24781George Washington to Benjamin Franklin, 17 August 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Camp at Cross Roads, Pennsylvania ] August 17, 1777. Acknowledges receipt of Turgot’s recommendation for a French volunteer. Discusses difficulty of placing French officers and advises Franklin to discourage potential candidates in France. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Franklin was in France serving as United States Commissioner to that country. Anne...
24782George Washington to John Hancock, 17 August 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Camp at Cross Roads [ Pennsylvania ] August 17, 1777. Seeks information concerning Du Portail’s request to Congress for horses and servants at public expense. LS , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Colonel Louis Le Bèque (Le Begue) Du Portail was sent to America in July, 1777. Congress appointed him chief engineer with the rank of colonel. He was given the rank of...
24783From Alexander Hamilton to Robert R. Livingston, 18 August 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
I most sincerely and heartily sympathise with you in the distresses and dangers under which your state is labouring at this critical period. I lament its misfortunes, as they are wounds to the common cause, as they more nearly interest those for whom I feel the warmest regard, and as they are suffered by a state, which I consider, in a great measure, as my political parent. I wish any thing in...
24784George Washington to Baron de Holtzendorff, 18 August 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Camp at the Cross Roads [ Pennsylvania ] August 18, 1777. Acknowledges receipt of the Baron’s “plan of a military work.” Encloses letter to Major General Nathanael Greene stating that the Baron is to be attached as a lieutenant colonel to Greene’s division. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Baron de Holtzendorff, commissioned a lieutenant colonel in 1776,...
24785George Washington to Brigadier General Preudhomme de Borre, 19 August 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Camp at Cross Roads [ Pennsylvania ] August 19, 1777. Abides by Brigadier General de Borre’s preference of an American as brigade major and recommends Captain Matthew McConnell of Colonel Moses Hazen’s regiment. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
24786George Washington to John Hancock, 22 August 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Camp at Cross Roads [ Pennsylvania ] August 22, 1777. Acknowledges receipt of news that enemy is in Chesapeake Bay. Informs Hancock of orders given to Colonel Thomas Proctor, Brigadier General Francis Nash, Major General John Sullivan, and the Army at Headquarters. Approves of removal of stores from Lancaster and York.
24787George Washington to Major General John Sullivan, 27 August 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Wilmington [ Delaware ] August 27, 1777. Discusses failure of Staten Island expedition. Advises Sullivan to spare health of men on march to Headquarters. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
24788George Washington to John Hancock, 28 August 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Wilmington [ Delaware ] August 28, 1777. Recommends Count Casimir Pulaski to command cavalry. LS , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Pulaski was a Polish officer recommended to Washington by Benjamin Franklin and Arthur Lee. He later commanded an independent corps of cavalry known as Pulaski’s Legion.
24789From Alexander Hamilton to Major General Horatio Gates, 29 August 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Your two favours both of the 22d came to hand yesterday. His Excellency had been all the day out reconnoitring the country and did not return home ’till late in the evening; this morning he again went out upon the same business, and has desired me to acknowlege the receipt of your letters. The signal advantages gained over the enemy by Generals, Stark and Herkemar at so gloomy and distressing...
24790George Washington to John Hancock, 29 August 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Wilmington [ Delaware ] August 29, 1777. Discusses movements of enemy. Asks Hancock to send commissions for Brigadier Generals John Glover, Enoch Poor, and John Paterson. LS , in writing of H, Papers of the Continental Congress, National Archives.