1From George Washington to the Board of War, 21 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
On the 19th I received the Honor of Your Letter of the 9th and knowing how very essential harmony is to promote our Affairs and to bring them to a happy conclusion—I was much concerned to find, that there was a cause of difference between You and General Sullivan. I inclose a Copy of a Letter of this date which I have written to Congress in consequence of your Letter upon the subject, in which...
2From George Washington to the Board of War, 14 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been honoured with yours of the 31st Augt and 3d instants. Hallet was safely delivered to me by Lt Colo. Washington and I sent him up to Govr Clinton, with an account of his conduct, similar to that which you have transmitted to me. I agree with you in opinion, that the Standard, with the Union and Emblems in the Centre, is to be preferred—with this addition, the number of the Regt and...
3From George Washington to the Board of War, 2 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
In mine of the 29th ulto I barely expressed our want of shoes. I did not then know the extent of our wants, or that there was not a single pair in the hands of the Cloathier at Camp to supply them. A considerable part of the Army is now returned unfit even for fatigue duty in these stony Grounds, and should circumstances require a move we must inevitably be deprived of the services of a number...
4From George Washington to the Board of War, 8 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have received a Letter from Colo. Spencer dated at Wyoming the 22d Ulto—inclosing a List of the Officers that remain in service of his—Malcoms—& Formans Regiments—I determined sometime ago to incorporate them —and now transmit an arrangement of the whole —upon which the Board will be pleased to issue Commissions where they have not been issued in consequence of the arrangement of the two...
5From George Washington to the Board of War, 10 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I yesterday evening received Your Letter of the 3d and have directed the Commissary of prisoners to permit Capn Edmonstone to go into New York upon parole, subject to an immediate and final exchange, by Sir Henry Clinton’s releasing One of our Captains now in his hands, who has been longest in captivity, & whose name will be mentioned in his parole. Mr Beatty has written to Mr Adams—Deputy...
6From George Washington to the Board of War, 11 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the Honor to transmit you the Copy of a Letter of the 16th Ulto which I received from Wm Gardner Esq. Agent Cloathier at portsmouth, and of the foot of the Invoice to which he refers. I don’t know the terms on which the Cloathing Agents act; but there appears to me to be something obviously wrong in the present instance—and which has induced me to trouble the Board with this...
7From George Washington to the Board of War, 18 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with yours of the 9th inclosing an abstract of the powder brought in by Capt. Ashmead. It is to be regretted that the quantity falls so far short of the estimate, but I am in hopes that the above with the three hundred Barrels forwarded before, will answer our present purposes. I would however wish that the Marine Committee may be requested not to lose sight of the object,...
8From George Washington to the Board of War, 16 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with yours of the 6th inclosing the instructions of the Board to the different Commissaries of Hides. The directions appear to me to be judiciously drawn and fully adequate to the purpose, and I doubt not, if they are strictly attended to, but that a sufficient quantity of Shoes for the Army, and leather for other uses will be procured—Mr Garanger is exceedingly impatient to know...
9From George Washington to the Board of War, 18 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
In consequence of yours of the 9th instant I have wrote to Mr Hatfeild to come to Head Quarters. I have not yet received an answer from him to mine of the 2d instant, and am therefore still at a loss to know what shoes may be expected from him. It is possible that a requisition of Cloathing for the troops to the Westward may have been already made to you by Colo. Brodhead, and that measures...
10From George Washington to the Board of War, 3 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honor to transmit you the Arrangement of the 11th pensylva. Regiment made by a Board of Field Officers of that line, appointed for the purpose, on which the Board will be pleased to issue Commissions. I inclose the old arrangement made out by Colo. Hubley—by which the Board will see what alterations have been made. They will be pleased to forward the Commissions to Colo. Hubley. I...
11From George Washington to the Board of War, 21 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have had the honor of Your Letter of the 10th inclosing one from Mr Hughes for obtaining Captain Swan’s exchange. The only Rule by which equal justice can be done to prisoners, is to exchange them according to the priority of their capture. This I have invariably directed to be pursued where the circumstance of rank would apply and I can never depart from it, unless cases should arise making...
12From George Washington to the Board of War, 26 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have had the honor to receive Your Letters of the 14th & 17th Instant. With respect to the subject of the first—I beg leave to trouble you with the following state of facts—and to refer you to the inclosures No. 1. 2 & 3—to shew how the business of exchanging hides has been conducted and how far and to what end it has been carried on by my permission. When I returned from Philadelphia in the...
13From George Washington to the Board of War, 29 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have duly received your favor of the 23d Inst. The clothing which is packed up and ready for transportation you will be pleased to order on to New-Windsor, by way of Morristown—Pompton—& Ringwood I expect the clothier Gen. will be at New-Windsor before it arrives. We suffer so much at present for the article of shoes that should any be within the order of the board—I wish them to be sent...
14From George Washington to the Board of War, 27 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
The state of our magazines in the article of powder is truly distressing. We have scarcely a sufficiency for the ordinary demands of the service; and should be utterly unable to undertake any enterprise which might require a more than common expenditure however necessary it might be, or however other circumstances might invite to it. An interesting question was lately agitated respecting an...
15From George Washington to the Board of War, 22 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday honored with yours of the 16th: the general Return of Military Stores accompanying it was delivered safely to me. I have directed the few things forwarded by Mr Gardner to be delivered out to those Officers of the Staff and line who are not supplied by the States, at moderate prices, agreeable to the direction of the Board. I have the honor &c. Df , in Tench Tilghman’s writing,...
16From George Washington to the Board of War, 6 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with your letter of the 28th of August with its inclosures. I am very happy the testimony given to Congress of the conduct of the board is satisfactory to them, as it will always give me pleasure to do justice to their exertions. I have attentively considered the regulations proposed for the department of prisoners—They appear to me to be judicious and proper, such as I have for a...
17From George Washington to The Board of War, 8 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with yours of the 30th ulto on the subject of Major Francis Murray’s exchange for the Hussian Major Stein lately captured —Had Major Stein been taken by a continental Vessel, a preference in favr of Major Murray would have been totally inadmissible—but all circumstances considered, I do not think our Officers, who are prisoners, should look upon themselves injured, when...
18From George Washington to the Board of War, 12 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
On the 2d instant I addressed you particularly on the subject of the want of shoes, and informed you that I had made application to Mess[r]s Mehelm—Hatfeild—and Starr the three nearest Commissaries of Hides, and desired to know what quantity of shoes I might depend upon immediately, and what were their future prospects. I have only recd answers from Mr Mehelm and Capt. Starr—Copies of whose...
19From George Washington to the Board of War, 1 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honor to transmit You the Arrangement of the Virginia line as corrected and newly formed on the 23d Instant —in consequence of which Sundry Commissions are wanted—occasioned by former omissions—deaths—resignations and promotions into the State Regiments. The instances in which Commissions are required are, as I understand by the Memorandum at the end of the Arrangement, where the...