22751John Adams to Abigail Adams, 8 April 1777 (Adams Papers)
Yours of 26 March came by this days Post. Am happy to hear you have received so many Letters from me. You need not fear Writing in your cautious Way by the Post, which is now well regulated. But if your Letters should be intercepted, they would do no Harm. The F armer turns out to be the Man, that I have seen him to be, these two Years. He is in total Neglect and Disgrace here. I am sorry for...
22752John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 8 April 1777 (Adams Papers)
I received your Letter of 23d. March, and was very much pleased with it, because it is a pretty Composition and your Mamma Assures me it is your own. The History, you mention of Bamfylde Moore Carew, is worth your Reading altho he was a very wicked Man, because it serves to shew you, what a Variety there is in the Characters of Men, and what Odd, whimsical and extravagant Effects are produced...
22753John Adams to John Thaxter, 8 April 1777 (Adams Papers)
Your kind Favour of March 22. reached me Yesterday. I am much obliged to you for your Account of the Proceedings of the Superiour Court, and wish you to continue to give me a regular Account of their Progress. The Order, and Happiness of the State and even its Safety, depend much upon that Court, and I long to learn that they are fully employed in the Distribution of Justice, both in the civil...
22754From John Adams to William Gordon, 8 April 1777 (Adams Papers)
I had your Favour of 27 March by this Days Post. That this Country will go Safely through this Revolution, I am well convinced, but We have severe Conflicts to endure yet, and I hope shall be prepared for them. Indeed there is one Enemy, which to me is more formidable, than Famine, Pestilence and the sword, I mean the Corruption which is prevalent in so many American Hearts, a Depravity that...
22755To Alexander Hamilton from the New York Committee of Correspondence, 8 April 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Yours of the third came safe⟨ly to hand⟩ this Day and gave us great Pleasure by certifying your Hea⟨lth. The scantiness of⟩ our Numbers will not permit the Loss of one useful ⟨citizen. It is⟩, therefore, a determined Point that sick or well, you are by no means ⟨to⟩ die. At this Distance it is impossible to determine what the Enemy can or what they can not do. But certainly if we can bring a...
22756To Benjamin Franklin from Feutry, 8 April 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society En attendant L’honneur de vous revoir Jeudi matin à L’hôtel de hambourg, à 11 heures, et de vous remettre quelques mémoires &c. J’ose vous adresser une douzaine de mes fables nouvelles qui paroîtront bientôt avec une vingtaine d’autres dans Le 2e volume de mes opuscules pöétiques et philologiques. Je regarde Le jour où j’ai eu Le bonheur de vous connoître,...
22757To Benjamin Franklin from Charles [?] Rybot, 8 April 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I did not imagine you would have hesitated to pay me the trifling sum I disbursed for Mr. Wood, as had I not assisted him he must (as himself declared) have staid at Calais till you had, which besides the expence, might have been detrimental to your concerns by the delay; tis true I have no immediate call upon you, but as a man of known integrity; I am...
22758To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 8 April 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; letterbook copy: Yale University Library I thank you for your kind favour of the 30th Ultimo and am happy to find that you are recovered from the Gout. I will observe your alterations in the circular Letters which please to return as expecting them again we did not keep Copies. Whatever Business you please to throw in the way of Williams & Co. shall be...
22759General Orders, 8 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
22760To George Washington from Brigadier General John Armstrong, 8 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
The bearer Mr Saml Kersley is One under the Nomination of a Captain in the minute I left yr Excely an assiduous & every way well disposed Young man—who after laying out what money he had of his Own in recruiting & coming to this City to be replenished (for which I thought my Certificate expressly grounded on your Authority wou’d have been Sufficient) Congress will not grant nor admit a...
22761To George Washington from Colonel William Grayson, 8 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you by the two last posts respectively, and hope that my letters have safely got to Head Quarters. Since the date of my last, Dr Alexander has applied to me, to know, whether I would purchase his medicines; He has assured me, the principal part of them, have been imported within these two years; the assortment consists in general of useful medicines, & with the assistance of a proper...
22762From George Washington to Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 8 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed you have Copy of a Letter which I have this Moment received from Mr Boudinot. You will please to send a Copy of it to General Putnam ⅌ Express. Genl Green suspects that the Woman mentioned in the inclosed Letter is the same that applied to you for a pass to come up to Basken Ridge to look for her Son. You will therefore keep a strict watch for her, or upon any other Woman that applies...
22763To George Washington from Joshua Loring, 8 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Since I wrote You last his Excellency Sir William Howe has had a further Examination respecting the Rank of the Canadian Gentlemen, and it is determin’d that the four persons You mention are the only Gentlemen that [are] entitled to any Rank viz. Captain Duchesnay, Lieut. Hertel, Lieutenant Schmit, Lieutenant La Magdaleine, and even those at that time were serving as Volunteers, This...
22764To George Washington from John McKinly, 8 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
The General Assembly of this State having adjourned to a distant day some time before your favour of the 4th Ult., I could not have their assistance in the nomination of the Officers wanting in the Battalion of this state, which you were pleased to refer to me. I therefore called upon my Council with whose concurrence I made the appointment[s] specified in the enclosed list. My ardent wish to...
22765To George Washington from the Massachusetts Council, 8 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency on the 22nd of December last wrote a Letter recommending that Measures should be taken to Effect an Exchange of Prisoners, as soon as possible and as far as Circumstances will admit of advising that all the Prisoners in this State should be sent to the Commanding Officer of the British Troops on the Island of Rhode Island, This Business has been hitherto delayed as the...
22766From George Washington to Col. Stephen Moylan, 8 April 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Col. Stephen Moylan, 8 April 1777. Moylan referred in his letter to GW of 14 April to the “receipt of your Kind favour of the 8th instant.”
22767To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 8 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Since mine of the 21st of March I have receivd your Excellency’s Letters of the 6th 12th 20th & 29th of March that of the 6th came to Hand not till the 28th; by the Length of Time between the Date & my receiving it; The Seal not being such as I had ever before seen from Head Quarters; The Direction on the Cover very different from the handwriting of the Letter writer, and the omission of the...
22768From George Washington to Nathaniel Sackett, 8 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
As your Letter of yesterdays date is rather a narative of what you have done, than any thing else, scarce any answer is necessary, except to that part respecting the H[essia]n: who I think had better go to B[runswic]k as his Influence with his C[ountryme]n, if he has any at all, can be more usefully exerted there than elsewhere—If any should be sent out with Intelligence of Importance, or of a...
22769From George Washington to Colonel Alexander Spotswood, 8 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am sorry to find by your Letter of yesterdays date that your Regiment is so much reduced —Let me beseech you to use every possible means to collect your Men together, & not suffer some to be in one place, some in another &ca—and let me also entreat you, to charge your Recruiting Officers in explicit, and positive terms to be exceedingly attentive to that duty, as idleness and dissipation...
22770To Alexander Hamilton from William Smith, 9 April 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
The Convention on having granted a Permission to Mr. Le Roy to repair to head Quarters in order to solicit leave to go to New York; And having omitted to take his Parole, they beg the favor of you to carry the enclosed Resolution into execution. I am Sir Your most Obedt. Servt. By Order. LS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Smith, a delegate from Suffolk, wrote in his capacity as...
22771From Benjamin Franklin to Charles [?] Rybot, 9 April 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): Library of Congress I believe it is very unusual for one Man to pay another’s Debts without being desired so to do by the Debtor, or knowing that he acknowledges the Sum demanded to be due. Mr. Hood is as much a Stranger to me as he is to you. You have lent him 3 Guineas: I have lent him 30, supposing him an honest Man: By the Account you give me of his Treatment of you, and which...
22772To Benjamin Franklin from Feutry, [9 April 1777] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Feutry supplie Monsieur de Francklin &c. de vouloir accepter cette foible marque de son estime et de son respect. Ce Robinson et ces opuscules pourront peut être amuser ses petits Enfans. A demain à onze heures Jeudi matin hôtel de hambourg. Feutry attend ses autres ouvrages, moins frivoles, mais peutetre plus tristes, pour des français S’entend. This and...
22773To Benjamin Franklin from Jean-François Georgel, 9 April 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society L’abbé Georgel demeurant ches S.A. Mgr. le prince Louis de Rohan et cy devant chargé des affaires de france a la cour de Vienne a L’honneur d’adresser a Monsieur francklin le jeune homme porteur de ce billet. Il est breton, de parens d’extraction Noble et ancienne. Destiné a être officer dans le regiment de dragons de la Rochefoucault ou il etoit Cadet...
22774To Benjamin Franklin from Jean-Baptiste-Antoine Suard, 9 April 1777: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Paris, April 9, 1777, in French: Sends a letter from M. Arrenberg of Rotterdam, entrusted to his care and addressed to Franklin; please acknowledge its receipt.> For the writer, academician, and censor of the theatre (1733–1817) see Larousse, Dictionnaire universel . The letter he was forwarding is above, March 31.
22775General Orders, 9 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Major Dunn being obliged to attend Major General St Clair to Philadelphia, to which place he is called by Congress—Lt Col. Conner will be obliging enough to discharge the duty of Adjutant General pro tempore. The Commander in Chief begs that Genl St Clair will accept his most sincere thanks, for superintending the duties of that office, of Adjutant General; and that Major Dunn will also accept...
22776From George Washington to John Hancock, 9 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am honoured with yours of the 4th inclosing sundry Resolves of Congress from the 29th March to the 5th instant. I am extremely glad to see the Resolve for the immediate removal of Military Stores from Baltimore and Annapolis, for altho’ I do not imagine that the Enemy intend an expedition of any great Consequence in Chesapeak Bay, yet while the Stores lay at the above places, they were...
22777To George Washington from John Hancock, 9 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday Evening the Congress compleated the Business of the Medical Department, and on so large and liberal an Establishment that we may rationally expect the most beneficial Effects will flow from it. Every Encouragement is given to Gentlemen of Skill and Reputation in that Art to enter into our Army, and a Variety of Regulations adopted to carry the Plan more effectually into Execution. As...
22778From George Washington to Colonel Thomas Hartley, 9 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Colo. Wilkinson’s personal attachment for General Gates has induced him to be one of his Aids de Camp, & to apply for leave to resign his Command in your Batn. To this I have consented; and have now to inform you, that the general good Character of Maj. Conner (formerly Genl Armstrong’s B. Majr) has induced me to appoint him to that Vacancy: in discharge of which office I trust he will acquit...
22779To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 9 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday I received pr Col. Johonnot the honor of your’s of the 29th ultimo—and observe your Excellency’s pressing & positive Orders for hastening the Troops—This I have been doing with unremitted Assiduity—and the moment a Detachment is equipped I order them to march—There are now on the march to Peeks-kill, a Detachment of Col. Greaton’s Regt upwards of One Hundred fine Fellows well armed...
22780From George Washington to General William Howe, 9 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I take the liberty of transmitting you a Copy of a paper addressed to me by Lieut. Colo. Walcot of your Army, which came inclosed in a Letter from Lieut. Genl Lord Cornwallis. It is with peculiar regret, I am constrained to observe, that this illiberal performance of Colo. Walcot, is obviously calculated, to answer a less generous purpose than that of merely effecting an exchange—contains a...
22781From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 9 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Having heard that your State have appointed Lieutt Colo. Geo. Stricker to the Command of a Battalion, I hold myself bound to inform you That the Character he holds here as an Officer will not justify such an appointment—Yesterday he obtained my leave to resign, complaining that his private Affairs indispensably require his presence at home for several Months—Had there been any other Field...
22782To George Washington from Colonel Timothy Pickering, 9 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I esteem it a singular honour done me by your Excellency in offering me the post of Adjutant General, and it pains me sensibly that I am obliged to decline it. ’Tis an honour to which I did not aspire, because I did not account myself equal to the important business of the office. Your Excellency does not mistake my attachment to the interests of the United States; ’tis sincere & unalterable....
22783Orders to Major General Arthur St. Clair, 9 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I—You will repair immediately to Philadelphia, and use your utmost endeavours to hasten the Troops on to this place —nothing but vigorous exertions—strict attention—and even rigour towards the Officers, will enable you to accomplish this purpose in proper Season, for I have too good reasons to believe, that the whole time of many of them, is spent in dissipation and extravigance—examples must...
22784To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 9 April 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Major General Stirling, 9 April 1777. In a letter to Stirling of 10 April, Tench Tilghman acknowledges on behalf of GW “the Rect of your agreeable favr of last Night” (NN: U.S. Army, 1775–89).
22785From George Washington to Major General Thomas Mifflin, 10–12 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
From every peice of intelligence which we have lately recd, it appears that the Enemy are making hasty preparations to open the Campaign, and Philadelphia seems generally agreed upon as their Object. Whether the expedition will be by land or water is yet a matter of uncertainty, but it is more than probable that it will be by both. Whereever their Army lies it will be of the greatest advantage...
22786Isaac Smith Sr. to John Adams, 10 April 1777 (Adams Papers)
Yours by post I have received, and with what Armes is Arrived this way, hope will be a full supply, and wish there were an equal Number to make Use of them. Although Our Number is not compleated, yet by what we can learn, we have as many or more than any of the goverments and are marching forward dayly. The story of the burning the Arsenal att Plymouth wish was more Authenticated, As we have a...
22787From Alexander Hamilton to John Laurance, [1 March–10 April 1777] (Hamilton Papers)
Agreeable to your request, I inquired of Gen: Knox, concerning a vacancy of a Captain’s birth in his Corps. I find there is such vacancy; and upon being pressed to mention my reason for the inquiry, contrary to your prohibition, I ventured to inform him, that you had signified to me an intention of taking a more active part in our military affairs, than you had heretofore done—and that, I was...
22788To Benjamin Franklin from Barbeu-Dubourg, [c. 10 April 1777] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Je partois pour Passy, lorsque ma femme s’est trouvée si mal qu’elle a eté obligée de se mettre au lit. A peine a t’elle deux jours par semaine d’une santé passable; c’est ce qui m’a empeché d’avoir l’honneur de vous voir depuis si longtems. J’attens impatiemment des reponses de Dijon et de Nantes. Voicy une lettre que je reçois dans le moment, qui etoit...
22789General Orders, 10 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
John Laurence Esqr. is appointed Judge Advocate, in the room of William Tudor Esqr. who has resigned. The General desires that the Quarter Master General will immediately take measures to have the Camp cleared of every kind of garbage and filth with which it is at present incommoded. Varick transcript , DLC:GW . Laurance served as judge advocate general of the Continental army until June 1782....
22790From George Washington to Owen Biddle, 10 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Col. Chambers, who has been omitted in the appointments lately made by your State, expresses a good deal of uneasiness on account of it, and considers it as an implied reflection on his conduct. He thinks himself intitled to some explanation of the reasons for which he has been neglected, and wishes to know on what particular charge or imputation, his exclusion is founded. As I could give him...
22791To George Washington from a Committee of the Continental Congress, 10 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
In obedience to an order of Congress we do ourselves the honor to inform your Excellency of the reasons and principles that have governed Congress in their resolution for forming a Camp on the west side of Delaware. The repeated information that hath been received of the enemies movements, and it being the opinion of your Excellency, as well as of many other General Officers, that this City...
22792To George Washington from Colonel Richard Gridley, 10 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I acknowledge your favour of the 9th of January last. By desire of Mr Guild I have inclos’d his account of Ordnance Stores Cast at Stoughtonham Furnace, & deliver’d at Boston, for the Service of the Continent; he desires Your Excellency will please to Order him payment; and as the Furnace is now in Blast, if your Exy wants any more Stores to be made, he will make them faithfully & as cheap as...
22793From George Washington to John Hancock, 10 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was just now honored with your Letter of the 9th Instant, covering Sundry Resolutions of Congress. Those for regulating the Hospital and medical department, I trust, will prove of the most salutary consequences. It is only to be regretted, that this necessary and liberal institution had not been gone into and compleated at an earlier period. The Honors Congress have decreed to the memory of...
22794To George Washington from John Hancock, 10 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your favr of yesterday’s Date I have just Rec’d by the Return Express and shall be laid before Congress to morrow morning. I have only time to Inclose you sundry Resolutions pass’d in Congress since my last, to which I Request your Attention, I also inclose you a Letter from the Come of Congress. I have the Honour to be with Esteem, Sir Your most Obedt Servt I have Sent four Bundles of printed...
22795From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 10 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have, within these few days, received an application from the honorable Messrs Sever and Cushing, for arms and blankets, for the use of the Massachusetts regiments, destined for Ticonderoga. Surely those troops are not, at this day, to begin their march, for that post! And sorry I am to observe, that nothing now will content that government, but the new arms lately arrived there, which will...
22796From George Washington to Capt. John Hunter, 10 April 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Capt. John Hunter, 10 April 1777. In his letter to GW of 23 April , Hunter refers to “the Instructions I received from your Excellency on the 10th Inst.”
22797To George Washington from Francis Lightfoot Lee, 10 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am very sorry that I was not in this City when General Green was here; nothing cou’d give me greater pleasure, than to have an opportunity of shewing every respect & civility, to a Gentleman who so justly possesses your esteem. It gives me pain, that you are joined by so few of the new levies. there are great complaints to the southward, against the recruiting officers, which I fear are too...
22798To George Washington from Richard Henry Lee, 10 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
The resolves of Congress, that you will receive by this Messenger, you may be assured, are not intended, by any means, to obstruct your views a single moment. If your judgement should incline you to think that the Troops had better march on to Head Quarters quick as possible, you have only so to order it, and it will give pleasure to every good man here. The business of speedily reenforcing...
22799From George Washington to Brigadier General Alexander McDougall, 10 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed you have an Information which was given in Yesterday, by a Man who was in Newyork on Monday last, & which from a variety of Circumstances, I believe to be in a great measure true; therefore transmit it to you, that you may be prepar’d in case their Destination should be up North River, which at this time is not generally expect’d—I could wish you would give a Copy of this to Genl...
22800From George Washington to James Mease, 10 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Application has been made to me, by the State of Massachusets for part of the Blankets lately arrived at portsmouth from France. As I did not know, how you might have disposed of them, I thought my interfering in the Matter might occasion some confusion, and therefore desired them to apply to your Agents in Boston, to whom I beg you will give orders to deliver them such a proportion as you...