24421To Benjamin Franklin from ――― Lecoq, 28 July 1777: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Paris, July 28, 1777, in French: To whom should one apply, a merchant friend of mine has written to ask, for a privateer’s commission? It is for a worthy Bostonian, who is in port with a ten-gun ship and crew. When you reply, I will write him to say whether he should make himself known.> He signs himself as a master goldsmith and jeweler. BF did, on Aug. 11.
24422General Orders, 28 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
24423From George Washington to Robert Erskine, 28 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
In consequence of my representations to Congress of the advantage that might be derived from having a good Geographer to accompany the army, and my recommendation of you for that purpose they have come to the inclosed resolution authorizing me to appoint you or any other Gentleman I shall think proper to act in the capacities therein specified; and to determine the allowance of pay to be...
24424From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 28 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
Yours of the 23d from Philada and that of the 27th from Coryells Ferry both met me yesterday on the Road. If there are not very clear proofs of the Hessian Paymaster’s having endeavoured to establish an illicit correspondence, I think he had better be suffered to go back immediately, for two Reasons. One, that a person under the sanction of a Flag should not be detained upon any but the most...
24425To George Washington from Colonel William Grayson, 28 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
Having been in the Country on Post days, & nothing of any consequence occurring, I have not wrote since the first of the Month. I shall be able to leave this in two or three days, to join that part of the regiment which is gone forward. I shall leave Lt Col. Powell here, to superintend the recruiting the remainder of the regiment. There will be about thirty more recruits ready to march soon...
24426To George Washington from John Hancock, 28 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
This morning I laid before Congress your letter of the 25 with that inclosed from Mr W. Franklin & have the honour to enclose you the result of their deliberation thereon. Time will not admit my Enlarging farther than to inform you I have recd your letter from Cross roads. I am Sir Your very hume Servt LS , CSmH . Hancock enclosed a copy of Congress’s resolution of 28 July 1777, which GW sent...
24427To George Washington from Brig. Gen. William Maxwell, 28 July 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Brig. Gen. William Maxwell, 28 July 1777. GW wrote Maxwell on 30 July that “I was this day favoured with your Letter of the 28th.”
24428From George Washington to Major General Thomas Mifflin, 28 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
I last night received your favour of yesterday morning. The appearance of the enemy’s fleet off little Egg Harbour, if it does not amount to a certain proof that their design is against Philadelphia, is at least a very strong argument of it. If the weather had been good this morning, General Green’s division would have reached Coryels ferry by night, with ease. I am in hopes, as it has now...
24429From George Washington to Richard Peters, 28 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have now before me your Two Favors of the 15th & 23d Inst. I have not the proceedings of the Court Martial respecting Hudson Burr. The Crime alleged against him, I recollect, was not supported by the State of the Evidence submitted to me, and therefore I refused to confirm the Court’s sentence—At the same time being informed, that he was a Citizen of Philadelphia, I advised Genl Sullivan to...
24430From George Washington to Major General Israel Putnam, 28 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
We have certain advices that part of the Enemy’s Fleet, Viz. Seventy Sail were beating off Little Egg Harbour on Saturday morning with a Southerly Wind. From this Event, there seems to be but little room to doubt but that their destination is into Delaware Bay and against the City of Philadelphia. I am now to request that the Two Brigades which I mentiond some time ago, to come this way in...
24431To George Washington from Major General Philip Schuyler, 28 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with your Favor of the 24h Instant, Which I received half an Hour ago having just arrived from Moses Creek, where I keep my Quarters. So far from the Militia that are with me encreasing, they are daily diminishing, and I am very confident that in ten Days, if the Enemy should not disturb us, we shall not have five hundred left, and altho’ I have entreated this and the Eastern...
24432To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 28 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have just received your Favor of the 18th Instt, at a Time I was preparing to set out. Allow me to assure your Excellency I shall use the utmost dispatch, in repairing to the Army; and that my particular Situation has been such, that it wou’d not admit of my waiting on you as I expected when I last wrote for your Directions, which have ever had, and ever shall have the greatest weight, and...
24433To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 28 July 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Major General Stirling, 28 July 1777. GW’s letter to Stirling of 30 July says: “Yours of the 28th from Elizabeth Town, did not reach me untill this morning.”
24434From George Washington to Charles Thomson, 28 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
I yesterday received your Favor of the 21st on the Road, and thank you much for the Ordinance respecting the Royal Corps of French Engineers. I cannot give it a serious perusal at this time, but doubt not, I shall find in it several interesting and useful hints. I hope the Gentlemen you allude to, will be of great service, but I am totally unacquainted with the rank they held in France. We are...
24435To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 28 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
last evening received a Letter from Majr General Putnam informing that the Enemy’s Fleet hath Sailed—In Suspence to what part designed—Altho’ I believe their Object to be Philadelphia or North River or both—Yet if they turn Eastward I fancy they will rather Attack Portsmouth, to cooperate with General Burgoine, the Country back is thinly inhabited, and Little or no force to Resist them—and the...
24436From John Jay to Arthur St. Clair, 28 July 1777 (Jay Papers)
Your Letter of the 25 th. : July Inst. which does no less Honour to your Candor, than Reputation Justice to the Reputation of General Schuyler, was very acceptable. Agreable to what I apprehend to have been your Intention, I have sent it to the Press, and flatter myself the Purposes for which it was written will be fully answered. The Evacuation of Tyconderogah was an Event very unexpected as...
24437From Alexander Hamilton to Robert R. Livingston, 29 July 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the pleasure of your favour of the 25th. I cannot be induced to think the enemy are so numerous as you apprehend, and would place no dependence on what is said either by deserters or prisoners, further than as it respects their own company, nor even that with regard to prisoners in general who commonly have their cue, as the phrase is, and know very well how to manufacture stories...
24438Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 29 July 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Virginia Library; letterbook copy: Yale University Library I yesterday drew on you two Drafts at one Days Date the first in favour of Messrs. Montaudouins for 1000 l.t. the second in favor of the Chevalier de la motte d’aubigné for 3000 l.t. 4000 l.t. which please to Honour. My Last informed you of the order I had given for 8 large anchors, as to the price these will cost I...
24439To Benjamin Franklin from ――― Laistre, 29 July 1777: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Paris, July 29, 1777, in French: Mr. Deane, I have heard, is making purchases for the former British colonies, and I have just offered him the iron kitchenware, tinned inside and out, that the French colonies import in vast quantities. I make you the same offer, with the intent of doing good to your compatriots and promoting the welfare of humanity; for...
24440To Benjamin Franklin from John Temple, 29 July 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wrote you a letter by Mr. Garnier, which, on account of his going a day sooner than expected, I had not an Opportunity to copy: I hope, however, and doubt not, it safely reached your hands, that it was legiable enough to convey the thoughts I wished to express, and that I shall soon have the pleasure to know from yourself that you received it. This will...
24441To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 29 July 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; letterbook copy: Yale University Library In consequence of your Letter relative to the Complaint against Capt. Wickes, I wrote to him and in return have recvd. the inclosed explanation. I have since been with the lawyer and find that these poor silly men have been deceiving themselves with an Idea that they were to make a great deal of money, and that they...
24442General Orders, 29 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Commander in Chief has reason to believe, that it has been owing to the carelessness and inattention of the waggon-masters, in not seeing the horses properly fed and managed, that such great numbers of them have foundered and died—They may be dismissed from the service if they neglect so capital a part of their duty, and content themselves with merely directing the waggoners to do it—It is...
24443From George Washington to William Franklin, 29 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
Agreeable to what I wrote you a few days ago I transmitted your letter to me to Congress. Inclosed you have their answer by a Resolve of the 28th with Copy of the Certificate which was granted by you to Robert Betts while upon your parole. It appears that this Act has laid Congress under the necessity of refusing your Request. I am &ca. Df , in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW ; Varick...
24444From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 29 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Bearer Monsr Portail is appointed by Congress Colonel of Engineers, and is recommended as a Man of Abilities in his profession. As there is no occasion for him here at present, I have desired him and the Gentleman who accompanies him, who is also of the Corps of Engineers, to return to Philada. They may assist you and Genl Mifflin in viewing the Grounds upon the West Side of Delaware and...
24445From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 29 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
Upon your Arrival at Trenton you are to halt till you receive further orders. I do not think it prudent to advance the Army beyond Delaware before the Enemy enter the Capes, which they have not yet done. Should the Fleet come into the Bay we can be down below Philada before they can make any disposition for an attack either by land or Water, or should they return we shall be so far upon our...
24446From George Washington to Major General John Sullivan, 29 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
Notwithstanding it will be a Week tomorrow since the Fleet left the Hook, none of the Ships had, by the latest accounts, made their appearance in Delaware Bay; About Seventy Sail were seen a few days ago, off little Egg Harbour. This delay makes me suspicious that their real intentions are yet a secret to us, and therefore that we may not draw too much of our Force Southward, I desire that you...
24447To John Jay from Peter Jay, 29 July 1777 (Jay Papers)
I have recd your letter of the 21 inst. The Evacuation of Ticonderoga is very alarming, I wish it may soon be made appear in a less gloomy light— hitherto, Fady has not been able to succeed in precuring Wagons to remove Your Books to Kent— My thoughts have been much imployed of late abo t removing from hence in case of need, but the more I consider of it the more I am perplex’d, for my present...
24448Abigail Adams to John Adams, 30 July 1777 (Adams Papers)
I dare say before this Time you have interpreted the Northern Storm; if the presages chill’d your Blood, how must you be froze and stiffend at the Disgrace brought upon our Arms unless some warmer passion seaze you, and Anger and resentment Fire your Breast. How are all our vast Magazines of Cannon, powder, Arms, cloathing, provision, Medicine &c. to be restored to us—but what is vastly more,...
24449John Adams to Abigail Adams, 30 July 1777 (Adams Papers)
I am sorry to find by your late Letter what indeed I expected to hear, that my Farm wants manure. I fear by your Expressions that your Crop of Hay falls short. But, there has been an Error in our Husbandry in which We have been very inconsiderate and extravagant, that is in pasturing the Mowing Ground. This will ruin any Farm. The true Maxim of profitable Husbandry is to contrive every Means...
24450From Alexander Hamilton to Major General Israel Putnam, 30 July 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
His Excellency commands me to acknowlege the receipt of yours of the 27th instant. The circumstance of the fleet appearing off, opposite to Blue Point does not indicate any movement to the Eastward. It was necessary in going out of the Hook, whatever course they might intend to steer, whether to the Southward or Eastward, to stand out in that direction for some time, as they went out with a...