31From George Washington to Major Colerus, 19 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I received your letter by Monsr Malmady. I am sorry some of the Gentlemen promoted by Congress render themselves unhappy, either by forming in their minds, the most groundless suspicions of neglect, or torturing themselves by an unwarrantable degree of jealousy at the promotions of others. It has always been my wish and design, that you should be provided for, so soon as you acquired a...
32From George Washington to Colonel Goose Van Schaick or the Commanding Officer at Albany, 5 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
In order to shorten the March of such of the Troops from the State of Massachusetts, as are to Join the Army immediately under my Command, I have by the Advice of General Schuyler, directed them to March thro the Greenwoods, to Kinderhook, Claverack, or Red Hook from whence they are to fall down to Fort Montgomery by Water—The Officers commanding the Detachments, are to give you Notice, to...
33From George Washington to the Commanding Officer of the German Battalion and the 1st and 12th Pennsylvania Regiments, 17 … (Washington Papers)
On looking over the last Return of the German Battalion, there appears to be Fifty three privates Sick and absent—and Seventeen on Furlough. Almost four months have expired since orders were given for collecting the sick, and yet there are as many absent as if no such had issued. Such disobedience can no longer be pardonned in Officers. I do therefore in the most peremptory manner command that...
34Circular to the Commanding Officers of Several Virginia Regiments, 7 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am informed, and indeed I have observed, that the men of your Regiment are so exceedingly bare of necessaries that it not only contributes to their unhealthiness, but renders them absolutely unfit to take the feild. Inattention to the Wants of Soldiers marks the bad officer—it does more, it reasonably removes that Confidence on which the officer’s Honour & Reputation must depend—As there is...
35Circular 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...
36From George Washington to a Committee of the Continental Congress, 12 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was, late last Evening, honored with your favour of the 10th, and perfectly agree with you upon the propriety of forming an army on the West-side of Delaware—I can only regret, that the situation of our affairs at present is such, that not a man of the Continental army, can yet be suffered to remain there, without endangering the small part, that is already collected here. But this is no...
37From George Washington to the Continental Congress Secret Committee, 5 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was this morning honored with your Letter of the 2d Instt, covering One for Mr Boudinot, which shall be delivered him. I wish the Bills transmitted to him, had been for a larger Sum, and I trust, in a few days they will be followed by Others or a Supply of Money. Mr Boudinots address, is, Commissary Genl of prisoners, in the Army of the United States of America. I have the Honor to be with...
38Instructions to Brigadier General Thomas Conway, 19 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Congress having been pleased to appoint you to the rank of Brigadier General in the Armies of the United States of America, the following Regiments (from the State of Pennsylvania in a division to be Commanded by Major Genl Lord Stirling) are intended at present, to compose your Brigade, vizt third, Wood’s, 6th Magaw’s, 9th Morris’s and 12th Cooke’s. These Regiments, being at present in an...
39From 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...
40From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 3 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am honoured with yours of the 18th of last Month. The late ample arrivals of Arms at Philada and at portsmouth, added to those which we before had, puts us out of all further uneasiness on account of that necessary Article. The Eleven hundred and Seventy six stand which you recd from the continental Agent at Boston, will be very near the number wanted for your two continental Battalions when...
41From George Washington to Lieutenant General Cornwallis, 6 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
I received the favour of your Lordships letter of this day. I am sorry, I cannot with propriety comply with Lieut. Col: Sterlings request; but as I wish not to obstruct any supplies, you may think proper to send for the comfort and accommodation of your prisoners with us, I am to assure you, that the greatest care will be taken to forward and deliver, whatever money or necessaries may be...
42From George Washington to Lieutenant General Cornwallis, 2 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
It is with infinite regret, I am again compelled, to remonstrate against that spirit of wanton cruelty, that has in several instances influenced the conduct of your soldiery. A recent exercise of it towards an unhapp⟨y⟩ officer of ours—Lieutenant Martin—convinces me, that my former representations on that subject, have been unavailing. That Gentleman, by the fortune of war, on saturday last,...
43From George Washington to Joseph Reed or Colonel John Cox, 7 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am informed, there is a certain Mr Smith, who has been lately taken up by General Lincoln as a spy & sent to Philadelphia under that character. I believe for several reasons that he is the man who was imployed by you to act for Us, in that capacity, and that the apprehending him is a mistake, which may be attended with ill-consequences. Lest he should be precipitately tried and punished, I...
44From George Washington to James Craik, 26 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am going to address you on a subject which may lay some claim to your attention, as I do to your candor in the determination of the proposition. In the Hospital department for the middle District (which District includes the States between the North or Hudson’s River, and Patowmack) there are at present two places vacant, either of which I can obtain for you: The one is Senior Physician, and...
45From George Washington to William Sever and Thomas Cushing, 10 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am favoured with yours of the 20th last month, in which you make a request for five thousand of the Arms, lately arrived from France, for the use of the Troops of your State. As your letter went on to Philadelphia it only reached my hands a few days ago. I cannot conceive that such a number could be wanting, had proper pains been taken to collect the public Arms, and to purchase all that...
46From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Flower, 31 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
The great waste and embezzlement of Public Arms, and the difficulties arising from thence make it necessary, that the utmost precautions should be used to restrain such infamous practices and future losses. I know no way so likely to effect it, as that of putting on them some mark indicating ’em to be public property, and therefore request that you will have all belonging to the States, as...
47From 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...
48From George Washington to Isaac Foster, 18 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Gl McDougall in a letter of his dated the 12th Inst. writes “that you in a letter to him of the 31t Ulto informed him that Dr Warren had advised you that the Inno[culation] of the forces at Fishkill was countermanded”—I am not a little surprized at this, when I reflect that such a Measure was never even in Idea, & therefore desire that I may be truly informed how such an Order could be given;...
49From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 7 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed, to General Wayne, requires him to hasten to me as speedily as he can, after the receipt of my letter. His presence in this quarter cannot be dispensed with. The Pensylvania troops, daily coming in, are without any General officer of their own state, to command them; and my intention is, as far as circumstances will permit, to arrange the different troops, under the respective...
50From George Washington to Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates, 5 April 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates, 5 April 1777. Gates wrote GW on 19 April : “I had the Honour to receive your Excellency’s Letter of the 5th Instant from Morris Town.”
51From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 19 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have just recd yours of the 13th which is in a great measure answered by one which I wrote to you on the 15th But I cannot help taking notice of some expressions in your letter, which appear to me like an imputation of partiality in favr of this Army, to the disadvantage and inconvenience of the Northern. Can you suppose, if there had been an ample supply of Tents for the whole Army, that I...
52From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 11 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am informed, that the Cloathing for Col: Shepherd’s Regiment of Massachusetts, in pursuance of the Original Plan, has been sent on to Tionderoga, but as the Destination of this Regiment, among Others has been altered, You will send back the Cloathing for It, as expeditiously as possible to Albany; giving Directions to have it immediately transported thence to Peeks Kill, where the Regiment...
53From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 28 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with yours of the 19th Inst. at Albany. As most of the Massachusets Troops intended for Peekskills had began their march before the order for the rout through the Green Woods reach’d them, and there were not proper supplies of provision laid u⟨p⟩ upon the road, I fancy but few of them will come that way, I will give the Commissary Genl the part of your letter respecting purchasing...
54From 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...
55From George Washington to Captain Caleb Gibbs, 3 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the 27th Ulto is now before me. 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; which I wish was arrived; such parts I mean, as is intended to follow the Camp. neither have I heard any thing of Captn Lewis (or his Troop) whom I desired might come on to this place. I must desire you to urge...
56From 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...
57From George Washington to Captain Caleb Gibbs, 1 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
A Letter from Mr Fitzgerald, written to you a few days ago, would inform you that we have no longer any expectation of the Person recommended by Doctr Cochran as a Steward; and, that it was necessary for you to exert yourself in obtaining one. If you could get a Man who had been employed in that capacity, or as a Butler in a Gentlemans Family & who could be well recommended & by such as may be...
58From George Washington to Brigadier General John Glover, 26 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
After the conversations, I had with you, before you left the army, last Winter, I was not a little surprised at the contents of yours of the first instant. As I had not the least doubt, but you would accept of the commission of Brigadier, if conferred upon you by Congress, I put your name down in the list of those, whom I thought proper for the command, and whom I wished to see preferred....
59From George Washington to Samuel Gray, 3 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Being unacquainted with the places proper for establishing magazines of Flour in Ulster and where that from the River should be removed, you will receive directions from Generals McDougall and Clinton upon the Subject, to whom I have written. I am Sir, &ca N.B. This Letter has respect to one written by Mr Trumbull to Mr Gray, leaving the place where the Stores should be deposited with the...
60From George Washington to Col. William Grayson, 12 April 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Col. William Grayson, 12 April 1777. Tench Tilghman docketed Grayson’s letter to GW of 1 April in part: “Ansd 12th April.”