157901From George Washington to Capt. Henry Lee, 31 October 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Capt. Henry Lee, Jr., c.31 Oct. 1777. Lee’s letter to GW of 31 Oct. is docketed in part “Ansd.”
157902[Diary entry: 1 October 1789] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 1st. Exercised in my Carriage in the forenoon. The following company dined here to day. viz.— Mr. Read of the Senate, Colo. Bland and Mr. Madison of the House of Representatives—Mr. Osgood and his Lady Colo. Duer his Lady and Miss Brown Colo. Lewis Morris & Lady—Lady Christiana Griffin and her Daughter and Judge Duane & Mrs. Greene. Mr. Thomas Nelson joined my Family this day....
157903From George Washington to James Clinton, 6 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
In my last Letter, I requested you to forward all the Continental Troops from the Northward to West Point by Detachment as soon as possible—some circumstances since having made an alteration in the arrangements of the army, such of the Troops as shall not have been sent off, before the receipt of this Letter you will be pleased to detain at Albany untill further Orders: Causing the whole of...
157904[Diary entry: 8 September 1781] (Washington Papers)
8th. and reached Baltimore where I recd. and answered an address of the Citizens. While GW and his party were in Baltimore they stayed at Daniel Grant’s Fountain Inn. For a description of GW’s reception in Baltimore, see Md. Journal , 11 Sept. 1781. The address of welcome of the citizens of Baltimore to GW and his reply, both dated 8 Sept. 1781, are in DLC:GW . The address was presented to GW...
157905From George Washington to Major General Lafayette, 18 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
Your polite and obliging letter of the 10th of Octr from Havre came to my hands since the begin[nin]g of this Month —It filled me with a pleasure intermixed with pain—To hear that you were well—to find you breathing the same affection[at]e sentiments that ever have most conspicuously markd your conduct towards me & that you continued to deliver them with unabated attachmt contributes greatly...
157906[Diary entry: 16 September 1786] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 16th. Mercury at 58 in the Morning—69 at Noon And 66 at Night. Morning a little lowering, but clear & pleasant afterwards, with but little wind. Rid to Mr. Willm. Tripletts in expectation of meeting Mrs. French, in order to get the lease from her & Deed from Mr. Triplett executed but his indisposition & confinement in bed prevented the latter and the nonattendance of Mrs. French & a...
157907From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 5 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
Notwithstanding the immense advantages which we shall derive from the acknowledgement of our Independency by, and our late alliance with the Court of France, yet much remains to be done to extricate ourselves intirely from our oppressors. even taking it for granted that the Enemy, from the situation of European Affairs, cannot be further reinforced, their remaining Strength, if Collected and...
157908George Washington to Major Warham Parks, 5 March 1778 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Valley Forge ] March 5, 1778 . Urges Parks to remain in service in spite of temporary disability. Df , in writings of John Laurens and H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Parks was a major of the Fourth Massachusetts Regiment.
157909[Diary entry: 23 May 1767] (Washington Papers)
23. Morris finishd plowing his first cut (Doeg Run) with 3 plows by 12 oclock. Finishd plowg. the 5½ foot cut in the Neck with 4 plows, & replanted this & the 5 foot cut there.
157910[Diary entry: 19 November 1770] (Washington Papers)
Monday 19th. The Delawares set of with the Canoe and our Horses not arriving, the day appeard exceeding long & tedious. Upon conversing with Nicholson I found he had been two or three times to Fort Chartres at the Illinois, and got from him the following Acct. of the Lands between this & that; & upon the Shawna River; on which he had been a Hunting. The Lands down the Ohio grow more & more...
157911George Washington to Joseph Reed and the Pennsylvania Council, 14 June 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
Smiths Clove [ New York ] June 14, 1779 . Encloses return of Pennsylvania battalions. States that Major General Benedict Arnold’s trial has been postponed. Sends news of enemy movements. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
157912From George Washington to Catharine Sawbridge Macaulay Graham, 19 July 1791 (Washington Papers)
At the same time that I acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the first of march with which I have been honored, let me request you to accept my thanks for your polite attention in sending me the pamphlet which accompanied it. The importance of the subject, which has called forth your production and numerous others, is so deeply interesting to mankind that every philanthropic mind, however...
157913From George Washington to Claude Gabriel, marquis de Choisy, 20 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received the Letter which you did me the Honor to write this Morng & am much indebted to you for the Arrangements which you were so good as to make relative to the surrendering Troops. I have ordered a Continental Officer to go & take charge of the Arms &c. and the persons of the several Departments will receive the Effects that Regard them. I have the Honor to be &c. DLC : Papers of...
157914From George Washington to General William Howe, 14–15 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am sorry to find by the tenor of your Letter of the 6th Instant, that we still unhappily differ in our ideas of those just & reasonable terms upon which a general Exchange of prisoners might take place and that an event so desireable is probably yet at a distance. This being the case, that releif to the unhappy, where it is practicable, may as long be delayed, I am induced to accede to your...
157915[Diary entry: 27 July 1797] (Washington Papers)
27. Wind Southerly & warm. A fine rain about 3 Oclock for an hour. Mercury 81.
157916[Diary entry: 30 April 1791] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 30th. Crossed the Waggamaw to George town by descending the River three miles. At this place we were recd. under a Salute of Cannon, & by a Company of Infantry handsomely uniformed. I dined with the Citizens in public; and in the afternoon, was introduced to upwards of 50 ladies who had assembled (at a Tea party) on the occasion. George Town seems to be in the shade of Charleston. It...
157917[Diary entry: 17 March 1773] (Washington Papers)
17. At home all day alone.
157918From George Washington to Vice Admiral d’Estaing, 29 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I embrace with pleasure an opportunity, of introducing to Your Excellencys acquaintance, Brigadier General Du portail, an Officer of your nation whose talents and services have rendered him valuable to ours. The important post of chief engineer and the elevated grade which he holds in our army, are proofs of the confidence which Congress places in him—the distinguished manner in which he has...
157919From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 29 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
Yours of the 26th overtook me a few Miles from this place where I arrived this day at Noon. The Enemy gave us not the least Interruption upon our March. I am glad to hear that the Stores that were at Tapan and Slotts Landing are all got safely up; I hope you will have the same good Luck with the Flour. I approve of the Steps you have taken to keep the Tories, in the Neighbourhood of your post,...
157920From George Washington to Henry Knox, 29 January 1789 (Washington Papers)
Having learnt from an Advertisement in the New York Daily Advertiser, that there were superfine American Broad Cloths to be sold at No. 44 in Water Street; I have ventured to trouble you with the Commission of purchasing enough to make me a suit of Cloaths. As to the colour, I shall leave it altogether to your taste; only observing, that, if the dye should not appear to be well fixed, & clear,...
157921General Orders, 2 September 1780 (Washington Papers)
[Officers] For the Day Tomorrow[:] Brigadier General Irvine[,] Colonel Chambers[,] Lieutenant Colonel Vose[,] Brigade Major White. For Guard[:] Major Harwood. The Army will march tomorrow morning—The General will beat at three ô clock—the Assemblé at half past four—and the march will commence precisely at five. the Quartermaster General will furnish the order of march and route. After Orders....
157922General Orders, 3 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Pennsylvania Brigades to hold themselves in readiness to march at an hours warning. The Deputy Cloathier General will exert himself to have the Cloathing that is returned in carried to Fish-Kill as soon as possible—The Officers now in Camp to procure Cloathing for the several Brigades, are desired to use all possible dispatch in drawing their respective quotas & sending them off. After...
157923[Diary entry: 14 July 1773] (Washington Papers)
14. Rid with the two Miss Calverts & Mrs. Washington to the New Church at Pohick. Construction of the new church was now nearing completion. A stone baptismal font and step costing £7 5s. were being made, and the pews were either ready or almost ready for the congregation. Although GW had been in Williamsburg 20 Nov. 1772, the day that the pews were auctioned, he had engaged to buy one next to...
157924Instructions to Brigadier General Lachlan McIntosh, 4 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
You are to visit all the Hospitals of which I have given you a list, and such others in the States of Pensa & Jersey as may have been omitted, if there are Continental Soldiers in them. You are to bring me an exact acct of the state of each hospital with the number of Men therein; distinguishing the State, Regiment, & Company they belong to; and, as nearly as possible, those who died in, &...
157925From George Washington to David Stuart, 1 February 1793 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday I wrote two letters to the Commissioners. One public, the other private. The first giving ideas of the compensation which ought to be made them for their past, and an allowance for future services. In doing this I did not, as the Law is silent, chuse to be governed wholly by my own Judgment; and therefore took the opinion of known friends to the District, and to yourselves. The...
157926From George Washington to Major General Philip Schuyler, 7 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have No Time to answer your two last Favors minutely, but only to acknowledge the receipt of them, being just returned from Philadelphia & the Post about to depart this Morning. The Situation of our Affairs in Canada, is truly allarming, & I greatly fear from the Intelligence transmitted from thence by Captn Wilkinson to General Greene, that ’ere this We have sustained further & greater...
157927George Washington to the Board of War, 13 April 1781 (Hamilton Papers)
New Windsor [ New York ] April 13, 1781 . Asks Board to supply hard money to officers on Long Island who have been exchanged but are detained for lack of funds. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
157928From George Washington to Richard Henry Lee, 25 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
If any thing of greater moment, than declaring that every word contained in the Pamphlet you were obliging enough to send me, was spurious, had occurred, I should not have suffered your favor of the 6th Instt to have remained so long unacknowledged—These letters are written with a great deal of art—the intermixture of so many family circumstances (which by the by wanted foundation in truth)...
157929George Washington to George Measam, 24 September 1778 (Hamilton Papers)
Fredericksburg [ New York ] September 24, 1778 . Orders Measam to Hartford and Springfield to supervise repacking of clothing that is being forwarded from Boston. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Measam was deputy clothier general of the Army.
157930From George Washington to John Hancock, 21 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I last night had the honor to receive your Letter of the 17th Instant with its several Inclosures. I heartily wish the States may feel the importance of filling their Batallions, and may, in consequence of the Recommendation of Congress, adopt such measures as will prove effectual for the purpose. I cannot but think that heretofore, there has been a want of attention in this instance, and that...
157931[Diary entry: 11 November 1773] (Washington Papers)
11. Went to Westover with Colo. Bassett & Mr. Custis. Dind at New Kent Court House in our way there. The plantation of Westover is about 25 miles due west of Williamsburg and overlooks the James River in Charles City County. Built c.1730 for William Byrd II (1674–1744), Westover was inherited by Col. William Byrd III, who was residing there in 1773 with his second wife, Mary Willing Byrd (d....
157932[Diary entry: 8 January 1780] (Washington Papers)
8th. Morning cold & Windy from the No. West. Mid-day and afternoon more moderate and less Windy—Weather clear. After Sunset it again turned very cold the Wind freshning from the No. West.
157933[Diary entry: 30 August 1786] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 30th. Mercury at 69 in the Morning—68 at Noon and 62 at Night. More rain fell last Night and this forenoon—Wind at East. Prevented riding in the Morning by the weather. About Noon Mr. Willm. Triplet & Mr. L. Washington came in and after a great deal of conversation respecting the Renting of Mrs. French’s Land, and the purchase of Manley’s it ended in postponement till Friday for...
157934[Diary entry: 23 April 1767] (Washington Papers)
23. Clear Morning & cool. Wind Westwardly. Rainy afternoon.
157935From George Washington to La Luzerne, 4 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
Colonel Gemat arrived here last night, by whom I had the honor to receive Your Excellency’s request, that I would send instructions for the second Division coming from France, with respect to the measures which it should pursue for forming a junction with the first. I beg leave to inform Your Excellency that I wrote to the Count de Rocambeau, agreable to my Letter to You of the 27th Ulto and...
157936From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 11 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of yesterday was handed me in the afternoon—I thank you for the communication of Major Gray’s letter. I have received a correspondent account from another quarter, with only this difference, that there is said to have been forty instead of twenty five sail in the Sound. I am assured by the Gentlemen who are charged with procuring intelligence in the Jerseys, that the English fleet...
157937From George Washington to Colonel John Cadwalader, 25 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
Notwithstanding the discouraging Accounts I have received from Col: Reed of what might be expected from the Operations below, I am determined, as the night is favourable, to cross the River, & make the attack upon Trenton in the Morning. If you can do nothing real, at least create as great a diversion as possible. I am Sir your most obt Servant Copy, in John Cadwalader’s writing, PHi :...
157938From George Washington to Robert Morris, 5 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
On my Return from Phila. I found many Complaints against Mr Sands for frequent want of provisions—as well as Badness of Quality in what he did furnish—both these Greivances have subsisted till the present Time and the Troops have been without their Rations for several days at various Times. In Castg about for a Remedy, I find, none is provided in the Contracts, but what is to be applied by the...
157939From George Washington to Brigadier General Jedediah Huntington, 18 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am informed by Colo. Bland who has the care of the convention Troops, that the first division of them would be at Sharon this Night. It is more than probable that many of these under the pretence of desertion will endeavour to find their way into New York; I would therefore wish you to stop all that may happen in your way and detain them untill you think their release may be safe—or send...
157940General Orders, 25 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Court Martial whereof Coll Craige is President is dissolved, and another ordered to sit in a Hut near General Varnum’s Brigade, Genl Huntington’s late quarters next monday ten ô Clock in the forenoon for the Trial of all Prisoners brought before them—Coll Febiger is appointed President—Each Brigade gives a Captain for the Court. Lieut. Coll Gibson of the 13th is appointed to the Command of...
157941[Diary entry: 25–27 July 1763] (Washington Papers)
25. 26. 27. } Cutting & makg. Hay at Sein Landg.
157942From George Washington to Henry Knox, 26 December 1786 (Washington Papers)
Nothing but the pleasing hope of seeing you under this roof in the course of last month, and wch I was disposed to extend even to the present moment, has kept me till this time from acknowleging the receipt of your obliging favor of the 23d of October. Despairing now of that pleasure, I shall thank you for the above letter, and the subsequent one of the 17th instt, which came to hand yesterday...
157943From George Washington to Robert Dinwiddie, 10 March 1757 (Washington Papers)
We may I think with great Propriety and Justice represent. That—The Virginia Regiment was the first in arms of any Troops upon the Continent, in the prest War. That—The three Years which they have Servd has been one continued Scene of Action. That—whilst other Troops have an agreeable recess in Winter Quarters, the Nature of the Service in which we are engagd, and the smallness of Our Numbers...
157944From George Washington to the U.S. Senate, 10 December 1794 (Washington Papers)
I nominate the following persons to fill the offices respectively annexed to their names, some of which became vacant during the recess of the Senate. Arthur St Clair, to be Governor in and over the Territory of the United States, northwest of the river Ohio. continued—the legal term of his former appointment having expired. Winthrop Sargent, to be Secretary in and over the Territory of the...
157945General Orders, 21 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Michael Ryan Esqr: (late Brigade Major to the Garrison of Ticonderoga, and Fort Independence) is appointed to that duty in Brigadier Genl Wayne’s Brigade; and to be respected and obeyed as such. Varick transcript , DLC:GW . Michael Ryan (d. 1791), who had been commissioned a second lieutenant in the 4th Pennsylvania Regiment in January 1776, became adjutant of that regiment in March 1776 and...
157946From George Washington to John Pierce, Jr., 20 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
In the Course of the Winter sundry Warrants were granted to Virginia Officers in order to obtain Money for paying bounties given by the State to such of their Men as should reinlist. I do not know the amount. Captain Moss the Bearer of this has come to Camp to replace the advances on the part of the State. You will be pleased to make out an account of them & settle it with him. If The Money...
157947General Orders, 5 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Commissary General of prisoners informs the commanding officers of regiments and other corps, that notwithstanding the orders heretofore issued for that purpose; he has received but one small return of prisoners, taken by the enemy, since his appointment; in consequence of which neglect, it will be impossible for him, in case of an exchange, to pay proper attention to the order of the...
157948[Diary entry: 6 October 1786] (Washington Papers)
Friday 6th. Mercury at 62 in the morning—60 at Noon and 57 at Night. Morning clear, except scattering clouds—Winds high from the westward. In the afternoon (having first dined) rid with my Brother to Mr. Lund Washington’s and returned. Found the waters had been exceeding high.
157949[Diary entry: 14 January 1770] (Washington Papers)
14. At home all day alone.
157950[Diary entry: 28 November 1770] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 28th. The Old Town Gut was so high as to Wet us in crossing it, and when we came to Coxs., the River was Impassable; we were obligd therefore to cross in a Canoe & swim our Horses. At Henry Enochs at the Fork of Cacapehon we dind, & lodgd at Rinkers. The distances thus computed—from the old Town to Coxs. 8 Miles—from thence to Cacapehon 12 and 18 Afterwards in all 38 Miles. The last...