158031John Philip Merckle to the American Commissioners, 1 November 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society La presente vous sera remis par Monsieur H. Godet, beaufils du Gouverneur de St. Eustatius, qu’il sera bien aise de faire votre connoissance, comme je n’en doute pas, que vous m’aurez aussi bon grée vous l’avoire recomandé. Il est tres innutille de faire ses l’uenges [louanges], car sa Personne est assez distinguez est [et] recomandable, pour que je puise...
158032To Benjamin Franklin from Arthur Lee, 1 November 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. A. Lee presents his Compts. to Dr. Franklin and begs to have the Papers he mentiond to Dr. Franklin, namely Count Vergennes’s Letter, the last Memoire to him, the last Letter to the Committee, and the list of Stores shipt from Marsailles. Mr. L. sends a Newspaper, which Mr. Izard borrowd and desird him to return. Addressed: The Honble / Benjamin Franklin...
158033General Orders, 1 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Commissaries are directed to take all the liquors in the hands of the sutlers, at a reasonable price if they can agree, and if they cannot, the sutlers are to carry them away: And no sutler shall be allowed to continue in the camp after the 5th instant. A General Court Martial of which General Sullivan was president, was held the 25th, 26th, 27th & 30th of October last, for the trial of...
158034Authority to Collect Clothing, 1 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
By Virtue of the powers Vested in me by the Honorable Congress I hereby Authorize to Collect all such blankets Shoes, Stockings and other Cloathing Suitable to the Use of the Army, within the Counties of in the State of Pensilvania, As the Inhabitants Can spare without greatly distressing their families. In doing this you are to take Care, that, the unfreindly Quakers and others Notoriously...
158035To George Washington from Major General Philemon Dickinson, 1 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s favor of the 27th October, I receivd the 30th & should be happy, if I had it my Power to inform you, that I was prepareing for my March to the Delaware. I mentioned to the Governor & Council, the urgent Necessity for the immediate compliance with your Excellency’s request, but have yet received no Answer—nor do I believe, the Order will be given in time, to be of any...
158036From George Washington to Brigadier General David Forman, 1 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
When I last had the pleasure of seeing you, I advised you to Collect all the shoes stockings shirts Breechers &Ca which could be spared by the Country, in order to supply such of the soldiery as might stand most in need of them, & gave you every authority in my power for this purpose Now, as the Detachment which first March’d down to Fort Mifflin under command of Lieut. Colo. Smith must be...
158037To George Washington from Brigadier General Ebenezer Learned, 1 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
As Col: Fisher has Some how (notwithstanding he is Commisionated) ben Neglected as to a Command in the Continental Army. Yet has acted as a Volunteer in my Brigd. through the Struggel to Subdue the Enemy to the Northward—and his Conduct has ben So Steady and Couragous—I must Heartily Recommend him to your Honours Favour for a Command Eaquel to his Diserving and in thus doing I must think your...
158038To George Washington from Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 1 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Mr Claiborne, who has acted as my Aid de Camp, and whom I have permitted to return to Virginia, will have the honor of delivering this to your Excellency. The great distance from Virginia to New-England, and the uncertainty of my state of health, and in what part of the Continent I may serve, should I ever be able to take the field, may render it uncertain whether he can again join my...
158039From George Washington to William Livingston, 1 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I think it not only incumbent upon me, but a duty which I owe the public, to represent to you the unaccountable Conduct of Brig: Genl. Newcomb at this critical time. As soon as the Enemy shewed a disposition to possess themselves of Billingsport and Red Bank I wrote to him in the most urgent manner to collect and keep up as many Militia as he possibly could to assist in the defence of Red Bank...
158040From George Washington to Major General Israel Putnam, 1 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
As representation has been made to me that the Purchase of Cattle has entirely ceased for some time past in the State of Connecticut, by means of those Gentlemen not chusing to Act who were appointed by Congress for that purpose, by which Our Army may possibly suffer for the want of Meat in a short time —I have therefore to reques⟨t tha⟩t you will without Loss of time appoint One or more...
158041From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 1 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have this moment receiv’d your favor of Yesterday, & hope General Varnum with the Detachment from this Army, have by this time arriv’d to your support, & that your little Garrison will, with the greatest confidence & Vigor, exert itself to baffle every attempt of the Enemy to reduce it —When I last saw General Foreman I authorized him to collect all the Cloathing such as shoes, stockings,...
158042From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 1 November 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Major General Stirling, 1 Nov. 1777. Stirling wrote to GW on 3 Nov. that “Your Excellency’s letter of the first Instant, I received yesterday.”
158043From George Washington to Brigadier General James Mitchell Varnum, 1 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I hope this will find you arrived safe at Red Bank with your detatchment. By letters from the Baron Arendt, who has retired for a few days to the Jersey Side for the benefit of his health, I understand that what they principally fear at Fort Mifflin is a surprise by Night, or a lodgment upon the upper end of the Island, by which they may cover themselves before morning, and open a Battery upon...
158044Enclosure: Elias Bowdinot to Heman Allen; Heman Allen to Archibald Campbell, 30 September 1777; 31 October 1777 (Adams Papers)
By perusing the inclosed copy you will be able to judge what further measures will be necessary, for you to take to expedite the liberation of yourself by accomplishing the wish’d for exchange, which I hope will now soon take place. As I am fearful of missing the present opportunity of forwarding this I cannot add more than that I am with great respect Sir your humble Servant, Your letter to...
158045To George Washington from John Parke Custis, October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have intended for several Letters past, but as often forgot It, to ask whether It would be agreabl⟨e⟩ to you, to admit Colo. Baylor a Partner in the Sha⟨re⟩ We have of the Privateer. He was very desirous to become an Adventurer, and I promised to acquaint you of It, but forgot It untill Now. The Share I own is divided into four Parts. Mr Lund Washington has one Fourth, the remaining three...
158046To John Adams from Benjamin Rush, 31 October 1777 (Adams Papers)
The disorders of our Army do not proceed from any natural faults in our men. On the contrary I believe the people of America (especially the Natives) are the most tractable Creatures in the world. I Can say with great certainty that I have never yet been disobeyed in a single instance by a Virginian or a New England man in any connection with them in the hospital. I speak therefore from...
158047The American Commissioners: Contract with Rey de Morande, 31 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
DS and draft : American Philosophical Society We cannot explain this document. It is among Franklin’s papers, he and his colleagues signed it, and he endorsed it; but we can find no trace of the Cadiz merchant with whom it was supposedly made, or of cannon bought from any Spanish suppliers at this time. One of the central points of this agreement, furthermore, is to barter tobacco for guns;...
158048The Committee for Foreign Affairs to the American Commissioners, 31 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Two copies: National Archives We have the pleasure to enclose to you the Capitulation by which Genl. Burgoyne and his whole army surrendered themselves prisoners of War. This great event might have still been greater had not the operations on Hudson’s river below Albany rendered it apprehensible that Sir Harry Clinton might come to the relief of Genl. Burgoyne as he had urged his way up to...
158049To Benjamin Franklin from Barbeu-Dubourg, 31 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’ai l’honneur de vous recommander 1° M. le Chevalier du Gravier, ami de M. Coder, Officier d’artillerie du plus grand merite, qui part pour Bordeaux sa patrie où son ami m’assure qu’il peut vous etre d’une utilité infinie; il vous expliquera mieux que moi en quoi, et comment. Il ne desire que de vous etre presente. 2° M. de Livoys Officier de marine...
158050General Orders, 31 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
Richard Platt and Ranald Stephen McDougall Esqrs. are appointed Aids-de-Camp to Major General McDougall, and are to be respected as such. The Deputy Quarter Masters General are to make a return to the Qr Mr General’s office, of all equipage, and stores, waggons &c.—in their respective divisions—the returns to be made to morrow morning at 9 o’clock. The Commander in Chief approves the following...
158051From George Washington to Brigadier General David Forman, 31 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Complaints respecting the Conduct of Brigadr Genl Newcomb, give me the more concern at this time, as such backwardness and unwillingness to fulfil the Duties of his Station as have been laid to his Charge, might at this juncture have been attended with the most pernicious Consequences—as you have been a witness of his Misconduct you will be a very proper person to make a pointed...
158052To George Washington from Captain Henry Lee, Jr., 31 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I wrote your Excellency yesterday, since which I have been active in acquainting myself with the disposition & connexion of the enemy on this side the Schuylkill. They have a body of men, (not five hundred in number) on Carpenters island; the possession of this post secures a constant & ready supply of provision. It is brought up by water, from the fleet off Chester, reposited under cover of...
158053From 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.”
158054From George Washington to Brigadier General James Potter, 31 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
As soon as the Schuylkill is fordable, I shall send over a large body of Militia to you, for the purpose of executing some particular matters. The principal are, to endeavour to break up the Road by which the enemy have a communication with their shipping over the Islands if it is practicable and to remove the running Stones from the Mills in the neighbourhood of Chester and Wilmington. This...
158055From George Washington to Major General Israel Putnam, 31 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with yours of the 25th from Fishkill. Although you say that the Enemy have passed down by that place, you do not say whether they have gone entirely down and evacuated the Forts upon the River, but from the tenor of your letter I imagine they have. I shall be glad to be particularly informed of this in your next, and also whether you have heard with certainty of the reinforcement’s...
158056To George Washington from Major General Israel Putnam, 31 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I congratulate your Excellency on the Success of your arms against the Enemy, in the attack made on Red Bank which Comes by letter from Col. Bidle—I have already informed you, by former letters, of the return of the Enemys fleet down the river—their having evacuated Peeks kill Fort mountgomery & their adjacent posts, after destroying the Cannon & demolishing the Forts, with an Evident design,...
158057To George Washington from Lt. Col. Samuel Smith, 31 October 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Lt. Col. Samuel Smith, 31 Oct. 1777. GW wrote Smith on 1 Nov. that “I have this moment receiv’d your favor of Yesterday.”
158058To George Washington from Charles Thomson, 31 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
As Mr Hancock took leave of Congress on Wednesday and yesterday set out on his way home to Boston, I have the honour to forward to you Copies of two letters this day received from general Gates and most heartily to congratulate you on the signal success with which providence has been pleased to bless our Arms. Col. Wilkinson who brought the dispatches has not had time to sort and arrange his...
158059From George Washington to Brigadier General James Mitchell Varnum, 31 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Loss of our heavy Cannon on the North River, and the possibility however remote, of our losing those which are in the Forts on Delaware, in which case we should be totally divested of an essential defence against the Enemys Ships—make it adviseable to remove from Red bank and Fort Mifflin all the large Calibers that can possibly be spared from their necessary defence, to some Place of...
158060Abigail Adams to Isaac Smith Jr., 30 October 1777 (Adams Papers)
A favourable opportunity offering by Mr. Austin of writing to you, I embrace it, in compliance to your pappa’s request as well as my own inclination. The uncertainty of a conveyance to you has prevented many of your Friends from writing to you, and when an opportunity has offerd the fear of a miscarrage has obliged them to say little else than what regards the State of their Health and the...