101To George Washington from the Board of War, 25 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
We have been honoured with your Excellency’s Letter of the 22d. We will report the Affair of Genl Irvine to Congress. He will doubtless think it hard that because he was taken Prisoner & could not be promoted in Season he should suffer as to his Rank. But the Reasons your Excellency offers are so forcible that it should seem impracticable to comply with Genl Irvine’s Wishes without very...
102To George Washington from the Board of War, 20 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
The board do themselves the honor to inclose copies of some letters which they have recd on the subject of the Supplies of the Army. They are exceedingly concerned that the prospects from some of them, are so unpromising. And are much alarmed for the consequences; nor can they conjecture what may be the event, unless the late regulations in the finances produce a favorable change in our...
103To George Washington from the Board of War, 13 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
We have been honoured with your Letter of the 8th and have communicated to Mr Murray and Major Stein the mode of procuring the Exchange of the latter for Major Murray as pointed out by your Excellency and which we think very just and right both as to the Thing itself and the manner of conducting it. We will enquire into the Numbers of Men of the marching Regiments detained as Artificers. These...
104To George Washington from the Board of War, 8 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
The Board have been honoured with yours of the 2d instant relative to the Massachussetts Line. The Commns were delayed by some Embarrassments thrown in the Way by the Government of the State who had made Appointments clashing with the Arrangement as made at Camp & as now confirmed by Congress agreeably to a Report of the Board. These Difficulties being removed the Commissions are now ready &...
105To George Washington from the Board of War, 10 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
The Committee of Congress appointed for the purpose having met the board this morning, after a full consideration of the subject, the following route was agreed on for the march of the Virginia troops to South Carolina; viz. Those troops to embark at Trenton with their baggage & proceed to Christeen, & cross to the Head of Elk; there to embark again & proceed down the bay to Williamsburg,...
106To George Washington from the Board of War, 3 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Board have to acknowledge the Reciept of your Excellency’s Letters of January 10th, 31st & Feby 19th & 23d. The two first should have been answered sooner but the first was mis laid & we waited to have the Determination of Congress on the Subject of the second which is not yet recieved. It is a standing Instruction to the Commissaries of Hides to make Leather Caps out of all Leather which...
107To George Washington from the Pennsylvania Board of War, 13 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
By the inclosed copy of a letter which we have received this morning from our signal at Cape henlopen, your Excellency will be informed of the appearance of several of the Enemy’s ships in our Bay —whether this is intended as a feint, or a real attack upon this City, we are yet at a loss to determine, but as our defence on the river is greatly weakened by a detatchment of our state Regiment of...
108To George Washington from the Board of War, 17 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
There are about four hundred of the Oneidas & Tuscaroras in & about Schenectady who from their Attachment to the Cause of the United States have been under the Necessity of abandoning their Settlements & taking Refuge under the Protection of the United States. These People are extremely wretched being destitute of Clothing & but precariously supplied with Provisions. It is unfortunately but...
109To George Washington from the Board of War, 8 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
Mr Lewis (a Brother Deligate) has given Congress Information that Application had been made to your Excellency by a Flag from Genl Howe to permit Mrs Watts & Mrs Barrow the Pay Masters Wife to go to their Husbands in New York and at the same Time requested Congress to assi[s]t him with their Authority to obtain the Release of his Lady whom the Enemy would not permit to come out—the House...
110To George Washington from the Board of War, 5 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
We have the Honour to enclose an Extract of a Letter from Mr Henry of Lancaster on the Subject of Hides whereby we find little good Effect has been produced from the Order you were pleased to give at our Instance for 2,000 to be sent to Philadelphia. The general Account of the Hides in Mr Hatfield’s Care deserves serious Attention & Enquiry as, if it be true, great Mismanagement must appear on...
111To George Washington from the Rhode Island Council of War, 15 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
We had the Honor of receiving your Excellency’s favor of the 29th Ultimo, inclosing a return of the Rhode Island Regiments; it gives us very sensible Pain, when we consider the deficiency in our Battalions, and how impracticable it is for us at present to remedy it. We have ever esteemed it of the highest and most important consequence to have the Continental Battalions compleat, for which...
112To George Washington from the Pennsylvania Board of War, 19–21 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
In the course of this week we have been very fortunate in detecting the stratagems of a number of secret enemies, and of intercepting a letter intended to convey intelligence to the enemy of the present state of our affairs. We have apprehended a Woman, who, we are informed has been three times to Brunswick, and has brought several letters from that place to people in this City. We have great...
113To George Washington from the Board of War, 18 October 1780 (Washington Papers)
When Capt. Joel was committed to our Charge we thought it proper to examine him & among a Variety of Matter of an unimportant Nature he informed us of there being a Major General in the Service of America who was in British pay. As we conceived this to be a Tale calculated to magnify his Importance or to extract Money from the public we contented ourselves with mentioning the Circumstance to...
114To George Washington from a Council of War, 9 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
Having maturely considered the state of facts and representations submitted to us in Council, by His Excellency the Commander in Chief, with a request, that “each member, after a full and candid discussion of the matter in council would furnish him with his sentiments on some general plan, which considering all circumstances, ought to be adopted for the operations of the ensuing campaign.” We...
115To George Washington from the Board of War, 27 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honour to enclose several Resolutions of Congress relative to two Expeditions intended to be undertaken against the Indians. Had our Affairs permitted an earlier Attention to this Business or our Abilities in the Articles of supply enabled us sooner to proceed in it much Distress to the Inhabitants of the Frontiers would have been avoided. But as the principal Armies were our...
116To George Washington from the Board of War, 22 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
The board do themselves the honor to forward returns of Maj. Lee’s Corps, Von Heers Corps, Schots Corps—& of five Companies of the German Regiment, which are all the returns they have, of those requested in your Excellencys favors of the 15th & 18th instant. Col. Armand is now in the City, & is directed to have a return of his Corps prepared; which will be forwarded as soon as finished—but...
117To George Washington from the Board of War, 9 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the Honor to transmit your Excellency, copies of sundry Letters from south Carolina, giving intelligence of the Military operations in that quarter. I have the Honor to be with the highest respect Your Excellency’s Most Obedient and very Hble Servt ALS , DLC:GW . Board of War secretary pro tempore Joseph Carleton apparently enclosed copies of three letters: Maj. Gen. Benjamin...
118To George Washington from the Board of War, 3 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
We beg leave to inclose to you copies of two letters to Congress from Baron Steuben & Mr Galvan, the originals of which have been referred to this board. Baron Steuben & Baron de Kalb have written to us on the subject of those letters; and we have seen your Excellency’s certificate relative to Mr Galvan. From the whole, as well as from our own observation in repeated conversations, we are...
119To George Washington from the Board of War, 3 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
We have been honoured with your Excellency’s Letter of the 26th Ulto. Our Information to you on the Subject of Col: Humpton’s Orders for Boots & Shoes was not intended to be the Occasion of giving you so much Trouble. We are however obliged by your State of the Matter as it will enable us to judge of the Propriety of any future Applications under similar Circumstances. If our Stock of Leather...
120To George Washington from the Board of War, 19 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
We have the Honour to enclose Copies of the Letters passed between Council & the Board relative to the Pennsilvania Cloathing. By these Enclosures your Excellency will perceive the State of that Bussiness. We beg your Excellency will be pleased to inform the Board of the Number of Troops detached for the Southward under the late resolution of Congress that we may order the Means of...
121To George Washington from the Board of War, 3 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Board have a Plan of Intelligence accompanied with some other Matters of which we will hereafter inform your Excellency & which being communicated to a Comittee of Congress has been approved by that Comittee. To carry this plan into Execution we have employed Major Howell late of the 2d Jersey Regt commanded by Col. Shreve. Major Howell desires that, to facilitate the Measures we have...
122To George Washington from the Board of War, 20 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
We have received from Colo. Sheldon a letter and return of cloathing for his regt—of the latter a copy is inclosed. The Commissions he requests we shall send him, except his own & capt. Hoogland’s, which will be suspended until their dates are settled by your Excellency. The cloathing demanded being for a complete regiment, upon the expectation of recruiting to the full complement, we declined...
123To George Washington from the Board of War, 12 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
We have been honoured with your Excellency’s Letter of the 5th inst. We have recieved from Genl Knox an Explanation of his Intentions relative to the Clothing for the Artillery. We have never entertained a Doubt of General Knox’s Uprightness of Intention in any Transaction; but as Appearances were we could not avoid mentioning the Matter & we presume it to have been an Oversight for by the...
124To George Washington from the Board of War, 17–18 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
We have the Honour of your Excellency’s Letter relative to Capt. Edmondstone to whom we have sent the Directions you mention. We have directed the Clothier Genl to send to Camp a Quantity of Linnen which accidentally came into the Hands of one of the Agents appointed by the Board in a large Purchase made by him for the Army. We are informed that this Linen is of a Quality fit for Officers &...
125To George Washington from the Board of War, 30 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
The great distress of the Army for want of Blankets induced the board sometime since to attempt to import them from New York. this however they would have been very averse to, if they had not been absolutely certain there were no other possible means of procuring them. Previous to their taking this step, they applied to Congress for a secret Committee to confer with them on the measure; and...
126To George Washington from the Board of War, 27 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
We have been honoured with your Excellency’s letter of the 18th instant; and to enable us to comply with your demands for shot & shells & the other principal articles in general Knox’s returns, we laid before Congress the estimates of which the inclosed are copies; & reported the resolutions thereon which Congress were pleased to adopt, copies of which are likewise herewith transmitted. In...
127To George Washington from the Board of War, 17 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
We have been favoured with yours of the 8th Instant. We have the Honour to enclose a Copy of the Paragraph in our Letter of the 18th Ulto to Otis & Henley relative to the Cloathing for Colo. Sheldon’s Regt. The Measures we have been enabled to take for the Equipment of the Cavalry have been very much confined by the situation of the Public Finances which are in so miserable a Condition that we...
128To George Washington from the Board of War, 28 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
We have been honoured with your Excellency’s Favours of the 21st. We will transmitt to Mr Hughes your Sentiments as to Capt. Swan’s Exchange the Justice whereof he however interested must acknowledge. We only conveyed the Letter having no particular Object in the Completion of Capt. Swan’s Wishes. We return your Excellency our warmest Acknowledgments for the candid & decisive Account you have...
129To George Washington from the Board of War, 25 April 1780 (Washington Papers)
We have the honor to inclose you the copy of a letter from the Governor of Maryland proposing the exchange of Lt Col. Conolly for Lieut. Col. Ramsay, the eldest prisoner of that rank in the Maryland Line. We will take the liberty of stating to your Excellency the facts that occur to us; respecting Lt Col. Conolly. It appears by the Journals of Congress of Decr 1st 1775, that Conolly & his...
130To George Washington from the Board of War, 11 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Board have been honoured with your Excellency’s several Favors accompanied with Estimates from General Knox respecting the Quantity & Species of ordnance Stores to be provided for the intended offensive Operation —It was with the utmost Difficulty that we could procure, when called upon the last Campaign on the same Subject any considerable Quantities of the Articles principally required....
131To George Washington from the Board of War, 10 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
The Officers of Col. Proctor’s Regiment have express’d great Uneasiness on Acct of the unsettled Situation of their Rank. They even threaten not to march without their Commissions. The Papers relative to this Regiment were a considerable Time ago sent to General Knox. We beg Leave to suggest to your Excellency the Necessity of arranging this Regiment if it be possible as great Dissatisfaction...
132To George Washington from the Board of War, 24 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
We have been honoured with your Excellency’s letters of the 22d & 23d instant. In answer to the latter, we have to inform you, that Colo. Hooper has received by our orders 1600 pairs of shoes of Mr Oliphant director of the factory at Allentown, out of which he has supplied Colo. Spencers corps, and the residue he is to send to Wyoming. 1600 pairs now lie here in the clothier’s store packed in...
133To George Washington from the Board of War, 10 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
In Consequence of the Requisitions made by General Knox of Military Stores we had ordered all those under our Direction to be put in Motion towards Philadelphia where many have arrived & more are accumulated than can be guarded or conveniently kept from Injury. We have obtained Loans of Powder & Shells from Virginia & Maryland some whereof have arrived but the most considerable Part we believe...
134To George Washington from the Board of War, 15 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
We have the Honour to enclose you Copies of the Proceedings relative to the going in of Generals Philips & Reidesel in which we have endeavored to put the Matter upon as proper a Footing as possible. We suppose the D. Commissary of Prisrs at Elisabeth Town to be furnished with Orders on the former Occasion & therefore we did not give any Directions as from ourselves. We should not have...
135To George Washington from the Board of War, 9 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
The Board have been honoured with your Excellency’s Favours of the 26th of March & 2d & 4th April. All the Muskett Cartridges made up for a long time past including the whole now on Hand have been made up with Buck Shott agreeably to your Excellency’s Ideas. There are but five hundred Hunting Shirts in the Clothier Generals Store & no Materials for making more. We have been for a long time...
136To George Washington from the Board of War, 25 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
We beg leave to ask your Excellency’s opinion relative to a Mr Macpherson who is the subject of the inclosed memorial. His conduct and situation as represented in that, we believe to be justly stated; and we should chearfully have taken such notice of his merits as they deserved, could it have been done consistent with the establish’d rules of the army. He has been in the British army from his...
137Council of War, 12 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
At a Council of War held at Head Quarters July 12. 1776 Present His Excelly General Washington[,] Major Gen. Puttnam[,] Brigadier Generals Heath[,] Spencer[,] Green[,] Ld Stirling[,] Scott[,] Wadsworth[,] Heard. The General proposed to the Consideration of the Board a Plan of a Descent upon Staten Island in different Places so as to form a general Attack upon the Enemy’s Quarters —And a...
138To George Washington from George Measam, 9 June 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from George Measam, 9 June 1779. GW wrote Measam on 13 June: “Your favour of the 9th instant came to hand yesterday.”
139To George Washington from George Measam, 25 July 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from George Measam, 25 July 1779. GW wrote Measam on 31 July: “I duly received your several Letters of the 6th—7th & 25th Instant.”
140To George Washington from George Measam, 15 February 1779 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from George Measam, 15 Feb. 1779. GW wrote Measam on 10 March : “I am favd with yours of the 15th Feby.”
141To George Washington from George Clinton, 24 June 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from George Clinton, 24 June 1779. GW wrote Clinton on 27 June: “I have received your two favours of the 24th and 25th.”
142To George Washington from George Clinton, 28 June 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from George Clinton, 28 June 1779. GW wrote Clinton in a second letter on this date: “I just now received your favor of to day.”
143To George Washington from George Mesam, 11 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from George Measam, 11 May 1779. GW wrote to Measam on 13 June acknowledging receipt of a letter of 11 May ( DLC:GW ).
144To George Washington from George Clinton, 25 Sept. 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from George Clinton, 25 Sept. 1779. On 1 Oct., GW wrote Clinton: “I have received your two favors of the 25th and 29th.”
145To George Washington from Col. George Baylor, 5 April 1778 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Col. George Baylor, 5 April 1778. On 1 May, GW wrote Baylor , “I am favd with yours of the 5th of last month.”
146Council of War, 17 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
At a Council of War held at Head Quarters Valley Forge the 17th day of June 1778 His Excellency The Commander in Chief Major Generals Brigadier Generals Lee Smallwood Greene Knox Arnold Poor Sterling Patterson Fayette Wayne Steuben Woodford Mughlenberg Huntington Portail The Commander in Chief informs the council, that from a variety...
147To George Washington from George Reid, 14 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
Altho the opening of the Campaign forbids it; yet I am induced to consent that Ensign Richards have a Discharge; The situation of his Family with other Circumstances Loudly call for it. I am your Excellencys Most Obedt & very Hble Servt DNA : RG 93—War Department.
148To George Washington from George Reid, 23 April 1783 (Washington Papers)
The Indisposition of Lieut. Saml Adams of the N. Hampr. Regt is such, that he is renderd unfit for any kind of duty—If your Excellency thinks it Consistent I wish he might be Indulg’d with leave to visit his Friends . Colo. Dearborn will represent his case more particularly. I am Sir Your most Obedt Hble Servt PHi : Gratz Collection.
149To George Washington from George Measam, 4 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from George Measam, 4 Dec. 1778. On 14 Dec., GW wrote Measam : “I received your two letters of the 1st and 4th Inst. this morning.”
150To George Washington from George Measam, 19 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from George Measam, 19 Oct. 1778. Measam wrote GW on 20 Oct. : “In my last of yesterday I advised your Excellency that I had sent off nearly all the Blankets in this Store 6 Bales and a Hhd remaining.”