31From George Washington to Brigadier General James Clinton, 17 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have determined to send Col. Van Schaicks regiment to Fort Schuyler to relieve Col. Ganseworth. You will signify this to Col. Van Schaick that he may be preparing for it—So soon as the cloathing, expected in camp, arrives, he shall have an order for a competent supply and will then proceed. He can mention the matter to Col. Hay, who will be looking forward to a provision of vessels to convey...
32From George Washington to Captain Asa Coburn, 17 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
You will proceed to Springfield and apply to Mr Measam for the following articles of cloathing, which he is hereby directed to furnish you out of the cloathing at that place. For Col. Aldens Regiment. 300 suits of Uniform, a proportion of Shirts and stockings and 200 blankets & 200 pair of shoes. For the Regiment under the command of Lieut. Col. Butler. 150 suits of Uniform, a proportion of...
33Council of War, 16 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Present Major Generals Gates[,] Green[,] De Kalb[,] McDougall[,] Steuben[,] Brigadier Generals Nixon[,] Parsons[,] Smallwood[,] Knox[,] Patterson[,] Wayne[,] Hand. The Commander in Chief informs the Council, that the enemy’s whole force in these States still continue in two principal divisions one at New York and its dependencies consisting of about thirteen thousand—the other on Rhode Island...
34From George Washington to Colonel John Cox, Jr., or John Mitchell, 4 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am informed that Sundry Goods (in the Military line) addressed to Mr Jas Rivington of New-York, were taken—carried into Egg harbour—and are now in Philadelphia. Among them a compleat sett of Camp equipage—As I am perfectly incompleat in this way, I should be glad if you would enquire into the truth of this matter, and make a purchase of it for me, if it answers the description; and can be...
35From George Washington to John Parke Custis, 21 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Inclosed came to my hands by the last Post. The Enemy have been very busy since their return from the Jerseys in Imbarking Troops—Nine Regiments are compleated to their full establishment by drafts from some others which are reduced, & these I am perswaded are destined for the West Indies—Whether the rest of the Troops will remain in New York—return to England—or go to Hallifax is yet...
36From George Washington to John Parke Custis, 12 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have now—at your request—given my full consent to the Sale of the Lands wch I hold in right of Dower in a Tract in the County of York—to a Water Grist Mill thereon—To Lotts in the City of Williamsburg—and others in James Town—As also to your Renting, or otherwise disposing, of the other Dower Lands & Slaves which I am possessed of in the County of King William upon the terms which have been...
37From George Washington to John Parke Custis, 30 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Letter herewith sent for Mr Hill is left open for your perusal; after reading which, Seal & cause it to be safely delivered. He will find my sentiments fully expressed, and I hope will make no further appeals to me on the Subject of his Wages. You had better take the whole Crop of Corn Fodder &ca so soon as measured, at such a price as Colo. Bassett shall fix, and if the same thing was...
38From George Washington to John Parke Custis, 23 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to John Parke Custis, c.23 Sept. 1778. GW wrote Richard Henry Lee on 23 Sept. : “I think it likely that Mr Custis (& Colo. Bassett) may be in Phila. at the time this Letter may come to your hands—if so, I will thank you for causing to be delivered to him, a Letter herewith addressed to your care” (see also Richard Henry Lee to GW, 5 Oct. 1778 ).
39From George Washington to John Parke Custis, 26 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
If my Brother, to whom the Inclosed is addressed, should not be a Member of Assembly, & in Williamsbg, I should be glad if you would contrive it to him by a safe hand. The Enemy still continue to keep us in suspence, & baffle all conjecture—they have five or Six thousand Men at this time actually on board transports, lying in New York bay; and a fleet of more than a hundred Sail left the Hook...
40From George Washington to Brigadier General Duportail, 31 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favour of the 20th, inclosing your remarks on the state of the fortifications already erected for the defence of the Town of Boston, and on such amendments and additions as appear to you necessary to render them effectual. Your reasonings and observations appear to be strong and well founded; but at this distance, and without so perfect a knowlege of the local...
41From George Washington to Brigadier General Duportail, 29 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
You will proceed forthwith to Boston in the State of Massachusettes Bay. You will examine into the state of the fortifications which have been erected and are erecting for the defence of that Town against a Land attack; and you will form a plan, from a view of the whole local situation of the place, which shall appear best calculated to give it the most effectual security, that circumstances...
42From George Washington to Brigadier General Duportail, 19 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have perused the memorial which you delivered relative to the defence of the North River at this place —and upon a view of them highly approve what you have offered upon the Subject—Col. Kosciousko who was charged by congress with the direction of the forts and batteries—has already made such a progress in the construction of them as wd render any alteration in the general plan a work of too...
43From George Washington to Vice Admiral d’Estaing, 20 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of writing to Your Excellency yesterday from Fort Clinton —since which I have received intelligence by a New York paper that Admiral Byron in the princess Royal of ninety guns—accompanied by the Culloden Capt. Balfour of seventy four, arrived at New York on the 16th instant. the same paper mentions that an armed Sloop from Hallifax announces the arrival of the following...
44From George Washington to Vice Admiral d’Estaing, 20 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of transmitting to Your Excellency on the 18th instant, some advices which appeared to me very interesting—An intelligent Officer stationed at a proper place for observing the enemys naval movements, in his last report, says—“On the 16th October about twelve Ships fell down to the hook—early on the morning of the 17th about one hundred Ships and Transports exclusive of Sloops...
45From George Washington to Vice Admiral d’Estaing, 29 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I embrace with pleasure an opportunity, of introducing to Your Excellencys acquaintance, Brigadier General Du portail, an Officer of your nation whose talents and services have rendered him valuable to ours. The important post of chief engineer and the elevated grade which he holds in our army, are proofs of the confidence which Congress places in him—the distinguished manner in which he has...
46From George Washington to Vice Admiral d’Estaing, 22 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
Mr De Chouin has announced to me your desire, that he may pay you a visit to explain more fully than can be done by letter, the state of affairs both with respect to the enemy and to us—their movements and probable designs and our dispositions in consequence—The intelligence, I have received of the former has been imparted to him as it arrived—the latter he has, in a great measure, had an...
47From George Washington to Vice Admiral d’Estaing, 19 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of writing to your Excellency on the 11th instant. I take the earliest oppertunity of transmitting you the following intelligence, which I have reason to think is authentic—That Lord Howe’s fleet has returned to New York, and that the seamen, which he had taken from the transports to reinforce his Crews, are remanded to their respective Ships. The day before yesterday, a...
48From George Washington to Vice Admiral d’Estaing, 21 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
In addition to the intelligence which I had the honor of transmitting to Your Excellency yesterday—I hasten to communicate what farther has been received from the Posts of observation—inclosed is the substance of my last report from thence, bearing date the 19th. It gives me singular pleasure to congratulate with Your Excellency upon the Marquis de Bouille’s Success in the conquest of the...
49From George Washington to Vice Admiral d’Estaing, 2 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s letter dated the 25th instant made me happy by communicating the intelligence of Mr D’Ovillier’s victory. I entreat you to accept my repeated congratulations on an event pregnant with such important consequences to the common cause; as well as my warmest thanks, for the interesting collection of advices, you are so obliging as to make. The British Admirals, both at home and...
50From George Washington to Vice Admiral d’Estaing, 31 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have had the happiness of receiveing your Excellencys letters of the 23 and 26th. I thank you for the extract of Mr Boubees letter, which Yr Excellency so obligingly communicates. His particular enumeration of the vessels of war which sailed with the fleet he mentions, corresponds with the advices I have received; but You will have been informed before this, that the supposed sailing of a...
51From George Washington to Vice Admiral d’Estaing, 13 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed I have the honor to send your Excellency the British account of the late engagement between the two Fleets respectively under the command of Monsieur D’orvilliers and Admiral Keppel, contained in a letter, published by authority, which I have just received from New york. The insipid terms of this letter—the frivolous pretext assigned for not renewing the engagement—the damage...
52From George Washington to Vice Admiral d’Estaing, 24 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
The coincidence between Your Excellencys sentiments respecting the Marquis de la fayettes cartel, communicated in the letter with which you honored me the 20th and those which I expressed to him on the same subject; is peculiarly flattering to me—I am happy to find that my disapprobation of this measure, was founded on the same arguments which in Your Excellencys hands acquire new force and...
53From George Washington to Vice Admiral d’Estaing, 5 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Two American Seamen who made their escape from a Prison-Ship at New York—report that the british fleet sailed ten days ago in quest of the French Squadron. This is an event of such importance and which from the nature of it admits so little of concealment—that I could not have been uninformed of it till now—supposing that it really happened; without the most unpardonable neglect in the Officer...
54From George Washington to Vice Admiral d’Estaing, 18 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of receiving this day Your Excellency’s favours of the 6th and 9th instant. I have this moment received advices, which are too interesting to permit me to lose any time in communicating them. They are contained in the inclosed extracts —I shall not detain the express longer, than to assure you of the infinite respect and attachment with which, I have the honor to be Sir Your...
55From George Washington to Vice Admiral d’Estaing, 22 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the honor of writing to Your Excellency yesterday—I have received some further accounts, which you will be pleased to find inclosed. They confirm the sailing of the British fleet, which lay at the Hook. I confide most in the account from Lord Stirling, with respect to their number. You will observe it is said they sailed Eastward; but Your Excellency will be sensible, that nothing...
56From George Washington to Vice Admiral d’Estaing, 16 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have just received intelligence that on the nights of the 10th and 11th inst: a considerable body of troops embarked at New York —the most accurate accounts that we have been able to obtain of their numbers make them consist of ten Regiments with their flank companies completed by drafts to the full establishment—which will make them amount to between five and six thousand men—some however...
57From George Washington to Vice Admiral d’Estaing, 29 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have had the honor of receiving Your Excellencys letter of the 17th. the sentiments expressed in it flow from a great mind, and prove the wisdom of His most Christian Majesty’s choice in appointing you his military Representative in America—I flatter myself with Your Excellency that what only in a moment of chagrin assumed the air of a misunderstanding, is buried in total oblivion—and that...
58From George Washington to Vice Admiral d’Estaing, 25 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
The certain intelligence of a large number of troops having embarked at New York—the sailing of a considerable fleet, at the moment their departure was expected—and the general purport of the accounts received at the same time—left me no room to doubt, that the fleet, which went out of the Hook the 19th and 20th instant, contained the detachment, of the embarkation of which, I had been...
59From George Washington to Vice Admiral d’Estaing, 27 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have read Your Excellency’s two favours of the 18th and 21st, with all the pleasure, which the perusal of your letters never fails to inspire, and which naturally attends the communications of those in whom we are warmly interested. I rejoice with you in the prospect of your being so soon in a state to resume the sea—I cannot but ardently desire, that an opportunity may speedily be offered...
60From George Washington to Fielding Lewis, 9 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Fielding Lewis, c.9 Oct. 1778. GW wrote Benjamin Lincoln on 9 Oct. : “If you should go thro Alexa., you will also pass Fredg—I have therefore given you a Letter to a Brother in law of mine in that Town.”