171To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 2 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I Remember to have Troubled yr Excy Last Summer with Solicitations in favor of Capt. Sullivan begging your Excys influence in his behalf with Congress —at white Marsh I was informed by General Knox & by the Commissary of prisoners that Capt. Bliss was paid off that if my Brother would Come to Camp there would be no Difficulty in his receiving his money—I wrote him & he has at a most amazing...
172To George Washington from Brigadier General John Sullivan, 24 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
It is with the greatest pain I inform you that after our retreat from Canada, to this place, of which I have given your Excellency, An Acct thro’ General Schuyler, & after I had Determin’d to make a Stand here, Till I receiv’d your Excellencys order, That I find myself under an Absolute Necessity of quiting this Island for a place more healthy. Otherwise the Army will never be able to return,...
173To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 31 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
In my last I promisd your Excellency to particularize such commanding Officers and Corps as more particularly distinguished themselves in the Action of the 29th Instant. I with pleasure comply with that promise. The advancd Corps under the Command of Colonels Laurens Fleury & Major Talbot Colo. H: B. Levingstones light Troops consisting of Jackson’s Corps and a detachment from the whole...
174To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 1 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
It is with pleasure I inform your Excellency that our preparations in this Department are as forward as Circumstances will admit, or Industry and application could make them. I submitt’d the Plan of Operations (sometime since communicated to your Excellency) to Admiral Count D. Estaign & was happy in its receiving his approbation & concurrence. Upon his proceeding to put part of them in...
175To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 10 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I was Last Evening honored with Yr Excellencys favors of the first & 5th of July Inclosing a Copy of Yr Excys favor of the 21 June & Copy of a Letter from Montreal The first of these Seems to Censure both the proceedure & the order given to General Clinton but I am Certain had Yr Excy been upon the Spot & as well Acquainted with the facts as I am, You would have Acted the Same part that I have...
176To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 26 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with your Excellenceys favor of the 24th Instant. Am happy to Inform you that the Difficulty Respecting waggons is removed as the Executive Councill of Pensylvania have granted warrants upon the waggon masters of the Counties of North Hampton Berks & Bucks to Supply Every Deficiencey at the Same time they request me not to use this authority but with Caution & only in Cases where...
177To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 24 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had Last Evening the honor of Receiving your Excellencys favor of the 17th Instant & Shall immediately make Every preparation mentioned. I had previous to the Receipt Sent two Expresses Informing your Excy of the Reinforcements Sent by the Enemy to Rhode Island & Inclosed you the Intelligence I had obtained Those Letters must Reach Yr Excy before this. by the Last of which you will find that...
178To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 15 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inform your Excellency that I arrived at this place with the army on the 11th inst. without any loss and without having received the least opposition from the enemy—all the accounts recd from your Excy as well as from every other quarter seemed to agree that the enemy were collecting their whole force at Chemung in order to give us battle. I thought if these accounts were...
179To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 29 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
A Retreat to the North End of the Island having been deemd adviseable (from our great diminution of Numbers) by the determination of a Council of War held the 26th Instant—I last evening gave the necessary orders for and effected a well timed & regular retreat without losing any part of my Baggage, Stores, or heavy Ordinance. The Enemy was apprizd of the Movement sometime in the Night—they had...
180To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 20 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
Extract of a letter from General Sullivan, dated Tioga, August 20, 1779. “I have the pleasure to inclose your Excellency a copy of a letter from General Clinton, by which you will find that the much desired junction will be formed tomorrow. I inclose you a copy of my orders to General Poor who, in company with Gen. Hand and 1000 chosen troops, have joined General Clinton. I hope, on Monday the...
181To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 17 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
Notwithstanding the train of misfortunes (mentioned in my letter of the 14th Inst.) sufficient in number and aggravation to drepress even the spirits of fortitude and damp the ardor of enterprise, I have by the interposition of heaven and unabated industry nearly recovered from the deplorable situation of which my last contained but an imperfect description—I have by sending for supplies to...
182To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 31 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I Last Evening returned from the Great Swamp for which place I Set off the Day before I found the Road Cleared to within twenty three miles of wyoming & through all the Difficult parts of the Swamp Colo. Cilleys Regt has Joined Courtlandts & Spensers to assist in Clearing the Road. I find that those persons who pretended to know the Country misrepresented matters Exceedingly The Indian Path...
183To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 23 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
I Last Evening had the Honor of Receiving Your Excellenceys favor of the 18th Instant: My Letter of the 20th Superseades the Necassety of a particular answer to that part of it which Respects the Commissarys Department—I only beg Leave to observe that My Reasons for not Troubling your Excellencey with my Situation arose from a Desire to Avoid Distressing a mind which has already Suffered (but)...
184To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 29 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have the hono’r to acknowledge your Excellencys Favor’s of the 20th and 22d Instants, and previous to their reception, had design’d to request your Excellency, to relax the order, which directed me to write you by express once a day, as the nature of the Intilligence which I have had lately the hono’r to communicate, was not sufficiently interesting, to demand so frequent and expensive a...
185To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 16 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
As your Excellencey has honoured me with an appointment to Command the Intended Expedition I must beg Leave to Lay my Sentiments before you in writing as words used in Conversation may vanish in Air & the Remembrance of them be Lost while writing will remain Either to Justify my opinion or to prove that it was Erroneous The variety of Reasons which I urged yesterday for passing with the main...
186To George Washington from Brigadier General John Sullivan, 17 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
agreeable to your order have again waited on Major Rogers and Strictly Examined him have Seen his Several permits and think them Genuine & in Every Respect agreeable to the Copy Sent you —he Says he Left New york about the 10th of October and being ill with the Fever & ague was 10 Days in getting to Abany That There & at a place Called Stone Rabba—he Tarried 10 Days More: he then passed...
187To George Washington from Brigadier General John Sullivan, 18 May 1776 (Washington Papers)
I Cannot but Esteem it my Duty to Inform your Excellency of the Horrid abuse to the publick, by Keeping up the Two Regiments of Vanscoit & Winckoop. Those Regiments are said to be in this Quarter, but upon the strictest Enquiry, can be found no where. Colo. Vanscoit is here himself but has never furnished a man for guard or any Other Duty Since my Arrival. I have been applied to by Lt Colo....
188To George Washington from Brigadier General John Sullivan, 3 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
I had wrote a Letter to Congress & Expected to have the honour of writing one to you befor the Commissioners Departed but as I found them going off before I could possibly finish one to you I Sealed that & begd Mr Chase to Desire yr Excellency to open & read it which Contained the purport of what I Intended to write yr Excellencey —I have Since that been to Montreal & find almost Every person...
189To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 27 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
When I undertook to Compleat the Bridge in So Short a Space I Expected Every article would be provided when I called but am unhappy to find that not one Single Article is provided in Season: I think the Safety and Convenience of the Army Depends upon having it Compleated as Soon as possible: I was well Convinced that Six Days would be amply Sufficient for Doing the whole provided Every thing...
190To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 26 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I beg leave to inform your Excellency that on the night of the 24th Inst. about six or Seven Hundred British & Hessian Troops at Rhode Island, embark’d on Board two Ships of War, two Tenders, & about Thirty Flatt Bottom’d-Boats, pass’d up the River & Landed before Day between Warren & Poppasquash Point; at the appearance of Day light, they march’d in Two Bodies, one for Warren, & the other for...
191To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan and Brigadier Generals William Maxwell and Anthony Wayne, 23 … (Washington Papers)
May it please your Excellency, We the Subscribers, General Officers in the American Army, beg leave to represent, That we have severally been accus’d of unsoldierly Conduct, dangerous Neglect, and other Crimes, which, had they been prov’d, must have blacken’d our Characters as Officers, and sunk us beneath the Reproaches of our Country. In Consequence of these malicious Accusations, Courts...
192To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 22 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honor to Inclose you the Intelligence reced from Rhode Island Last night which is not only from Good Authority but is Corroborated by Intelligence Received from various other Quarters. Three Regiments of the Enemy Encamped yesterday on Connannicut Island Three more came out & Encamped in the North part of Rhode Island next Bristol: They may have Some Design upon us but I Rather...
193To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 7 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
I Joined my Division Three Day Since, but am Exceeding weak & what is Still more afflicting I am Extremely apprehensive that I Shall never perfectly Recover Doctor Jones Says that my Excessive Fatigue has So much Injured The whole Nervous System that nothing but a Long Continuation of the Cold Bath Accompanied with a Strick Regimen can Restore me to a perfect State of Health—all Solid Food &...
194To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 13 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
In my last I had the honor to inform your Excellency of my being in possession of the enemies works on the North end of this Island, and of the arrival of a British fleet the moment we had landed, with the addition of Count d’Estain’s sailing in pursuit of them. As this last unfortunate circumstance deprived me of the assistance I had reason to expect from the French troops, I found it...
195To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 14 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I was this morning Honoured with your Excellencys favor of the 12th Instant; The Directions in which I Shall Carefully Comply with & give Constant & the most Explicit Information of Every thing which may occur in this Department. I Inclose your Excellencey a piece of Intelligence Reced from General Heath this morning. There is a Rumor here that an Express is arrived at Boston Informing that...
196To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 16 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
This Day affords nothing new—I have been Honoured with your Excellenceys favor of the 13th Instant—I am well Convinced that the Enemy will Evacuate Newyork both by your Excys Letters and Every other Circumstance; Some persons who have Lately been Releasd from that City Declare that the Enemy are Laying up no forage and are Selling the wood on hand at half price: than which nothing can be...
197To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 23 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
Though General Hand has not yet answered my Letter Containing a number of Questions yet I think it necessary to Inclose you Copy of his Letter in answer to mine of the 8th & 10th Instant which will in Some measure Show the State of affairs in that Quarter I think it will be necessary to Send on two or three hundred Troops from hence to Wyoming. I Inclose your Excy Copy of a Letter from the...
198To George Washington from John Sullivan, 2 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
The only apology I can make for not answering Sooner your Excellencys favor of the 17th ulto is that I wished to forward my Letter by Colo. Laurens who has been unexpectedly Delayed from Setting off for Head Quarters —Since Rivingtons Publication I feel Some reluctance at venturing my Letters by the Post. Your Excellencys Letter of the 27th ulto was Yesterday read in Congress & Refered to...
199To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 30 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
Dear General, I have the honor to inform your Excellency, that I have at length surmounted every obstacle and shall commence my March tomorrow morning. I have taken the necessary precaution (by duplicates) to apprize Genl. Clinton of this circumstance a copy of which I do myself the honor to inclose you. Your Excellency will be pleased to direct Col. Paulding to begin his march at such time,...
200To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 1 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
Perhaps, there was never more Justice in any advice, Than that given by the Philosopher to his Prince, viz. “Always beware of the Man, that flatters you, and appears to Coincide with your Sentiments, on all Occasions.” I am Confident that I have never appeared to your Excellencey in this Character, Nay I have Studied to Avoid Even the appearance of being a Flatterer—I have at the Same time,...
201To George Washington from John Sullivan, 29 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
after my return to this City I had the Honor of your Excellencys favor of the 16th Instant. we found that the almost total Dissolution of the Pensylvania Line by Furlough or Discharge was absolutely necessary & a re-incorporation the only remedy that could be applied for as a body they would have been Troublesome if not Dangerous[.] they are Trying to Inlist again and I fear too many of the...
202To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 26 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
Agreable to your Excellenceys Directions I have Consulted Some of The General officers which I Thought most Capable of advising upon the proper Steps to take in our present Circumstances —They Say that they can by no means advise for or against an Attack they are fully Convinced that General Howe has his whole Force with him That if your Excellencey thinks your force Sufficient to Cope with...
203To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 21 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am this moment Honored with your Excys favor of This Day Inclosing a Letter from (The Infamous) Mr Levius —I am Convinced the Enemy are upon the move & Shall watch their motions as much as possible & give Your Excy the Earliest Intelligence I have already Sent Trusty persons to observe their motions. after Perusing the Letter from Mr Levius I conclude it to be his hand writing with which I...
204To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 2 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
Nothing can be more painful to me than the Repetition of a request which is known to be Disagreable to a Commander to whom America in General & myself in particular Stand So much indebted—after So polite a Refusal as I have once had I Should have Remained forever Silent upon the Subject: did not pure necessity which knows no Law Compell me to repeat my request —I Sincerely Lament my being...
205To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 6 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
I am sorry to inform your Excellency, that I am under the painful necessity of leaving a Service, to which, I am by principle, & interest attached; and, among the variety of mortifications I must suffer in quitting it, that of being deprived the pleasure of serving under your Excellency, stands among the foremost—My Health is too much impair’d, to be recover’d, but by a total release from...
206To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 10 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of Receiving your Excellenceys favors of the 3d & 5th Instant & have Since waited in Expectation of having it in my power to give your Excellencey Some Intelligence of Importance from this Quarter There was an appearance Some time Since of an Evacuation of Rhode Island: about three Days Since I thought it almost Certain; but Some new maneuvres have Since taken place which...
207To George Washington from Brigadier General John Sullivan, 8–12 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
At three Quarters after 11 of Clock forenoon I received a Letter from Genl Thompson of Which the Inclosed is a Copy. I find that he has proceeded in the Manner proposed & made his Attack on the Troops at three Rivers at Day light for at that time a very heavy Cannonading began which lasted with Some Intervals to Twelve of Clock. it is now near one P.M. the firing has Ceased, Except Some...
208To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 1 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
Agreeable to your Excellenceys Commands I have Considered upon the most Suitable place to Canton the Army During the winter The Several places proposed in Councill have their Advantages and Disadvantages but that which has the Least objections ought to be fixed upon The Intention of the Board is to take that Station which will answer best to Cover the Country Refresh the Troops & Discipline...
209IV: From Major General John Sullivan, 11 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
Since I Sent you the message by Major Morris I Saw Maj⟨or⟩ J⟨ose⟩ph Spear of the Militia who Came This morning from a Tavern Called Martins on the Forks of Brandywine he Came from thence to Welches Tavern & heard nothing of the Enemy about the Forks of the Brandywine & is Confident they are not in that Quarter So that Colo. Hazens Information must be wrong—I have Sent to that Quarter to know...
210VI: From Major General John Sullivan, 11 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
Colo. Bland has this moment Sent me word that the Enemy are in the Rear of my Right about two miles Coming Down. there is he Says about two Brigades of them. Yr Excy m. o. Servt he also Says he Saw a Dust Rise back in the Country for above an hour. ALS , DLC:GW .
211To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 28 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
Copy of a letter from Major General Sullivan to General Washington dated Chemung 28th Sepr 1779. In mine of the 30th ultimo, I had the honor of informing your Excellency of the victory obtained over the enemy on the 29th of August, I now do myself the honor to inform you of the progress of this army, and the most material occurrences, which have since taken place. The time taken up in...
212Major General John Sullivan’s Opinion, 29 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
Questions and Answers Questn 1st? Whether will it be prudent in our present Circumstances & Strength to Attempt by a General Attack to Dislodge the Enemy. And if it is & we unsuccessful where Shall we Retreat To. Answer As General Howe is Reduced to Circumstances Exceeding Intricate from which nothing can Relieve him but a Successful General Action As it is the only thing he ought to wish for...
213Order of March from Whitemarsh, Pennsylvania, 10 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
To his Excellency Gen. Washington Commander in Chief of the American Army. Persuant to your Excellency’s Orders We have consider’d upon a proper Order of March for the Army in crossing the Schulkill & recommend that the Troops march in the following Order Viz. Part of Pennsylvania Militia under Potter first. The Baggage Stores and Park of Artillery to cross at Sweeds Ford setting off at least...