61To George Washington from the Massachusetts Council, 8 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
Immediately on receiving your Excellencies intimations that it was necessary your Army should be reinforced with Four thousand of the Militia from this State, Orders were issued to raise the men—And since that as our affairs grew more serious & Alarming, the Court have given orders to Augment the number to about Six Thousand —every measure hath been adopted to forward the Troops to you with...
62General Orders, 31 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
The General positively forbids any person going down to the lines, and firing upon the Enemy, without an Order from a General Officer—proper scouting parties are to be kept out by each Major General, for intelligence. The General, in a ride he took yesterday, to reconoitre the Grounds about this way, [was] surprised and shocked to find both officers and soldiers, straggling all over the...
63From George Washington to Colonel Arthur Erwin, 9 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I expected upon my Arrival here to have found the Militia of Bucks County ready to have joined me, and to have kept the Enemy from setting a Foot in the province of Pennsylvania, but to my great Surprize not a Man has turned out, tho so glorious an Example has been shewn them by the Citizens of Philadelphia. I was altogether at a Loss to account for so extraordinary a Conduct, but Colo. Hart...
64From George Washington to Brigadier General Alexander McDougall, 1 January 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Brigadier General Alexander McDougall, 1 Jan. 1777. The Paul C. Richards catalog no. 19, item 455, 1968, quoted the following from the LS : “I have the pleasure to inform you that your sons parole has been sent out to me, amongst others, who are exchanged for officers I have sent in to General Howe. General Maxwell has the proper orders for encouraging the Militia, to come...
65From George Washington to Maj. Gen. Charles Lee, 2 December 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Maj. Gen. Charles Lee, 2 Dec. 1776. GW wrote Lee on 3 Dec. : “Having wrote you fully both Yesterday and to day of my situation, It is unnecessary for me to add much at this time.”
66From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 28 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the pleasure of informing you Yesterday of our Success at Trenton, I have received Advice that Count Donnop with the remainder of the Enemy’s Army, immediately upon the News, decamped, and was on his Retreat towards South Amboy. On hearing this Genl Ewing and Colo. Cadwallader passed the River with the Troops under their command, and Genl Mifflin will follow this day with a...
67To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 13 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your favours of the 6th 7th & 10th Instant are recieved, and am much Oblidged to your Excellency for the early Notice given me in that of the 6th of the supposed Embarkation of about three thousand of the Enemy and of their destination. Your’s of the 7th advising of the Approaching Dissolution of a large part of our Army is truly Alarming, and that season drawing near am Sensible will be most...
68From George Washington to Major Generals Charles Lee and William Heath, 14 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
As an Exchange of Prisoners, is likely to take effect, as soon as the circumstance of the case will admit, and as, in the course of the transaction, it may possibly happen, that an attempt may be made by the Enemy to redeem their prisoners by men in their possession, who were never ingag’d in our service, I must request you, to direct the Colonels, or Commanders of Regiments under your...
69To 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...
70To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 12 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
Among the variety & important Objects which I have no doubt every moment press on your mind and command your attention, I beg leave to suggest to you the distress of our prisoners in Newyork, which upon every principle of humanity as well as policy, demands the most speedy method to be come into and accomplished for their relief. Major Welles of one of the Battalions of this State, among the...