301To George Washington from Joseph Greenleaf, 23 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed plan was presented to me by a country gentleman to make such use of as I should think best. I know no better use I can make of it than to present it to yr excellency being assured that if it affords any good hints they will be improved by you for the public good. I am Sr your humb. servt ALS , NNGL : Knox Papers. Joseph Greenleaf (1720–1809) of Boston, a brother-in-law of Robert...
302To George Washington from Colonel Alexander McDougall, 23 October 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Colonel Alexander McDougall, 23 Oct. 1775. In a letter of 10 Nov. to McDougall , GW refers to “your Letter of the 23d Ulto.”
303To George Washington from Colonel Samuel Holden Parsons, 23 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
Pursuant to Your Excellency’s Direction I have directed the Commanding Officers of the Companies under my Command to Ascertain the Number of Officers & Soldiers in their respective Companies who are willing to extend the Term of their Inlistment to the first Day of Jany next: by their Returns I find there are Two Hundred & Twenty Noncommissiond Officers & Soldiers who are willing to Serve till...
304To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Experience Storrs, 23 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
In Compliance with your Exelencies Request of the 20th of this Instant I have Conferred with the Several Officers of this Regiment, Laid your Exelencies Letter before them for there Consideration, They unanimously Conclude to tarry Should the Service Requier it to the Time mentioned by your Exelencey, The Officers Absent are Majr Johnston Capt. Clark, Leiut. Fitch, Leiut. Robinson & Leiut....
305To George Washington from John Thomas, 23 October 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from John Thomas, 23 Oct. 1775. On this date Thomas wrote to GW: “Since I wrote this Morning, one Lt Blake . . . has Applyed.”
306To George Washington from Brigadier General John Thomas, 23 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
You will Excuse me when I Trouble your Excellency so Often with the Application of Officers for Discharges Since I wrote this Morning, one Lt Blake of Colo. Fellow’s Regt has Applyed, & it is recommended that he have his request Granted, as he is a Person that will be no Loss to the Army —I am, Sir, Your very Humb. servt L , DLC:GW . George Blake, lieutenant of Capt. Simeon Hazleton’s company...
307To George Washington from Colonel Charles Webb, 23 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
According to your Excellency’s Desire, I have made Enquiry among my Officers, and find them in general willing to comply with your Excelency’s Request. The Officers of the several Companies have not had Time, as yet, to find out the Disposition of their Soldiers, I shall use my utmost Influence to have your Excellency’s Request comply’d with, and as soon as I can possibly ascertain the precise...
308To George Washington from Colonel Benjamin Ruggles Woodbridge, 23 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
Camp near Prospect Hill , 23 October 1775 . Requests discharge of Sgt. Ebenezer Keller, who is “in a low State.” ALS , DLC:GW . On the reverse of this letter is a letter of this date to Woodbridge from John Homans, surgeon, certifying “that Sargeant Ebenr Keeler is rendered unfit for duty by a long fit of Sickness.”
309To George Washington from the Inhabitants of North Yarmouth and New Gloucester, 24 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
We the Inhabitants of North Yarmouth and New Glocester in the County of Cumberland beg Leave to acquaint your Excellency that we in these & the neighbouring Towns are greatly alarmed and distressed by the Desolation of great Part of the Town of Falmouth which was on Wednesday last cannonaded and set on Fire by some of his Majestys Ships of War, the Particulars of which we suppose your...
310To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 25 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
Captain Whipple returned here from his Voyage to Bermuda on Friday last. He had received authentick Intelligence of the Arrival of the Packet at New-York before the First Time limited for his Cruise was expired, and immediately sailed for Bermuda. He had light flattering Winds for several Days, and, when near the Island, met with a violent Gale, which drove him Three or Four Degrees to the...
311To George Washington from David Parker, 26 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
Many & various are the Difficulties Which I have to encounter by the Confinement to wch I am subjected; the Justice of your Proceedings against me Strike me with the most Avid Conviction when I reflect upon the Iniquity of my own unjustifiable Conduct. I am may it please your Excellency necessitated, by a consciousness of my former & erroneous Practices to acquit every Measure adopted against...
312To George Washington from Major General Philip Schuyler, 26 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
At two this Afternoon, an Express from General Montgomery arrived at this Place, Copy of his Letter, with Copies of the Papers it inclosed, I do Myself the Honor to transmit Your Excellency by Express; The Irresistable Force of Necessity having drove us to Arms, Success cannot be attended without Pleasure And therefore I congratulate Your Excellency, on the good Account these Papers contain....
313To George Washington from Phillis Wheatley, 26 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
I Have taken the freedom to address your Excellency in the enclosed poem, and entreat your acceptance, though I am not insensible of its inaccuracies. Your being appointed by the Grand Continental Congress to be Generalissimo of the armies of North America, together with the fame of your virtues, excite sensations not easy to suppress. Your generosity, therefore, I presume, will pardon the...
314To George Washington from Colonel Benedict Arnold, 27–28 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
My last of the 13th Instant from the Portage to the Dead River, adviseing your Excellency of our proceeding I make no Doubt you have received. I then expected to have reached this place by the 24th Instant, but the excessive heavy Rains & bad Weather have much retarded our March. I have this minute arrived here with seventy Men, and met a person, on his return, whom I sent down some Time since...
315To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 28 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
When we removed Part of the Live Stock from Block Island in July last a Number of Cattle were left, so poor (owing to the severe Drought) that they were totally unfit for the Knife. The plentiful Rains that have since fallen have increased the Feed so much that there are now upwards of 300 fit for Market. The Island is situated so far from the Continent that any Attempt to remove them will be...
316To George Washington from Samuel Langdon, 28 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
[Cambridge] 28 October 1775 . Certifies that Sgt. Edmund Foster “is a Candidate for admission into Harvard College, & desirous of time to revive his acquaintance with the Classics that he may join this Seminary as soon as possible; tho’ it will be with regret if he leaves the service of his Country, yet his Age pleads for your permission to return to his Studies.” AD , DLC:GW . Edmund Foster,...
317To George Washington from Ensign Eliphelet Hastings, 29 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
Cambridge 29 October 1775 . “The Circumstances of your petetioners family is Such Occasiond by Sickness And Several Deaths therein very Lately—that he is Obliged to Ask your Excellencys Leave to Resign his Commission in the Service of the Continental Army tho with great reluctance.” ADS , DLC:GW . Eliphelet Hastings, an ensign in Col. Jonathan Brewer’s Massachusetts regiment, was discharged on...
318To George Washington from Brigadier General John Sullivan, 29 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
I arrived here in about twenty four hours after I Left you have Collected Powder So as to make up near thirty Barrels & have Since been preparing to Set an Example to the other Seaports by Setting the Fleet at Defiance upon my arrival I was Surprized to find that the Boom So much Talked of was not prepared That the Bridge Intended for Crossing from the main to the Island whereon Stands the...
319To George Washington from Lund Washington, 29 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
On Sunday last I got three Letters from you dated the 2d 7th and 9th of Octbr —Mrs Washington haveing the week before set off for new kent, I on monday sent Tom Down with your letters to her, I expect her home Imediately, as she has often declared she woud go to the Camp if you woud permit her—I wrote to Colo. Mason Relative to the Stopg the Navagation of Potowmack—& went my self to Alexandria...
320To George Washington from James Pearson, 30 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
Wilmington [Del.] 30 October 1775 . Requests an appointment in the army. ALS , DLC:GW . Pearson was apparently unsuccessful in obtaining a Continental commission. He may be James Pearson (c.1735–1813), who served as a commissary of military stores in Philadelphia 1779–80 and a captain of the city’s artillery in 1780.
321To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Experience Storrs, 30 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
Cambridge , 30 October 1775 . Ens. Isaac Farewell wishes to be discharged from the army “on acount of Indisposition of Body . . . I have no more to Say to your Exelencey than that when he has ben able he has Done his Duty with Cherfullness, but for Some Time past ben Troubled with the Rumitis & unable to Doe Duty, That in Case your Exelencey Should Think best to Release him, so rather Think it...
322To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 30 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
I have received your two last favours, and thankfully accept the early intelligence given by that of the 24th instant with the deposition therein transmitted to me. On this Occasion I ask your favour to recommend and send to me a Skilful Engineer, if one can be spared, to view the Situation and Circumstances of our Port of New London, to consider and direct the most eligible manner of...
323To George Washington from Joseph Trumbull, 30 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
I have been very unhappily detained here by Sickness; which has been very severe, but by the goodness of God is now going of, And as that goes of my Anxiety about my business increases—I sent some time ago A request to Your Excellency for a supply of Cash without which nothing can be done; that Cash I have not received, which Possibly was well judged in my Friends considering the then Alarming...
324To George Washington from William Watson, 30 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
Major Tupper the bearer of this will inform your Excellency in what manner he has conducted with the two Vessels taken by him at the Vinyard, it is therefore unnecessary for me to enter into particulars—I wod just observe that Dartmouth is a place of greater safety than this port being much less exposed to Storms & better adapted at this time for fitting out an arm’d Vessel than Plymouth (as...
325To George Washington from Lieutenant Benjamin Gates, 31 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
Whereas Your Petitionner Suddently Entred the service and in his Zeal for the Publick Safety of my Country Not thinking but the Service would have been at an End before this time I Freely Undertook the Duty of a First Lieutt in Capt. Black’s Compy in Colo. J. Brewer’s Regt and am Still Ready to Assist in the Cause on any Sudden Emergency But the Circumstances of my Family are Such as to...
326To George Washington from Josiah Quincy, 31 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
My worthy and dear Friend Doctr Franklin, the honble Mr Bowdoin, Doctr Winthrop, and Doctr Cooper, were, the last Week, so kind as to honour me with a friendly Visit: The Conversation naturally turned, upon the savage Cruelty we are dayly suffering, from the unrelenting Vengeance of a tyrannical Government : In the Course of it, the stoping up the Harbor of Boston, as one salutary Measure, was...
327To George Washington from Gillam Tailer, 1 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
I beg leave to represent to you that I am a young person from Boston, where I have left my all. I have been brought up in the mercantile way but by reason of the unhappy situation of Affairs am now out of employ, should esteem it a great favor if yr Excellcy would bestow some Employ on me, that I may be of some little service to my Country, for which shall ever retain a grateful sense & am...
328To George Washington from Captain Nicholson Broughton, 2 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
by unfavorable Winds & weather we have been able to make but little head since our last —the 31st of Octobr some way off this Harbour we saw a Vessel standing to the Northward which Capta. Selman & I gave chase to; the Wind Springing up sudingly to a heavy gale, she bore away for this Harbour for safety; we pursued her directly in, & found her to be a Sloop belonging to Enoch Rust of Boston,...
329To George Washington from Captain Nicholson Broughton, 2 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
Out of the Phebe I took on Board my Vessel & Capta. Selmans being short of Provision ALS , DLC:GW . Broughton appended a copy of his and John Selman’s undated orders instructing Sgt. Benjamin Doak to take the Phoebe to Beverly. For Doak’s arrival at Beverly, see William Bartlett to GW, 8 Nov. 1775 .
330To George Washington from the Falmouth Committee of Safety, 2 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
We have receiv’d your polite Favour of the 24. ultmo. It gives us inexpressible Concern to find that it is out of your Power to afford us any Aid. And we are the more concern’d, on the Arrival yesterday of the Ship Cerberus, with a number of Men, said to be about four hundred. Those we expect will in a few hours land & take possession of the Town. How soon they will penetrate in the Country,...
331To George Washington from John Brown, 3–4 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
I having a Vessel arrived at Norwich from Suranam which having brought a Small Quantity of Powder Viz. Forty four Cask Containing a Half hundred Each, I thought it proper to acquaint you thereof, but I am at a loss to determin which may be best for the General Cause for it to go to the Camp or to be Sold out here, so that People in General may be better quallified to Defend the Sea Coast, Our...
332To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Loammi Baldwin, 3 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
Two Gentle men Came to my Quarters Last night about 10 oClock who had Just Escaped from Boston, one of them namely John Guliker a Master of a Vessel & lately taken by the Nautiluss Man of War & brought into Boston, being formerly acquainted with him & always found him a man of Honour & taking him to be a friend to this Country his wife being moved out of Boston to Salem I suffered him to...
333To George Washington from William Watson, 3 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
I have just this moment receivd intelligence of the shipwreck of a Vessel from Philadelphia at Eastham inside of our Bay, Loaden with 120 pipes Wine, and that the wine is all sav’d excepting 2 pipes stove in Landing it—Your Excellency will pleese to order in what manner this Wine shall be disposed of, whether it shall be sent to head quarters, or whether it shall Remain where it is. I wod...
334To George Washington from William Bartlett, 4 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
Since I have had the Honour of a Commission Under your Excellencey I have Never had an Oppertunity before to Return you my Hearty Thanks—The Honour Confer’d on me I Gratefully Acknolidge and hope I shall be able so farr to doo my Duty as to meet with the Approbation of Your Excellencey if so I am Sure of Doing Honour to my Country which is my Sincere desire. I have the Pleasure of informing...
335To George Washington from Deuillelongue, 4 November 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Deuillelongue, 4 Nov. 1775. On 15 Jan. 1776 Deuillelongue informed GW : “Jai eu l’honneur de vous Ecrire le 4. 9bre dernier.”
336To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Reed, 4 November 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Reed, 4 Nov. 1775. On 20 Nov. GW wrote to Reed : “Your Letters of the 4th from New York—7th and—from Philadelphia . . . are all before me.”
337To George Washington from Lund Washington, 5 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
The Inclose’d I expect will inform you that Mrs Washington Intends to come to you —she informs me she will leave Colo. Bassetts tomorrow & lose no time in getg home where she will Stay but a few days, before she sets out for the Camp—I think her stay in New Kent so long after she had your invitation to come to you, was rather ill judge’d, & will I fear occasion her haveg a very desagreeable...
338To George Washington from Major General Philip Schuyler, 6–7 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s Favor of the 26th Ult. I had the Honor to receive on the 3d instant. I have long since signified to Congress the Necessity of a Delegation from them to this Place, and in their last to me of the 12th Ult:, they (unfortunately for me) say that it did not appear necessary then, I took the Liberty to lament that they were not in Sentiment with me on the Subject, & to add that I...
339To George Washington from William Bartlett, 6 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
I hereby Acknolidge the receipt of your Favour of yesterday ⅌ Captn Brown & am Extreemly Glad to hear of your Excellencey’s Approbation of my Conduct. hope I shall So Conduct through all the Business I may have to Transact as to meet with the Same Applause. I shall Imediately go upon Taking an Accurate inventory of all the Goods on Board according to your Excellency’s Orders and forward them...
340To George Washington from Burwell Bassett, 6 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 17 Sepr came safe to hand, In consequence of which I waited on Mr Everard, he informd me that he wrote to Edmd Randolph & desire[d] him to let you know that your Business should be done, & may rest yourself assur’d that I will see it is done. Mr Custis is to be the Bearer of this I must referr you to him for all the news that is stiring here which I am afraid will not be...
341To George Washington from Captain Ephraim Bowen, Jr., 6 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
With great Pleasure do I inform you of the Return of Capt. Coit into this Harbour, with two Prizes, a Sloop & Schooner, from Nova Scotia Bound to Boston Laden chiefly with Wood & Hay, with Some Cattle, Sheep, Potatoes &c. The People that were on Board with the Papers will be Sent to Head Qrs Immediately. Mr Watson has taken charge of the Prises, & Will Inform you of the Particulars of the...
342To George Washington from Captains Nicholson Broughton and John Selman, 6 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
We attempted for some time after our last, to get to Spanish River, in order to take the Brigantine loading with Coal. but the wind being contrary & blowing up a heavy storm we were oblig’d to give over our Design we then stood for this Place where the Storm has hardly yet ceas’d. we are however something comforted in that no Vessel passes this season to Boston Hallifax or to any part of...
343To George Washington from Jeremiah Hall, 6 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
M ay it please your E xcellency : The Committees of Correspondence and Inspection in the County of Plymouth , viz: of Hanover, Scituate, Pembroke , and Marshfield , were notified, by one Captain Toby , who guards on the shore at Marshfield , that he had two infamous tories under his care, who fled to Boston soon after the Lexington battle—one of them a native and inhabitant of Marshfield
344To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 6 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favour of the 29th Octo. ulto Wherein you mention the case of Dr Cheney commissioned from hence a Physitian and Surgeon which you are persuaded to have been obtained by some misrepresentation. Indeed I was not apprized of any misconduct or bad behaviour of his—If he is guilty of any such Crime, hope he may be convicted & discharged. I will give a detail of his case as it...
345To George Washington from William Watson, 6 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
This morning Capt. Coit, after a C[r]uise of 36 hours brought into this port the Scooner Industry Charles Coffin Master & the Sloop Polly Sibeline White Master, both from Nova Scotia bound to Boston with provisions for the garison there, Manifests of both Cargos are enclosed—I have Landed the Cattle & put them to pasture the other articles I shall store immediately, and wait your Excellencys...
346To 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...
347To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Reed, 7 November 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Reed, 7 Nov. 1775. On 20 Nov. 1775 GW wrote to Reed : “Your Letters of the 4th from New York—7th and—from Philadelphia. . . are all before me.”
348To George Washington from Major General Philip Schuyler, 7 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
I had prepared an Answer to your last, which I Received three days ago, but as It was not Copied; and having this Moment received the agreable Intelligence of the reduction of St John’s, I would not withold from your Excellency so Interesting an Account, for a letter which I may hereafter send, I only Inclose Copy’s of General Montgommery’s Letter and of the papers that were Inclosed in It. Mr...
349To George Washington from Colonel Benedict Arnold, 8 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
My last Letter was of the 27th ultimo, from Chaudiere Pond, adviseing your Excellency that as the Detachment were short of Provissions, by Reason of loossing many of our Batteaus, I had ordered Colo. Enos to send back the Sick & feeble, and those of his Divission who could not be supplied with fifteen Days Provissions, and that I intended proceeding the next Day with 15 Men to Sartigan to send...
350To George Washington from William Bartlett, 8 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
I have the Pleasure of informing your Excellency that this Morning Sergant Doak Belonging to Capn Selmon brought in here a Sloop her Cargo Consisting off 370 Quts of Dry fish 70 BLLs of Mackrell 3 BLLs of Train Oyl 1 BLL of Sammon by the best Accts I can Collect from the People on board—I can find Nothing to Acertain the Cargo She hes by any papers Deliver’d me, the whole of which I send to...