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...