22401To Benjamin Franklin from William Wilkinson, 12 March 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Wilkinson’s Compliments to Dr. Franklin and is sorry he could not find him at Hotel D Hamborg. Twas not till this Day that Mr. W knew possitively where Dr. F was else should have sooner acquainted him that a Gentleman going to London early next Week who may be depended on will carry any Letters there carefully. Mr. W also going himself to Nantz on Monday...
22402General Orders, 12 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
Richard Kidder Meade Esqr: appointed Aide-De-Camp to the Commander in Chief, and is to be respected and obeyed as such. Varick transcript , DLC:GW . Richard Kidder Meade (1746–1805) of Nansemond County, Va., who had been a captain in the 2d Virginia Regiment since September 1775, served as an aide-de-camp to GW with the rank of lieutenant colonel for the remainder of the war. Following the war...
22403Circular to the Colonels of Various Continental Regiments, 12 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
You are hereby required immediately to send me an exact return of the state of your Regiment, and to march all the Recruits you have to Philadelphia, where they will be innoculated, and receive further orders from the Commanding Officer in that City—No plea’s for delay, drawn from the dispersion of the Officers and Men, can be admitted. Every Commanding Officer should know where his inferior...
22404From George Washington to John Hancock, 12 March 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to John Hancock, 12 Mar. 1777. Hancock’s letter to GW of 25 Feb. is docketed in part “Ansd 12 March.”
22405To George Washington from Colonel Henry Beekman Livingston, 12 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
It is now near five Months since my appointment to a Regiment Both Officers and Soldiers are begining to feel the Inconvenience attending the want of Money the Pay Abstracts would have been sent in but I have thought Proper to wait a General Order for that Purpose in Compliance with Your Excellencies Commands, I am Extreemly desirous wether the same Method is still in use and wether Your...
22406To George Washington from Brigadier General Alexander McDougall, 12 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with the Receipt of your Favor, of the 6th Instant. The several Matters ordered therein will be strictly attended to, and diligently pursued. Since my last, Colonel Livingston’s Regiment arrived here, after your Commands reached me; to assemble the troops of this State at Pecks Kill. I did not therefore send him down to the lower part of this County, as I intended. The...
22407From George Washington to Major General Philip Schuyler, 12 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
It is of the greatest Importance to the Safety of a Country, involved in a defensive War, to endeavour to draw their Troops together, at some post, at the opening of a Campaign, so Central to the Theatre of War, that they may be sent to the Support of any Part of the Country, the Enemy may direct their Motions against. It is a Military Observation strongly supported by Experience, that “a...
22408From Alexander Hamilton to Major General Adam Stephen, 13 March 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
In a letter Just received from Colonel Ward, there appears to be an objection made against innoculating his regiment, in consequence of some former order, not to innoculate Militia ’till all the Continental troops had undergone the operation. His Excellency desires that this objection, with respect to Colonel Wards regiment, should cease; and that they may immediately be admitted to the...
22409From Alexander Hamilton to Colonel Samuel Blachley Webb, 13 March 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
If General Knox has not passed through on his way here, and gotten out of your reach, you will be pleased carefully and expeditiously to convey the inclosed letter to him; as it is intended to hurry him on to Camp. If he is out of reach, destroy the letter, for it will be of no consequence to return it. The family are all well; and hope soon to see you here, at the head of your bloody...
22410Lambert Wickes to the American Commissioners, 13 March 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I Take this Opertunity to Inform you Of the proceadings of the Commissary of this port Which Seam very odd to me as I have Recd. no Instrucktions from you. He Sent for me to Day and told me I must Get my Ship Cleaned and put Every thing on bord As fast as possible and then Departe the port Immediately. He further Informd me he Should Send persons to See...
22411To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Baud, 13 March 1777: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Paris, March 13, 1777, in French: A person now in the provinces, about whom the duc de La Rochefoucauld can tell you, has asked me to make you some proposals that I think will please you. Kindly tell me when I can discuss them with you at Passy.> Possibly the chevalier de Cambray, an engineer. La Rochefoucauld rarely supported a volunteer for service in...
22412General Orders, 13 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
22413To George Washington from Brigadier General Philemon Dickinson, 13 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
Agreable to your Excellency’s Orders, I shall this Day send down to Boundbrook, 300 men. The Person I mentioned to your Excellency, is just returned from Brunswick, & brings the following Intelligence. Genl Howe, went to New York, 10 Days ago, the Troops much in the same Situation they were, no Boats building; the Hessians very sickly, & die fast; many English Troops begin to sicken, Skinners...
22414To George Washington from Col. William Grayson, 13 March 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Col. William Grayson, 13 Mar. 1777. In his letter to GW of 1 April , Grayson says that “I also wrote the 13th of March from Winchester by General Muhlenburgh, inclosing a list of the officers, whom we had appointed.”
22415From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 13 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
By my former directions, the fifteen Regiments, belonging to your State, were all ordered to march to Ticonderoga, as soon as they were raised armed and equipped. But upon a reconsideration of the matter, founded upon several peices of Intelligence, there is a probability that the Enemy will draw part of their force from Canada by water as soon as the St Lawrence is navigable, in order to...
22416From George Washington to Joshua Loring, 13 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed you have a List of Seventeen French Gentlemen taken at St Johns and Six Servants. I always understood that these Gentlemen all bore Commissions in the British Service, but by their own return, of which the inclosed is a Copy, only four of them appear to be Officers. If any more are so, I trust to your honour, to send out an equal number of ours of equal Rank. Since I last heard from...
22417From George Washington to the Massachusetts General Court, 13 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
The prospect of a vigorous attack upon Ticonderogo some time past, founded on a supposition that the Enemy might pass the Lakes on the Ice, induced me to order all the Continental Battalion of your State to march as fast as they were raised to that Post. A reconsideration of their Views, and the well grounded probability that they will draw the greater part of their force from Canada by Water...
22418From George Washington to Major General Thomas Mifflin, 13 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
Matters, that could not admit the least delay, have so much engaged my Attention since I had the pleasure of receiving your favour of the 13th Ulto That I could not pay a proper regard to its important Contents ’till within these few days. Your plan deserves my hearty Approbation, and, when improved by the following Hints, will throw the business of your Department into such a Channell, as...
22419From George Washington to the Officer Commanding at Raritan, New Jersey, 13 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I discover from a general return made to me, of the number and state of the Troops at Rariton by Brigadier General Dickinson, that the proportion of officers, vastly exceeds the number of Men at your post; whereby the Public is burdened with the unnecessary expence of useless Officers—I by no means condemn the good spirit that urges these Gentlemen to take the Field, but cannot help observing...
22420To George Washington from Joseph Reed, 13 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the Honour of writing to you from Philada I have seen Mr Cox & made the Proposal to him mentioned in your last Favour —I took no Notice of Rank as if he did not wish for the Office of Commissary it would not be worth while to touch that String. He expressd many Thanks for your polite Attention to him but declined the Office as being unconnectd with any Corps & out of all Line of...
22421John Adams to Abigail Adams, 14 March 1777 (Adams Papers)
Congress has been sitting several Days and proceeding upon Business. I have been in Town above a Week and have spent much of my Time, in making Inquiries after the cheapest Places in Town for Board and stabling. I have at last removed my Horses from a stable at six and six Pence a Night, to another at three dollars a Week each. So that for the future I am to pay only six dollars a Week for Hay...
22422From Alexander Hamilton to Colonel Andrew Ward, [14 March 1777] (Hamilton Papers)
Since writing the within, The General received your letter, respecting the innoculation of your regiment, and permission for yourself to go home. He has removed the difficulty in the way of innoculating your regiment, but has thought proper to refer the decision of what you request concerning yourself to Generals Stephen & Maxwell; and if they think the situation of affairs, requires your...
22423General Orders, 14 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
By Order of His Excellency, the execution of Serjt Porterfield is suspended ’till Friday the 21st Instant. Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
22424To George Washington from Brigadier General George Clinton, 14 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I begg Leave to recomend Capt. Black & Lieut. Santford both of Colo. Malcom’s Regiment for Captains of the two remaining Companies for which your Excellency Directed me to appoint Officers. Their Charecters Well in private life as Officers are good & I believe they will [be] able to raise their Companies as the Men of that Regiment are strongly attached to their Officers; many of them have not...
22425From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 14 March 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Nicholas Cooke, 14 Mar. 1777. When writing to GW on 14 April , Cooke says that “Your Excellency’s Favors of the 14th ult. and of the 3d instant are now before me,” and in another letter to GW of 31 Mar. 1778 Cooke writes: “Your Excellency wrote me on the 14th of March 1777 that General Howe had applied to you for the Discharge of Mr Hutchinson who was One of the Council...
22426From George Washington to John Hancock, 14 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was honoured several days ago with your Letter of the 25th Ulto with its Inclosures, the receipt of which was omitted to be acknowledged in my last. Could I accomplish the important Objects so eagerly wished by Congress, “confining the Enemy within their present Quarters—preventing their getting Supplies from the Country & totally subduing them before they are reinforced,[”] I should be...
22427From George Washington to Colonel Edward Hand, 14 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
You left this place many Weeks ago to collect, as I understood, the remains of your Regiment together—no good that I have yet seen, has resulted from it—by the last return just handed in, you have 263 Sick, absent—strange this! after such a length of time spent in Assembling your Regiment. The Season of the year, & the exigency of our Affairs, will admit of no more delays; I have therefore, in...
22428From George Washington to Brigadier General Henry Knox, 14 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have for some time past most earnestly expected you, to arrange matters in the Artillery department which has in a manner lain still since you went away. I have prevailed upon Colo. Proctor, tho he is under positive orders from the State of Pennsylvania to return to Philada, to stay till you come back. I beg you will endeavour to bring forward as many of the Artillery Men, intended for this...
22429From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 14 March 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Joseph Reed, 14 Mar. 1777. Reed writes to GW on 22 Mar. “to acknowledge your Excellys Favour of the 14th Instt.”
22430From George Washington to Col. Charles Mynn Thruston, 14 March 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Col. Charles Mynn Thruston, 14 Mar. 1777. In his letter to GW of 14 Mar., Thruston says, “I feel very sensibly for the honour done me in your kind and polite letter of this day.”
22431To George Washington from Colonel Charles Mynn Thruston, 14 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I feel very sensibly for the honour done me in your kind and polite letter of this day: your congratulation affects me; I am obliged and thank you. Give me leave to return it in behalf of yourself and the publick on the speedy recovery from your late indisposition. Your offer of a Regiment does me great honour, and the genteel manner it is made leaves me without a pretence to refuse it; except...
22432From George Washington to Colonel Andrew Ward, 14 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
In looking over the return made of your Regimt I find that no less than 17 Men are upon Furlough and 14 others discharged. By what authority Sir is this done? You know I presume that no Officer under the Rank of General has a right to discharge Men—& you must have known I should think, that this is notime for granting Furloughs, especially in a Regiment whose term of Service is so near...
22433To Benjamin Franklin from Alexander Small, [before 22 July 1780] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Being thus far in my way to England, and being informed that you live out of Town, I take this Opportunity of enquiring of your Welfare, and beg to know whether Capt Nairn, Brother to Mr Nairn in Cornhill, gave you a paper on Ventilation, and the History of it. I hope to receive a favourable Answer to these particulars, and ever remain Dear Sir Your...
22434Extract of a Letter from William Bingham, 15 March 1777 (Adams Papers)
Officers of the first Distinction have embarked at Havre De Grace for America, and a large supply of Field Pieces, military stores &c were sent by the Same Vessells. I have seen a confidential Letter, wrote by a Gentleman at Paris to a Person of Distinction here, wherein he mentions, that there is the greatest Appearance of a Treaty, being concluded betwixt France and America, by which our...
22435George Washington to Brigadier General Alexander McDougall, 15 March 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] March 15, 1777. Approves of McDougall’s decision to order troops to Forts Constitution and Montgomery instead of to Peekskill, New York. Approves stationing of Colonel Henry B. Livingston in Westchester to secure magazines. Urges inoculation when needed. Instructs McDougall to receive Massachusetts troops. Df , dated March 14, 1777, in writings of Robert H. Harrison...
22436George Washington to Major General John Sullivan, 15 March 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] March 15, 1777. Exhorts Sullivan not to imagine slights. Discusses separate commands. States that the only separate command is that of the Northern Department. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
22437From Benjamin Franklin to ———, 15 March 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): Library of Congress We are much oblig’d to M. De la Haye and his Friends for their Offer of Supplying the Americans with Merchandize, and we desire them to accept our Thanks; But it does not suit us to enter into any Engagements of the kind; We as Commissioners from the Congress have no Orders for purchasing other Goods than what are necessary for the Arming and Clothing of the...
22438To Benjamin Franklin from Paulze, 15 March 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society M. Paulze fait mille complimens à M. francklin. Il lui envoye le projet du Traité entamé par M. Grand. Si M. francklin et son collegue approuvent les dispositions il voudra bien en instruire M. Paulze le plutot possible afin que cette affaire puisse etre entièrement terminée dans le courant de la semaine prochaine. Les conditions sont les memes que celles...
22439The American Commissioners and the Farmers General: Proposed Tobacco Contract, 15 March 1777 (Franklin Papers)
D : American Philosophical Society MM. Les plenipotentiaires du Congrès ont propose de livrer aux fermiers généraux dans le courant de cette année 4000 B. de Tabacs rendus dans les ports de france au prix de 8 s. la livre de Tabac net poids de Marc. Ils ont demandé qu’il leur fut avancé par les fermiers generaux La Somme de Deux millions de Livres, dont moitié seroit remise dans trois mois et...
22440Baron Schulenburg to the American Commissioners, 15 March 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Benjamin F. Stevens, ed., Facsimiles of Manuscripts in European Archives Relating to America, 1773–1783 (25 vols., London, 1889–98), VII , no. 656. J’ai recu la lettre que vous m’avez faite l’Honneur de m’addresser le 14 passè et Je n’ai pas manquè d’informer Le Roi de L’empressment que temoignent les Colonies Angloises de L’Amerique septentrionale, a ètablir avec nous un...
22441Lambert Wickes to the American Commissioners, 15 March 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wrote you last post informing you of my disagreeable Situation, Also Mentioned the proceedings of Mr. Gonnett the Commissary of this Port. He Still continues to threaten driving me out imeadiately. If the threats and abuses of this Buissey person cannot be stop’d I should be much oblig’d for your Instructions and am in hopes you’ll either dispatch me...
22442To Benjamin Franklin from Alexander Small, 15 March 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The most upright Intentions cannot command Success. The Shallow Ken of Man cannot penetrate into futurity; and cannot therefore ascertain what is, or is not most beneficial to Societies. What we have here to do, is to act the most consistently with our Judgment of Circumstances. I know you have done this. Britain is most certainly hurting herself by an...
22443General Orders, 15 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW . .
22444Return of the American Forces in New Jersey, 15 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
Return of Continental Troops under the command of his Excellency General Washington at the different Posts in the State of New Jersey. 15th March 1777. Posts Regiments Rank & File fit for duty Morris Town Parts of pennsylvania Regts 46 Bound Brook 8th pennsylva 342 Princetown Capt Yates from Maryland 49 1 Compy Colo. Martin’s Jersey 35 Colo. Shreves 200 Chatham Colo. Wards to serve to 15th May 235
22445From George Washington to Brigadier General Alexander McDougall, 15 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I this evening received the favour of your letter of the 12th instant. The order you gave for such part of Ganservorts regiment as was at Fish-kills to repair to Fort Constitution, I approve of, as also you[r] determination respecting DuBois’s to remain at Fort Montgomery. They may be drawn from these places, when requisite, with the same expedition and ease as from Peeks-kills. The meaning...
22446From George Washington to Brigadier General Alexander McDougall, 15 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
When speaking of your Son, I was just now informed, that he had not been provided for in the late appointments of Officers in your State, being under parole when they were made. The part he early took in the Contest & his sufferings for it, would not be rewarded, was he to be neglected; I therefore wish, if he inclines to continue in service, that he may be appointed to the command of One of...
22447From George Washington to Major General Philip Schuyler, 15 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
Since Writing the Letter herewith, I received a Copy of a Letter from General Howe, transmitted me by General McDougall, in which he very modestly makes a Proposition for Major Edmisstons being permitted to go to Canada. Your own Reflections will immediately convince You of the Impropriety of Complying with It, and confirm what I before suggested, that the whole has been a Contrivance for...
22448From George Washington to Major General John Sullivan, 15 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
Do not my dear General Sullivan, torment yourself any longer with imaginary slights, and involve others in the perplexities you feel on that score—No other officer of rank, in the whole army has so often conceived himself neglected—slighted, and ill-treated, as you have done—and none I am sure has had less cause than Yourself to entertain such ideas—mere accidents—things which have occurred in...
22449To George Washington from Captain Oliver Towles, 15 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
Having been Engaged in Business as an Attorney, about 12 Years in which I was fully employed, together with being concerned as an Agent, and Attorney in fact, for sundry people; I thereby became possessed of a Number of valuable Books & Papers greatly affecting the property of many. previous to my engaging in the Regular Service, I had so fixt my affairs, that my Agent was enabled to...
22450From George Washington to James Warren, 15 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was some time since honoured with your Letter of the 3d Ulto. The polite manner in which you have been pleased to express your wishes for my happiness, & congratulations upon the agreable reverse of our Affairs, after a series of misfortunes, demand my gratefull acknowledgements; and assured, that they are more, than mere professions of Compliment, with equal sincerity I return you my...