25911To George Washington from Richard Henry Lee, 7 November 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Richard Henry Lee, 7 Nov. 1777. On 18 Nov. GW wrote Lee : “Your favour of the 7th Instant should not have remained so long unanswered.”
25912To George Washington from Colonel Alexander Martin, 7 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
The within Proceedings of the Board of Officers of the N. Carolina Brigade I approve of, and do recommend the Gentlemen Officers within named—both from their Rank & Merit, to your Excellency, to fill the Vacancies aforesaid. ALS , DNA : RG 93, Revolutionary War Records, North Carolina. Beneath Martin’s letter GW’s secretary Robert Hanson Harrison summarized the promotions of four field...
25913To George Washington from Colonel Lewis Nicola, 7 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed Letter I wrote yesterday in order to send it by the first opportunity to your Excellency, & Just now received a letter from the Secretary of the Board of war & copy of which I have the honour to inclose to you & as you must certainly be well acquainted with the importance & danger of the Stores at Allen town & in this place & Burdentown I take the liberty to request your Orders as...
25914To George Washington from Richard Peters, 7 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Board after making every Enquiry they can & after viewing the Subject in every Light they are capable of are convinced of the Necessity & Rictitude of siezing Blanketts Shoes & Necessaries for the Army from People of all Characters who can possibly spare them & from the disaffected altho the Measure should expose them to the greatest Difficulties which however cannot be greater than the...
25915From George Washington to Brigadier General James Potter, 7 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have not been favor’d with any Letter from you since I last wrote you. Upon revolving your Situation & the Nature of the Command you are upon, I begin to be of opinion the Number of Men you have may be rather prejudicial than serviceable to you, as they are a more attractive Object for the Enemy, & more inconvenient for you to move off upon any sudden occasion—I therefore think you had...
25916To George Washington from Major General Israel Putnam, 7 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your’s of the 31st Octor and 1st Novemr I have been favor’d with, and have taken the Necessary precautions that your Army should be supply’d with Provisions. In my last I Informed you that Genel Warners Brigade were orderd to Join you, but as they are Rais’d only till the first of Decemr the Officers and men think it exceeding hard, that they should be obliged Make that Long March and their...
25917From George Washington to Brigadier General James Mitchell Varnum, 7 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
From various accounts I am convinced that the Enemy are upon the point of making a grand effort upon Fort Mifflin. A person in confidence of one of their principal artificers thinks it will be to day or tomorrow. No time is therefore to be lost in making that Garrison as respectable as your numbers will admit, for should the attack commence before they are reinforced, it may probably be out of...
25918To George Washington from John Augustine Washington, 7 November 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from John Augustine Washington, 7 Nov. 1777. GW wrote his brother John Augustine Washington on 26 Nov .: “Your Letters of the 26th of Octr and 7th Instt have come safe to hand.”
25919From George Washington to Martha Washington, 7 November 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Martha Washington, 7 Nov. 1777. In a letter to Anna Maria Dandridge Bassett of 18 Nov., Martha Washington wrote her sister that “the last Letter I had from the General was dated the 7th of this month he says nothing hath happend since the unsuccessful attack upon our forts on the Dalaware” ( ViMtvL ).
25920The Committee for Foreign Affairs to the American Commissioners, 8 November 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Two ALS : American Philosophical Society; copies: University of Virginia Library, Library of Congress, National Archives At the Time this will be delivered to you, Bills of Exchange will also be presented for your acceptance drawn by the Honble. Henry Laurens Esqr. of Charlestown S. Carolina who was elected President of the continental Congress on the first day of this month; of which we...
25921Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 8 November 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Virginia Library Having carried to your Credit all the drafts I drew on Mr. Dean payable at M. Grands, and the Letter of Credit I gave, for the first purchase of the Lion, in favour of Peltier Du Doyer; I have desired M. Grand to observe the same Regularity, that our accounts may agree, and Since your Letter of Credit of the 18th Sept. I have drawn directly on M. Grand, and...
25922To Benjamin Franklin from John Anderson, 8 November 1777: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <St. Malo, November 8, 1777: When I left Paris with M. de Purney’s agreement it seemed satisfactory, but it is not honored here. They refuse me the money to get ready for sea, and their falling short of their promise frees me to leave their service and enter the American, as I wanted to do when in Paris. Would you tell me whether M. Desegray here will...
25923To Benjamin Franklin from Arthur Lee, 8 November 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society On November 4 the commissioners learned that the King of Spain, enraged by an American capture of goods belonging to his subjects, had canceled a loan to the United States. Vergennes suggested, according to Arthur Lee’s journal, that a letter to Madrid from the commissioners would doubtless be effective; the King was as quick to forgive as he was to take...
25924General Orders, 8 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
The service requiring that the men be ready to march on the shortest notice, the officers commanding brigades and corps are to be particularly careful to keep their men constantly supplied with two day’s provisions on hand. To make the more dispatch in the trial of Officers under Arrest, Brigade General Courts Martial are to be held without delay for the trial of all such officers as shall...
25925Council of War, 8 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
At a Council of War &c. Present Major Genls Sullivan[,] Greene[,] Marquis LaFayette[,] McDougal[,] Brigadrs Maxwell[,] Knox[,] Wayne[,] Weedon[,] Woodford[,] Scott[,] Conway[,] Huntington[,] Irvine. His Excellency having informed the Council of the Reinforcements that were expected from Peekskill and that among them was 1600 Militia from Massachusets under Genl Warner whose times would expire...
25926To George Washington from Colonel Theodorick Bland, 8 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
From the Commencement of the Present war I have devoted my time, regardless of domestic concerns to the Service of my Country. and scarcely since the month of June 1775 have I paid any attention to my own private affairs. Since my appointment to a Commission in the Horse, Which was in June 1776 I can with confidence say I have not been absent from my duty in that department one week, but when...
25927From George Washington to Colonel Theodorick Bland, 8 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have receiv’d your favor mentioning the many & strong reasons you have for quitting the Service, or at least obtaining leave of absence for the settlement of your affairs which you say & I make no doubt are in a Situation that demand your presence. As the Contest, in which we all saw the necessity of stepping forth, still remains undetermin’d, & the event of War doubtfull & uncertain, I...
25928To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 8 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Capt. Little late of Philada has just returned from the neighborhood of New Castle—he fell in with Lieut. Linsey of Blands dragoons, who had just taken two Captain’s belonging to the Enemy’s fleet: one of them was under orders to sail for England in a packet, and came ashore to take leave of the inhabitants who are continually supplying them with every necessary. Lindsy says if he had had only...
25929To George Washington from Captain Charles Craig, 8 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
By every Accot from the City the enemy intend to Attackt the Fort tomorrow. the Hessians are to stand Guard. the Highlanders Granadiers and Light Infantry to make the Attackt one of their Floating Batteries that was Lanced Yesterday is Sunk to the bottom My Guard was rainforced Last Night I hope I Shall have it my power to provent the Enemys Comming into the Country as much as the have done. I...
25930From George Washington to Capt. Charles Craig, 8 November 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Capt. Charles Craig, 8 Nov. 1777. Craig’s letter to GW of 8 Nov. is docketed in part “Ansd 8.”
25931From George Washington to Major General Philemon Dickinson, 8 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Letter of the 6th Inst. and thank you for the intelligence contained in it—you will farther oblige me by communicating immediately whatever new matter of public consequence may occur. The importance of the Post at Red-bank makes it necessary for us to employ all possible resources in rendering it so respectable by the Strength of the Garrison, and the number of Troops...
25932From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 8 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor to inclose you an extract of a letter from Major Genl Dickinson of the 6th instant, by which it appears that a reinforcement has sailed from New York either for Genl Howe or some other expedition. I have not yet heard whether any of the Troops on their march from the northward have yet crossed the North River, but I hope they will be with me near as soon as Genl Howe’s...
25933To George Washington from Captain Henry Lee, Jr., 8 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Mr Lindsay is just returned from New castle & has brought with him two prisoners; the one Capt. Nicholas of the Eagle packet, the other, Capt. Fenwick of a sloop in the service of Government. These two gentlemen being fatigued with their ride, will not arrive at Headquarters, ’till tomorrow. The transports have received orders to furnish themselves with six weeks provision, & make ready for...
25934From George Washington to Capt. Henry Lee, 8 November 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Capt. Henry Lee, Jr., 8 Nov. 1777. Lee’s letter to GW of 8 Nov. is docketed in part “ansd 8.”
25935From George Washington to William Livingston, 8 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
The great importance of the Post at Red-bank has led me to be importunate in applications for its reinforcement—The State over which Your Excellency presides is more particularly call’d upon by reason of its Situation, and because it never furnished the two thousand men which were order’d as its quota to the Continental Army—I do therefore most earnestly entreat you that no exertions be...
25936From George Washington to Brigadier General Thomas Nelson, Jr., 8 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 26th Ulto came to my hands yesterday, & merits my warmest acknowledgements: The Idea’s you entertaind of our force was, unhappily, but too well founded; and I now wish I had given more into your generous proposal; but the distance, and uncertainty of keeping Militia in Service any length of time were obstacles which seemed too great to be counter balanced by the advantage of...
25937From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Charles Pope, 8 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
The approaching season and the distresses of the Army in the Articles of Blankets & Cloathing, make it necessary that every practicable measure should be pursued to procure Supplies. You are therefore to proceed immediately to the President of the Delaware State with the Letters you have in charge and to receive from him for the use of the Troops which have come from thence, Whatever Supplies...
25938To George Washington from Brigadier General James Potter, 8 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I Receved your excelancys favour of yesterday leat Last evining ocasioned by my being leat on the enemys lins, there is nothing pertecquler that I see in my power to do heare, could I Beleve that my Troops were fit to storm Brestworks I wold have actacted the Island before this time But Common prudance considring who I command has for bid it—altho I flater myself I have not the worst of men I...
25939From George Washington to George Read, 8 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
The approaching season and the scanty Supplies of Cloathing in public store, have induced me, to send Lt Colo. pope to procure, if possible, a suitable Quantity for the Troops of your State. The distress of the Army in this instance, is great, and will daily increase if some releif is not obtained. I do not know, whether your State may have turned its attention to this Object, or what...
25940From George Washington to Brigadier General James Mitchell Varnum, 8 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Yours of the 6th relieved me from much anxiety, as it was confidently reported that the firing upon the 5th was upon Fort Mifflin. I am pleased to hear of the Success of your Cannonade against the Enemy’s shipping, and I am very certain if we had more heavy Cannon mounted upon travelling carriages to move up and down the Beach occasionally, that we should annoy and distress them exceedingly....