1To George Washington from Brigadier General James Potter, 22 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I sent Capt. Lives of with 5 men when I wrote you he is Just Returned and says the enemy are in Darbey with a large Number and going aplundring of three Townships. I am Sir your Most Humble Servant ALS , DLC:GW . For more information on this British foraging expedition, see Daniel Morgan to GW (first letter), 23 Dec., n.1 .
2To George Washington from Brigadier General James Potter, 12 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am sorey to Inform your excelancey that Last night in the night the enemy got two Briggs and one Sloop up past the Island on the side next the Islands and this day they were unloading them at the Lowast ferrey in Schulkill, there has been a verey hevey fiering this day at the fourt from the Battreys on the Islands the fourt Seldom Returned the fier the Galleys went lower down the River then...
3To George Washington from Brigadier General James Potter, 5 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am Sorey to Inform your excelancey that the Officer I send to the Brandwine Mills has not obayd my orders Instead of Taking the stone away he has taken the Spinnels Rines and Tronnale heads I was preparing to send a party to move the Runners But as it is Hard to get waggans and as I am Informed that the Taking these Artecals answers the same end as Removing the stone, I wait to Know your...
4To George Washington from Brigadier General James Potter, 24 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was at Chester yesterday the most of the shiping is gon up the River as far as the Bend below Billingsport, the enclosed lines I Receved from a good honast whig that would not assart a falce hood Knowing it to be such he lives in the City. I am your Excelanceys Most Obedant Humble sert. AL , DLC:GW . The enclosed undated intelligence report reads: “I Receiv’d the Beef & Return Thanks till...
5To George Washington from Brigadier General James Potter, 3 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
the enemy brings provision in Boats in the Night along the Side of the Shore, and up the Schulkill about a mile above the lowest ferrey, on Saterday evining last there went down 30 Boats I think the came up Last night in the Time of the flud they maid a Voige. you may be asured that the Enemy are Bulding three floting Battereys one at Ougdons ferrey and two about a mile above, the lowest...
6To George Washington from Brigadier General James Potter, 11 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
yesterday I sent Col. Rankan and Capt. Livis to Give me an account of the fiering Rankan is Returned, and Says that about eight OClock there was an Attact maid on Rid Bank which continued one hour and a half about 1 oClock the 2 Attact Began and Continued upwards of one hour, and about 3 oClock the attacted again and Continued about 3 Quarters of an hour about one quarter after 3 oClock the...
7To George Washington from Brigadier General James Potter, 8 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I Receved your excelancys favour of yesterday leat Last evining ocasioned by my being leat on the enemys lins, there is nothing pertecquler that I see in my power to do heare, could I Beleve that my Troops were fit to storm Brestworks I wold have actacted the Island before this time But Common prudance considring who I command has for bid it—altho I flater myself I have not the worst of men I...
8To George Washington from Brigadier General James Potter, 23 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
The men came down the greater part of them without provision, I saw by there orders that each Capt. had a Seprate Command, I found each of them pilets and the proseeded down to the enemy Col. Morgan is gon with all the men we Had off duty I have no great expectation from these partys. one of our partys that was out all Night this morning on this side of Darbey saw 17 of the enemys Light Hors...
9To George Washington from Brigadier General James Potter, 24 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
yesterday 18 of the enemys light Hors Took one of Capt. Lees horsmen near the whit Hors Tavernn a party of ours Commanded by Col. Butler hard of the horsman been taken, and went and Surrounded the hous and the Eenemy hors were forced to take to the mash, Butler took 13 of the hors and ten of the hors men prisners on seeing of Colo. morgan and his party two of there out picquets Ran in the...
10To George Washington from Brigadier General James Potter, 22 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
By a young man Just came from the City I am informed that the enemy have hard of Genl Solavan going to Willmington and thy give it out that the will send eight pieces of Cannon and a number of men to Rout him it is beleved that there Number is not more then 6000 men in City. the Boy says the most of there Troops are out of the City. I am Excelanceys Humble servant ALS , DLC:GW . Potter is...
11To George Washington from Brigadier General James Potter, 4 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
your excelancey by your letter of yesterday Requested my sentements on two points. first the advisabelity of a winter Campaign secondly the Practicability of an Attact upon Philadelphia —Ass to the first of these points my Sentiments is that a winter campaign is Practable—I confess the verey thought of a winter Campaign in our Sercumstances appeers dredfull But it is liek meny other Evels,...
12To George Washington from Brigadier General James Potter, 12 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I Receved your Excelanceys favour of yesterday at 10 oClock last night. I was out Reconnitring, the Shiping are com up the number of soldiers I cant assurtain. as to the marching of the Militia the were all at Head Quarters before I Recd your Letter, as for my Harressing the Enemy the sitation of the pleace is such that I can do Little, and my numbers so Trifling, that I cant prevent there...
13To George Washington from Brigadier General James Potter, 22 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
the enemy are in two partys and going up into Spring field and the other nearder to the Chister Road we have parties observing there mosions and will be able to let you Know where they encamp this night they have a great number of waggans with them. I am your Excelan. Humble servant ALS , DLC:GW .
14To George Washington from Brigadier General James Potter, 22 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have Just Receved you Excelanceys favours of seven and Eight oClock this evening the enemy are not moved towards Wilimington they ley en Camped from Philip Prices to Joshewa Asshes Place on the Road leading from Darby to Springfield meetinghous —your pleaseed to Inform me that you will send down fifteen choice partys as soon as they can be perreaded then you Aske me to Inform you of the...
15To George Washington from Brigadier General James Potter, 20 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am under the disagreeble needsesity of Informing your Excelancey that on the eighteenth Instant one of my picquats that Consisted of 1 Capt. 2 Subs. 50 privits had 28 privits 1 Liut. and 2 Sargt taken prisners and 3 wounded as to the perticgulars I Refare you to General Cedwaleter. I am S. your excelancys Humble Servant ALS , DLC:GW . No written report from Brig. Gen. John Cadwalader...
16To George Washington from Brigadier General James Potter, 18 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
you have been informed of the enemys move to Chester last night and of Generals Reed and Cedwaleder and me Reconnetring them, by Reeds latter of this day from Darbey I am Now to inform you that the are all Imbarked on Bord there ships and gon over to the Jarsey—Redbank must now fall. I am your Excelancey Most obedant Humble servant P.S. I send you enclosed the Deposition of Mr Sellers. ALS ,...
17To George Washington from Brigadier General James Potter, 30 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have been Round all the ferreys, and taking a vew of Carpanters Island the enemy sent over to the Island a large Reinforcement yesterday, all the meddows are under watter and the breches we maid are all opned there Bridge is Carreyed off by the flud, a part of it is on this side of the River which I have just H[e]ard of at this place, and I will go Immedatly and destroy it. I will do everey...
18To George Washington from Brigadier General James Potter, 16 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am sorey to be the mesenger of Bad news last night at Ten oClock our Breve Garreson at fort Mifflin set fier to the Barrecks and set off to Rid bank—this Intiligance I have by my express that Brought me the in Closed —I see my self that our Barricks are Burnt and the enemys ships Veglint and a sloop are leying a long side of the Island this moment I Recived your favour of this day and will...
19To George Washington from Brigadier General James Potter, 11 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have Just Received Intelagance of 38 Sail of the enemey fleet coming up the Rivers the latters was wrote five oclock yesterday evineng altho the are dated as of this day the fiering yesterday was from the enemys Battereys on province Island near the River Banks I Beleive the have dun little damige if any I Recved your excelanceys of the 10th of Novr as for my doing any thing that can be of...