1General Orders, 1 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
Captain Brice of the 3rd Maryland regiment is appointed Brigade Major and Brigade Inspector of the 1st Maryland Brigade ’till further orders—He is to be respected & obey’d accordingly. Exact brigade returns of the number of shoes wanting to be made tomorrow at orderly time; The Sub-Cloathiers or their Assistants are at the same time to make returns of the shoes in their hands for the Cloathier...
2To George Washington from Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene, 1 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene, 1 Jan. 1780. On 2 Jan. , GW wrote to Greene: “I have recieved Your letter of Yesterday.”
3To George Washington from Brigadier General William Irvine, 1 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
My reasons for taking Post here; in preferrence to Westfield, were, not only on account of a better neighborhood for Cantoning the Troops, but also that it is more convenient both to Elizabethtown & Raway—about five miles from each of these places and ten from Woodbridge—The inclosed is from Lt Colonel Olney who Commands at Elizabethtown —the person he alludes to lives in that Town, & has I am...
4From George Washington to Brigadier General William Irvine, 1 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your favr of this date inclosing Colo. Olney’s letter. I would not advise you to put any great confidence in H—— he is very capable of gaining intelligence if he pleases, but I fancy he carries as much as he brings. Trade I beleive is his principal object. Nothing will be more agreeable to me than to devise some means of stopping the intercourse carried on by the Flag Boats. I do...
5From George Washington to James Wilkinson, 1 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
You have been informed that the distribution of Cloathing made at West point was proportioned to our stock then upon hand and that it was short of the quantity to which the troops of the different States and Corps were intitled. A considerable number of the troops of the State of Massachusetts having since that time reinlisted for the War, will be intitled to the continental Bounty Cloathing,...
6General Orders, 2 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Honorable the Congress on the 28th ultimo were pleased to pass the following Act. Resolved—“That the rate of postage until the further order of Congress be twenty prices upon the sums paid in the year 1775. “That single letters directed to any officer in the line and all letters directed to General officers, or to officers commanding in a seperate department, and all letters to and from...
7From George Washington to Major James Valentine Gardner, 2 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
You have permission to remain in New york untill the return of Colonels Magaw & Mathews, who are now out with some propositions respecting an exchange of prisoners. I have the honor to be sir Yr Most Obedt Sert Df , in Robert Hanson Harrison’s writing, DLC:GW ; Varick transcript , DLC:GW . GW is responding to the request of British major general William Phillips for an extension of Gardner’s...
8From George Washington to Major General Nathanael Greene, 2 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have recieved Your letter of Yesterday with an Extract from the Act of Congress of the 27th Ulto, with a copy of which I have been since honored in a letter from His Excellency the President. As the dismission of the Express Riders, it would seem, was intended to be the consequence of the proposed regulation in the Post Office, altho the words of the Act import an immediate operation, I...
9From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 2 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
Congress were pleased by their resolution of the 1st of January last to express their desire of retaining Brigadier General Du Portail, Colonels La Radiere and Laumoy, and Lt Col. De Gouvion in the service of these states for another campaing, if agreeable to them. These gentlemen having accepted the invitation, have now completed the term to which it extended; and it is with pleasure I can...
10From George Washington to Major General William Phillips, 2 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
I had last night the honor to receive your Letter of the 29th of December. Agreable to your request I have extended Major Gardiner’s parole, as you will perceive by the inclosed, which I take the liberty to commit to your care. I have the honor to be with respect & esteem Sir Your Most Obedt servant. Df , in Robert Hanson Harrison’s writing, DLC:GW ; Varick transcript , DLC:GW . For the draft...
11General Orders, 3 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
All soldiers before they are discharged from the service are to receive their full pay; Should the regimental Pay-Masters not have Money in their hands to answer the purpose they are to apply to the Deputy Pay-Master General, who will advance them the necessary sums on an estimate for one month. At a Division Court-Martial held by order of Major General St Clair in camp West-Point Octr 28th...
12To George Washington from the Board of War, 3 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
We were duly honoured with your Excellency’s Letter on the Subject of Mr Loring’s request for a Quarter Master & a Serjeant or two to proceed to Philadelphia with Cloathing for the Prisoners at this Place. In Consequence we wrote to Congress the Letter a Copy whereof is enclosed. We are directed to take Order in the Bussiness & are of Opinion that the Cloathing should come on attended in such...
13To George Washington from the Board of War, 3 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Board have a Plan of Intelligence accompanied with some other Matters of which we will hereafter inform your Excellency & which being communicated to a Comittee of Congress has been approved by that Comittee. To carry this plan into Execution we have employed Major Howell late of the 2d Jersey Regt commanded by Col. Shreve. Major Howell desires that, to facilitate the Measures we have...
14To George Washington from Royal Flint, 3 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have frequently, within these few days acquainted Colo. Hamilton with my prospects of supplies. And though I had good authority for all I communicated, yet I now find the event does not precisely agree with what I foretold. As soon as I was informed that there would be a failure of Beef cattle from the eastward, I used the most probable methods of procuring a supply in this state, and I had...
15To George Washington from Jeremiah Wadsworth, 3 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
Notwithstanding the repeated & urgent Applications for Money made by me to the Treasury Board I have not obtained grants sufficient to pay half the Debts contracted for the Supplies already furnished the Army—and have no reason to Expect any more Cattle from the otherside Hudson’s River & on this Side enough could not be obtained to furnish the Army with half a Ration ⅌ day for two Months If I...
16General Orders, 4 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW . Adj. Gen. Alexander Scammell’s orderly book entry for this date includes the following additional general orders: “The Connecticut Division furnishes the main Guard Tomorrow” (orderly book, 17 Oct. 1779–22 March 1780, DNA : RG 93, Orderly Books, 1775–1783, vol. 33). GW’s expenses for this date included £3.15 “To Cash pd for a pockett Almanack for the Genl” and...
17From George Washington to Colonel Daniel Brodhead, 4 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have successively received your letters of the 10th 22d of Novemr, & 13th of Decemr. Persuaded that a Winter expedition against Detroit would have great advantages over a Summer one, and be much more certain of success, I regret that the situation of affairs does not permit us to undertake it. We cannot at present furnish either the men or supplies necessary for it. From the estimate you...
18From George Washington to Royal Flint, 4 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have received your letter of yesterday. It is lamentable that our magazines are so empty and that our future prospects are so alarmingly limited. The worst consequences are to be apprehended if some change does not speedily take place. Every information I obtain makes me fear we shall be driven to the necessity of a general forage upon the Country. To do this I wish you to supply me with an...
19To George Washington from Hewes, Smith, & Allen, 4 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
Herewith you have enclosed a letter from a gentleman in Thinerieff once honored with your aquaintance. It accompanied a pipe of Wine for your Excellency in one of our Boats called the Hancok arrived from that place. A Mr Turnbull who was himself transporting a large quantity of goods to the northward was very anxious to take charge of this pipe of Wine, from the good character we have received...
20From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 4 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
The following Gentlemen, Colonels Magaw, Mathews, Eli & Lt Colo. Ramsay have been permitted to come out of New York on parole, with some new propositions for an exchange of prisoners—the result of a conference between Major General Phillips & themselves. These they will have the honor of submitting to Congress, as I do not conceive myself authorised to take any steps in the business without...
21To George Washington from Brigadier General William Irvine, 4 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
When I wrote your Excellency the 1st instant I had hoped that I should not be under the necessity of troubling about Provision, but I was mistaken; for Notwithstandg repeated promises from the Commissarys here, I have not been able to get more than one days Bread, since I came here—except some Buckwheat, & a little Corn—this I borrowed from the Inhabitants; and was obliged to promise to pay...
22From George Washington to Brigadier General William Irvine, 4 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
We are not under less embarrassing and distressful circumstances in this quarter for provisions, than those you have represented in your letter of this days date. Of the scanty pittance we have distributed to the army, the last is nearly exhausted, and without a prospect of any adequate and immediate succour. Amidst the difficulties which occur on this occasion; to keep the army together, and...
23To George Washington from Colonel Stephen Moylan, 4 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
I received your Excellencys Letters of the 20th & 25th ulto and have orderd Sheldons Regimt on from Weathersfield, to Colchester, the 4th is at Walingsford where they will remain a few days in order to give Mr Hubbard time to make Some preparation for their reception which you will See by the enclosed report is necessary —the representation made to you Sir were not founded on facts, but it is...
24To George Washington from Major General Israel Putnam, 4 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
I had the misfortune on my way to Camp to be seiz’d with a fitt of the Palsy at this place the 24th Ultimo, the first onset was my right Arm and then my right Legg in which unhappy Situation I now am (except that my Legg comes too a little) which makes it impossible for me to gett to Head Quarters, I expect this Day to sett off for my Home at Pomfret, shall acquaint your Excellency from time...
25General Orders, 5 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
26To George Washington from the Board of War, 5 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
We have the Honour to enclose an Extract of a Letter from Mr Henry of Lancaster on the Subject of Hides whereby we find little good Effect has been produced from the Order you were pleased to give at our Instance for 2,000 to be sent to Philadelphia. The general Account of the Hides in Mr Hatfield’s Care deserves serious Attention & Enquiry as, if it be true, great Mismanagement must appear on...
27To George Washington from John Gibson, 5 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s Favor of the 31st ult. has been duly received, and I am to inform you that Mr Reid the Deputy Pay Master at Albany is ordered to the Detachment of the Army at and near the Highlands; and that an Escort sets out To Day with one Million of Dollars to supply the Military Chest. I have the Honor to be, With great Respect, Your Excellency’s Most humble Servant LS , DLC:GW . See GW...
28To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 5 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
I was this morning honored with yours of the 31st Ulto, shall pay strict attention to its injunctions. The Express that carries this, sit out for Head Quarters some days since, was at the Village when the late severe snow storm came on. He afterwards made several efforts to get to Kings Ferry, but could not, & this evening returned, and takes another route. The snow is about four foot deep...
29From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 5 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have been honoured with Your Excellency’s Letter of the 29th Ulto and the Acts to which it refers. I hope the proposed regulation of the post office, will contribute to lessen our expences, but with all deference I would take the liberty to observe, that I think the exigency and good of the service will not admit of a general discharge of the Express Riders. Circumstances very interesting...
30To George Washington from Major Henry Lee, Jr., 5 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor of your Excellency’s letr of the 28th, in which you are pleased to say that your objects in quartering the two Corps in monmouth county are “the covering the country & preventing the intercourse with the enemy.” Col. Armand is in Philada therefore it is not in my power to deliver any joint determination. It is not worth while to trouble your Excellency with an enumeration of...