157981General Orders, 25 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
The intention of a certificate upon pay Abstracts under the hands of the Brigadiers, was, that the truth of them should be made apparent, upon a comparison with the weekly returns, and unless the Brigadiers make such comparison, the signing their names is but an empty form—The Commander in Chief therefore requires, that henceforward the Brigadiers, or officers commanding brigades that are...
157982To George Washington from Major General John Armstrong, Sr., 25 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
At this place I found about three hundred of the militia of this County Collected & other smaller partys coming in, the former employed to very little purpose waiting for Acoutrements whereof they are almost totally destitute a great part not even bringing Blankets which Article they undoubtedly cou’d have found—But march they shall this afternoon having prompted the Council to make another...
157983From George Washington to Major Robert Ballard, 25 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I received your favor of the 23d Inst. and am obliged by the intelligence it contains. The conduct of your Garrison has equaled my most sanguine expectations, and merit my warmest acknowledgements & thanks. Be assured no exertions of mine shall be wanting to give you every support in my power; ammunition is now on its way to the Forts, and a supply of that article shall not be wanting, when...
157984To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Adam Comstock, 25 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
Col. Greene being very much fatigu’d in Strengthening the Fo[r]t & in other necessary business of the Garrison, has Commanded me to inform your Excellency that on the 23d instant he had information that a strong Force under the Command of Genl Cornwallace had crossed Coopers Ferry, and were advancing toward us—Col. Greene expecting a new attack: The wounded Hessian Officers, and Privates being...
157985From George Washington to the Continental Navy Board, 25 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
The applications of Commodore Hazelwood for seamen, & the necessity there is of his being Supplied, if possible induce me to submit it to the Cons[i]deration of your Board, whether those in the Frigates near Burlington cannot be more benefically employed with him, than where they now are. The importance of defending the Navigation below, or in other words of preventing the Enemy from becoming...
157986To George Washington from the Continental Navy Board, 25 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
We thought proper to forward the enclosed Letter for your Perusal, partly because it contains a pretty circumstantial Account of the late Action at Red Bank & the burning two of the Enemy’s Ships of War; but principally on Account of the Declaration in the last Paragraph of a Want of Amunition in the Garrison & Fleet. We have, whilst at this Place, exerted ourselves in supplying our Ships with...
157987To George Washington from Major General Philemon Dickinson, 25 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
By a Person just returned from Bergen, who has been stationed there for several Days; I am informed, that the Enemy’s Fleet with all their flat bottomed Boats, that went up the North River, returned last Evening to N. York. The report is confirmed, of their having burnt Kingston at Æsopus—& by a woman who left N. York two Days ago, I can inform your Excellency, that the report of General...
157988To George Washington from Major Benjamin George Eyre, 25 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
Capt. Doherdey has just Come to this plaice he informs me that we are in want of musket Cartridges 32 pound shot & Grape shot —Eight waggons Loaded with powder left Burlington this morning they went by the way of mountholley the Brittish troops that Crossed has Gone back their is four two Deckkers Come up threw the lore Chevackdefriez the Comodore wants a few men in the Galleys but they Cannot...
157989From George Washington to Brigadier General David Forman, 25 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
My Letter of the 21st Instt (which I hope has got safe to your hands) would amply convey to you my Ideas of the Importance of red Bank, and leaves me little to add on that head, saving, that the more it is considered, the more essential it appears, to use every possible means for its preservation. The late check which the Enemy met with, in attempting to Storm the Fort at that place is a most...
157990To George Washington from John Hancock, 25 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have been duely honoured with your Favours of the 18th and 21st and immediately laid them before Congress; from whom I have it in Charge to forward the enclosed Resolves, with a Request that you will pay that Attention to them which they require. You will recieve herewith two Bundles of Commissions, which I should have forwarded sooner, had I not been prevented from signing them, by a severe...
157991To George Washington from John Hancock, 25 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was duely honoured with your Favour of the 22d and am much obliged by the Expressions of Politeness & Friendship which it contains. A few Months Relaxation will, I hope, restore my Health and Constitution, and enable me still to contribute my feeble Efforts, in some Mode or other, to the Advancement of the Cause of Freedom in America. If I should not return to Congress, it will be the Height...
157992From George Washington to Commodore John Hazelwood, 25 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was last night favd with yours of the 23d. Give me leave to congratulate you upon your Victory, and return my thanks to the Officers and men for their gallant behaviour, to those particularly who were more immediately engaged. I hope Colo. Green’s success by land added to yours upon the Water, will make the Enemy cautious of attempting either again. You may depend upon being supplied with...
157993To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 25 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
We find by the destination of the prisoners of General Burgoynes Army to this Neighbourhood, a wide and difficult Field opens to us. To provide Quarters, provisions, Fuel &c. for Five or Six Thousand Men will be no small Task. The Assembly suppose them to be under my direction and have advised that they be placed in the Barracks on prospect and Winter Hill, Cambridge & Sewells point, and...
157994Colonel Henry Emanuel Lutterloh’s Remarks on Payment for Damages, 25 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
The present Mode of bringing in the Accounts for Demmages done by our Army, is open to Several abuses, and put it intirely out of the power of the quarter Master Generals or his Deputys to pay them. As long as I have acted allone, I have refused to pay any Such articles; for reasons, I found that by paying all those Estimates made by the owners and attested by some of their Neighbours, the...
157995To George Washington from Jeremiah Dummer Powell, 25 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
We sincerely Congratulate your Excellency upon the very extraordinary Success with which the American Army in the Northern Department has been Crowned, you have doubtless before this been fully Acquainted by General Gates with the Surrender of General Burgoyne and his Army into his hands, a Glorious Acquisition which must be Attended with the happiest Consequences, we wish your Excellency the...
157996Circular to Brigadier General Casimir Pulaski and the Colonels of the Continental Light Dragoon Regiments, 25 October … (Washington Papers)
I am sorry to find that the liberty I granted to the light dragoons of impressing horses near the enemy’s lines has been most horribly abused and perverted into a mere plundering scheme. I intended nothing more than that the horses belonging to the disaffected, in the neighbourhood of the British army, should be taken for the use of the dismounted dragoons, and expected, that they would be...
157997To George Washington from Major General Israel Putnam, 25 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have been honrd with the recept of your two Favours of the 15th & 19th Inst.—and have the pleasure to acquaint you that after a Tedious march we are returned to this place, the Fleet passed down by here yesterday, & did but little dammage on their return. Some heavy Artillery & a reinforcement of Continental Troops, I am Informed by Genl Gates, are on their way to Join me—by a deserter & two...
157998From George Washington to Captain Isaiah Robinson, 25 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 20th I duly receiv’d. It gives me pain to find, that the Strictest harmony and Confidence do not prevail among the Navy Officers. These are essential to Our Sucess at this time, And I hope the Gentlemen concern’d in that line, who know their importance and the fatal miscarages, that have been produced in many instances by a different disposition, will cultivate them with...
157999To Thomas Jefferson from John Hancock, 25 October 1777 (Jefferson Papers)
I Had the honour to Receive your obliging favor by Mr. Harvey, with Forty seven Dollars, being an additional Donation of the County of Albemarle for relieving the poor of Boston which shall be faithfully applied to their Benefit. My constant application to Publick Business both in and out of Congress, has so impair’d my Health, that some Relaxation has become absolutely necessary, and to...
158000To Thomas Jefferson from John Harvie, [25 October 1777] (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you about ten days ago that General Gates had obtain’d a Signal Victory over General Burgoyne on the 7th. Inst. and now have the pleasure of informing you that a few days after this defeat Burgoyne with his whole Army Surrend’d themselves prisoners of War to the American General. It is said the prisoners Stores &c. taken are as followeth Viz 1 Lt. General, 2 Major Generals, 7 Brigadier...
158001John Adams to Abigail Adams, 24 October 1777 (Adams Papers)
It is with shame that I recollect that I have not written you more than two or three Letters these 5 Weeks, and those very short. News I am afraid to write, because I never know untill it is too late what is true. From last Sunday to this Moment Fryday afternoon 4 o Clock, We have been in a state of tormenting Uncertainty concerning our Affairs at the Northward. On Sunday, We had News, from...
158002To John Adams from Samuel Cooper, 24 October 1777 (Adams Papers)
Two days agoe I wrote you an hasty Script. Perhaps I express’d myself too suddenly and strongly upon an important Subject. The Terms which Gates has given Burgoyne might be as well for the States as Circumstances would allow; tho I own, from what Glover, and ev’ry Officer on the Spot had written, I concluded the Enemy must have been totally in our Power. But if we have not all we could wish,...
158003George Washington to Colonel Christopher Greene, 24 October 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Whitpain Township, Pennsylvania ] October 24, 1777 . Congratulates Greene on defeat of enemy on October 22, 1777, and orders that all prisoners be sent to Morristown. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
158004George Washington to Major General John Sullivan, 24 October 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Whitpain Township, Pennsylvania ] October 24, 1777 . Answers questions concerning Sullivan’s conduct at Brandywine. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
158005From Alexander Hamilton to Colonel Charles Stewart, 24 October 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
His Excellency desires me to acknowledge the Receipt of yours of yesterday, and thank you for the intelligence contained in it. He hopes you will soon be able to send him a confirmation with more certain particulars. I am Dr Sir Your most Obedt ALS , Mrs. Cecily Symington, Cooperstown, New York. Stewart was commissary general of issues from June 18, 1777, to July, 1782.
158006The Massachusetts Council to the American Commissioners, 24 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Archives The Brigantine Penet John Harris Commander by Who you will receive this Letter has been taken up and fited out for a voyage to France solely with a Veiw of Conveying to you Authoritative Intelligence of the success of the American Army in the Northern Department. We sincerely Congratulate you upon this occasion and have the pleasure to Inform you that by...
158007To Benjamin Franklin from the Massachusetts Board of War, 24 October 1777: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Translation: Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères <Boston, October 24, 1777, in French: Your public character and responsibilities justify our opening a correspondence to inform you of events since the happy days of Trenton and Princeton. The British have recently occupied Philadelphia and fought Washington at Germantown; our privateers are doing damage, but the middle states are...
158008General Orders, 24 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
Many abuses having been committed in impressing horses for the army, The Commander in Chief positively orders, that henceforward, no horse be impressed by any member of the army, without an order therefor from the Qr Mr General, or order of his deputies or assistants, or a special order from the Commander in Chief. The Brigade Quarter Masters are to make returns, to morrow afternoon, at five...
158009Proclamation on Deserters, 24 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
Proclamation By His Excellency, George Washington, Esqr. General & Commander in chief of the forces of the United States of America. W hereas sundry Soldiers belonging to the Armies of the said States have deserted from the same; These are to make known to All those who have so offended, and who shall return to their Respective Corps, or surrender themselves to the Officers appointed to...
158010To George Washington from Major General Philemon Dickinson, 24 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of Yesterday, was handed me by Col: Fitzgerald; having detached Genl Winds with 1,000 Men to New Windsor, by order of Govr Livingston, this Post was reduced very low; I have endeavour’d by every possible means to bring in the Militia, & have only collected 700 men—hope in a few Days, to increase the Number to 1000. Immediately on reciept of your Excellency’s letter, I sent an...