51To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 20 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
I sent down a Guide who has pretty intelligent Conexions below and is himself intelligent, his accounts I send your Excellency tho they are not very Explicit or satisfactory. One of his Relations was in New York two or three days ago, he says that An Embarkaton is taking place and they seem to intend a Sea Voyage, that three Generals are to go with it, Mathews, Patterson, & a Hessian General...
52To George Washington from Robert Howe, 23 July 1783 (Washington Papers)
I was honored with your Excellency’s favour of the 16th instant yesterday. The Judge Advocate announced himself to me on the 14th—The General Court martial was ordered to sit the next day and was to have been composed of the officers of the Massachusetts and Pennsylvania lines—The officers of the latter from some points of delicacy declined acting and though I did not, for reasons which must...
53To George Washington from Robert Howe, 17 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I was honourd the night before last with your Excellency’s favour & should have set out as to day but both my servants were and are yet so ill that they are not able to attend me. They are not however in such a way that they can I persuade myself proceed by Sunday or Monday when I shall set out for camp or sooner if they can possibly Travel. The loss of the Confedracy with our Clothing is an...
54To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 19 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
Deprived as I was by the Enemies’ Advance of reducing their Post at Verplanck, which, but for that Event, I persuade myself I should have effected, I had nothing left but to retreat, which I performed and was so happy as to be joined by General Heath at Peeks-Kill. My Situation was critical, and it was well for me that I had found means to Obtain a tolerably exact Information of the Enemies’...
55To George Washington from Brigadier General Robert Howe, 4 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
Charleston, S.C., 4 July 1777 . “I was last September near St Johns in East-Florida; a Party sent out to scout the Country on the River, fell in with a small detachment of the Enemy, which they surrounded and made Prisoners—Among these, was a Young Gentleman, by Name James Richardson, who was acting as a Cadet in the Sixteenth Regiment; finding him, when he was brought up, exceedingly unwell...
56To George Washington from Robert Howe, 30 October 1782 (Washington Papers)
I am surprized at being reported to your Excellency in the manner I have been by major general Heath, but am happy in the persuasion that my reasons for my conduct will be satisfactory both to you and to service. On the 26th I marched with the Troops until I had leave of General Heath to quarter at General McDougalls. On the 27th I was so unwell that I could not join my division as early in...
57To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 28 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s Letters of the 16th & 19th Inst: directed on public Service to General Heath, & that of the 22d to him or the Officer commanding in this Department, reach’d me the Day before yesterday—the Contents of the two first shall be duly observ’d, & I had anticipated the Purpose of the latter, having taken the requisite precautionary Steps previous to the Reception of it, in...
58To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 16 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
your Excellency’s Favor of the 10th Instant has come to Hand—previous to which I had taken Methods to learn what the Enemy meant, & the Intelligence I got led me to think that this Post was ultimately their Aim. I was inform’d that they set out with a View to drive you if possible, & from the diminutive Idea they had of your Force they made no Doubt of effecting it, & that as they made...
59To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 29 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
Very late last night the following intelligence was sent me that sir Henry Clinton was return’d from Long Island, that most if not all the British Regiments had cross’d over and had marchd by the way of Kings Bridge to York Island, that they passd over at Hell Gate Frogs Neck & some other places, and that it was very Confidently talk’d of that you wou’d be attack’d very shortly, that Flat...
60To George Washington from Robert Howe, 4 December 1783 (Washington Papers)
In the year 1781 when I went to the protection of the Stores at Tarry Town I marched off as your Excellency well remembers at a moments warning the party who went under my Command moved off without Baggage or Provisions, as this was the case the men were in want of support the more especially as the fatigue in getting the Stores on Shore & up the hill was considerable—a little Rum upon such an...
61To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 21 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
The following Extract of a Letter just sent me dated the 18th Inst: from your Excellency’s Quarters coming from an Agent who I have directed to correspond with General Arnold—& the Letter being brought as I hear by a Horseman from Robinson’s House, He may probably have conveyed to you the Intelligence it contains, & have rendered my troubling you unnecessary —As however it may possibly be...
62To George Washington from Robert Howe, 21 August 1783 (Washington Papers)
As a peace Establishment is I hear to take place, and as I feel an inclination to serve my country in a military line whilst that sort of service is thought requisite, I think it my Duty to inform your Excellency of this Disposition—I had the honour Sir of mentioning this to you once before, & I now take the liberty to repeat that should you Deem me Worthy of your Influence & will Exert it in...
63To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 20 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
A confidential Agent in New York whose Letter is dated the 18th Inst: confirms the Arrival of Genl Clinton and Admiral Arbuthnot with the Return of a considerable Body of Troops from Charles Town & a Fleet of seventy Sail—He says that many of the Officers had been on Shore, but none of the Troops—That they talk great Things against the Jerseys, & confidently of attacking this Post—the latter...
64To George Washington from Robert Howe, 7 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
Mr Kirkland has requested me (with Earnestness) to apply to your Excellency in behalf of one King a soldier under sentence of Death, as he Relates the mans Case there are Alliviating circumstances in it which may Probably claim attention, beside which he offers another man in the Room of King, to serve out his time if his Inlistment is temporary, or to serve a Year should he be for the War,...
65To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 23 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
While the Express was preparing to set off with mine Dated at 12 oClock, the inclosd Packet from major ⟨Ta⟩lmage arriv’d, which he sent by a Horseman and urges me to hasten to your Excellency in such a manner, that I conclude it to be important. I forgot to ⟨Write⟩ in my other letter that I had been inform’d that the Enemy had prevail’d upon many of the Inhabitiants of New york to go on Board...
66To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 17 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I joined the Division at the Continental Village the last Evening, and arrived at this Post at five this Morning. I now only halt for the Return of a Reconnoitring party, sent out last Night, and shall immediately proceed to execute your Excellency’s Orders. The Field pieces you suppose to have been taken on with the Brigades are not with them. General Nixon informs me there are not any...
67To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 30 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have just now had Accts from an Emissary below the following is an Extract from his letter “12000 Troops Embar’d & saild their Destination suppos’d to be Georgia principally, tho’ all of them it is thought will not go there, the 26th Regiment has been Draughted the Commissiond and non Commissiond Officers are all gone to England to Recruit a great number of Vessels suppos’d to be Victualrs...
68To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 3 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure to inform you that the temper of the Creek-Nation by the unwearied exertions of Mr Galphin a Commissioner of Indian affairs, and by the liberality of this state in supplying them upon generous terms, with those Goods they wanted, Seems at present to promise peace—Which I consider as a very happy Event for this state and that of Georgia; to both of which, they, and the...
69To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 27 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
Extract from a Letter from Major Genl Howe—Lower Salem August 27. 1779. [“]Last night about 10 OClock, I had a Letter from Lieut. Colonel White, who with a party of Horse and Infantry I had posted at Stanwick—informing me, that he had received Intelligence of the arrival of a British Fleet, with seven Thousand Men—and at three this morning one of my Emissaries came to me with the following...
70To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 9 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
Having been inform’d that some Difficulty would arise in obtaining the Public Horses from those Persons into whose Hands they had been lodged to forage them through the Winter, & having had it confirmed by many Persons having refused to deliver those up which were call’d for until the[y] were paid the Expence of having foraged them—I directed Col. Hay to proceed in Person, & fall upon Measures...
71To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 18 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
Six of the Enemy’s Ships are in View of Verplank’s—two of them, one a Frigate, near Tallow’s Point. These may either be the Harbingers of more, or they may mean to divert you—To Morrow will probably determine the Matter here—with your Excellency it may be determin’d already. The Enemy drew near the Shore at Sing Sing & kept up a considerable Cannonade either at a Lookout Party of mine, or to...
72To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 29 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have this moment got the letters design’d for me last night & mention’d in my Express of to day & tho’ I See not much cause to alter my determination expressd in that letter yet I Shall wait here your Excellency’s orders. Colo. Barber has detain’d the artillery & the New Hampshire detachment. I am Dear Sir with the Sincerest Respect your Excellency’s Most humble & most obedient Servant. P.S....
73To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 27 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have Such intelligence as makes it more than probable the Enemy look this way, tho’ not having had it from my most authentic sources I can not speak of it positively. I wish They may Attempt it with all my heart, Contest becomes requisite some where, the carolina Debt should be paid off, and West Point seems to be a good Bank to Draw upon, may it answer their Draughts I pray God I have...
74To George Washington from Robert Howe, 27 June 1783 (Washington Papers)
The Troops arrived at this place last night and commenced their march at three this morning—The Bad Roads (the mountains being a Part) the Heat of the weather & want of shoes made the men appear to be much fatigued. our Provisions will be out at noon this day and from what information I can get we shall continue to out go it unless we make a halt should this be the case I shall probably halt...
75To George Washington from Robert Howe, 25 September 1783 (Washington Papers)
Previous to your Excellency’s favour this moment receiv’d the troops were under orders to march for Tomorrow . some papers which ought to have been sent me were omitted to be transmitted, & I sh’d not get them until saturday by Mr Jackson. The subsistance money for the next month was requisit ioned to the movement of the officers, they receiv’d it last Evening & requir’d this day to settle...
76To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 7 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
I was Yesterday honour’d with your Excellency’s favour of the 5th Instt, and shall in Obedience to your request proceed to my command in a day or two, or Earlier, should you think it requisite, tho’ Some Business very consequential to me requires that time, if it can be Spared me without Injury to service. It has been very lately Suggested to me by one of my friends that your Excellency meant...
77To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 17 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
I was honoured with your Excellency’s favour of yesterday and am obliged to you for the pleasing information of the insurgents having moved on to Trenton and given up the british emissaries, from which good effects must certainly derive. how happy Should I be, My Dear General, if Congress can fall upon measures to accommodate this unfortunate affair with dignity to them Selves and without...
78To George Washington from Robert Howe, 8 February 1782 (Washington Papers)
Late last night my unabating Efforts obtain’d me a sum of money which tho’ not perhaps quite Equal to my Expences will Enable me to Leave Town (I hope) without discredit. Some part of this Cash has advanced me by a friend I accidentally met with upon Generous Terms, but the Residue (and that the greater Part) I have been moved to Accept upon hard Condition of indebting myself one hundred...
79To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 14 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
I am this moment Honour’d with your Excellency’s letter, of the 12th Instant, I shall endeavour to be at Morris Town on the day mentioned—Should the Arrangments I am to make in this Quarter, which my private letter will set forth, appear to your Excellency of such a Nature, as to render my attendance this way more important, than any service I can do by sitting upon the Court Martial, you will...
80To George Washington from Robert Howe, 21 October 1783 (Washington Papers)
Having been reduced to a situation very disagreeable to me indeed by having an action brought against me for a debt which ought long since to have been paid by the publick, & which was only suspended being carried into Court by my pledging my honour to settle it before I went out of Town, I have been and am unable to leave this place or I had long since paid my Respects your Excellency. I...
81To George Washington from Robert Howe, 1 July 1783 (Washington Papers)
The inclos’d Resolution of Congress has been just now handed me & the Express sets off in a moment, fuller Instructions are to be given me—my situation appears to me to be critical much seems to me Expected from me & whatever I do may on one side be thought too little, on the other too much, for unhappily Congress & the state of Pennsylvania (at least the Executive of it) differ widely in...
82To George Washington from Robert Howe, 5 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed Returns of the Provision Endowments of each Work would have been sent your Excellency yesterday had I not hoped for the Honor of seeing you—The Quantity is too small, but our Magazine will not admit of a farther supply at present—The Moment it can be done, it shall. I have examin’d the Magazine & the Ammunition is much expos’d to Injury—I am sorry to add that our Work is at a...
83To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 22 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
The arriving of Graves & yet his not being at New York is at length accounted for—He was joined by Arbuthnot with one Ship of the Line & two Fifty’s, & sail’d eastward —The Object is by some said to be the Interception of the 2d Division of the F⟨renc⟩h Fleet —by others, to convoy to York the Cork victualling Fleet, about which they seem to be very anxious —a third Set suppose, that the...
84To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 14 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
If it is convenient I should be glad to have a part of the Corps of Executioners attached to this Department, those finishers of the Law having become immediately & absolutely necessary to us, If your Excellency thinks it proper please hasten to us some of these People without delay. The Enemy have several times lately been acting against Colo. Millen, with both Horse and Infantry, and he has...
85To George Washington from Robert Howe, 1 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
If the ultimate End arriv’d at by the Enemy in sending out Fishing Parties from our Prisoners in New-york, & purchasing Wood within our Lines, was really intended for the Benefit of the Prisoners alone, The Measure ought to meet our heartiest Approbation—But as under this Aspect they may by picking out proper Implements from among our People, continue that Transient Intercourse already found...
86To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 8 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Enemy both with Horse and Infantry in all as Capt. Sackett Writes me, about One Hundred and Fifty of Delancys Corps were up the other day into our Settlements—a Party of this State Troops attach’d to this Command who were Posted on the lines under Captain Sackett, turn’d out to Oppose them, but the Captain finding them Double his number and the Ground he possess’d not very Defensible, he...
87To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 2 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
I found when I came Home a Letter, of which the following is an Extract—the Agent is, in my Opinion confidential—the Letter is dated August the 1st—“The Enemy’s Maneuvres are strange and surprising—after embarking their Troops at white Stone, & coming up the Sound to Huntington Bay on Thursday last, they anchored, & sent two Ships Eastward, one of which returned on Sunday, & yesterday about 5...
88To George Washington from Robert Howe, 3 July 1783 (Washington Papers)
The troops halted at this place last night and are now crossing the river for Philadelphia. Though Congress in their Resolution seem to leave me the Judge of the numbers requisite to the purposes they have in view, yet the committee of Congress with whom I was directed to confer gave it as their opinion upon my report to them of the numbers I had with me, that they were not more than they...
89To George Washington from Robert Howe, 11 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
Major having requested the Loan of my Barge to bring some of his Acquaintance to see West Point, I take the Opportunity to inclose your Excellency the Report of a Board of Officers appointed to inspect Provisions, & in Case any was damag’d by Negligence to fire if possible the Neglect—upon the proper Reasons—By their Proceedings as far as they have gone We find the Provisions reported unfit...
90To George Washington from Robert Howe, 4 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
Accept my Dear General my warmest Congratulations on the Glorious Events which have taken place & which as they resulted from the wisdom of your measures & the noble manner in which you Executed them reflects a lustre upon your Conduct which must rejoice your Friends & entitle you to the applause & gratitude of the present & of future generations. As among the officers sent from the southward...
91To George Washington from Robert Howe, 21 August 1783 (Washington Papers)
I find that Sprout’s will not be able to march off much more than Three hundred Effective Rank & File—The Rest of Jackson’s That are here fit for Duty are one hundred & sixty six—Vose’s a Little more than three hundred—as Jackson’s compose a Part of Paterson’s Brigade I submit it to your Excellency’s Consideration whether they shoud immediately follow Sprout’s or remain & march when the Rest...
92To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 2 April 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Expiration of inlistments have so weaken’d our Regiments that we really have not men Enough to do the Duties of this Post, and we are momentarily growing weaker—Poors Brigade would be a Comfortable addition to our strength at this Post, and I wish if service does not forbid it I should be happy to be empowered to Call them down. I should not Mention this to your Excellency did I not think...
93To George Washington from Robert Howe, 12 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I arriv’d Yesterday at this Place and intend taking a View of th ose Parts of this country worthy of Observation, unless some Circumstance of service should make my return necessary, which should it do I rely upon your Excellency’s Goodness to recall me without the least attention to any suppos’d disapointment it may Occasion me, for nothing however interesting to me Could Compensate for the...
94To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 16 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
your Excellency’s Favor of the 15th arrived this Moment—I the Day before yesterday acquainted Governor Clinton with the Situation of this Post—the Aspect Things wore, & suggested to him the Necessity of warning the Militia to be ready on the shortest Notice, & lamented the Absence of the New York Brigade in such Terms as could not I think but contribute to induce his remanding them unless...
95To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 6 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
General Parsons havin⟨g⟩ arrested Captain Hoogland of Sheldons Dragoons for several Circumstances of Disrespect and other matters has requested of me a Court martial, I have doubts of the propriety of my ordering it as I am not certain the Horse at present Attach to my Command, and therefore I beg leave privately to be inf⟨orm⟩d by your Excellency whether I ought to do it or not, which I...
96To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 17 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
The orders given & heavy drafts made from the Army induce me to think that Some movements are intended, and tho’ I hinted to your Excellency yesterday in a short letter I did my Self the honour to write you, that I wished not to be Suffered to proceed to the Eastward if Service could be aided by me here, yet as that letter was dictated in a hurry And with a croud about me, (the french...
97To George Washington from Robert Howe, 12 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have just this Minute received the inclos’d Letter, which I transmit your Excellency & should be glad to have sent Directions thereupon. I am with great Respect your Excellency’s most obedient humble Servant DLC : Papers of George Washington. Since I wrote you yesterday, I have such intelligence, as I rely on;,that the enemy are making preparation, to come with considerable force, to this...
98To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 29 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have just received the Intelligence which the following Extracts both dated the 28th Instant will give your Excellency—“A British Fleet is now in the Sound—The Fleet consists of fifty Sail of Transports, & has on Board eight thousand Land Forces—they are bound for Rhode Island—They are just come to an Anchor off Huntington Bay—it is said they have left above five thousand Troops in New York”...
99To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 23 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I am exceedingly anxious to hear from your Excellency about the militia at Clavarac that I mention’d in my letter a day or two Since as I hear they are arriving there very fast. Colo. Hay tells me six thousand will take that Rout my accounts of cattle are not very Encouraging I must give the Purchasers a spur, and again Apply to the state of Connecticut. this casual Express gives me a moment...
100To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 16 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
Having furnish’d —— with Expresses, And directed him to forward any Circumstances of intelligence to Morris Town, and having settled other arrangements, I shall in order to attend the Court Martial set out and hope to arrive at Head Quarters by the 20th at farthest. I have had some accounts from New York since I wrote your Excellency last, but they being similar to those receiv’d by me from ——...