51To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 23 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
Agreeably to your Excellency’s orders on the 19th inst. to me, to take possession of the enemy’s public stores, pertaining to my department, I went to York myself with my storekeeper; and at the same time desired Colo. Dearborn to go to Glocester with an Assistant of the storekeeper for the purpose of receiving the stores. At Glocester the dragoon horses with their accoutrements, and the...
52To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 31 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
An unexpected demand is made of 40 Waggons & 200 horses, to transport artillery & military stores to the Southward exclusive of what are attached to the troops destined thither. To that number are to be added probably six waggons for quarter masters stores—There is no possibility of furnishing them without taking both horses & waggons from the troops going to the northward. If your Excellency...
53To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 17 January 1782 (Washington Papers)
Last evening I received letters from Major Claiborne D. Qr Master for Virginia, dated the 23d & 24th ulto extracts from which I beg leave to inclose. I have procured returns of the boats in the North river, agreeably to your Excellency’s directions in your letter of the 14th ulto. I wait for the returns of stores in this district which I wrote for before I left Philadelphia; I expect shortly...
54To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 8 February 1782 (Washington Papers)
I am honoured with your Excellency’s letter of this date respecting the preparations to be made for the next campaign. The reason of my stay at the North River I mentioned in a letter from thence. As soon as I obtained the returns in that quarter I came away. A general return is forming, which, from the multiplicity of articles, will be voluminous; but as soon as possible I will complete and...
55To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 9 February 1782 (Washington Papers)
The estimates & information required by your Excellency’s letter of yesterday, I am preparing, and will lay before you in the afternoon, so far as they can be immediately furnished. I have the honour to be with great respect your Excellency’s most obedient servant DLC : Papers of George Washington.
56To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 15 February 1782 (Washington Papers)
An Estimate of public horses on hand in the states named below, and in the main army: In Massachusetts 60 Connecticut 60 New York 130 New Jersey 80 Pensylvania 120 Waggon Horses 450 Riding horses in the hands of officers of all ranks in the line & staff, at least 50
57To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 16 February 1782 (Washington Papers)
The pay & Subsistence of divers officers in the quarter master generals department being deemed inadequate to their services, & no provision made for some necessary officers, the following view of the present appointments and of those proposed, is respectfully presented to the consideration of the Commander in Chief. chart The condition of the Southern States compelling the army there to draw...
58To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 23 February 1782 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday honoured with your Excellency’s letter of the 21st, to the several directions in which I shall pay due attention. Yesterday I received a letter from Major Claiborne dated the 12th instant informing me “that the two expresses stationed at the Bowling Greene, had left it some days for want of support." As Colo. Carrington had comprehended in his estimate for Virginia one charge...
59To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 3 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency has been pleased to refer to my determination what boats, besides batteaux & two gun--boats, will be necessary on the Hudson. I shall be happy, nevertheless, to be favoured with your opinion on the arrangements I have had in contemplation relative to this business. The common batteaux being built with pine boards, are of course very tender, and altogether unsuitable for the...
60To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 5 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
In the plan for regulating the quarter-master’s department, there is a list of officers to whom forage shall be allowed; but the enumeration is very defective. Many officers who had very just claims to forage were omitted; but to whom either their stations, or the nature of the duties required of them, rendered the issuing of forage apparently proper. All the characters marked with an o were...
61To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 19 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
I was honoured with your letter of yesterday’s date, desiring to be informed when the arrangements yet to be made in my department would admit of any return to the army. The Secretary at War being arrived, I expect every matter will be so adjusted as to admit of my leaving town in ten days: it will make me happy if I can sooner follow you. I have the honour to be very respectully Your...
62To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 23 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency being vested with authority, by the resolve of Congress of the 11th of March 1780, to make the necessary regulations relative to the servants of officers of the army; and the general orders of the 18th of January last not comprehending any officers in my department, I request you will be pleased to extend your consideration of the subject, and fix the number of servants to be...
63To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 23 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have been rendered extremely unhappy by the disappointment of my expectations in regard to the ox teams. Mr Morris desired the purchases might be begun on credit, and wrote me a letter in which he promised to enable me punctually to fulfil my engagements. A copy of this letter I sent to each of my deputies in New England, with my instructions relative to the purchases. The teams could not be...
64To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 30 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
On the 23d instant I had the honour of writing to your Excellency; and mentioned my expectation of leaving town the last week. But Mr Morris is not yet prepared for my departure, and he desires me to stay yet longer. I suppose he has informed your Excellency of his embarrassments, in consequence of the states witholding their taxes. I expect that Colo. Miles will send from hence, by the 15th...
65To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 14 May 1782 (Washington Papers)
General Hazen has applied to the secretary at war for the articles necessary to equip his regiment. For what regards my department, he is referred to me. I have no difficulty in ordering a supply of every article, tents excepted, which must be brought from the North river; nor should I hesitate about these, if the regiment were certainly to continue any length of time at Lancaster: for they...
66To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 29 May 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have been favoured with your Excellency’s letter of the 15th instant, which would have been acknowledged by the subsequent post, had I not been made to expect a small supply of money the same week, by the bearer of which I meant to write to your Excellency: but in this expectation also I was disappointed. My long continuance here has distressed me exceedingly; but it appeared to me that the...
67To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 6 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
The prices at which forage would be furnished thro’ the agent of the state of New-York (as appears by the papers transmitted me by Colonels Lutterloh & Hughes) being much higher than the cash prices, Mr Morris has refused his assent to either of the modes proposed. Instead thereof he has put into my hands a number of his draughts, which will be negociated with the receivers of the public taxes...
68To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 22 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
In obedience to the General Orders of yesterday, I have made the following distribution of the Batteaux in repair now at Wappins Creek. 34 feet long 26 feet Total To the 1st Massachusetts Brigade 12 7 19 2nd ditto 12 7 19 3rd ditto 12 7 19
69To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 24 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
Agreeably to the General orders already issued the troops are getting the wood destined for West point, to the different landings, and on board the Vessels procured for its transportation: But if nothing more be done, the business will not be finished before winter. It was with the most extreme difficulty that any vessels were engaged on the terms I could offer. a promise of future payment,...
70To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 26 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
Since your Excellency spoke to me yesterday relative to the movement of the army,I have more maturely considered of the means of effecting that movement, and the time requisite for collecting the horses and oxen to Verplank’s Point. In consequence of the orders given the 23d instant, I expect all the public horses and oxen on the west side of the river will have crossed over at Newburgh, one...
71To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 15 October 1782 (Washington Papers)
Agreeably to your Excellency’s directions, being accompanied by Colo. Swift, Colo. H. Jackson and Colo. Cobb, I have viewed divers parts of the Highlands, and the wood lands in the vicinity of New-Windsor and Newburgh, to find places adapted to the hutting of troops. About a mile on this side of the huts late of the 3d Massachusetts brigade, on the right of the road leading to them, after...
72To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 25 October 1782 (Washington Papers)
The left wing of the army, commencing its march at seven o’clock to morrow morning, will proceed by the Continental Village to Nelson’s Point, where on Sunday boats will be in readiness to carry the troops to West Point; from whence they will march over Butter Hill in the road leading to Murderer’s Creek. On their descent from the Hill, the quarter masters of brigades will join and conduct...
73To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 4 November 1782 (Washington Papers)
To render it practicable to support the horses indispensably necessary with the army, I beg leave to suggest the expediency of sending to a distance in the Country the surplus riding horses without delay. My ability to provide forage is not increased, but lessened, by the non-payment of the bills of exchange put into my hand for that among other purposes. I submit to your Excellency’s...
74To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 7 November 1782 (Washington Papers)
Capt. Walker has shewn me a letter of this date from Genl Gates to your Excellency, representing that quarters are not yet provided for him. It is very true, yet I have spared no pains to provide for him. This day one of my assistants rode twenty miles from house to house, to find quarters for the director of the Hospital that he might quit Ellisons, but return’d without success. All former...
75To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 9 November 1782 (Washington Papers)
Capt. Palmer, an old seaman, has examined Murderers Creek to find a place suitable for hauling up the batteaux for the winter, and can find none. Afterward he examined the shore from thence to two miles above Newburgh, but discovered no place adequate to the reception of more than thirty boats together. Yesterday I went myself with him to view Murderers Creek and all the other places he had...
76To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 11 November 1782 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed letter I received last evening. Your Excellency will readily judge I cannot avoid requesting leave of absence to see and remain with Mrs Pickering while she remains dangerously sick. If you are pleased to indulge me, I shall leave Newburgh early to-morrow morning. The mean time will be taken up in writing the necessary orders for conducting the different branches in the department...
77To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 22 November 1782 (Washington Papers)
Last evening I received your Excellency’s letter of the 14th with its two inclosures. Mrs Washington is not yet arrived here, and I have therefore put the letter to Mr Lund Washington into the Post Office, to be sent off with the mail next Tuesday, if in the interim he should not arrive. No assistance which she may need & in my power to yield shall be wanting to Mrs Washington while here, or...
78To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 18 January 1783 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency had but just left my quarters, this evening, when a deputy sheriff of Ulster arrested me. He shewed me a writ of which I beg leave to inclose a copy. To prevent any injury to the public, by taking me from my office, I gave bail; and have wrote to an attorney to defend the suit. I thought it my duty to apprize your Excellency of this event. The plaintiff is a Melancton L....
79To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 29 January 1783 (Washington Papers)
I received yesterday your Excellency’s letter of the 27th inst. directing the estimates for the ensuing campaign to be prepared. They shall be made out with all possible expedition & laid before you. I have the honour to be with the greatest respect, your Excellency’s most obedt servant DLC : Papers of George Washington.
80To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 31 January 1783 (Washington Papers)
To-day major Campbell handed me a letter from General Knox relative to the collecting of timber for bomb proofs in the four redoubts back of West-Point. I beg leave to inclose a copy of it, and of my answer. In reading Genl Knox’s letter, two things very naturally occurred: One, That if all the other works so materially depended on those redoubts, and they were not tenable for half an hour,...