361From 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...
362General Orders, 3 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
As in the detached state of the Artillery, the men often suffer for want of Surgeons, it being impossible for their own regimental Surgeons to take due care of them, dispersed as they are, over the whole line—Each Brigadier is to see that the regimental surgeons of his brigade pay every necessary attention to the detachment of artillery annexed thereto. Regimental Surgeons are not to send any...
363From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 6 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
It is with pain, I inform you, that a complaint has been made to me of your having treated Mrs Livingston with a degree of roughness and indelicacy, which I am convinced, your cooler reflexion must condemn. Conscious that you have too much regard for your Character as a Gentleman, and too nice a sensibility of the impulses of humanity, deliberately to commit an indiscretion of the kind, I can...
364From George Washington to Major General Israel Putnam, 25 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Would it be practicable, do you think, under the present Circumstances, and situation of the Troops at Peeks Kill, to surprise the Enemy at Kings bridge? it must be effected by surprise or not at all, and must be undertaken by Water, which would also prove abortive, if the Enemy have Vessels of any kind above Fort Washington. The undigested Ideas which I have entertained of the matter, are...
365General Orders, 17 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Sentence of the General Court Martial whereof Major Harmar is President, against Lt Costagan of the 1st Jersey Battalion; accused of “Behaving in a scandalous, and infamous manner, unbecoming an officer and a Gentleman, for pressing a Horse, the property of John Kidd Esqr. of Bucks-County, (Pennsylvania) appropriating him to his own use, and when required by Col. Biddle D.Q.M. Genl, to...
366From 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...
367Instructions 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...
368From 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...
369From George Washington to Brigadier General Alexander McDougall, 11 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
This will be delivered you by Major General Green. He and General Knox are sent by me to review the posts under your command, and their appendages; and to give their advice and assistance towards putting every thing in the most defensible state possible. The vast importance of these posts and the great probability that the enemy will direct their operations against them make me anxious for...
370From George Washington to John Hancock, 12–13 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am honoured with yours of the 10th accompanied with one from the Committee of Congress, to whom I have wrote very fully upon the subject of the Resolve for forming an Army upon the West side of Delaware and to which I refer you. I wish I could see any prospect of an Army, fit to make proper opposition, formed any where. You will perhaps be surprized at this, after the public Reports of the...
371General Orders, 2 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
372From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 2 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was this morning favoured with yours of the 21st and 22d instants, containing the pleasing accounts of the late arrivals at Portsmouth and Boston. That of the French Ship of War with Artillery and other military Stores is a most valuable acquisition. It was my intent to have all the Arms, that were not immediately wanted by the Eastern States, removed to Springfeild, as a place much safer...
373From George Washington to Colonel Alexander Spotswood, 8 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am sorry to find by your Letter of yesterdays date that your Regiment is so much reduced —Let me beseech you to use every possible means to collect your Men together, & not suffer some to be in one place, some in another &ca—and let me also entreat you, to charge your Recruiting Officers in explicit, and positive terms to be exceedingly attentive to that duty, as idleness and dissipation...
374General Orders, 28 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Every Corps must immediately put their Arms in the best firing Order, and be completely furnished with Ammunition; the commanding Officers will see this done, as they will answer for the least neglect of this important duty —The Qr Mr Genl to furnish them with Tents, and proper conveniencies for carrying them, that they may be ready to move with the troops, at the shortest notice. The General...
375From George Washington to Brigadier General Alexander McDougall, 28 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
At three OClock this morning, I received your favor of the 27th. The intelligence it contains, is interesting and truly distressing. By this time, I fear, the Enemy have effected their purpose and destroyed all the Stores at Danbury; I wish those at Fredericksburg may not have shared the same fate. After accomplishing this enterprize, it is probable they will return to their Ships with...
376From George Washington to Colonel Timothy Pickering, 30 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Office of Adjutant General being vacant by the resignation of Colo. Reed, and the power of appointing a Successor with me, I am induced from the good opinion I entertain of your attachment to the interests of the United States and your Military character, not only to make a tender, but most heartily to wish your acceptance of it. It will give me much pleasure if the Offer meets your...
377From 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...
378Circular Instructions to the Brigade Commanders, 26 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
You are to enquire minutely into the State & Condition of your Brigade & Order every Officer & Soldier belonging to it, not usefully employed in recruiting, or in the execution of any command (by proper Authority) or Sick in Hospitals, to Join their respective Corps immediately & see that it is done. Make strict enquiry what measures the commanding Officers of each Regiment in your Brigade is...
379From George Washington to Brigadier General Alexander McDougall, 17–18 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 12th Instt was delivered me last night by Mr Trumbull. I am much surprized to hear, that the innoculation of the Troops had been countermanded, or the least Hint suggested of the sort. I have never done or said anything countenancing such a measure, on the Contrary, I have pressed & urged the necessity of it in every instance, and I must request, that not a Moment may be...
380From George Washington to Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 7 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have been favoured with your Letter of the 2nd Instt and am happy to hear, the order for drafting of men, is likely to be attended with so much success. The loss of the Stores at Danbury, is to be regreted, but I cannot consider it, in the important light you seem to do. Those at Derby are to be removed, by a Resolve of Congress, and I hope, the work is begun ’ere now, having wrote Generals...
381From George Washington to Major General Israel Putnam, 26 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I wrote to you upon a particular Subject Yesterday, to which I refer, and request to know your sentiments thereon, as soon as you can with propriety communicate them, because it may have some influence upon my movements in this quarter. An Express from Govr Trumbull, which came in last night, informs me that two Hessian Regiments and an half, and the 63 British had orders on the 17th Instt to...
382From George Washington to Brigadier General James Mitchell Varnum, 14 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Yours of the 6th instant this moment reached me, inclosing returns of the batalions raising in your state. You must continue to send them forward with all expedition, whatever affect it may have in the opinions of those you mention. Their presence in this quarter cannot be dispensed with; and it is impossible to neglect a certain and pressing danger, in order to guard against a precarious and...
383From George Washington to John Hancock, 31 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Monsr Coudré is just arrived at Camp, and proposes to set out to Morrow for Philadelphia. What his views are, I am uncertain, having had no conversation with him upon the Subject; but I find, an Idea prevails, that there is an Agreement between Mr Dean & him, that he shall have the cheif command of the Artillery. How well founded this Opinion may be, I cannot determine; but if it be true, it...
384From George Washington to Major General Nathanael Greene, 12 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
In your ride to and from Peeks Kill, I would have you make the best observations that time and Circumstances will admit, upon the Country, and point out, at your return, such places for posts of Communication, as you shall conceive necessary. Determine upon the propriety of having a Post at Pompton, examine the Works throwing up at that place, and give such directions to General Heard or...
385From George Washington to Colonel Thomas Price, 12 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have yours of the 4th instant inclosing a Return of your Regt which I am sorry to find, so far below my expectation. I have wrote to Governor Johnson, entreating him to endeavour to settle the unhappy dispute that has hitherto subsisted in your State respecting Rank; and I hope it may be effected. I desire you will immediately upon the Receipt of this order your Lieut. Colonel to march to...