201To George Washington from Colonel Henry Beekman Livingston, 19 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Peekskill [N.Y.] 19 May 1777 . “By a late Arangement of the Officers Appointed to Five Battallions of Continental Troops now Raising in this State, under the Denomination of New york Regiments, (I must beg leave to represent to your Excellency that) Injustice is done me, in being Ranked as youngest Colonel of the five Although two of the Gentlemen Appointed, Or rather Arranged before me, Held...
202To George Washington from Brigadier General Alexander McDougall, 19 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with your favors of the 10th & 11th Instant and a Visit from Generals Green & Knox, we have viewed the passes and different Routs on this Side of the River, which lead to the Mountains, and are of Opinion from the strength of Ground, that its unnecessary to make any works; For if the Troops will not defend strong Defiles, they will not any works that we can finish in the probable...
203From George Washington to Robert Morris, 19 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your favour by Monsieur Armandt was duly handed me. I have been happy to show him every mark of attention in my power. The considerations you mention gave him a just claim to it; and derived additional weight from your recommendation. I am pleased to find Congress took such distinguishing notice of him as they did in their late appointment. He has requested to have the command of a partisan...
204To George Washington from Maj. Gen. Adam Stephen, 19 May 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Maj. Gen. Adam Stephen, 19 May 1777. GW wrote Stephen on this date : “I have receiv’d your favor of this date” concerning a proposed attack on Bergen, New Jersey. GW’s aide-de-camp George Johnston wrote Stephen on this date: “His Excellency [GW] bids me acknowledge the rect of your favour of this date,” which concerned Stephen’s illness.
205From George Washington to Major General Adam Stephen, 19 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have receiv’d your favor of this date & still continue to think that an Attack upon the Tory Regimts in their present Situation would by no means answer your expectation. I have order’d Genl Heard (who will soon be reinforced to a considerable Number) to advance towards Hackensack with all his Men, except those necessary for the Works at Pumpton & there act in what ever manner he finds most...
206To George Washington from Colonel Samuel Blachley Webb, 19 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
My returns of the 16th Instant amount to 234 Including Dead & Deserted upwards of 50 have already marchd for Peeks Kill agreeable to orders received from Brigadier General Parsons, the others I shall forward on as they leave the Hospital, The Assembly of this State are now setting—and are adopting very spirited measures for immediately filling the Nine and a half Battallions, as your...
207General Orders, 18 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
208To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel David Grier, 18 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I Recd your Excellencies favour of 16th Instant and am Sorry to find my Answer to yours of the 12th March did not Come to you; I delivered it to an Officer on his way to Head Quarters who intended to Proceed from thence to Boston I find you are disappointed about the numbers you Expected of our Regmt and am sorry it is not in my Power to help it we have only fourteen of the Officers that were...
209From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 18 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 9th instant by Capt: Mullen is this day handed me. I am happy to hear, that the assembly have resolved to complete the Regiments by drafts, and have adopted the three recommended to them in addition to the 15th. The drafts must come on to Peeks Kill as fast as possible. Those who have not had the small pox will be inoculated there, which will put them in the way of being...
210To George Washington from James Mease, 18 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I had the pleasure of writing your Excellency, the 12th Inst., which missing the post, was delayed some days, Since which, your Excellencys favors of 9 & 12, are come to hand, The former of which surprized, & paind me very much, The paragraph from Mr Youngs letter to Mr Kemper, respecting the sending forward some Shirts & stockings, which seems to have given your Excellency cause of offence, I...
211To George Washington from Major General Philip Schuyler, 18 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the Honor to inclose your Excellency a Return of the Troops in the Town —We have not a Blanket to cover them with The Quakers refused to furnish any to the Committee appointed to collect from the Inhabitants. I have written to John Pemberton on the Subject, and am determined if they do not voluntarily afford us a thousand, to make Use of coercive Measures. This Jesuitical Set do us...
212To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 18 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Last Evening I had the Honor to receive Yours of the 11th Instant; That the Enemy will Harrass our Coasts and Injure the Maritime Towns, by sudden Debarkations and Attacks is beyond a Doubt; at the same Time, I Join [with you] that their Capital Object, is either Philadelphia, or Hudson’s River. Am sorry to find the Forces with You are so deficient and inadequate to Check the progress of the...
213General Orders, 17 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
All the troops in, and about Morristown, (those on duty excepted) are to attend divine service, to morrow morning. Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
214From George Washington to Colonel George Baylor, 17 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed Copy of a Resolve of Congress, & Extract from the Presidents Letter, founded upon it, will discover to you, their desire of your being furnished with a Good Horse, properly caparisoned, at the Expence of the States. Tho, it has been my wish, to comply with their Resolve in your favor, Yet, for want of Opportunity, and by reason of the Multiplicity of business, which constantly...
215To George Washington from Colonel Daniel Brodhead, 17 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed I send a list of the Subaltern officers of my Regiment with their Rank as settled by Ballot, Also an Extract from a Letter I have just received from the Chairman of the Board of War —I beg leave to mention to your Excellency that some of the officers are by no means qualified for the Rank they hold in the Regt, whilst much better and decenter officers must submit to their Command—A...
216To George Washington from Major General Nathanael Greene, 17 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed is the opinion of the General Officers at this Post and General Wayne who has had a very good opportunity to view the River & the fortifications upon the same —Agreeable to your Excellencies instructions I have given the necessary orders to carry the further obstructions in the River into execution —I am going this day up to New Windsor to view the Obstructions there & the passes...
217To George Washington from the Council of General Officers at Peekskill, 17 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
We have examined the Obstructions in the North River, and beg leave to observe that the object is too important to be trusted to its present security. If those obstructions in the River can be rendered effectual, and the Passes into the Highlands be properly guarded, which can be done with about four or five thousand Troops, the rest of the Army will be at liberty to operate elsewhere. To...
218From George Washington to Patrick Henry, 17 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
When I had the honour of addressing You on the 13th Ult. I flattered myself that, tho’ the recruiting Service did not succeed to our Wishes, a sufficient Reinforcement would ’ere this have enabled me to open the Campaign in such a manner as to have recommended the Service to the lower Class of People, and thereby to have removed the necessity of compelling them to inlist. But that Hope has...
219From George Washington to Richard Henry Lee, 17 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Under the previledge of friendship, I take the liberty to ask you, what Congress expects I am to do with the many Foreigners they have, at different times, promoted to the Rank of Field Officers? and by the last resolve, two to that of Colonels. In making these appointments, it is much to be feared that all the Circumstances attending; are not taken into consideration—To oblige the adventurers...
220From George Washington to Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 17 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was favoured yesterday, with your Letter of the 11th Instt. I wrote Govr Trumbull fully, on the 11th and then informed him, that no part of the Troops exacted from the State, could remain there. This Letter, I presume, has reached the Governor, and I trust, the observations contained in it, would satisfy him of the necessity, of drawing the whole Troops together. I think with you, that the...
221From George Washington to Colonels John Patton and Thomas Hartley, 17 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have long indulged the hope of seeing a considerable part of your Battalion in the Field before this; But the last Genl return informs me, that it is without foundation. Aware of the disadvantages attending the recruiting business, I have made every reasonable allowance, yet I must conclude that if the Officers engaged in that Service, had applied a proper share of their attention to it, the...
222From George Washington to Major General Joseph Spencer, 17 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am favoured with yours of the 30th last month by Colo: Fabricy a Kovats, who is gone forward to Congress with his Credentials. I do not apprehend, that by the late Resolves of Congress respecting the Regulation of Pay, it was intended that there should be a deputy paymaster General to each seperate command in the Army. By the words, seperate departments , I understand, the northern at Albany...
223To George Washington from Major General Adam Stephen, 17 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
This moment arrivd. I have learnd that The Hessians embarked in the Boats mentiond in my last, amount to about 350—That the troops sent over to the Jerseys was not so much to Execute any present Enterprise, as to guard agt One—Asson [As soon] as the Enemy understood that the Artillery & troops were moved from Newark—They immediatly gave orders for These troops to proceed to the Jerseys—It was...
224From George Washington to Major General Adam Stephen, 17 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Yours with the plan for the attack upon Bergen is this moment come to hand. I see many difficulties to prevent the matters being carried effectually into execution. The first and principal one is, the known disaffection of the Country, which is such, that the instant such a Body as one thousand Men began to assemble, the Enemy would have notice of it, and the consequence would be, that were...
225General Orders, 16 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Francis Swain Esqr., is appointed Brigade Major, to Brigadier Genl Muhlenberg; and to be obeyed as such. Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
226To George Washington from Captain Bartholomew Burke, 16 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have some days Agoe Wrote to You to request You would Permit me to Joyn Colonell Pattens regimt now raising in this City the loss I have met with by Desertion and what I am likely to meet with has Obliged me to Waite on their honours the Congress for the same Purpose they have thought Proper to order that General schuyler should put it in Publick orders that I should Joyn Colonell Pattens...
227From George Washington to John Hancock, 16 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the 15th, I had the Honor to receive last night, at Eleven OClock. The Commission inclosed for Monsieur Armand, I shall deliver him, as soon, as I see him. Agreable to your request, I will give Commissions to the Brigadiers, and will ascertain their Rank by their Original Commissions, when I obtain them. The inquiry directed, respecting Major Campbell, shall be made and that be...
228To George Washington from John Langdon, 16 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 3d Inst. I had the Honor to receive two days since & is now before me—to which I beg leave to answer, am happy you wrote to Congress respecting the Stores at this place, expect their Orders soon (⅌ return of Express). I misapprehended the matter relative to the three Thousand Arms, did not understand it as your special Order to send them on to Springfield; tho’t it a...
229From George Washington to Brigadier General Alexander McDougall, 16 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was a few days ago favd with yours of the 6th: I cannot account for the Massachusets Troops coming on without Cloathing, in any other manner, than, that as they were all originally intended for Ticonderoga, their Cloaths may have been sent to Albany. If that is the Case, the Qr Masters should be immediately sent to bring them back, if it is not, they must certainly look to the State, because...
230From George Washington to Colonel Malmedy, 16 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
In answer to your letter of the 14th I must freely confess, I do not fully comprehend your meaning, nor can I forbear expressing my surprise, that you still hold out the idea of difficulties in your situation, notwithstanding the mark of attention you mention, which has lately been conferred upon you by Congress. It astonishes me, that a Gentleman of your discernment, should find it impossible...
231To George Washington from Colonel Alexander Martin, 16 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Five Days ago, I arrived at this place with the first Division of the North Carolina Troops, and expect two more will arrive to morrow, and am sorry that we are compelled to halt for some Time to under go Innoculation for the Small Pox before we can join you. The marching and countermarching of the N. Carolina Troops last Winter and this Spring to and from Charlestown has much retarded our...
232Circular to the Commanding Officers of Various Pennsylvania Regiments, 16 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
When I wrote you on the 12th March (to which no answer is yet received) directing a return of your Battalion, the inoculation of your men who had not had the small pox, and the sending immediately to the Army such as had it under proper Officers, I hoped to see a considerable part of your Battalion in the Feild before this. But the last return of it, now at informs me that I was mistaken. Our...
233From George Washington to Benjamin Rush, 16 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I last night received your favour of the 13th instant; and am much obliged to you, for communicating your judicious observations on the inconveniences of an early incampment. They are perfectly correspondent with my own ideas, but how far they can be allowed to operate must depend upon many other considerations and circumstances. I shall be induced to incamp the army, sooner than I could wish,...
234General Orders, 15 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
235From George Washington to Brigadier General David Forman, 15 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with yours of the 11th with the proposition for exchanging Capts. Campbell and Harrison for Messs. Richard McKnight and Thomas Little. This I can by no means assent to, as it would be establishing a precedent of a dangerous Nature in its consequences. For then, whenever any of their provincial Officers fell into our Hands, they would send out parties and pick up some of the...
236From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 15 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
The great loss of Tents at Danbury is like to make us rather scant in that Article, especially as the whole Army in this quarter will be moving and must consequently lay in the Feild. I am informed that the Barracks, already built at Ticonderoga and Mount Independance, will contain between three and four thousand Men, and as your Garrison will be stationary, I would recommend the covering the...
237To George Washington from John Hancock, 15 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the Honour to enclose you sundry Resolves of Congress, accompanied with a Commission for Monsr Armand, which I am to request you will order to be delivered to him, as he is now at Head Quarters. Ever since the appointment of Brigadiers I have been waiting to be informed of the Dates of their respective Commissions in Order to settle their Rank in making out new ones. But as there...
238From George Washington to Colonel Hugh Hughes, 15 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
General Mifflin informs me that he has ordered Mr Chase Assistant Quarter Master General at Boston to send forward all the Tents which were stored at Boston or portsmouth to you, and desires that I will give you directions as to the distribution of them. You will know with certainty what number will be wanting for the Troops that are not barracked at Peeks Kill and the Forts. I cannot conceive...
239From George Washington to Major General Thomas Mifflin, 15 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was this morning favoured with yours of the 13th by Colo. Malmady. I have written to Mr Hughes, respecting the distribution of the Tents, you have ordered from the Eastward. A few days ago, I wrote you about a quantity of Tent Cloth, which I was informed was at providence and which I directed Mr John Brown of that place, to purchase and secure, subject to your orders. As you have not...
240To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 15 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your’s of the 7th Inst. & have Ordrd all the Troop’s who have had the Small pox and are able to March to peck’s Kill’s; by the Numbr wanting Still to Compleat our Battalions with those who have not yet gone thro’ the Small pox tis probable we shall Soon have Two or three Thousand Men who have not had that Disease as I beleive our Quota will be raisd soon in this advancd Season will...
241To George Washington from Major General Adam Stephen, 15 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
The General Court Martial yesterday seemd to hurry over Business without that Solemn Attention that is necessary to Command Respect & establish discipline. I orderd Doctr Griffith to be Summond to appear agt Capt. Russel—Who had been frequently at philadelphia, & Seen the Capn appearing abroad wt. a healthy Countenance—He was ⟨n⟩ot Summoned—The Captain notwithstanding the Repeated ⟨o⟩rders for...
242To George Washington from Colonel Edward Stevens, 15 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Agreable to your Letter of the 2nd Inst. I herewith send you the Four Men desired from my Regmt. I hope they will Answer. They are all natives and agreable to the Size mentioned, they were Strongly recommended by their Capts. who has had a better Oppty of Knowing them than myself. Yours of the 12th March last missed me in Virginia And was sent back to philadelphia so that I never received it...
243Instructions to Major General John Sullivan, 15 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
You are to repair to Princeton and take upon you the Command of the Troops at that Post. The Troops from Maryland, the lower Counties (on Delaware) and Hazen’s Regiment, together with the Artillery Company, and light Horse now at that place, are to remain there till further orders; all others now there, or that shall hereafter come to that Post (except the Marylanders and such detachments as...
244General Orders, 14 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Quarter Master General, is to apply to the Adjutant General, for a fatigue party, to repair the road from hence, to Pluck’emin, which, is said, to be almost impassible in some places. He is also, to have a Guard-house, in the upper Redoubt, on the hill adjoining this place, erected with dispatch, and sufficient to contain 30 Men—This building to be slight, and attended with little expence....
245To George Washington from Brigadier General Nathaniel Heard, 14 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday morning the new recruits from Bergen under the Command of Colls Barton & Buskirk—came up to Paramus with about 300 Men—with an intent to Surprize the Detachment I had there—about 70 Men—under the Command of Captains Fell & Berry —The Enemy ariv’d there about the Break of day—and Surround[ed] the Houses our Men had Quarterd at the day before, but Fortunately, Capt. Fell who had...
246To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 14 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Post setting off rather sooner on Monday than common prevented mine of the 11th Instant being forwarded by him. An application from Governor Trumbull of Connecticutt to Mr Langdon, copy of which Mr Langdon has ⟨Sent m⟩e occasions my writing to your Excellency by Express. ⟨Governo⟩r Trumbull has represented to Mr Langdon that the State of Connecticutt seems now “to be the Object of the...
247To George Washington from Brigadier General Robert Howe, 14 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Charleston [S.C.] 14 May 1777 . “I had the Honor of receiving your Letter a few days since, and have consulted the President of this State upon the Subject of it; He acknowledges the Propriety and Importance of an Expedition against Augustine, but seems to think it ought not immediately to be undertaken. For my part Sir, convinced as I am that the Enemy should be dispossessed of that Post and...
248To George Washington from Captain John Hunter, 14 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I had the Honor of receiving your Commands in a Letter from Colo. Johnston together with a warrant for four hundred Dollars, which was paid. Enclosed I send your Excellency the Muster of my Recruits, which I look upon to be as good men as any in the service. The Board of war has given me orders to Join Colo. Pattons Regiment untill such time as your Excellencys pleasure is known as they say...
249Instructions to Captain Strother Jones, 14 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have appointed you to the Command of a Company, to be raised for the Continental Service, agreeable to the printed Instructions herewith delivered to you. As the Good of the Service depends in a very great Measure on a proper Choice of Officers, and the honour of a Superior as much upon the quality of his Subalterns, I have given you power to nominate yours—subject to my Disapprobation—From...
250To George Washington from Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 14 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I this moment receivd an extract of a letter from Genl Stevens to your Excellency of this days date, purporting the situation & designs of the enemy—and a letter from Colo. Harrison expressing your desire that I woud avail myself of the intelligence containd in the extract, and be gaurded in the best manner possible, to elude, & baffle their designs, I shall most chearfully do it —I have...