on our Enemies, should they think proper to send any of their Prisoners to Great Britain, or to any other Part of the British King’s Dominions beyond Sea. This Resolution you will please to convey to Genl Howe as soon as possible, as it is of the utmost...
152To George Washington from John Hancock, 2 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
Having had the honour of writing to your Excellency by Mr Allen, of expressing the pleasure I have recieved in common with my fellow citizens in general of your deserved elevation to the first place in the Fœderal Government of the American Country; this consideration would have precluded you the trouble of the present communication were it not for the paper accompanying, which I flatter...
153To George Washington from John Hancock, 6 March 1776 (Washington Papers)
Since my last I have had the Honour of receiving your Letters of the 24th and 30th of January 9th 14th 18th and 21st and 26th of February, which were communicated to Congress. On the Settlements and Adjustment of the Accounts, the Congress have not yet come to any Determination; nor have they yet had Time to contrive Expedients for remedying the Inconveniencies mentioned in that of the 9th...
154To George Washington from John Hancock, 19 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
Since my Letter on the 18th Inst. I have Nothing further in Charge from Congress that particularly relates to yourself, or the Army immediately under your Command. I have wrote to the Conventions of the Jerseys and New York, and to the Assembly of Connecticut on the Subject of the Resolve, Inclos’d in my last and have pressed them to a Compliance with the Request therein contained. Mr Bedford...
155To George Washington from John Hancock, 25 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have Deliver’d in Charge to Mr Hanson & Cox Three Hundred Thousand Dollars for the Service of the Army in Canada, & have directed them by order of Congress to Deliver the same to you, and am to Request you will please to order it to be Sent to General Schuyler at Albany under the Care of an Officer & some of the Troops destin’d for Canada to be Deliver’d General Schuyler. Your favrs of 22d &...
156To George Washington from John Hancock, 18 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
The bearer Captn F. Gurney has the Charge of conducting 500.000 dollars for the use of the army under your command I wish it safe to hand, I shall this evening dispatch an express to you with sundry matters of importance. I am Sr your obedient humble Servt LS , DLC:GW . Francis Gurney (1738–1815), a veteran of the French and Indian War who had become a successful merchant in Philadelphia, was...
157To George Washington from John Hancock, 9 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
It is with the highest Pleasure I comply with the Order of Congress in conveying to you the enclosed Resolve expressing the Thanks of that Body to you for the wise and well concerted Attack upon the Enemy near Germantown on the 4th Inst: and also to the Officers and Soldiers for their brave Exertions on that Occasion: And I must request you will communicate to them, this distinguished Mark of...
158To George Washington from John Hancock, 22 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
This moment an Express is Arriv’d from Maryland with an Accott of near Two hundred Sail of Mr Howe’s Fleet being at Anchor in Chesapeak Bay, a Copy of the Letter brought by the Express I inclose you, & to which I Refer you —In consequence of this Advice Congress have order’d the immediate Removal of all the Stores & Prisoners from Lancaster & York in this State to places of greater Safety....
159To George Washington from John Hancock, 14 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have just Rec’d by Express a Letter from General Dickinson at Trenton, the Subject is of such importance that I Judged proper to Transmit you a Copy by Express, which is Inclos’d & to which I beg leave to Refer you. Your favr by the Return Express I Rec’d & shall lay before Congress this morng. I have the honour to be Sir Your most Obedt Servt ALS , DLC:GW . Hancock franked the addressed...
160To 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...
161To George Washington from John Hancock, 20 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Favour of the 18th continued to the 19th I was this Day honored with at two O’Clock, and shall lay the same before Congress tomorrow Morning. The enclosed Resolves are all that have passed in Congress since my last, which are either necessary for your Information, or the Direction of your Conduct. I beg Leave to refer your Attention to them, & with sincere and ardent Wishes for your...
162To George Washington from John Hancock, 4 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed Resolves will inform you of the Steps the Congress are taking to provide for the Army —they are so explicit that I need only refer your Attention to them—and indeed this is all I have Time to do at present. By General Mifflin who will set out tomorrow or next Day, I shall do myself the Pleasure to write you fully. I have the Honour to be with the greatest Esteem, Sir your most...
163To George Washington from John Hancock, 16 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed Resolves will convey to you such Information of the Proceedings of Congress as may be necessary for your Direction and future Conduct touching the same. In the present Situation of the British Army, it is extremely to be wished, that an Attack could be made upon their Troops in Rhode Island, which, tho’ it should not prove successful, would, in all Probability, cause a Diversion...
164To George Washington from John Hancock, 24 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
The late Conduct of Lord Drummond is as extraordinary, as his Motives are dark and mysterious. To judge the most favourably of his Intentions, it should seem, that an overweening Vanity has betrayed him into a criminal Breach of Honour. But whether his Views were upright, or intended only to mislead and deceive, cannot at present be a Matter of any Importance. In the mean Time, I have the...
165To George Washington from John Hancock, 18 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
Mr Griffin delivered me your letter of the 4th with the packets, which I have laid before Congress. No resolution is taken in consequence thereof, nor has any thing new Occurred since my last, except the Inclos’d Resolves. I have the honour to be Sr Your obedt humble Servt LS , DLC:GW . Hancock is referring to GW’s letter to him of 15 July which was laid before Congress on this date ( JCC...
166To George Washington from John Hancock, 2 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the Honour to Inclose you sundry Resolutions of Congress, to which beg leave to Refer you. I have the honour to be Sir Your very hum. Servt ALS , DLC:GW . The enclosed resolutions, passed between 29 July and 1 Aug. 1777, concern a variety of matters related to the military and to the defense of Philadelphia. Resolutions of 29 and 30 July, and 1 Aug., order an inquiry into the...
167To George Washington from John Hancock, 26 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honour to transmit sundry Resolves of Congress for your Information and Direction, to which I beg Leave to refer your Attention. Lieutentant Colonels Meigs and Barton having distinguished themselves by their Enterprizes against the Enemy, the Congress, as an Acknowledgment of their Bravery and good Conduct, have ordered an elegant Sword to be presented to each of them. The Congress...
168To George Washington from John Hancock, 13 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
[Philadelphia] 13 August 1776 . “I have nothing in Charge from Congress to Communicate to you. Had not the honour of a Letter by the Post, I Judge the Return Express is on the Road, by whom wish to have an Agreeable Accot of the State of the Army.” ALS , DLC:GW .
169To George Washington from John Hancock, 14 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have just Rec’d your Letter of this Day’s Date, & have forwarded on the Dispatches you inclos’d. The Resolution inclos’d has this moment pass’d Congress respecting Major General Sullivan, to which I must beg leave to Refer you. I Transmit you a Letter I have just Rec’d for you, and also Coppies of several Letters Rec’d this day from General Gates. I am with much respect, Sir Your most Obedt...
170To George Washington from John Hancock, 5 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Congress, apprehensive that Commissioners from some of the States for the Purpose of appointing Officers in the Army under the new Establishment, may not have arrived at the Camp, and at the same Time fully and deeply impressed with the Necessity of recruiting the Army to its full Complement, have passed the enclosed Resolves, authorizing you to grant Warrants to such Officers as you shall...
171To George Washington from John Hancock, 17 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the Honour to forward the enclosed Resolves in Obedience to the Commands of Congress, and shall only refer your Attention to them. I congratulate you on the Success of our Arms in the Northern Department. Lest you should not have recieved an Account of the Particulars from Genl Gates, I do myself the Pleasure to forward you a Copy of his Letter to Congress together with the...
172To George Washington from John Hancock, 10 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of 8th Inst. is now under the Consideration of Congress; as soon as they have come to a Determination upon it the Result shall be transmitted you, in the mean time Congress being Apprehensive that their former Resolution of 3d Int was not rightly understood, have directed me to Send you the foregoing, by which you will perceive that their wish is to preserve N. York & leave the...
173To George Washington from John Hancock, 30 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
Philadelphia, 30 July 1776 . “Monsr St Martin having been Recommended to Congress as a Gentleman conversant in the Engineering Branch, they have been pleas’d to Appoint him in that Department with the Rank of Lieut. Coll.” GW is directed to “employ him where you Judge the Service will be best promoted.” LB , DNA:PCC , item 12A. St. Martin was recommended by Elbridge Gerry in a letter to John...
174To George Washington from John Hancock, 7 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honour to transmit you the inclosed Resolves relative to the Commissary General’s Department, and sundry other Subjects, to which I shall only refer your Attention. I forward likewise, agreeably to the Order of Congress, a Copy of a Letter from Genl Putnam, by which you will perceive he apprehends an Attack is meditated against the Post at Peeks Kill, & the other Defences on...
175To George Washington from John Hancock, 7 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
I am suddenly Call’d upon by the Congress to Dispatch an Express to you, which gives me time only to Inform you that the Congress having Taken into consideration the Report of the Committee appointed to Confer with you, have come to severall Resolutions; which by their order I here Inclose —They have not yet gone thro’ the Report, when Acted upon, the Resolutions they may Adopt will be...
176To George Washington from John Hancock, 26 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honour of transmitting such Resolves of Congress as have passed since my last, which are either relative to your Department, or necessary for your Information. The Congress have authorized you to proceed in the Exchange of Prisoners agreeably to the Cartel at present existing, or such other Regulations as you may think proper to make in the Matter, provided the Enemy will relax in...
177To George Washington from John Hancock, 7 May 1776 (Washington Papers)
Since I wrote you by Mr Palfrey on the 30th of last Month, I have not been honored with any Commands from Congress relative to your Letters, except the enclosed Resolve which I am ordered to forward to you. I have the Honour to be Sir your most obedt and very humble Servant LS , DLC:GW ; LB , DNA:PCC , item 12A. Hancock here struck out the words “under the Hand of the Secretary” on both copies...
178To George Washington from John Hancock, 4–8 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed Resolves of Congress, which I have the Honour of transmitting, will naturally claim your Attention from their great Importance. The Regulations relative to the Payment of the Troops and the Department of the Paymaster General, will I hope be the Means of introducing Order and Regularity into that Part of the Army; where, it must be confessed, they were extremely wanted. General...
179To 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...
180To George Washington from John Hancock, 26 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
Congress being Adjourn’d, I have to Acknowledge the Rect of yor favr of 25th, this moment come to hand. The Subject of it is so just that I will venture to Say that it will be Complied with in it’s fullest lattitude. The Preamble to the Resolution for Confiscating the Property of the Subjects of the King of Great Brittain, havg been this day Expung’d, & the Resolution alter’d, agreeable to the...
181To George Washington from John Hancock, 8 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the Honour of enclosing sundry Resolves of Congress, to which I beg Leave to refer your Attention, and which are so explicit, that I need not enlarge. In obedience to the Commands of Congress, I have wrote to Generals Schuyler & Gates and have recommended a mutual Confidence, and Harmony in their military operations. Their joint Labour & Exertions are requisite in that Quarter; nor...
182To George Washington from John Hancock, 24 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 10th inst. with the enclosed papers being duly received was laid before Congress and immediately taken into consideration. In answer to the several matters therein contained I am to inform you, that the Congress appointed a committee to enquire what quantity of light Sail Cloth, Sheeting and Oznabrigs could be obtained in this town for the purpose of making Tents, and in...
183To George Washington from John Hancock, 20 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your several Letters of the 24th and 27th of March, the 1t 4th and 15th Inst. I had the Honour of receiving in the Order of their Dates, by the last of which, I learn with Pleasure, that you had safely arrived at New York. The Dispositions you made to expedite the Embarkation of the Troops, were highly proper and judicious. Too much Dispatch cannot be used in sending the Battalions to Quebec;...
184To George Washington from John Hancock, 23 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am this Moment honored with your Favour of yesterday by the Return Express. Considering the Necessity of strengthening the Army under your Command, and of giving all possible Opposition, to the Enemy, the Congress have come to the inclosed Resolves, Copies of which I shall forward in a few Minutes by Express to the sevl States with the utmost Expedition. I beg Leave to refer your Attention...
185To George Washington from John Hancock, 17 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your Favour of the 16th Inst: per Post this Minute came to Hand, & shall be laid before Congress on Monday. I do myself the Pleasure to enclose sundry Resolves for your Information, and likewise to forward the Commissions ordered by a Resolve of Congress on the 10th Inst., a Copy of which I transmitted in my Letter of that Date. With the most ardent and sincere Wishes for your Health &...
186To George Washington from John Hancock, 29 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the Honour of transmitting sundry Resolves, respecting the further Augmentation of the Continental Forces. The Congress have thought it expedient, to order a German Battalion to be raised, as soon as possible, to be employed in such Manner, as will be most likely, to defeat the Designs of our Enemies, and to promote the Cause of American Liberty. Your Favour of the 27th Inst. with...
187To George Washington from John Hancock, 19 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
My Earnestness to convey to you as soon as possible, the Intelligence this Moment received from South Carolina, on which I most sincerely congratulate you, I am confident, will apologize for my not adding more, than to tell you, that enclosed you will find the Copy of General Lee’s Letter, and the Account from the Deserters who escaped after the Action. I am loth to hinder the Express one...
188To George Washington from John Hancock, 9 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday Evening the Congress compleated the Business of the Medical Department, and on so large and liberal an Establishment that we may rationally expect the most beneficial Effects will flow from it. Every Encouragement is given to Gentlemen of Skill and Reputation in that Art to enter into our Army, and a Variety of Regulations adopted to carry the Plan more effectually into Execution. As...
189To George Washington from John Hancock, 6 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
You will perceive from the enclosed Resolves, that Congress, desirous of reinforcing the Army at this critical Period, have recommended to the States of Pennsylvania and New Jersey to order out immediately a considerable Part of their Militia; and I have no Doubt of their Compliance. I have wrote to Govr Livingston on the Subject, and informed him that should he think proper to appoint Genl...
190To George Washington from John Hancock, 10 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am this Minute honoured with your Favour of the 8th and 9th inst: per Post. Having sent off an Express this Morning, at which Time, I forwarded Commissions for the General officers appointed yesterday by Congress, I shall not detain the Post to send the Commissions ordered by the enclosed Resolve. In the mean Time, you will please to direct the Persons to do such Duty as you shall think...
191To George Washington from John Hancock, 3 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
The Congress have this Day order’d Three Hundred Thousand Dollars in Addition to the Seven hundred Thousand to be Sent to the Paymaster for the use of the Army under your Command, which the Committee appointed to Confer with you have taken Charge of, and of which I have inform’d the Pay Master General. By order of Congress I inclose you several Resolutions enter’d into by them; with respect to...
192To George Washington from John Hancock, 25 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your Favour of the 21st Inst. by Mr Bennet with the Enclosure were duely received and laid before Congress, as you will perceive by the enclosed Resolves, to which I beg Leave to request your Attention. Altho the Commissioners have undoubtedly mistaken the Intention of Congress, yet the Terms, in which The Resolve is conceived, viz. “That the General be empow[e]red to employ in Canada a Number...