25561To George Washington from Captain Henry Lee, Jr., 15 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
A deserter from the 15th regt just from the enemy’s camp, informs, that the 4th brigade, two regts from the 2d, & one Hessian regt receved marching orders at one Oclock Sunday. Where they are destined is not known. He can form no conjecture. He confirms the account of Col. Birds death, & says that the 15th lost fifty three privates & seven officers in the last action—They are now about two...
25562Instructions to James Mease, 15 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
In order to enable you to carry on the business of your department with facility & despatch—You are hereby authorized to purchase hire or press as circumstances may require from time to time—such number of horses and waggons as you shall stand in need of to answer the necessary purposes thereof—And in Consideration of the wants of the Army in many essential Articles of Cloathing, and the...
25563From George Washington to Richard Peters or the Board of War, 15 October 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Richard Peters or the Board of War, 15 Oct. 1777. GW’s aide-de-camp Tench Tilghman docketed Peters’s letter to GW of 7 Oct. in part: “Ansd 15th.”
25564From George Washington to Brigadier General James Potter, 15 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have just received Advice from Captain Lee of light Dragoons that 7 Regiments of the Enemy’s Force receiv’d Marching orders at One OClock P.M. this day, this information he had from a Deserter of the 15th who came out this Afternoon; what the destination or Route was he could give no Account of. I thought it necessary to give you this intelligence by express, as there is a probability that...
25565From George Washington to Major General Israel Putnam, 15 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with yours of the 8th and 10th instants giving me the account of the loss of Fort Montgomery and the evacuation of Peekskill in consequence of it, but I am very glad to find that you had previously removed the greater part of the Stores. This Stroke would have perhaps proved fatal to our Northern Affairs in its consequences, had not the defeat of Genl Burgoine providentially taken...
25566Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 16 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The present serves to inform you that Capt. Brown who has the Dolphin wishes to be excused from taking her as his owners have directed his return in the Mars which belongs to them; Capt. Brown hopes you will not misinterpret his Desire, and says that if you choose he will continue, but if the change will not displease you he wishes she may be given to some...
25567To Benjamin Franklin from [Benjamin Sowden], 16 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society I am favoured with yours of the 5th of this Inst. and in compliance with your desire have enquired concerning the Price of the non Pariel Letter, of which you have a specimen inclosed. I had no occasion to go or write to Mr. Enschede, the Letterfounder at Haerlem as Mr. Rinier Arrenberg, Printer, Bookseller, and Courantier of this City, was sufficiently able...
25568General Orders, 16 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Commander in Chief positively orders, that the horse encamp compactly, in the rear of the army, and as near as possible to Head Quarters. The regiments are to continue to draw materials for cartridges, and go on making them every day with care and dispatch, and when made, they are to be returned to the Commissary of military stores. The Court of enquiry of which Major General Lord stirling...
25569From George Washington to Colonel Israel Angell, 16 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
With the Regiment you command & what Baggage you think is absolutely necessary, you are immediately to proceed to Bristol Cross the Deleware at that place & continue your Route to Red Bank, this March should be perform’d with the utmost Secrecy & under pretence of Covering the Stores at Bristol untill you arrive at that place as the Enemy might endeaver to Intercept you should your Route be...
25570To George Washington from Major Benjamin George Eyre, 16 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
Agreeable to your orders I have Collected the Shallops & flats in Bordentown Creeck; their was not wauter Sufficient for them in watsons Creeck. I have Sent twelve waggon Load of Duck this Evening forward. The two friggates Lies at White hill two mile from this town with Sixteen Carriage Guns Each. as for men to Reinforce the Galley they Cannot be Spar’d from the friggates. their is but one...
25571From George Washington to Brigadier General David Forman, 16 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have this moment receiv’d your favor of Yesterday, & am very sorry to find that the Number of Militia you mention your being able to collect is so far inferior to what you expected. It is my earnest request that you immediately collect all the Men you possibly can & send them on as fast as any considerable number can be got together under good Officers to Join this Army, As you will remain...
25572To George Washington from Colonel Christopher Greene, 16 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
Coll Tilghman’s Letter of 14th instant, I received last night, wherein (by Your Excellency’s Command[)] he acquaints me of the agreeable Intelligence received from the Northward. Pursuant to your Request have communicated the Contents to Coll Smith & Commodore Hazelwood & desired them, to demonstrate our Joy on this glorious Occasion by discharging 13 Cannon from Fort Mifflin and the Navy at...
25573From George Washington to John Hancock, 16 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly honoured with your Favors of the 12th & 13th Instant, with their several Inclosures. In respect to the Resolution, directing a flag to be sent to Genl Howe, I am inclined to think, that the information upon which it was framed was without foundation. The Letters which have come from our Officers, who have been lately taken, generally mention that their treatment has been...
25574From George Washington to Richard Henry Lee, 16 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 5th Inst. as also that of the 11th by Baron Kalb, are both to hand —It is not in my power at present to answer your quere respecting the appointment of this Gentleman; but Sir, if there is any truth in the report which has been handed to me, viz.—that congress has appointed Brigadier conway to be Major Gen[e]ral in this Army, it will be as unfortunate a measure, as ever was...
25575To George Washington from Brigadier General James Potter, 16 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
From the best information I can receive, there is in Wilmington about 1300 of the enemy—They have put all the wounded & Sick on board of their Ships, and there is some merchant Ship there, they have not unloaded any thing. I am told the enemy have Stopt some of the Breaches that were made in the banks of Carpenters Island. My party is so small, & I am Obliged to keep them on such hard duty...
25576To George Washington from Major General Israel Putnam, 16 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have been hond with the receipt of your two favours of the 8th and immagine before this you have recd mine of the Same date containing the disagreable intelligence of the loss of fort mountgomery after a most Spirited defence & of our evacuating Peeks kill in Consequence thereoff—I congratulate you on the bravery of your Troops in attacking & putting to flight the british army, & regret the...
25577To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 16 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Enemy have open’d three Batteries on us. one in front of the pest Houses which with Recache rakes the whole Garrison, from whence they throw Red Hot Balls, as yet without Success. Another in Rear of our N. W. Block House in which they have Some Royalls an 8 In. Howitz. & 1 p[ai]r Artillery 12 p[ounde]r. I believe the other in Rear of the Mud Battery in which as yet they have but one 8 In....
25578To George Washington from Brigadier General William Woodford, 16 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was at Allen Town when I recd your Excellencys letter of the 13th, when I went to see what could be done with the Number of Idle Melitia Assembled at that place, as well as to assist Colo. Flowers in forwarding the Amunition to the Army, & enlarging his conveniencys for carrying on the Business of the Labrotary. I have expressly order’d them all to camp, except two prudent officers & 40 Men...
25579From George Washington to Thomas Wharton, Jr., 17–18 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
As the term of service of great numbers of the Militia of this State, who were called out some time ago, has expired, and their places have been by no means punctually filled up by succeeding Classes, I am constrained to call upon you in the most pressing manner, to exert the Powers of Government, not only to keep up the number of four thousand Men demanded by Congress, but of a much greater...
25580Franklin’s Description of His Ailments, 17 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AD : Œsterreichische National-Bibliothek, Vienna A.B. aged near 72 Years, had been subject to slight Fits of the Gout at long Intervals; was accustomed to what is called good Living, used but little Exercise, being from the Nature of his Employment, as well as from Love of Books, much in his Chamber writing or reading. About 3 Years since he found a small Spot on his Head cover’d with a dry...
25581Passport for Jan Ingenhousz, 17 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ADS : Yale University Library; ADS (draft): American Philosophical Society To all Commanders of armed Vessels appertaining to the United States of America, This may certify, that to my certain Knowledge the Bearer Dr. Ingenhauss is not an Enemy of the said States, nor a Subject of Great Britain, but an Inhabitant of Vienna in Austria, and Physician to the Empress Queen; going to England on his...
25582General Orders, 17 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
The troops are to be under arms at eleven o’clock this forenoon, except those men who are employed in making cartridges; and the General expects that the commanding officer of each regiment daily keeps a number of the best hands diligently working at that business, ’till further orders. The troops are to parade with one days provisions ready cooked. Varick transcript , DLC:GW . Lt. James...
25583To George Washington from Brig. Gen. David Forman, 17 October 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Brig. Gen. David Forman, 17 Oct. 1777. GW wrote Forman on 19 Oct. : “I have yours of the 17th.”
25584To George Washington from John Hancock, 17 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the Honour to forward the enclosed Resolves in Obedience to the Commands of Congress, and shall only refer your Attention to them. I congratulate you on the Success of our Arms in the Northern Department. Lest you should not have recieved an Account of the Particulars from Genl Gates, I do myself the Pleasure to forward you a Copy of his Letter to Congress together with the...
25585To George Washington from John Hancock, 17 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
It is now above Two years since I have had the Honour of Presiding in Congress, and I should Esteem myself happy to have it in my Power to render further Service to my Country in that Department; but the decline of Health occasion’d by so long & unremitting an Application to the Duties of my Office both in Congress and out of Congress, join’d to the Scituation of my own private Affairs, have...
25586To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 17 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
Altho’ I am Confident that your time is Necessarily taken up on the most Important business—yet my own Honor and Charecter—Induces me to Request your perusual of the Enclosed Defence —every part of which I have fully proved by Indubitable Evidence and however the Gentn who Composed the Courts of Enquiry may have Determined—yet so Concious am I of having done my Duty—that I am very Desirous of...
25587George Washington to Colonel Christopher Greene, 18 October 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Worcester, Pennsylvania ] October 18, 1777 . Informs Greene that Baron d’Arendt will assume command of Fort Mifflin and that Lieutenant Colonel John Green, with reinforcements, is on the way to the fort. Sends news of surrender of General John Burgoyne. Df , in writing of Richard Kidder Meade, last sentence in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
25588George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 18 October 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Worcester, Pennsylvania ] October 18, 1777 . Informs Smith that Baron d’Arendt will assume command of Fort Mifflin and that Lieutenant Colonel John Green, with reinforcements, is on the way to the fort. Sends news of the surrender of General John Burgoyne. Suggests a plan to prevent British from preparing floating batteries. Df , in writings of Tench Tilghman and H, George Washington Papers,...
25589The Committee for Foreign Affairs to the American Commissioners, 18 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society, Haverford College Library; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives (two) We have the pleasure of inclosing to you the copy of a letter from General Gates containing the circumstances of a Victory gained over General Burgoyne on the 7th. This event must defeat the main views of General Clinton in proceeding up Hudsons River. He has, it is true, got...
25590Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 18 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I have recvd. a Letter from Capt. Thompson Commander of the Rawleigh Frigate by which I find the prizes made by the two Ships consisted of 750 hhds. Sugar 325 Puncheons Rum 70 Plank Mahogany 15 Casks of Coffee and the two Ships which Capt. Nicholson tells me are 500 and 800 Tons Burden. This Property was sold for 9700 Sterling, which I take to be about ⅓ of the...