24541From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 4 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
You will perceive by the inclosed copy of a letter from Congress, that they have appointed you to the command of the army in the Northern department, and have directed me to order you immediately to repair to that post. I have therefore to desire you will, in persuance of their intention, proceed to the place of your destination, with all the dispatch you can, and take upon you the command of...
24542To George Washington from John Hancock, 4 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have it in Charge from Congress to inform you, that they have this Day appointed General Gates to the Command of the Army in the Northern Department, and to direct, that you immediately order him to repair to that Post —Any Instructions that may be necessary, shall be sent after him with the utmost Expedition. I have the Honour to be, with the greatest Respect Sir your most obed. & very hble...
24543To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 4 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
This will be Handed to you by the Count de Puluski General de Larme de la Republique de Poloigne, who has Come over to Serve in the great american Cause. Since my last we have Sent on near Three Hundred full Barrels of Powder, and a number of arms to Brookfield, A number of Shells 10 and 8 Inch with Some other Heavy articles are at Cambridge the Removal of which far by land will be very...
24544From George Washington to John Langdon, 4 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Two Favors of the 12th & 17th Ulto have been duly received. I am happy in the arrival of the Packet from Nantes after so good a passage. I suppose the Accounts transmitted by the Commissioners are of importance, but I am not yet informed of the particulars. The Captains intelligence is agreable, and I wish much to hear it confirmed by a Declaration of War. We have been for some time and...
24545To George Washington from John Laurens, 4 August 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from John Laurens, 4 Aug. 1777. On 5 Aug. GW wrote to Laurens that “Your favour of Yesterday came to my hands late in the Afternoon.”
24546To George Washington from Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 4 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
I met General Schuyler the 30th ultimo; a mile or two above Fort miller, just after the General officers had in council resolved to remove the army to Saratoga, as a place more tenable and convenient for disciplining the troops; I hope he will have it in his power there to make a stand, and be able soon to attack the British troops, or at least some parties of them, with success, And give a...
24547From George Washington to the New York Council of Safety, 4 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly honored by your several favours of the 25th 27th and 30th of July. The misfortune at Ticonderoga has given a very disagreeable turn to our affairs, and has thrown a gloom upon the happy prospect, which the campaign previous to that event afforded. But I am in great hopes the ill-consequences of it will not continue long to operate; and that the jealousies and alarms, which so...
24548To George Washington from Major General Israel Putnam, 4 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
I Recd yours of the 1st Inst. last evening & your favour of the 2nd this moment, In consequence of the Intellgience & Directions therein given Expresses were early this morning Sent to Govr Trumbull Genl Woolcut & Silliman urging in the Strongest manner the necessity of Speedily reinforcing this Post by the Militia —like Expresses have been Sent to Govr Clinton & to the Cols: of the Militia of...
24549From George Washington to Edward Rutledge, 4 August 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Edward Rutledge, c.4 Aug. 1777. When writing to Rutledge on 5 Oct. 1778 , GW says: “In the Month of August last year from the House of Mr. H[enry] Hill near Germantown (where I was then encamped) I wrote you a Letter as long as my arm” ( DLC:GW ).
24550To George Washington from Major General Philip Schuyler, 4 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
the Commanding officiers of the Corps Composing General Fermois Brigade having repeated their Request to be ennexed to other Brigades declaring that however high their Esteem of his military abilities might Be yet as They Could not understand his Language nor he Theirs, they had already laboured under inconveniencis and apprehended greather, I Communicated Thus to general fermoise and advised...
24551To George Washington from Major General Philip Schuyler, 4 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
By the unanimous advice of all the General Officers, I have moved the Army to this place—We propose to fortify our Camp in Hopes that Reinforcements may enable us to keep our Ground and prevent the Enemy from penetrating farther into the Country; but if I should be asked from whence I expect Reinforcements, I should be at a Loss for an Answer not having heard a Word from the Massachusetts on...
24552From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 4 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your Letter of the 28th ulto—I confess the conduct of the Enemy is distressing beyond measure, and past our comprehension—On thursday and friday last their Fleet consisting of two hundred and twenty eight Sail, were beating off the Capes of Delaware, as if they intended to come in. From this circumstance, nobody doubted but that Philadelphia was the immediate object of...
24553To John Jay from Philip Schuyler, 4 August 1777 (Jay Papers)
Your Favor inclosing Holt’s papers of the 28 th July I received on my way down from Moses Creek, and you will readily excuse my not having acknowledged it sooner, when you reflect that with a retreating Army an Officer that commands has seldom a Moment’s Time to himself. I have not one. I am much obliged by the Measures you have taken to exculpate me, at least from the Charge of having ordered...
24554From George Washington to John Augustine Washington, 5–9 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your favors of the 21st of June from Westmoreland, and 10th Ulto from Fredericksburg, are both to hand —Since Genl Howes remove from the Jerseys, the Troops under my Command have been More harrassed by Marching, & Counter Marching, than by any thing that has happen’d to them in the course of the Campaign. After Genl Howe had Imbarkd his Troops, the presumption that he woud operate upon the...
24555Abigail Adams to John Adams, 5 August 1777 (Adams Papers)
If allarming half a dozen places at the same time is an act of Generalship How may boast of his late conduct. We have never since the Evacuation of Boston been under apprehensions of an invasion from them eaquel to what we sufferd last week. All Boston was in confusion, packing up and carting out of Town, Household furniture, military stores, goods &c. Not less than a thousand Teams were...
24556General Orders, 5 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
The General Court Martial ordered yesterday, is to sit to morrow morning, at nine o’clock, at Palmer’s tavern, at Schuylkill falls; and all members must attend without fail —A Serjeant from brigade to attend the court. Varick transcript , DLC:GW . GW’s military family expense account contains entries for this date for £263.4 to “Daniel Smiths acct for the expences of His Excellencys family &...
24557From George Washington to Colonel George Baylor, 5 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
I Received your favour of the 19th July & according to your request inclose a warrant on the Pay Master in Virginia for twenty thousand Dollars. I fully expected the sum you had drawn before would have compleated your Regiment. I must urge you in the most pressing terms to use your utmost exertions and diligence in compleating your Regiment and proceeding with it without loss of time to Camp....
24558From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 5 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have duly receiv’d your favor of 23d of July—I believe the Evacuation of Tyconderoga has dissatisfied the people in general, nor can I say, that I have as yet heard any reason, which makes such a step appear absolutely necessary to me, however, as a Strict enquiry into the conduct of the commanding Officers is soon to take place, the public will, no doubt, be fully satisfied with the...
24559From George Washington to John Laurens, 5 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of Yesterday came to my hands late in the Afternoon. For reasons unnecessary to mention, I mean to delay the actual Appointment of my fourth Aide de Camp a while longer; but if you will do me the honour to become a member of my Family, you will make me very happy, by your Company and assistance in that Line as an Extra Aid and I shall be glad to receive you in that capacity...
24560From George Washington to Brigadier General Francis Nash, 5 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
Immediately on the receipt of this you will Embark your Brigade with the Artillery belonging to it, and also Colo. Proctors Corps; you are to proceed to Trenton and there wait till you receive further orders. With respect to Waggons, if you have not a sufficient number for the use of the Brigade, you will make application to Colo. Miflin, who will furnish you; they are to be order’d to meet...
24561To George Washington from Richard Peters, 5 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Board have given Orders to the Commissary General to make a Return to your Excellency of every Thing in his Department as they have put all Arms Acoutrements & military Stores under your immediate Direction. All Arms repaired are under the Care of Col. Flower, but Orders for the Reparation of Arms must issue to Mr Thomas Butler—Chief Armourer, who has also Directions to put himself & his...
24562From George Washington to Richard Peters, 5 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have your favr of the 3d which I should have answered Yesterday, but I was down the River visiting the different posts. The constant demands for Arms and Accoutrements notwithstanding the great quantities lately delivered, is a thing so unaccountable, that I think no means should be left untried to investigate the true Reasons of such deficiencies in almost every Corps. The first Step...
24563From George Washington to John Tayloe, 5 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 21st of June came to my hands about Eight days ago by Colo. Thornton; whom on Acct of your recommendation—the regard I entertaind for his worthy Father—and I daresay I may add, his own merit, I have taken into my Family as an extra Aid de Camp—which is all I coud do with any degree of propriety. After Genl Howe had Imbark’d his Troops at Staten Island the presumption that he...
24564To George Washington from George Walton, 5 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
I moved Congress a few days ago, to order Brigadier-General McIntosh from his station in Georgia to join the grand Army; and it was objected to, because it was feared it might derange the Army, or that you would have no command for him. The cause of my having made this proposition was, that he had lately fought a Duel with Governor Gwinnett, in which the latter had fallen; and I was afraid the...
24565John Adams to Abigail Adams, 6 August 1777 (Adams Papers)
Price current.—Oak Wood £4:15s:od. Pr. Cord. Bad Beer, not so good as your Small Beer, 15d: Pr. Quart. Butter one Dollar Pr. Pound. Beef 2s:6d. Coffee a dollar a Pound. Bohea 8 dollars. Souchong £4: 10s. Hyson £6. Mean brown sugar 6s. 6d. a pound. Loaf sugar 18s. a pound. Rum 45s. a Gallon. Wine 2 dollars a Bottle. The Hounds are all still at a Fault. Where the game is gone, is the Question....
24566George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 6 August 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Camp near Germantown [ Pennsylvania ] August 6, 1777. Notifies Gates that De Malmady has been given permission to serve under Gates in Northern Department. LS , in the writing of H, New-York Historical Society, New York City François, Marquis de Malmady, was a colonel in the Continental Army.
24567Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners: Two Letters of Introduction, 6 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This will be presented you by Monsr. De Foligné Commander of a french Frigatte belonging to Mr. Montieu. He is lately arrived, after a successfull Voyage, from South Carolina, and comes to Paris on Business. I beg leave to introduce him to you as a Gentleman of exceeding good abilities in his profession and much attached to the american Interest, which he...
24568To Benjamin Franklin from ――― Duvaunoel, 6 August 1777: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Gaillon, August 6, 1777, in French: I offer you my commercial services at home or abroad. The delicate work I have done makes me confident that I can be useful to you in a number of ways, and I will prove it by giving you the letters with which M. Turgot honored me when he was in office.>
24569General Orders, 6 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
A board of General Officers, consisting of all the Major and Brigadier Generals in camp, is to sit to morrow at ten o’clock in the forenoon, at General Stephens’s quarters, at Dr Smith’s house near Schuylkill falls —to make enquiry why the pay abstracts are not regularly made out, and lodged with the Pay Master General, according to orders—The pay Abstracts of every regiment and corps in the...
24570I. Major General Du Coudray’s Opinion, 6 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
a Definitive project upon the Defence of philadelphia in the present state of affairs. In the account which I have given the Honourable Congress, of the state in which fort miflin, Red bank, and billin’gsport were, the first of august, I think I have Demonstrated, that in the actual situation of things, Litle Dependance should be had on this fort, to Defend both the places, where the River is...