61To George Washington from Major General Nathanael Greene, 5 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
Col. Harrison wrote me you were in great want [of] flour —tis attended with very great difficulty to bring it up from Fort Lee by land[.] Waggons cannot be got to transport a sufficient supp⟨ly⟩ for your Army—At Dobb’s ferry there is Eight or nine hundred Barrels brought from the other side. I have directed Col. Tupper to load a number of the Petty Augres and flat bottom Boats and send them up...
62To George Washington from John Hancock, 5 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Congress, apprehensive that Commissioners from some of the States for the Purpose of appointing Officers in the Army under the new Establishment, may not have arrived at the Camp, and at the same Time fully and deeply impressed with the Necessity of recruiting the Army to its full Complement, have passed the enclosed Resolves, authorizing you to grant Warrants to such Officers as you shall...
63From George Washington to Colonel Rufus Putnam, 5 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
you are directed to repair to wrights Mills, & lay out any work there you concive to be necessary in case it is not already don; from thence you are to proceed towards Croton Bridge, and post the two Regiments of Militia in the most advantagous maner, So as to obstruct the enimies passage to that quarter. you are also to give what directions you think are proper to those regiments, respecting...
64General Orders, 6 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
As the late movements of the enemy will require some change of our present disposition, the General most earnestly requests, that the men who have been at the Hospital, and out of Camp on any other account, may be immediately collected and join their respective regiments. It is with the utmost astonishment and abhorrence, the General is informed, that some base and cowardly Wretches have, last...
65Council of War, 6 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
At a Council of War held at Head Quarters White Plains Nov. 6. 1776. Present. His Excelly Gen. Washington[,] Major General Lee[,] Puttnam[,] Spencer[,] Heath[,] Sullivan[,] Lincoln[,] Brigr Genl Ld Stirling[,] Mifflin[,] Nixon[,] McDougal[,] Parsons[,] Scott[,] Clinton. The late Movements of the Enemy having made it necessary to consider what may be now proper for this Army to do the General...
66To George Washington from Brigadier General Benedict Arnold, 6 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
I beg leave to recommend to your particular Notice, the following Gentlemen, who were taken at Quebec, and lately returned on their Parole vizt Major Lamb, and Captain Lockwood of the Artillery Lieutenant Colonel Oswald, and Captain Morgan the two Last went with me from Cambridge; they have all distinguished themselves for their Bravery and Attachment to the Public Cause, and will I make no...
67To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 6 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
The General Assembly of this State have ordered Two Battalions to be immediately raised agreeable to the Requisition of the Hon’ble Continental Congress signified to them in a Letter from the President of that August Body. Congress recommended that a Committee should be appointed to repair to the Army, and there appoint the Officers, but as your Excellency was pleased to inclose in your Favour...
68From George Washington to John Hancock, 6 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inform you, that on yesterday morning the Enemy made a sudden and unexpected movement from the Several posts they had taken in our Front. they broke up their whole Encampments the preceding night, and have advanced towards King’s bridge and the North river. the design of this manuvre, is a matter of much conjecture and speculation, and cannot be accounted for with any...
69From George Washington to the Massachusetts General Court, 6 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
The situation of our Affairs is critical and truly alarming; The dissolution of our Army is fast approaching and but little, if any prospect of levying a New one in a reasonable time. A large part of it under the denomination of New Levies, are now on the eve of their departure, and this at a time when the Enemy have a very numerous & formidable force, watching an Opportunity to execute their...
70To George Washington from Major General Artemas Ward, 6 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
The first instant I was favoured with your letter of the 13 Octr. Agreeable to your directi⟨ons⟩ I have forwarded those articles mentioned to th⟨e⟩ Q.M.G., and to make up two loads have se⟨nt⟩ a quantity of 10d. nails which were in store h⟨ere⟩ as I understood they were wanted. I am sorry that the Enemy have been a⟨ble⟩ to get any of their ships up the north River, a⟨nd⟩ interrupting our...
71From George Washington to John Augustine Washington, 6–19 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have had the pleasure to receive your Letter of the 6th Ulto. We have, I think, by one Manouvre and another, and with a parcel of—but it is best to say nothing more about them—Mixed, & ungovernable Troops, spun the Campaign out to this time without coming to any decisive Action, or without letting Genl How obtain any advantage which, in my opinion, can contribute much to the completion of...
72General Orders, 7 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Colonels, or commanding officers of regiments are immediately to parade their men, examine the state of their regts and make out their Pay-Abstracts in a careful, correct manner for the month of September. Genl Wadsworth’s Brigade to be in readiness to remove in a short notice, to the ground on which Lord Stirling is posted. Col. Silliman to take charge of the Brigade during Genl...
73From George Washington to Major General Nathanael Greene, 7 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Enemy after having Incamp’d in full view of us, and reconnoitring our Situation for several days thought proper on Tuesday Morning to decamp. they have bent their course to Dob⟨bs⟩ Ferry Inclining towards Kings bridge. what their real designs are, we, as yet, are strangers to; but conjecturing that too little is yet done by General Howe to go into Winter Quarters, we conceive that Fort...
74To George Washington from Major General Nathanael Greene, 7 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
By an Express from Major Clarke stationed at Dobbs ferry I find the Enemy are encampt right opposite, to the number of between three and five thousand—and the Major adds from their disposition and search after Boats they design to cross the River—A frigate and two Transports or Provision Ships past the Cheveau de frize Night before last—they were prodigiously shatterd from the fire of our...
75From George Washington to William Livingston, 7 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
On tuesday morning the Enemy broke up their Encampments which were i⟨n⟩ front of our lines, after having re⟨mained there⟩ several days without attempt⟨ing any thing.⟩ they have advanced towards the ⟨North River and⟩ King’s bridge. This sudden & unexpect⟨ed Movement⟩ is a matter of much speculation. some su⟨ppose⟩ they are going into Winter Quarters, and will set dow⟨n⟩ in New York without...
76General Orders, 8 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Court Martial of which Genl McDougall is President, to sit immediately for the trial of Major Austin in Arrest, upon Charge of “Burning the houses at White-Plains, contrary to General orders.” Col. Graham and Capt: Gerrish, tried by a Court-Martial whereof Genl McDougall was President, for “Misbehaviour upon the approach of the enemy”—are acquitted. Capt. Poole of Col. Cary’s Regt and Genl...
77From George Washington to the Board of War, 8 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have been favoured with yours of the 31st Ultto by monsr Laytaniac and must take the liberty of referring you to my former Letters upon the subject of providing for the French Gentlemen who shall incline to enter the service of the States. to me there appears that One of two modes must be adopted—they must either be appointed to places in some of the Regiments, or formed into a distinct...
78To 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...
79From George Washington to Major General Nathanael Greene, 8 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
The late passage of the 3 Vessells up the North River (which we have just received Advice of) is so plain a proof of the inefficacy of all the Obstructions we have thrown into it that I cannot but think it will fully justify a Change in the Disposition which has been made. If we cannot prevent Vessells passing up, and the Enemy are possessed of the surrounding Country, what valuable purpose...
80To George Washington from Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene, 8 November 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene, 8 Nov. 1776. Greene wrote in his letter to GW of 9 Nov. : “By the letter that will Accompany this, and was to have gone last Night by Major Mifflin Your Excellency will see what measures I took before your favor [of 8 Nov.] came to hand.”
81To George Washington from Lieutenant General William Howe, 8 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
A Servant lately attending upon Major Stuart of the 43d Regiment of Foot, named Peter Jack, is supposed to have fallen a few Days ago into the Hands of some of your Parties: This Man not being in the Capacity of a Soldier, I hope, if found among your Prisoners, that you will permit him to be returned to his Master, as is customary in like Cases. I beg Leave to take this Opportunity of...
82To George Washington from Major General Philip Schuyler, 8 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honor to inform your Excellency that General Gates has advised me of the retreat of the British Troops from Crown Point, the last of them left Crown Point on Monday Morning—Sir John Johnson is returned with them —I am most respectfully Your Excellency’s Most Obedient Humbe servt Be so good as to forward this Account to Congress as I have not time to write this going by the...
83From George Washington to Brig. Gen. Adam Stephen, 8 November 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Brig. Gen. Adam Stephen, 8 Nov. 1776. In a letter to GW of 9 Nov., Nathanael Greene writes: “Your Excellency letters of the 8 this moment came to hand—I shall forward the letter to General Stevens by Express” (see also GW to Greene, this date ).
84General Orders, 9 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
The General desires, that all Colonels and commanding Officers of regiments, will be particularly attentive, that no discharged men, or men whose times have, or are about to expire, be suffered to carry off any Arms, Camp-Kettles, Utensils, or any other kind of store, which belong to the public; but that the whole be carefully delivered to the Quarter-Master-General (or his Assistants) or to...
85From George Washington to Major General Nathanael Greene, 9 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
Since my Letters of y⟨e⟩sterday two Deserters have got in from the Enemy (at Dobbs’s Ferry) who relate m⟨a⟩ny circumstances in proof of the Enemys Intention of crossing into the Jerseys at or near Dobbs’s Ferry under cover of a Cannonade from their Shipping. These Deserters say that Boats were to have been brought up (from New York they add, but possibly they may be brought from the Sound by...
86To George Washington from Major General Nathanael Greene, 9 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency letters of the 8 this moment came to hand—I shall forwa⟨r⟩d the letter to General Stevens by Express —The Stores at Dobbs ferry I had just given orders to the Quarter Master to prepare Waggons to remove them—I think the Enemy will meet with some difficulty in crossing the River at Dobbs ferry however tis not safe to trust too much to the expected difficulties they may meet...
87From George Washington to John Hancock, 9 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to transmit you a Copy of a Letter from Genl Gates to Genl Schuyler, and of another paper containing intelligence respecting the Northern Army, and the situation of the Enemy in that department. they this minute came to hand, and to them I beg leave to refer you for particulars. By every information I can obtain, and the accounts I had last night by Two deserters, who were...
88To George Washington from John Hancock, 9–12 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
You will perceive from the enclosed Resolve, that Congress having reconsidered their Vote of the 14th Octr, have agreed to give the former Allowance of one Dollar & one Third of a Dollar to the Officers on the Reinlistment of every Soldier in the Camp. The compleating the Army being at present an Object of the utmost Importance, the Congress are desirous of adopting every Means in their Power,...
89From George Washington to Lieutenant General William Howe, 9 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday Evening I received the favor of your Letter of the 8th Instt. Major Stewart’s servant having never represented himself as a person not inlisted in your Army, he was considered as a prisoner of War and sent as such to Jersey. But upon your information that he was not in the Capacity of a Soldier, I will give immediate directions for him to be brought back that he may return to his...
90To George Washington from William Livingston, 9 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your Favour of the 7th Instant I had the Honour of receiving last Evening being accidentally in Town, where upon Occasion of it & some other publick Business I staid the whole Night. After sending for General Williamson, and beginning to prepare a Copy of your Letter for General Mercer, the Latter happen’d to come in person, and was of great Use in the Business before us. We examin’d Six or...