1From George Washington to John Jay, 18 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inform Your Excellency, that the Chevalier de la Luzerne, who was so obliging as to honour me with a visit on his way from Boston, set out yesterday morning for Philadelphia. He will cross the Delaware at Trentown, and if nothing occurs to impede his journey, he will probably arrive at philadelphia on Thursday or Friday. I inclose Your Excellency a Copy of a Letter from Lt...
2From George Washington to John Jay, 2 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the Honor to transmit Your Excellency an Extract of a Letter of the 29th Ulto from a Confidential correspondent in New York. It contains the latest advices I have had from thence. By reports from our Officers advanced on both sides of the River, the Enemy broke up their Camp at philip’s burg on the night of the 30th and morning of the 31st Ulto. The accounts received by the...
3From George Washington to John Jay, 29 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inclose your Excellency the Manifesto of His Most Catholic Majesty delivered at the Court of London by his Ambassador the Marquis D’Almadovar and the message of the British King there upon to the House of Commons, with some other articles of intilligence copied from a (borrowed) Boston paper of the 23d instant. As this paper has come on with a good deal of dispatch, this...
4From George Washington to John Jay, 16 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I had yesterday afternoon the honor to receive Your Excellency’s Letter of the 6th with a copy of the Act of the 8th of March and the Report referred to. It might have been better on the score of supplies and some other considerations, if Captain Wilkie’s company had been annexed to the 11th pensilvania Regiment; but as this was not done—and as the arrangement both of Spencer’s and Hubley’s...
5From George Washington to John Jay, 21 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
Since the letter which I had the honor of writing to your Excellency the 17th instant; I have received one from the Board of War inclosing among several others the copy of one from General Sullivan to Congress of the 26th of July in which I find he is still more pointed on the subject of Cloathing than in his letter of the 21st of the same month. As I was not sufficiently explicit on this head...
6From George Washington to John Jay, 7 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
Amongst the number of your friends, permit me also to congratulate you, and my Country, on your late honourable & important appointment —Be assured Sir, that my pleasure on this occasion, though it may be equatted, cannot be exceeded, by that of any other. I do most sincerely wish you a pleasant & an agreeable passage—the most perfect and honourable accomplishment of your Ministry—and a safe...
7From George Washington to John Jay, 5 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s several letters of the 26th 29th & 30th have been duly received. The Commissary of Prisoners being absent from Camp, on business respecting his department; I cannot give Congress the satisfaction I wish on the subject of Major General Phillips’s Letter. As soon as he returns the matter shall be taken up; however, I am inclined to doubt whether there is any ground for...
8From George Washington to John Jay, 23 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I take the liberty of transmitting to Your Excellency the inclosed Copy of a Letter I received from Colo. Butler of the 21st Instant. From the character of this Gentleman and the opinion I entertain of him as a man of strict honor and probity, I am perfectly persuaded the representation he has made of his loss, is true in every part; and I am exceedingly sorry such an accident should have...
9From George Washington to John Jay, 31 August 1779–1 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly honoured with Your Excellency’s Letters of the 20th and 24th with the papers to which they refer. The Acts of the 16th—17th & 18th have been communicated to the Army, in a manner calculated to inspire a proper sense of them. I hope they will have a good effect. As far as my information extends, they have given great satisfaction. It is only to be lamented, that the state of...
10From George Washington to John Jay, 5 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
My doubts as to the intended operation of the Resolution of the 28th of June, upon the subject of vacancies and the mode of filling them—whether it was meant to take immediate effect in all cases, or to operate only where arrangements had been made—and my earnest wish not to contravene the views of Congress or the rights of the executive authorities of the States in any instance, have induced...
11From George Washington to John Jay, 12 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the honor of addressing you yesterday I have received the inclosed pieces of intelligence, thro Genl Gates and Genl Huntington. Genl Gates’s letter inclosing Mr Prouds was dated at Providence the 6th instant whence we may conclude that Sunday the date of Mr Prouds was the 5th —Though these accounts differ as to the number of Ships of War, they seem clearly to indicate a french...
12From George Washington to John Jay, 7 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
The current of intelligence from New York makes the late reinforcement under Arburthnot amount to about 3000 troops principally recruits and rather in an unhealthy situation. It also speaks of preparations for an expedition and some recent rumours point to the Southern States, though the enemy have thrown out menaces against this post. If the reinforcement does not exceed this estimate they...
13From George Washington to John Jay, 11 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor some days ago to advise Your Excellency—that the Enemy had broke up their Camp at philips’s and retired below Kingsbridge. Since this I have used every means in my power to gain information of their designs and future operations, but as yet they remain intirely secret. It is certain, or at least the intelligence comes thro so many and such direct channels that it seems...
14From George Washington to John Jay, 19–20 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
On the 12th instant I had the honor of communicating two peices of intelligence respecting the fleet under the command of Admiral Count D’Estaing. Hearing that one of the Captains arrived at New London was a Man of intelligence and veracity, I dispatched Lt Lee of the 1st Connecticut Regt to gain a circumstantial account of the matter. The inclosed is a Copy of Capt. Leisters relation, which...
15From George Washington to John Jay, 16 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I beg you to accept my thanks for your obliging letter of the 10th transmitting an extract from Mr Bingham’s. The intelligence it gives is infinitely interesting, and I hope will be followed by events of still more decisive importance. The conduct of England in respecting the mediation of Spain is more strongly tinctured with insanity than any thing she has done in the course of the Contest,...
16From George Washington to John Jay, 8 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor to address your Excellency yesterday—since which I have received the within intelligence. It comes from a person who in general has been exact and authentic in his accounts, and in whose information I place a principal confidence. The counterfiet sixty dollar bill which he mentions is also inclosed. I have the honor to be with great respect and esteem your Excellency’s most obt...
17From George Washington to John Jay, 14 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inclose your Excellency a copy of a Letter from Lt Colo. Taylor stationed at Elizabeth Town to Mr Beatty, respecting the sailing of three Regiments from New York. After writing this, he sent me a verbal message that he had received positive intelligence of their being destined for the West Indies. I believe there must be a mistake in the name of the Ship, as the Ardent was...
18From George Washington to John Jay, 25 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with yours of the 15th covering a Resolve confirming the arrangement of the Massachusetts line, and a printed Copy of a circular letter from Congress to their constituents. I sincerely hope, that the measures pointed out may be pursued, and that every good effect, to be wished for, may be the result. Since mine of the 19th I have recd several pieces of intelligence from my...
19From George Washington to John Jay, 17 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I inclose your Excellency a list of Officers proposed after examination by General Du Portail for the Companies of sappers and Miners. If Congress approve the nomination I request they will be pleased to direct commissions to be sent as speedily as possible. They ought to be dated the second of August 79. By the Regulations for the corps of Engineers, the men to form these companies were for...
20From George Washington to John Jay, 23 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inclose your Excellency Major Lee’s report of the surprise & capture of the Garrison of Powles Hook. The Major displayed a remarkable degree of prudence address enterprise and bravery upon this occasion—which does the highest honor to himself and to all the officers and men under his command. The situation of the Post rendered the attempt critical and the success brilliant:...
21From George Washington to John Jay, 11 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor to inclose your Excellency two of the latest York papers that have come to my hands. The Count de la Luzerne reached Springfeild the Evening of the 7th and may be every hour expected here. I have the honor to be with the greatest Respect Yr Excellency’s Most obt and humble Servt LS , in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DNA:PCC , item 152; Df , DLC:GW ; copy, DNA : PCC, item 169;...
22From George Washington to John Jay, 6 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s Letter of the 28th of July—with it’s several Inclosures, has been duly received. I shall take the liberty in a few days, to lay before Congress a state of facts with respect to the Expedition under General Sullivan, by which I trust it will appear, that every measure and precaution in my power has been taken to ensure it’s success; and notwithstanding the difficulties he...
23From George Washington to John Jay, 19 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor to day to receive Your letter of the 8th by Lt Colo. Sims of the 2d Virginia Regiment, with a copy of a letter from him to your Excellency—and of an order of Congress on the 7th in consequence. The indulgence requested by Col. Sims, however interesting it may be to himself appears to me so incompatible with the public service—and to involve—and to lead to so many disagreeable...
24From George Washington to John Jay, 7 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have received your obliging favors of the 25th & 31st of last month and thank you for them. It really appears impossible to reconcile the conduct Britain is pursuing, to any system of prudence or policy. For the reasons you assign, appearances are against her deriving aid from other powers; and if it is truly the case, that she has rejected the mediation of Spain, without having made allies,...
25From George Washington to John Jay, 15 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
In the letter which I had the honor of addressing to your Excellency the 6th instant I promised a state of facts to show that every thing in my power has been done to give success to the Western expedition. I am sorry to find in the appeal which Genl Sullivan ha⟨s⟩ made to Congress that he has misstated several particulars of importance, and that in providing for his own justification in case...
26From George Washington to John Jay, 23 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
Lieut. Colo. Fleury having communicated to me his desire of Returning to france & on some matters interesting to himself. I have thought proper to give him this letter to testify to Congress the high opinion I entertain of his conduct & services. the marks of their aprobation which he has Received on former occasions (specialy for the interesting part he bore in the defence of fort miflin)...
27From George Washington to John Jay, 24–27 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
Since I wrote to your Excellency yesterday, I have been honored with your letter of the 18th instant with the papers mentioned in it. I am much indebted to your Excellency, for the Copy of your circular letter to the States, and I sincerely wish it may have the desired effect—or at least, that the Battalions, in consequence, may be made more respectable than they are at present. The Act of the...