1From George Washington to Colonel Moses Hazen, 24 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of yesterday came duly to hand. I am aware of the difficulties there would be in the way of surprising the enemy, and I approve the caution you discover. Nothing (as I before intimated ) will at present warrant the attempt, but a moral certainty that they are much off their guard, whic⟨h⟩ by your information does not appear to be the case. If there is only a subalterns party at...
2To George Washington from the Board of Admiralty, 15 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
The recent complaints made to this Board by Prisoners from New york on Parole of neglect in the Commissary Generals department we flatter ourselves will apologize for our requesting your Excellencys interference. We have this day wrote Colo. Beatty fully on the Subject directing him to furnish this Board monthly with an Accurate return of all Marine Prisoners within his Department, and as we...
3To George Washington from Major General Nathanael Greene, 8–12 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
Remarks on the Resolution of Congress of the 25th February 1780—requiring each State to furnish certain species of supplies for the support of the Army. The measure seems to be calculated, more for the convenience of each state, than for the accommodation of the service. The aggregate quantity ordered, tho’ far short of the demands of the army, is proportioned on the states, in such a manner,...
4To George Washington from Colonel Henry Jackson, 15 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
I receivd a note from Colonel Harrison this morning desireing I would State to your Excellency in writeg the complaint I yesterday made against Brig. General Stark. My principal Complaint against him is, that he has discharged a man from my Regiment who had at the time of his discha[r]ge more than twelve months to serve, and this without my knowledge altho present in Camp or a certificate from...
5From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Sherman, 15 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
I was last Evening favd with yours of yesterday. It gives me pleasure to hear that you have executed your Business with so much ease and satisfaction. I have had the same favorable reports from several of the neighbouring Counties. You will be pleased to call upon the Commissaries who are in Brunswic and direct them to attend at the several places fixed upon by the Magistrates to receive and...
6To George Washington from Jabez Bowen, 5 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
This will be deliver’d your Exellency by Capt. Campbell of the 71st British who you will perceive by the incloased Vote of the Council of War, is recommended to you for Permission to go into New Yorke for the purposes theirin expressed; as the Officers have Subsisted intirely at their owne expence tis necessary that they should be supplyd with Cash &c. I doubt not but your Exellency will...
7General Orders, 13 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
As there is a quantity of provisions and forage collected for the army the General is anxious to take advantage of the present favorable weather to bring it to camp & orders two detachments for that purpose to be paraded tomorrow morning 10 ôclock with three days cooked provisions. Varick transcript , DLC:GW . Adj. Gen. Alexander Scammell’s orderly book entry for this date includes the...
8From George Washington to James Caldwell, 1 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
Should the grain which was collected for the army be deposited at any one place, in such quantity, as to become an object with the enemy, it, or at least a part of it, may be sent up to this place. I would wish however to avoid expence, as much as possible—and therefore to retain what must be consumed by the detatchments on the lines—if it is not too much exposed. You will be pleased to take...
9From George Washington to Major Levin Winder, 22 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
By recent accounts it appears that the enemy have drawn off their horse from Staten Island to York Island—Tho we cannot determine the motives which gave rise to this move, yet as it may be intended to carry on some enterprise against such part of our out posts as lay most exposed to their excursions I have to recommend to you an increase of vigilance and precaution to obviate or guard against...
10To George Washington from William Livingston, 13 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
I take the Liberty to acquaint your Excellency that having the most solid Reasons to believe that it would be imprudent for me to reside at present, at Persippeney, I have fix’d my Quarters (after having visited my Family) at Mr Parsons, at Collo. Wards’ Quarters, about two miles from your Excellency’s. What induces me to inform your Excellency of this particular is, that in case you should...
11To 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...
12To George Washington from Colonel Joseph Ward, 19 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
I beg leave, to inform your Excellency, that in compliance with your Excellency’s pleasure, signified to me in a letter from Colonel Harrison, the 13th Instant, I immediately wrote to the Majors of Brigade (as I had no Officers in Camp) and requested them to muster their respective Brigades, and make a return of their muster Rolls to me. In the mean time I proposed to muster the Artillery, and...
13To George Washington from Brigadier General William Woodford, 8 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
The first & second division of the Troops are arrived at this place; the third under command of Colo. Gist will not be here in less then five or six Days—the fatigueing March the Troops have had this extreem bad weather, the reduced situation of the waggon & artilery Horses, together with sundry repairs wanting to the waggons, has induced me to halt them here till the rear gets up—when I shall...
14To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 4 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
I wish for your Excellency’s instruction as to the inclos’d Ac[coun]t, which I should be glad you could return me by Express. The claim has merit, the officer from Every account I have had (and that Reputable) did in an Extraordinary manner Exert him self, & serve the cause, and was at an Extraordinary Expence & in my opinion ought to have his Acct Allow’d I am Dear sir most Respec[t]fully...
15From George Washington to William Churchill Houston, 20 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with yours of the 14th with the Act of Congress to which it refers. As Congress in their instructions to me have not determined whether the settlement and payment of the accounts of the troops of Convention shall be previous to, or be any ways involved in the subject of the proposed negociation—I have taken the liberty, in consequence of your letter, to request their...
16To George Washington from Colonel Charles Harrison, 9 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
Agreeable to your Excellency’s instructions, have made known to the Governour & Councel the weak state of my Battalion, & in most pressing terms requestd their assistance to have it recruited, who with advise of the board of War, have thought proper to order out on recruiting Service such of my Officers as are in the State on furlough; want of money is at present the only apparent obstacle we...
17From George Washington to the Board of War, 27 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with yours of the 22d accompanied by the Returns of sundry of the additional and detached Corps, from which, and from those which I had been enabled to collect in and near the Army I have furnished the respective States with a tolerably accurate account of the deficiencies of their Quotas. I have informed them, that should any more Men appear to their Credit upon a full...
18From George Washington to Major General Arthur St. Clair, 27 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
The letter you inclosed me in yours of this date contains some matters of information from a Mr Mercereau of Deane’s character, the person whom you sent up some time since —As I have nothing particular for your attention I have ordered the horsemans return—and am Dr Sir &. Df , in James McHenry’s writing, DLC:GW ; Varick transcript , DLC:GW . See St. Clair to GW, 22 February .
19To George Washington from Colonel Goose Van Schaick, 8 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
Pursuant to your Excellencys directions of the 28th of November last, the Oneida Indians are imployed in making Snowshoes, but by the last Account from Major Graham at present the Commanding Officer at Fort Schuyler, I am informed that not a Sufficient Quantity of Leather can be procured in that part of the Country to make one hundred & fifty pair, whatever their may fall short of the Number,...
20From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 27 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have been honoured with your Excellency’s favor of the 21st inclosing a Report from the Board of War, upon the application of Colonel Armand for promotion to the Rank of Brigadier in the service of the United States, on which, Congress have been pleased to request my opinion. I am ready to acknowledge the Grounds, on which, Colo. Armand founds his pretensions to higher Rank, so far as they...
21To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 19 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
I am just honored with yours of the 15th: have given orders to have the returns made as soon as possible, and have enjoined on Lt Colo. Brooks not to loose a moment in having them accomplished. Major General Howe arrived here a few days since: I intended to have set out immediately for new England, but, the mild weather sitting in which has rendered the roads almost impassible, I am yet...
22To George Washington from Brigadier General William Irvine, 9 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
I received your Excellencys favour of this date, with One inclosed for Colonel Ogden, which I sent him, I will immediately; & with all possible assiduity attend to the business you direct —I can now only in general inform, that the Sound appears to have a solid Bridge over it—from Amboy, to Deharts Point —However as I had in view, previous to your directions, not only the safety of my...
23From George Washington to Major General Arthur St. Clair, 27 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
You will be pleased to repair to our lines and investigate the causes of the late misfortune & disgrace at Elizabeth Town &ca —& report your opinion there upon as soon as enquiry is made. You will also examine into the state of our Guards—their situation &ca & see if any change can be made in their position for the bettr havg respect as far as present circumstances will allow to the objects in...
24From George Washington to Thomas Sim Lee, 19 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
About the latter end of December last I had the honor to receive a letter from His Excellency Governor Johnson dated the 27th of October, in which he proposes an arrangement for the three companies of Artillery belonging to the state of Maryland, and asks my opinion upon it. As General Knox who is at the head of the Artillery, is consequently best acquainted with its interior circumstances and...
25General Orders, 25 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
The regimental Pay-Masters will bring in their pay-rolls and abstracts for December to the Deputy Pay Master General for examination—As there is money arriv’d for the payment of November and December the troops will receive the same immediately after the examination of the abstracts. To preserve uniformity in the accounts the rolls and abstracts in future are to be made out in dollars and...
26From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Flower, 15 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have occasion for an immediate Return of the Regiment of Artillery Artificers specifying the particular States to which the non Commd Officers and privates belong and the terms for which they stand engaged. Inclosed you will find a form of the return required. As the Companies composing the Corps are considerably detached, you will be pleased to take the most effectual measures to convey...
27To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 8 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s Favour of the 2d Inst: directed to Genl Heath, or Officer commandg at this Post I have just receiv’d —the Contents of which shall be punctually observ’d. Our Party on the Lines took an Ensign of Delancy’s, by Name Vincent I have ordered him to be reported to the Commissary of Prisoners, & sent him upon Parole to such Place as Col. Hay shall point out—A Copy of the Parole I...
28To George Washington from Major Benjamin Tallmadge, 15 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s favou⟨r⟩ of the 6th ulto was recd on the 26th ensuing. The instructions therein contained for C—— Junr to effect a Communication with Head Quarters, if possible, across the North River, had been previously given him. I conclude his dispatches have been forwarded to Hd Qrs as usual since I left the Lines, making allowance for the Severity of the Season. I have just recd a Line...
29From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 5 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
General poor sent down the Bearer Capt. Leigh for 10,000 dollars for the purpose of recruiting, but the military Chest here being intirely exhausted, I must request you, if possible to spare him that sum. But should your stock of Cash not admit of the whole, be pleased to let him have as much as you conveniently can. I am informed that the New Hampshire troops are just now in good temper and...
30To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel William De Hart, 13 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
Upon the Rect of your Excellys Instructions Respecting Provisions I Immediately Call’d on the Justices of the County who Met Me this Afternoon who I find Heartily Dispos’d to Comply with your Requisition’s Very fortunately I find A late law that will Answer Our Purpose’s —And I flatter Myself I shall Collect the Supply’s in A few Day’s Under the Authority of it. I shall have the Most...