24481To Benjamin Franklin from the Comtesse Conway: Two Notes, [August? 1777] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society These two undated notes, we believe, were written in the order in which we print them, and between hers of April 14 from Ville-d’Avray, near Sèvres, where she was no doubt visiting a friend, and that below of September 1 from her home in Auxerre. These two can be assigned with some confidence to a single month, August. The first note refers to a battle...
24482To Benjamin Franklin from Lebègue de Presle, [August 1777] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Je me suis engagé la derniere fois que J’ai eu l’honneur de vous voir, a vous communiquer quelques details sur le coup de foudre dont a ete frappée la salle d’assemblée de Purfleet; mais je n’ai pu le faire plutot parceque le dessein necessaire pour entendre le rapport etoit chez le graveur. Je vous envoye Monsieur la premiere epreuve avec les circonstances...
24483From George Washington to Colonel Theodorick Bland, August 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have received your three several favours of this day —I have spoken to the Commissary & forage master, who have promised to take the proper measures for furnishing you with supplies in their respective departments. You will be pleased to send all Capt. Lee’s troop that remain behind with the regimt to join the detachment now with him and you will also return immediately to him, whatever men...
24484John Adams to Abigail Adams, 1 August 1777 (Adams Papers)
The Fleet is in Delaware Bay. 228 of them were seen, in the Offing, from Cape Henlopen, the day before yesterday. They come in but slowly. G eneral Washington, and the light Horse came into Town last Night. His Army will be in, this day—that is the two or three first Divisions of it—Greens, Sterlings and Stevensons Stephen’s . The rest is following on, as fast as possible. General Nash with...
24485George Washington to Major General Nathanael Greene, 1 August 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Chester [ Pennsylvania ] August 1, 1777. Orders Greene to hold men in readiness to march and to give the necessary orders to quartermaster general and commissary general respecting provisions and forage. States that British fleet has departed from the Delaware. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Although H’s crossed-out signature can be seen on the draft, this...
24486George Washington to Major General Israel Putnam, 1 August 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Chester [ Pennsylvania ] August 1, 1777. Warns of probable attack on Highlands. Discusses orders given to Major General John Sullivan and Governor George Clinton to aid Putnam. Instructs Putnam to ask aid of Governor Jonathan Trumbull. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
24487Lambert Wickes to the American Commissioners, 1 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Yours of the 25th. July Came safe to hand. As to French Seaman who are Now in Goal, they do not Deserve Pitty as they were sent out of the Way preveous to the Officers Comeing on board to look for them and they went the Next day and delivered themselves up to the Judge of the Admiralty who put them all in Prison. I am very glad to find you approve of my...
24488To Benjamin Franklin from Pierre-Samuel Du Pont de Nemours, 1 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society En arrivant de la Campagne je trouve la lettre et le paquet ci joints, que j’ai ouvert très innocemment l’enveloppe etant à mon adresse, et n’y ayant rien qui m’indiquât que les lettres n’êtaient pas pour moi. J’avais offert à Mr. Pennet lorsqu’il passa en france, dans le tems où je jouissais de la confiance du Gouvernement, de se servir de mon adresse pour...
24489[Ferdinand Grand]: Draft Contract for the American Commissioners, 1 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AD : American Philosophical Society Nous soussignés en vertu de nos pouvoirs donnons ordre et pouvoir á Mr. [ blank in MS ] de nous procurer au mioeux possible et le plus promptement que faire se pourra quatre flutes de Guerre Comme Celle qui se construit en hollande. Nous nous engageons en Consequence de fournir les fonds et les avances necessaires à sa requisition; nous en rapportant á tout...
24490From George Washington to Major General Nathanael Greene, 1 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
We have not recieved any certain intelligence that the Fleet have got within the Capes. By the last accounts they were beating in, the Wind unfavorable; It was supposed they would get in about three OClock yesterday Evening. I would wish you to collect and bring up your rear, as soon as may be, to German Town or to proper Grounds contiguous to it where the Troops are to remain untill further...
24491To George Washington from Captain Heman Allen, 1 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
Salisbury, Conn., 1 Aug. 1777 . “Suffer me to inclose Copies of several Letters, directed to me by Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell of the Kings 71t Regiment, the first of the 17th March, the second of the 20th & third of the 30th of April last. “I have been informed that Lieutenant Colonel Campbell, with four or five other Colonels of the Enemy, have been detained for a considerable...
24492From George Washington to George Clinton, 1 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
I had proceeded thus far in order to look out for a proper place to arrange the Army when I recd the provoking account that the Enemy’s Fleet left the Capes of Delaware yesterday and steered Eastward again. I shall return again with the utmost expedition to the North River, but as a sudden stroke is certainly intended by this Maneuvre, I beg you will immediately call in every Man of the...
24493To the Commanding Officer on March from Peekskill, N.Y., 1 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have this Moment recd information that the Enemy’s Fleet have left the Capes of Delaware and have steered Eastward again. You are therefore to return immediately to Peeks kill with the two Brigades under your command. If you should find that the Enemy have thrown any Ships in the passage of the King’s Ferry you must proceed up to New Windsor and cross there. I am Sir Yr most obt Servt LS ,...
24494From George Washington to Colonel Elias Dayton, 1 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
Having recd information that the Fleet have left the Capes of Delaware and steered Eastward, you are immediately upon the Rect of this to return and keep upon your march till you reach Peekskill. If you find any Ships thrown into King’s Ferry way, you are to proceed to New Windsor and cross there. I am &c. Df , in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW ; Varick transcript , DLC:GW . An endorsement...
24495To George Washington from Robert Erskine, 1 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 28th Ult: concerning the Office of Geographer, I had the honour to receive yesterday at Pompton. The distinction you confer on me, I beg leave to acknowledge with gratitude; and shall be happy to render every service in my power, to your Excellency, and to the Cause in which the rights of humanity are so deeply interested: on these accounts it is necessary to be explicit;...
24496From George Washington to Major General Nathanael Greene, 1 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have just received information by express that the enemys fleet have disappeared from the Capes yesterday morning about eight OClock. This unexpected event makes it necessary to reverse our disposition and I have accordingly sent orders to Sullivan’s division, and the two other brigades on the other side the Delaware to return and recross the North River. You are immediately to complete your...
24497To George Washington from John Hancock, 1 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
An Express having this moment Arriv’d from Cape May with a Letter, Copy of which I have the honour to Inclose you, by which it appears that the Fleet which was suppos’d to be destin’d for the Delaware had stood off & Steer’d to the Eastward. I thought proper to Transmit this Intelligence to you by Express, & will not detain him further than to Assure you that I am with the utmost respect, Sir...
24498To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 1 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
We this moment have received the Intelligence contained in the inclosed —whether the Enemy will turn in here, or whether they are destined to Portsmouth, Falmouth (Casco Bay) or to Hallifax, or to the River St Lawrance, Time must discover. I have not time to add, but have The Honor to be Your Excellency’s Most Hble Servt LS , DLC:GW ; ADfS , MHi : Heath Papers; copy, DNA:PCC , item 169. The...
24499From George Washington to Brigadier General Alexander McDougall, 1 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
By an Express this moment arrived from Cape May, The Enemy’s Fleet left Yesterday Morning at Eight OClock—put to Sea and were out of Sight Three Hours when the Express came away. I do not know whether you are coming on with the Two Brigades ordered from peeks Kill to reinforce this Army—If you are, I beg that you will leave the Brigades under the direction of the next commanding Officer to...
24500To George Washington from the Massachusetts Council, 1 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
the inclosed is a Copy of a Letter this moment recd from the Brigadier of the County of Essex: The destination of the Fleet is to us yet uncertain; as soon as further intelligence is obtained, Your Excellency may depend upon it’s being forwarded with all possible dispatch. In the Name & behalf of the Council I am With great Respect Sr Your most Obedt hble Servt LS , DLC:GW ; copy, DNA:PCC ,...
24501From George Washington to Major General Israel Putnam, 1 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have this moment received intelligence by express that the enemy’s fleet yesterday morning about 8 OClock sailed out of the Capes in an Eastern course. This surprising event gives me the greatest anxiety, and unless every possible exertion is made, may be productive of the happiest consequences to the enemy, and the most injurious to us. I have desired General Sullivan’s division and the two...
24502To George Washington from Major General Philip Schuyler, 1 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Favor of the 27th Instant I received Yesterday Morning, at Fort Miller, on my Way to this place with the Army which I moved by the unanimous Advice of all the General Officers—The most unaccountable panic has seized the Troops that was ever heard of—A few Shot from a small party of Indians has more than once thrown them into the greatest Confusion—The Day before Yesterday three hundred of...
24503From George Washington to Major General John Sullivan, 1 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
By an Express this Moment received from Cape May, The Enemy’s Fleet put to Sea yesterday Morning at Eight OClock and were out of sight Three Hours when the Express came away. From this Event, it appears, Genl Howe has been practising a deep feint merely to draw our attention and whole force to this point. I am to request, that you will countermarch the Division under your command and proceed...
24504From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Walton White, 1 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
A Letter just received from Brigadier General Maxwell informs me of the desertion of one of your light horse —this disagreeable Circumstance will naturally put you upon your guard; but I desire that you will farther make very particular Scrutiny into the Characters of your men and if you shall find any more suspicious ones among them—that you will immediately dismount them and order them to...
24505John Adams to Abigail Adams, 2 August 1777 (Adams Papers)
By an express last night from Cape May, We learn that the Fleet went out of the Bay, the Morning before, i.e. on Thursday Morning and put to Sea, and went out of Sight. What this Man is after, no Wisdom can discover. Last night another Express says the Fleet appeared off the Capes again, i.e. part of it, upwards of one hundred Sail. After all these Feints and Maneuvres, it is most likely he...
24506New England Delegates to George Washington, 2 August 1777 (Adams Papers)
As Congress have authorized your Excellency to send a proper Officer to take the Command in the northern Department; We take the Liberty to signifie to your Excellency that in our Opinion, no Man will be more likely; to restore, Harmony, Order and Discipline, and retrieve our Affairs in that Quarter, than Majr. Genll. Gates. He has on Experience acquired the Confidence, and stands high in the...
24507To Alexander Hamilton from Robert R. Livingston, 2 August 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
I wish I Could beleive as You do with respect to the Enemies Strenght, but in order to do this I must prefer loose Conjectures to the Greatest Variety of Concurring testimoneys—That prisoners may Endeavour to Deceive I think probable, but that a number of Men should agree to tell a Similar tale, & give like Answers to questions without knowing what those questions will be, I Cannot beleive,...
24508Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 2 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Virginia Library; letterbook copy: Yale University Library I have just received your favour of the 28th Ultimo and shall take care to observe all your Directions with the greatest Exactness, but I must first inform you of a most vexatious turn our Affairs relative to the Duc de Chartres are about to take unless we can sufficiently oppose the Design. When I bought this Ship...
24509To Benjamin Franklin from William Lee, [2 August 1777] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Lee presents his Compliments to Doctor Franklin and informs him that he shall set off for Nantes tomorrow forenoon and will with pleasure take care of any thing he has to send there. Addressed: Honble. Benjamin Franklin / Esqr. Passi Notation: W Lee. to BF. no date. He must have changed his mind and taken off soon after writing this note. He left on the...
24510To Benjamin Franklin from Seth Paddack, 2 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society You must have Heard of My Arival last December in a Paltry Brig Belonging to Mease & Caldwell of Philadelphia. I Came in that Vessel With a Promise of having a Good Ship filled from Nantes in a warlike manner to Go Back. At My Arival I found it all a farce. I Quited the Vessel and Enterd. with Capt: Bell one of his first officers in a Private Ship of war...