201To George Washington from Colonel Charles Harrison, 20 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
It has been very industriously propagated by some Ill-designing Persons, that the Artillery pay was reduced; which has occationed a deal of uneasiness in a measure throughout the Corps; (Commissioned Officers excluded.) On a representation of the matter to Brigadier General Lewis, he concurred with me in Opinion that it was highly necessary to dispatch an Express to your Excellency to know...
202From George Washington to Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 20 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have yours with the Return of your Division. I observe that the Return of the two independent Companies is much smaller than the last and the deficiency not accounted for. I therefore desire the Captains may be called upon to know what is become of their Men. I also observe that there are eight Men of the Corps under Chambers absent on furlough, I desire that they may be ordered in as well...
203To George Washington from Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 20 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am this morning, honoured with Your Excellencies favour of yesterdays date, On General Heard leaving his present post Colo. Broadhead will possess it every assistance in my power will be afforded him in placing the Guards Patrols &c.—our mutual safety depend on our acting jointly—I had information last night that the enemy were imitating our dress in order to deceive & surprize us we shall...
204From George Washington to Colonel Robert Magaw, 20 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I received your Letter of the 6th Instt by Ensign Fernandez. You may be assured, every thing in my power will be done to make our Officers and privates who are in captivity, as comfortable, as their situation will admit: their case has been represented to Congress, and I trust, a remittance will be made in a few days for their use. I had not been inattentive to them before, but it was...
205To George Washington from Major General Adam Stephen, 20 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Inclosd is an Acct of Capt. Beals Expedition —The firing heard when I expected Capt. Bell was attacked, was their New Recruits exersising. The Enemy came out from Amboy yesterday Six Miles, took a light horseman belonging to the Jersies & Returned again with Impunity—The Mans horse was worth £120 I am told—Genl Vaughan was out, & The Brave Capt. Conways house & plantation was burnt under the...
206From George Washington to Major General Adam Stephen, 20 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
The horseman delivered your favour of this date—You will be pleased to order Lieut. Bradford under Arrest, that he may answer the Charge of the Court of Inquiry immediately—Capt. Russell must be called upon to account for his long Absence from his Regimt as well as for having inlisted his Men but for a year —I lament Capt. Conway’s loss; but tho’ my Indignation at such ungenerous Conduct of...
207General Orders, 21 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
A fatigue party of an officer and twenty privates, to be employed to bury all the Offals in and about the Slaughter House, dead horses, dogs, or any kind of Carrion in and about the town; also to remove all the filth about the Goal—The Deputy Quarter Master General is desired, to be particularly attentive, to see this duty executed in the best manner, otherwise as the weather grows warm, the...
208From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 21 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor of yours of the 14th instant. I shall make it my particular Business to demand Capt. Chase’s Son in Exchange for Mr Hutchinson or Govr Shirley’s Son, as he is certainly justly intitled to it. I thank you for the enquiry you have made after Thomas Rogerson. I am pleased to hear that your General Assembly are determined to take such methods as shall seem to them most effectual...
209From George Washington to John Hancock, 21 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was this morning honored with your favor of the 20th inclosing Sundry proceedings of Congress. The removal of provisions &c. from the Communication between Brunswick and Trentown, has been pretty well effected already. It was an Object early attended to, and what I recommended to the Assembly of this State, as deserving their interposition and aid; but finding it had not their immediate...
210To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 21 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have received the honor of yours of the 10th. In my last I mention’d to your Excellency having sent to Portsmouth, to forward 3,000 Arms to Springfield —Major Barber the Commissary of Artillery Stores, whom I sent for the purpose informs me that upon his Arrival there—the Honble Mr Langdon, the Continental Agent informed him that Three Thousand Arms had been just sent on to Connecticut, but...
211To George Washington from General William Howe, 21 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Letter of the 9th Instt concerning the Requisition of Lieutenant Colonel Walcott a Copy of which came enclosed. Though I ob[s]erve that Officer has meant to insist very strongly on the Justice of the Claim for the Return of Prisoners in your Possession, which was one of the Objects of his Appointment, I do not see Reason to suspect that any personal Incivility, was...
212From George Washington to Colonel Jedediah Huntington, 21 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have yours of the 15th instant. If filling up your Regt can be accomplished any thing the sooner by your remaining in Connecticut, a while longer, I have no objection, but you must send one of your Feild Officers forward to Peekskill to receive and form your small detatchments as they come up. I hope the late Measures taken by your Govr and Council to compleat your quota will prove...
213To George Washington from Brigadier General La Rochefermoy, 21 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honor to advise your Excellency that I arrived here four days ago, and am extreamly sorry to find this department so much neglected; scarse any preparation made for to furnish the Garrison of Ticonderoga with the necessary implyments to stop the progress of our Enemy were they to advance; The Cannon designed by order [of] Major General Gates are part of them now lying in this Town...
214To George Washington from Richard Henry Lee, 21 April 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Richard Henry Lee, 21 April 1777. GW wrote in his letter to Lee of 24–26 April : “your favour of the 21st is come to hand.”
215From George Washington to Major General Philip Schuyler, 21 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am favored with Yours of the 16th. I refer You to a Letter which I wrote Yesterday to Congress upon the Expediency of forwarding the Troops directly on, to join the Army here. But as it may take some Time to collect and fit them out properly at Bristol, I desire that I may have exact Returns from Time to Time, from the Commanding Officer there of the Corps to which the Detachments belong,...
216From George Washington to Major General Joseph Spencer, 21 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have yours of the 14th Instant. When I wrote to Genl Varnum expressing my surprise that my Orders for innoculation had not been sooner carried into execution, I was not acquainted with the Circumstances that necessarily retarded it. I do not apprehend that there is any immediate danger from the Enemy at Newport, their sending away their Vessels is a plain indication that they mean either to...
217From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 21 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I yesterday received the favor of your Honor’s letter of the 16th with its inclosures, for which and your attention to the publishing of my Proclamation, I am greatly obliged—I fear all the Militia intended for General Wolcotts Command have not arrived at Peeks kill yet, as not more than eight hundred were there by my last advices from that quarter, and which are of a later date than your...
218From George Washington to Colonel Joseph Ward, 21 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have looked over the Resolutions of Congress relative to the appointments, and Duties of your Department; and find myself at a loss, in the present unassembled State of the Army, to prescribe (as you desire) any immediate rule for the government of your Conduct. At this time, few of the Continental Troops have Assembled, and those which are, we find in so disjointed, and broken a state, as...
219General Orders, 22 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
The detachments of the 3rd 4th and 10th Pennsylvania Regiments, are to form one Detachment, and be under the Command of Major Harmar ’till their respective regiments arrive. This detachment thus formed are to march for Boundbrook, by 6 o’clock to morrow morning, as is also the Eastern Detachment, under the Command of Col. Zebulon Butler—the whole to receive their orders from Major Genl...
220To George Washington from Colonel Theunis Dey, 22 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday I had part of our regiment together and they turned out 46 men as volunteers for a scouting party for 1 month and several more are expected to enlist very soon. those that turned out, did immediately proceed to choose their officers, viz. Mr Peter R. Fell for their Capt. & Joste Zabriskie for their 1st Lieut., John Van Allen 2nd Lieut. and James S. Bogart Ensign. their choosing so...
221From George Washington to Captain Caleb Gibbs, 22 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I forgot before you left this place to desire you to provide clothing for the men that are to compose my guard—but now desire that you will apply to the clothier general and have them forwarded to this place, Head Quarters as soon as possible. Provide for 4 Serjeants, 4 corporals, a drum and fife, and 50 rank and file. If Blew and Buff can be had I should prefer that uniform, as it is the one...
222To George Washington from Colonel William Grayson, 22 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I reciev’d your letter dated the 12th of March, from Morriss Town, yesterday, & am heartily sorry, there exists such a necessity for men, & that there is such an inability on my part to remove it. When I delivered recruiting commissions, I directed the officers, who were remote, to send their recruits to this place, that I might forward them whenever I collected a number to Head Quarters. This...
223To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 22 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have this moment received Information from the Council that 25 Cases of Arms, are arrived from Martinico, consigned to the Council but belonging to the United States—The Council have directed the Master to deliver them to my Order—I shall immediately deposit them, and wait your Excellency’s Orders. A Paragraph in the Letter from the Gentleman at Martinico, who Shiped the Arms, is as follows—...
224To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 22 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Detachments marchd from the several Regiments in this State are less than I expected owing to a Variety of unforeseen Accidents—435 Non Com. Officers & Soldiers, with a Suitable Number of Officers to command them have marchd to Head Quarters & Peekskill, I expect another Detachment will be ready this Week—every possible Method to forward the Levies & Promote recruiting shall be attended to...
225To George Washington from Major General Philip Schuyler, 22 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am this Moment honored with your Excellency’s Favor of Yesterday’s Date. Your Excellency’s Letter of the 20th to Congress, was Yesterday, as I am informed, read and referred to the Board of War, I shall apply for a Copy of it, and try to execute whatever you may have wished should be done. I have with some Difficulty cleared this City of the Troops and got them all at Bristol except about...
226To George Washington from Major General Adam Stephen, 22 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
By a person to be depended on Who left New york yesterday—a Brigade consisting of the 15th 17th not exceeding 700 men & he believes the 36th & 4th embarked on the 20th at Night & he Supposes Saild up the N. River yesterday Morng to destroy Genl McDougal. The rest of the Advices not So important, & not yet digested I refer at present, & am wt. great Respect Sr your most Obt LS , DNA:PCC , item...
227To George Washington from John Augustine Washington, 22 April 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from John Augustine Washington, 22 April 1777. GW wrote his brother Jack on 1 June : “I think I stand Debter to you for your Letters of the 22d of April and 11th of May.”
228General Orders, 23 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
229From George Washington to Brigadier General George Clinton, 23 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
By a person sent into Brunswic I am informed that “Genl Skinners Force consists of about 1000 to be joined by some regular Troops and to proceed from Bergen thro’ Sussex and the back parts of the Jerseys when the Troops march for Philada.” I think this Move so probable, as it will give them access to a part of the Country most notoriously disaffectd, that I desire you will post a Body of...
230To George Washington from Capt. Caleb Gibbs, 23 April 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Capt. Caleb Gibbs, c.23 April 1777. GW wrote Gibbs on 3 May : “Mr Harrison having lost, or mislaid your Letter from Newtown, I have no Acct of what you did, or meant to do, respecting our Baggage.”
231From George Washington to John Hancock, 23 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to transmit you the inclosed pieces of intelligence, which I received this day from Genl Stephens, who, by my desire, employed persons to go into New York and Brunswick. I do not put intire confidence in the whole, but the principal reason of sending the intelligence forward is that proper measures may be fallen upon to find out and apprehend Thomas Long, mentioned in General...
232Orders to Brigadier General Nathaniel Heard, 23 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I would have you leave at this place (out of the Militia under your Command) One hundred Men, or as near that number as have had the Small Pox (Officered agreeably to the resolutions of Congress). You are also to send a Subaltern & twenty five Men to Succasony to guard the Magazines and Stores at that place—agreeably to Orders which the Officer is to receive from the Assistant Quarter Master...
233To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 23 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I most Heartily Congratulate Your Excellency on the Safe arrival of the ship Amphitrite, at Portsmouth from L’Orient in France, with a most Vallueable Cargo for the United States Manifest of which will be Handed to you by mr Champney the Express. I am Pushing off the Troops with all Possible dispatch to the Places of Destination, A Second Detachment from Colo. Cranes Battalion of artillery...
234To George Washington from Captain John Hunter, 23 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Agreable to the Instructions I received from your Excellency on the 10th Inst., I proceeded to this place, where I have been indefatigable, in my endeavours to raise my Company: The muster Roll I here with send you, will shew what success I have had, in recruiting —The four hundred Dollers I received from your Excellency, I have distributed among my subalterns who are now in the Country. what...
235From George Washington to Brigadier General Alexander McDougall, 23 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
The following are Extracts of Letters which I have just received from Genl Stephen, and are taken from the information of persons sent into New York and Bruswic. New Ark 22d April 1777. By a person to be depended upon, who left New York Yesterday—A Brigade consisting of the 15th & 17th (not exceeding 700 Men) and he believes the 36th & 4th embarked the 20th at night, and he supposes sailed up...
236From George Washington to Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 23–25 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I this morning received your favor of the 15th Instant. One of the Detachments you mention, I presume was that under Lieutt Colo. Butler, who arrived here the latter end of last Week. The Other has probably stopped at Pecks Kills agreable to directions lately transmitted General McDougal, till further Orders. This I was induced to direct, ’till the designs of the Enemy became unfolded and so...
237From George Washington to Major General Philip Schuyler, 23 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Between one & two O’Clock this Morning, I received your Favor of Yesterday’s Date with a Return of the Troops You had sent to Bristol. Those belonging to the 2d 3d 5:6 & 11th Virginia Regiments, You will order to join their respective Corps immediately at the former Post. If the sixty Men, You mention to have arrived on the Night of the 21st are part of any of the above Regiments, You will...
238To George Washington from Major General Adam Stephen, 23 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
By —— from B——k I have advice that Eight hundred men came in the Ships from England—There is a Report that Rhode Island is to be Evacuated, but no account of the Arrival of the troops—The 15th & 27th did duty at York & my friend was uncertain as to the Names of the 36th & 4th mentioned from Newark Yesterday. Ten Boats for the Bridges are arrivd at Brunswick, 16⅓ foot in length four feet Wide &...
239To George Washington from Major General Adam Stephen, 23 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
The next important Intelligence I reced from N. York—was of a Certain Conquest of America before October. Betts of 100 Gu[i]neas to 1, that Gl Howe would be in philadelphia the 1st of May. The Scarcity of timber & plank at York has prevented the finishing of the Bridge of Boats. Naval Stores So Scarce that they Cannot fit out their transports for their Return home. Tar 5 Gu[i]neas ⅌...
240General Orders, 24 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
241From George Washington to Richard Henry Lee, 24–26 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have been favor’d with two or three Letters from you lately—the last which came to hand was with out date, but containd an extract of Doctr Lee’s Letter to the Secret Comee—and the French Generals Ideas of the Measures necessary for us to pursue in prosacuting the War with G. Britn —for both of which I sincerely thank you, as the communication of such matters cannot fail of having a proper...
242To George Washington from Joshua Loring, 24 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am directed by his Excellency Sir William Howe to inform you, that your Prisoners here are in the greatest Distress for want of Cloathing The sick in the Hospitals are particularly in Want of this Article, so essential to their Health; To guard against the Sufferings which the Prisoners lately, in our hands underwent for want of Cloathing, & of the other Necessarys which they had a Right to...
243To George Washington from Brigadier General Alexander McDougall, 24 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 23d was this moment Han⟨ded⟩ to me. The intelligence it contained, is very probable; for I have received advice, from New York, that Some of the dissaffected who went from this Quarter, have been Soliciting the Army to come up, to this Neighbourhood, to secure wagons and Teams. Yesterday I was well advised that twenty two Saile of different Sizes were anchored near Fort...
244To George Washington from Major General Philip Schuyler, 24 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
At nine this Morning I was honored with your Favor of Yesterday’s Date. On the 22d Instant, Congress resolved that all the Troops in this State should immediately be moved to New Jersey, I accordingly ordered that they should march next Morning by the Way of Trentown to prince-Town, and from thence to Morris Town, by such a Rout as General Putnam or the commanding officer at prince-Town should...
245To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 24 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
On my arrival here at Christmas I found the Regular & flying Camp Officers in general much disgusted by the Appointments of the Commissioners, in which indeed there were irregula[ri]ties and Improprieties which no established Mode cou’d justify, many being below, others promoted above their Rank, & many more not appointed at all; which induced me, as the Appointments were incompleat, to make...
246General Orders, 25 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Colonels or commanding Officers of Corps must cause their regimental Pay-Masters to make up their Abstracts to the 1st of this month, and order them to attend at the Pay-Master General’s, for the money—Proper attention to the General Orders of this nature, issued on the 21st of last month, would not only have removed the Complaints of the Soldiers, for want of their pay, too frequently made to...
247From George Washington to Colonel George Baylor, 25 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 14th is this day come to hand, & for the Instructions you require respecting your Cloathing, I refer you to mine of 28th Ulto the receipt of which you now acknowledge. The Mode of exchange you speak of (large Men for small of other Regiments) I have no sort of Objection to, provided, the Men receiv’d & given in exchange are made fully acquainted with the Particulars...
248To George Washington from John Hancock, 25 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
You will percieve, from the Resolves which I have now the Honour of transmitting, the Measures the Congress have come into on a Variety of Subjects. I beg Leave to refer your Attention to them. Altho Congress have recommended to the executive Authority of this State to call out three Thousand of the Militia, and to order the City Militia to hold themselves in Readiness at a Moments Warning,...
249From George Washington to Brigadier General Alexander McDougall, 25 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Yours of yesterday came to hand late last Night. As I have heard nothing further of the Troops that embarked on the 20th I can only recommend it to you to keep a vigilant look out for them. The detatchments that are to come on need not bring Camp Kettles with them, if they are wanted with you, as we have a sufficiency here. I am so well convinced of the Justice of your Remark upon the...
250To George Washington from Brigadier General Alexander McDougall, 25 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am this moment favored with yours of Today; by the express riders. It has been my express orders, that no officer shall have furlough on any pretext whatsoever. The extreme hurry, which I am Continually kept in, by the arival of Small detachments and other business, prevented my examing those returns, with that attention I should otherwise have done. The adjut. of Colonel Cortlandt’s has had...