1To George Washington from Achsah Chamier, 31 May - 11 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
I received under Cover from Elizabeth Town the pass of Govr Johnson with the Permission of your Excellency indorsed thereon, a Copy of which is now enclosed. You will observe on Perusal that the Pass, only includes Wearing Apporel & Household Furniture, & is couched in such strict Terms as to preclude me from carrying many Articles, essentialey necessary for my Family, and yet cannot be...
2General Orders, 31 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
If shoes or other small mounting are wanted they may be drawn agreeable to the order of yesterday. Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
3To George Washington from Colonel Theodorick Bland, 31 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I was this day Honord with a Copy of an Extract from Yr Excellency’s letter of the 17th of May informing them of Some late Manœuvres of the Enemy and what Yr Excellency supposed might be the design of An expedition of theirs to this State. for Yr Excellencys Satisfaction, I now have the Honor to Inform yr Excy that on the first Intelligence of the fleets Arriving on this Coast, the Officers...
4To George Washington from Colonel Thomas Clark, 31 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have this moment by express from my Scouting Officer at Tapan received intelligence that the enemy are at Tallars point with 42 Sail (Six of which are very large) and a number of flat Bottomd Boats they have landed a party of men on the other Side of the N. River and a party at the Slate —I have Sent for my out parties from Hackinsack &c. and am prepared to move at the Shortest notice to...
5From George Washington to William De Hart, 31 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : to William De Hart, 31 May 1779. Robert Hanson Harrison docketed De Hart’s letter to GW of 30 May : “acknowledged 31 with thanks for the intelligence.”
6To George Washington from Major General Nathanael Greene, 31 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have receivd your Excellencys letter of the 28th and have carefully read and considerd the several subjects therein addressed to me. The whole matter seems to be resolvd into two points whether we shall act offensively or defensively. If the first the force and plan to opperate upon and if the latter the disposition to be made and the position to be taken. There could not be a moments...
7To George Washington from Major General Nathanael Greene, 31 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
As I have ever made it a rule, not to promise more, than I had the fairest prospect of performing. I would not wish to lead your Excellency into an expectation, of being in readiness to move, earlier than we shall; but from the letters I have receivd, since I came from Head quarters. I have great reason to think, the Infantry and the Artillery with them, may be ready to march next day after...
8From George Washington to Brigadier General Edward Hand, 31 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have before me your several favors of the 8—12—and 24th instant with the inclosures. I shall transmit them to General Sullivan, who is now at Easton, and mention to the board of war the clothing wanted for the 11th Pennsylvania Regiment. Our stores I am affraid, are by no means equal to our several demands. What they can furnish will require to be managed with the strictest frugality. I...
9From George Washington to Major General Alexander McDougall, 31 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have just received your two favours of the 29th and 30th. I this morning received similar intelligence of the enemy’s movement towards the white Plains, from Elizabeth Town. The day before yesterday, General St Clair moved with the Pensylvania division from this camp towards Springfield—I have now directed him to continue his route to Pompton and govern himself afterwards according to...
10To George Washington from Major General Alexander McDougall, 31 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have just Time to inform your Excellency, that last Evening the Enemy had about forty Sail of Vessels at Phillips’s, His Troops encamped from the North River to Mile square; and the Intelligence adds, that from the Position of the Transports, it appear’d they were embarking Troops. I have the Honor to be your Excellency’s very humble servant LS , DLC:GW ; ADf , NHi : McDougall Papers. For...
11From George Washington to Brigadier General John Neilson, 31 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I was this morning favored with your letter of the 30th with the New-York papers. That you may be enabled to keep up your correspondence in this way, I transmit you some of our latest in return. I am much obliged to you for the intelligence—and am persuaded you will be assiduous in procuring the earliest information from the enemy, and in doing every thing in your power to promote the objects...
12To George Washington from Brigadier General Enoch Poor, 31 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I am informed that while Colo. Hazen commanded my Brigade you sent forward the Arrangement of the New Hamp: Line desiring such Casualties might be noted as had taken Place since it was given in, which Arrangement Colo. Hazen has not transmitted Me—by Capt. Fogg I send one with the alterations desired, other wise similar to the former—Lt McGaffee of the 3 Regt is deranged who being on Furlough...
13From George Washington to Major General Arthur St. Clair, 31 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have received information that the enemy were at White Plains on the 29th. You will therefore be pleased to proceed immediately with your Division towards Pompton, acting afterwards agreable to the instructions you have already received. It is probable you will be joined there by Colo. Clark with the Carolina Troops—I have sent him Orders to meet you at that Place subject to this condition,...
14To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 31 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellencys Letter came to hand about seven OClock last Night at this Place. Colonell Hubley will set out to Day, and by him I shall write to Governour Reed about the Appointment of the necessary Officers after having consulted with the Gentlemen commanding Regiments; I believe they find some Difficulty in getting such Persons to serve as they would wish to recommend, which is the Reason...
15To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 31 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
Previous to the Receipt of your Excellency’s Letter of this Day, (which arrived about four Hours ago) whilst I was examining the Ground pointed out for the Division to take Post in, I met with Coll Ogden, who informed he had seen a Person, (from New York last Night, that might be depended upon) who informed him that the whole of the Ennemy’s Army were marched towards White Plains. that a...
16From George Washington to Colonel Elisha Sheldon, 31 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
Having received intelligence that the enemy are advancing to the white plains —& other appearances indicating a capital manœuvre in that Quarter you will put such part of your Regiment as are mounted immediately in motion for the Posts on the North River and obey such orders as you shall receive from Majr General McDougal or the Officer commanding there, (Majr Genl Putnam being designed for a...
17From George Washington to Major General John Sullivan, 31 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
The expedition you are appointed to command is to be directed against the hostile tribes of the six nations of Indians, with their associates and adherents. The immediate objects are the total destruction and devastation of their settlements and the capture of as many prisoners of every age and sex as possible. It will be essential to ruin their crops now in the ground and prevent their...
18From George Washington to Major General John Sullivan, 31 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I transmit you a letter of the 8th—extracts of the 12th—and one of the 24th instant from Brigadier General Hand, which he forwarded to me, not knowing where to find you. I have mentioned in my letter to Gen: Hand my forwarding Them to you. I shall write the board of war to send the supplies of clothing for the 11th Pennsylvania regiment I shall also request them—to forward a set of shoemakers...
19To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 31 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I Last Evening returned from the Great Swamp for which place I Set off the Day before I found the Road Cleared to within twenty three miles of wyoming & through all the Difficult parts of the Swamp Colo. Cilleys Regt has Joined Courtlandts & Spensers to assist in Clearing the Road. I find that those persons who pretended to know the Country misrepresented matters Exceedingly The Indian Path...
20From George Washington to Brigadier General William Woodford, 31 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I request you will exert yourself to get the division under yr command in instant readiness to march at an hours warning. It will point towards The North River. I have received some recent intelligence which makes it necessary we should be in motion. If you cannot procure waggons for the transportation of your heavy baggage; you will prepare to move without it, leaving a proper guard of your...
21General Orders, 30 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
The board of General Officers that sat on the 28th instant in consequence of the order of the day before have reported the claim of Lieutenant Colonel Hubley in the dispute of rank between him and Lieutenant Colonel Conner to be well founded, which the Commander in Chief approves. In all future draughts of clothing the regimental Clothier is to be furnished by the officers commanding companies...
22From George Washington to the Board of War, 30 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honor to transmit you an Arrangement of the Officers in the Maryland line—and have to request, that you will take the earliest Occasion that may offer to make out and forward Commissions agreable to it, except in the cases of No. 46—Benjamin Garnett 1st Lieut. 5 Reg. 13 Oct. 78 47—Parker Hall Lee do 4 do 16 do do 53—William Trueman Stoddart do 5 do 21 May 79
23To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel William De Hart, 30 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
by a Verry Intelligent Person from Bergen, this day I have the following Intelligence—that the Enemy have, March’d All their force yesterday Morn Out Beyond Kings Bridge, which they had Cut Down & Plac’d the Militia to Guard it, that All the Troops, were Call’d from Long Island, & but A few Left at Staten Island, Only Buskirks Regt of New Levies, left at Powles Hook & Hobuck. A large Number of...
24To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 30 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
The Deputy Q. M. General in This Department, Colonel Bowen, who was Absent in the Country upon the Duty of his Station when the Express arrived from Head Quarters, sent me late last Night Your Excellencys Letter of the 21st Instant, it being inclosed in His packet from General Green. As it will now be too late for any of the Army with your Excellency, to Disappoint the Enemys immediate Views...
25To George Washington from Major General Nathanael Greene, 30 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have read your Excellencys letter to Col. Biddle upon the subject of procureing forage; and cannot help thinking my letter must have been mistaken both with respect to the nature of the application and the powers solicited. The letter of instruction seems to breath and enjoin a strict conformity to the laws of the State save in particular cases and under pressing circumstances. In my letter...
26From George Washington to Brigadier General Henry Knox, 30 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
The situation of our affairs and the general prospects of the campaign require that the army should divest itself of every article that can be spared and take the field as light as possible—I am therefore of opinion, that not more than two light field pieces ought to be attached to each Brigade; and that the Park should be composed of a few pieces of the same sort—You will be pleased after...
27From George Washington to Major General Alexander McDougall, 30 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
Mr Laurence delivered me last evening the message with which you charged him. The representation he makes of the state of your provisions alarms me beyond measure. Satisfied that the enemy could not carry the fort by assault without incurring greater loss than they would probably choose to hazard; I depended on being able to collect the army time enough to relieve it from an investiture. But...
28To George Washington from Major General Alexander McDougall, 30 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I was this Morning honored with your Favor, of the 28th Instant. Since mine to you last Night, I have received the inclos’d Intelligence—which corresponds with what the Deserter gave us last Night. I have the Honor to be Your Excellency’s humble Servant LS , DLC:GW . The enclosed copy of a letter from Richard Hatfield to McDougall, dated at midnight on 29 May at South Salem, N.Y., reads: “I...
29To George Washington from Brigadier General John Neilson, 30 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I am order’d by his Excellency Governour Livingston with a small number of Militia consisting of about one hundred & twenty Rank & File to this Place for the Protection of the Shore of Essex & Middlesex, before guarded by General Maxwells Brigade, with directions to procure what Intelligence I could from the Enemy and Communicate it to your Excellency; At Colonel Shrieves Departure Yesterday I...
30To George Washington from Samuel Patterson, 30 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
A Gentleman waited on me to day to Inform me that our President, had Given a pass, or recommendation to your Excellency to go into New York to a Certain Jacob Moore Esqr. Atterney at Lewis Town in this state. I thought it my duty to inform you as well as to my Country he is said to be a dangerous man in our grand Struggle And by no means should he [be] suffered to go in under any pretence. I...