20251To George Washington from Major William Smith Livingston, 17 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Colo: Hand has this Morning reported to the General that since Yesterday Evening four Vessels of War, one of them the Solbay have sailed from the Fleet at the Narrows—Two Brigs a Sloop and Schooner came in from Sea and the Man of War that lay off the Hook these two Days past came in—The Morning being very Thick he could discern nothing distinctly at the Hook but that late in the Evening of...
20252From George Washington to the New York Convention, 17 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
When I consider that the City of New York will in all human probability very soon be the scene of a bloody conflict: I can not but view the great Numbers of Women, Children & infirm persons remaining in It with the most melancholy concern—When the Men of War passed up the River the Shrieks & Cries of these poor creatures running every way with their Children was truly distressing & I fear will...
20253To George Washington from Abraham Yates, Jr., 17 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Mr Denning hath made the Convintion Acquainted with your Excellenceys Sentiments upon obstructing the Navigation of the East River between the Grand Battery and Governor’s Island. we now take the Liberty of inclosing the Copy of our Resolution for that purpose, which together with this Letter will be handed to your Excellency by the Gentleman of the Committee to whom we make no doubt Sir that...
20254To George Washington from Abraham Yates, Jr., 17 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am directed to inform your Excellency that immediately upon the receipt of your favor of this morning respecting the Women, Children and Infirm persons remaining in the City of New York—The Convention appointed a Committee for the purpose of removeing and provideing for such persons—I inclose a Copy of the Resolves for that purpose and hope you will soon be releived from the Anxiety which...
20255From George Washington to Robert Yates, 17 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am favoured with yours of the 13th & 14th inst. and am pleased to find you have been successfull in procuring Cannon for the Defence of Hudsons River; also that there is such a good prospect of effectually securing the Pass at Fort Montgomery, the mention you make of General Clinton’s attention to that & other important Objects gives me great satisfaction, & confirms me in the opinion that...
20256John Adams to Abigail Adams, 18 August 1776 (Adams Papers)
My Letters to you are an odd Mixture. They would appear to a Stranger, like the Dish which is sometimes called Omnium Gatherum. This is the first Time, I believe that these two Words were ever put together in Writing. The litteral Interpretation of them, I take to be “A Collection of all Things.” But as I said before, the Words having never before been written, it is not possible to be very...
20257From John Adams to Samuel Adams, 18 August 1776 (Adams Papers)
I had the Pleasure of a line from you, at Princetown, and Yesterdays Post brought me another from New York. I thank you for this Attention, and for the encouraging Account you give of the State of our Affairs at New York and Ti. The last is agreable to the Official Letters We have from General Gates who has at last Sent Us a general Return of the Army and Navy upon a more distinct, accurate...
20258To John Adams from William Tudor, 18 August 1776 (Adams Papers)
It was with no small Degree of Pleasure, on my Return here, I observed the Cheerfulness which brightened the Countenance of every Soldier I met. The whole Army are in most excellent Spirits and shew an Impatience for Action. And the Spade and Pick Ax have been so well employ’d, that there is scarce a Spot upon the whole Island, where a Redoubt or Breast Work could be of service, but what has...
20259To Benjamin Franklin from John Kearsley Read, 18 August 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society A series of years hath pass’d since you were troubled with a letter from me. My neglect of writing to you has been from a supposition that (hitherto) your engagements could not have allowed you time to attend to the less important concerns of a branch of the family so farr remote from you, as I have ever been. I hope however, should you find leisure, you...
20260To Benjamin Franklin from George Ross, 18 August 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Phenix and Rose have Just now passed our Batterys and I fear without much damage. I was in one of the Batterys during the whole time they were within gun shot. The visit they had two nights agoe from our fire ships made them sick of their Station and they have now Joind the fleet at the Narrows. Every countenance here is chearfull and if our Enemies...