23161To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 5 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
This will be handed to you by Capt. Mullen (accompanied by Monsr Du Bouchet Brother in law to Col. Conway) who came from France in the Ship Amphitrite—He appears to be a very good Officer, & I think would make a most excellent Major of Brigade, if your Excellency should think it proper. The Assembly of this State have Resolved to complete their 15 Battalions by Draught, which is to be made on...
23162To George Washington from Brigadier General Alexander McDougall, 5 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with your favors of the 1st 3d, and that to General Clinton and me, inclosing resolves of Congress. Colonel Huntington of the first instant, and the News Paper inclosed, will give the best intelligence I am po[sse]ssed of, relative to our respective losses at Danbury. As to the Stores it is extreamly difficult to obtain a state of their loss. I have not been able to get a return...
23163To George Washington from John Rutledge, 5 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Immediately after receiving your Favour of March 17th, I confer’d with General Howe, on the Subject—He will give you, at large, the Reasons why it does not seem proper, to attempt the Reduction of St Augustine, with what Forces may be spared from Georgia & this State. Had it appeared practicable, & expedient, you may be assured, that I would, most chearfully, have afforded all the Assistance...
23164Abigail Adams to John Adams, 6 May 1777 (Adams Papers)
Tis ten days I believe since I wrote you a Line, yet not ten minuts passes without thinking of you. Tis four Months wanting 3 days since we parted, every day of the time I have mournd the absence of my Friend, and felt a vacancy in my Heart which nothing, nothing can supply. In vain the Spring Blooms or the Birds sing, their Musick has not its formour melody, nor the Spring its usual...
23165Enclosure: List of American Losses at Danbury, 6 May 1777 (Adams Papers)
1700 Barrells Pork 50 Do: Beef 700 Basketts Wheat 7 Hhds. Rum 6 Do: Bread 11 Tierces Claret 3 Quarter Cask Wine 12 or 1700 Wheat—Rye & Corn 12 Coile Rope 10 Waggons 1600 Tents mostly old The above is a true State of our Loss, in the affair at Danbury. 20 Men killed. 5 Missing. 17 Houses burnt. A Party that went out to bury the Dead have returned, and Report, that they have buried 62 Regulars....
23166John Adams to Abigail Adams, 6 May 1777 (Adams Papers)
We have no News here but what comes from you—except that all is well and quiet at Ticonderoga, that We have four Thousand Troops there, and that they were not afraid of Carlton. The Connecticutt People have given Sir Wm. Erskine a Concord and Lexington Drubbing. But I am very angry at our People for mak ing a Magazine, so near the Water and among such a Gang of high Church Tories. The Loss...
23167John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 6 May 1777 (Adams Papers)
The only Reason why I omitted to write you when I wrote to your Brothers, was because I thought you was as yet too young to be able to read Writing, not because I had less Affection for you than for them: for you may rely upon it, you have as great a share in your Fathers Esteem and Affection as any of his Children. I hope you will be good and learn to read and write well, and then I shall...
23168From John Adams to Samuel Freeman, 6 May 1777 (Adams Papers)
I had the Favour of your Letter of 23d Ultimo by this days Post. As to the Petitions you mention, the Congress have made good no Losses , to any Soldiers—nor any Accounts for Sickness, more than Pay, Rations, and Mileage. I am much obliged to you, for your Account of the Several Acts passed by the Assembly. It is very necessary that We should know here, the Proceedings of our Assembly. We...
23169From John Adams to Joseph Palmer, 6 May 1777 (Adams Papers)
I had a few days ago the Pleasure of receiving your Favour of the 16. Ultimo. The Subject of Finances, is the most important, of any that can come under our Consideration. If We can Support those We can, carry on the War with Vigour and probably with success. But if We go on, as We have We must suffer, extream Distress. The science of a Financier is to be learned only from Books or from...
23170From John Adams to James Warren, 6 May 1777 (Adams Papers)
About Ten Days ago, I had the Boldness to make a Motion that a Navy Board Should be established at Boston —certain Gentlemen looked, Struck and Surprized—however it passed. I have moved, I believe fifteen Times, that a Nomination should take Place. Certain Gentlemen looked cold. Two or three Days ago, the Nomination came on. Langdon, Vernon, Deshon, Dalton, Orne, Henley, Smith, Cushing, and...
23171From Alexander Hamilton to William Duer, 6 May 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
The bearer of this is Mr. Malmedi a french Gentleman of learning, abilities and experience. I believe he thinks himself intitled to preferment and comes to Congress for that purpose. At the recommendation of General Lee he was made Brigadier General by the State of Rhode Island, and filled the station to the satisfaction of his employers, as appears by a letter from Governor Cook, speaking of...
23172Pierre Penet to the American Commissioners, 6 May 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mon. thomas morris viens de me communicquer la lettre qu’il viens de recevoir signé de Mrs. Francklin, Diane, et Lée, ma surprisse feus grande lorsque j’en eus fais lecture. Il faut Messieurs que l’on vous aye bien male informmé de moy et mes commettans pour que tout a cou, sans nous en prevenir vous fassiéz retirer des affaires des mains de Mr. S. Sollier...
23173To Benjamin Franklin from the Chevalier de Brus, 6 May 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Franklin, within weeks of his arrival in Paris, began to receive letters from strangers about service in America. The writers were sometimes putting forward friends or relatives, more often themselves; if they specified what they wanted, which many did not, it might be a military commission in advance, or passage money, or merely a letter of recommendation,...
23174To Benjamin Franklin from Ebenezer S. Platt, 6 May 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Nessessaty obliges me to trouble you to forward the Inclos’d letter, as I have the Misfortune to be detain’d a Prisner in Newgate, and not Knowing when I shall obtain my Liberty. Therefore am under the Nessessaty of Writing to my Pardner in Savannah in Georgea, to make me a small Remitance, by way of France, and have taken the Liberty to request him to...
23175General Orders, 6 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
The commanding Officers of Battalions, that furnish the Commander in Chief’s Guard, are not [to] draw for the men thus furnished after they have left their respective Battalions, but are to give each man a Certificate of the day on which he was last paid; in order that the Captain of the Guard may be enabled to make out their Abstract properly. Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
23176To George Washington from Capt. Caleb Gibbs, 6 May 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Capt. Caleb Gibbs, 6 May 1777. Gibbs docketed GW’s letter to him of 3 May in part: “Answerd. 6th May.”
23177To George Washington from Captain Francis Grice, 6 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I Arived Heair this Day with 19 Flat Bottom Boats that will Carrey one 100 men Each and three Artillarey Flats or Scows that will Carrey Two field Peeces with thair Horsis and Stors and the Compeney thair To Belonging Each and I am Apinted Captn over the hole of them By Ginrel Mifflin who Desird me To Rite To Your Honner For forther Instructtishun: How To Porseed which I Shall Be much oblige...
23178From George Washington to Brigadier General Alexander McDougall, 6 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I must beg the favour of you to look out for a sensible, honest, active, young fellow, well acquainted with Figures, & well qualified to discharge the duties of a Deputy Muster Master—His pay is low, 35 dollars ⅌ Month—On discovering such an one, you will be pleased to appoint him, & refer him to the Letter &C. from Colo. Ward that attend this. I am Dear Sir Yr most Obed. Servt P.S. I wish to...
23179To George Washington from Brigadier General Alexander McDougall, 6 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Thro ^ hurry I enclosed you Yesterday by mistake, another of Col. Huntingtons instead of the enclosure. My recruiting Officer is returned with the most of the leaders of the Gang, but he lost one of them by being too eager to get the whole. one of the Prisoners says the Enemy are to evacuate their Post at the Bridge, on the 10th instant, and that the most of the Enemies Troops are gone to...
23180To George Washington from Major General Adam Stephen, 6 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
William & George Green formerly livers in Sussex—George has land w[i]t[h]in a mile & half of the Old Log T[r]ail wint into Bergen under Capt. Annesly in Company of 73—five of whom were taken in the Cedar Swamp—It appears they belongd to Bartons Regimt were Quarterd at Commune pas [Communipaw]; reviewd Saturday last when their Corps amounted to about 280—The Whole in Bergen revie[w]d at that...
23181From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 6 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
It is with pain, I inform you, that a complaint has been made to me of your having treated Mrs Livingston with a degree of roughness and indelicacy, which I am convinced, your cooler reflexion must condemn. Conscious that you have too much regard for your Character as a Gentleman, and too nice a sensibility of the impulses of humanity, deliberately to commit an indiscretion of the kind, I can...
23182To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 6 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am extremly unhappy to find by your Excellency’s letter of this date that any of my private Affairs should have taken up so much of your Attention; I could wish your Excellency had beleived the whole matter had been Misrepresented to you, Mrs Livingston was informed Six Weeks ago that I was in want of that part of the house which she possesses. she had then no less than four other houses...
23183To George Washington from Brigadier General James Mitchell Varnum, 6 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
On Monday last I wrote your Excellency, and inclosed the Returns of the Battalions: But, by a Mistake in making up the Maile, the Letter miscarried, wch induces me to inclose them with this Week’s Returns. I cannot vouch for the Certainty of these Returns as the Towns have inlisted Numbers, seperate from the Officers, whereof they have not given me any certain Information. I find a very great...
23184John Adams to Abigail Adams, 7 May 1777 (Adams Papers)
We have no News here, except what We get from your Country. The Privateers act with great Spirit, and are blessed with remarkable Success. Some Merchant ships are arrived this Week from Maryland. They were first chased by Men of War, in attempting to get into Cheasapeak Bay—they run from them and attempted Delaware Bay— there they were chased again. Whereupon they again shifted their Course...
23185To John Adams from Nathanael Greene, 7 May 1777 (Adams Papers)
Yours of the 27th of April I am to acknowledge. I cannot concur with you in Sentiment because the Enimy did not go to Philadelphia last December that they had no intention then or since of going there. I am of opinion if the Enemy could have got over the Delaware immediately after our Army crosd it, it would have been agreeable to their wishes. Had they effected it before the Junction of our...
23186From Alexander Hamilton to the New York Committee of Correspondence, 7 May 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
I thank you for the favor of the pamphlet, containing your form of government, which, without flattery, I consider as far more judicious and digested than any thing of the kind, that has yet appeared among us; though I am not so unreserved in my approbation as to think it free from defects. While I view it, in the main, as a wise and excellent system, I freely confess it appears to me to have...
23187George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 7 May 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] May 7, 1777. Encloses letter to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, who is needed at Headquarters. LS , in writing of H, New-York Historical Society, New York City. Gates was in command of the Northern Department.
23188The American Commissioners to the Comte de Vergennes, 7 May 1777 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft) and copy: Harvard University Library The Commissioners from the United States of America desire to represent to his Excellency the Count de Vergennes, that they have received Intelligence of a Vessel belonging to the States having been taken by the Culloden, an English Ship of War, close on the Coast of France; and that the same...
23189Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 7 May 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Virginia Library; letterbook copy: Yale University Library I recvd. your favour per Courier with the several packets mentioned in the List. I thank you for the honour you do me in committing your dispatches to my Care and I will do my best endeavour to execute the Business to your satisfaction. Had the Wind been fair Capt. Adams would have sailed immediately but it has been...
23190To Benjamin Franklin from Jean-Gabriel Montaudoüin de la Touche, 7 May 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’ai lû avec grand plaisir dans la Gazette de Leyde une reponse qu’on pretend que vous fîtes a L’Amiral howe au sujet des propositions dont il se disoit chargé pour les affaires de L’Amerique. Cette lettre est bien forte de logique. La comparaison de L’empire Britannique avec un beau vase de Porcelaine est delicieuse. Vous avés battu L’Amiral a platte...