25951To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 9 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I receiv’d your Excellency’s favour of the 4th I presume you must have mistook Major Fleury’s meaning. he has since he arrived acted fully in his department of Engineer, when I proposed any thing he has generally been so polite to approve it. he writes and I presume will acknowledge that his Ideas have been adopted as far as the strength of the Garrison would permit. The enemy since I wrote...
25952To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 9 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
About the 20th Instant if we are not attacked sooner I am of Opinion we shall have put this Fort in a good posture of defence, at which time the Officers of the Virginia Regiments and my party hope your Excellency will relieve them and their men. Your Excellency will see the propriety of this request when I assure you that out of 200 Men compleatly Officer’d which my party consisted of, there...
25953To George Washington from Brigadier General James Mitchell Varnum, 9 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Previous to the Rect of your Commands of Yesterday, I had sent an additional Reinforcement of a Capt. two Subs., three Serjeants and fifty Rank & File into Fort Mifflin. I have been at Fort Mifflin to day; The Enemy are prepared to open a Battery of five Guns, I take them to be Eighteens or Twenty fours, this Night, or tomorrow Morning, In Conjunction with their two Howitzers, besides two...
25954From George Washington to Brigadier General Jonathan Warner, 9 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
As the term of Service of the Brigade of Massachusets Militia under your command will expire with this Month, it is not worth your while to march this distance to do a few days duty. I therefore desire you will return to Genl Putnam and employ your men, during their stay, in such manner as he shall direct. I imagine this must be more agreeable to them than coming so far from home at this...
25955James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 10 November 1777 (Adams Papers)
As the delivery of this Billet cannot be attended with the disagreable allarm which the amiable Mrs. Adams some time ago suffered from a well meant but indiscretely-managed little Compliment of one of her Admirers, I improve this fair opportunity to congratulate her, thus, upon the late happy events at Saratoga, greatly important to the Public and, consequently, interesting to her patriotic...
25956To John Adams from John Sullivan, 10 November 1777 (Adams Papers)
Nothing has given me more uneasiness than to find General Conway is about Leaving our Army on Account of Some French Gentlemen who were inferiour in Rank to him while they Remained in their own Country being promoted over him. This he Says was the only Thing he guarded against in his agreement with Mr. Dean and with Congress, but is now So unhappy as to find not only persons who held Inferiour...
25957From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 10 November [1777] (Hamilton Papers)
I arrived here last night from Albany. Having given General Gates a little time to recollect himself I renewed my remonstrances on the necessity and propriety of sending you more than one Brigade of the three he had detained with him, and finally prevailed upon him to give orders for Glover’s in addition to Patterson’s brigade to march this way. As it was thought conducive to expedition to...
25958The American Commissioners to Franco and Adrianus Dubbeldemuts, [10 November 1777] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress We had the honor of receiving in due time your Letters of the 30th. of Octr. last, together with the Papers annexd. It gives us much concern to find that any persons belonging to America shoud be chargeable with having acted with such violence and injustice. But as it appears they have sent with the Vessel the Papers which will prove the illegality of their...
25959William Lee to the American Commissioners, 10 November 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Virginia Historical Society; copy: National Archives In consequence of the Instructions to me from the Honorable Congress of the United States of America I am to request that you will be pleased to furnish me with a copy of the Treaty, originally proposed by Congress to be entered into with France together with the subsequent alterations which have been proposed on either side. As my...
25960To Benjamin Franklin from Johann Rodolph Valltravers, 10 November 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Just returned from a Tour thro’ the principal of our Cantons, I found all my Countrymen concerned for the Misfortunes of England and N. America. Is there no Means to prevent the Destruction of both? Yes, there is, please God! Let but a just, equitable, pacifying Mediator step between both, and reconcile them upon liberal, safe, and honorable Principles....
25961To Benjamin Franklin from Patience Wright, 10 November 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society As much depends on Seartain and Early Inteligence I send you a Copy of the letter Sent out to the ministeriel myromidons about the meeting of Parlement. “Sir you are requested to attend at the cokpitt on wendsday Evening at 7 oclok being the ninetenth, 19th Instant.” Not-Withstanding the Circulating letter the Runnir and [is?] ordid to say the parlement...
25962General Orders, 10 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW . Muhlenberg’s orderly book gives the following general for this date: “Detail the same as Yesterday, only Hartley’s, Humpton’s, Maxwell’s, Conway’s, Carolina’s and Huntingdon’s Brigades furnish Captains, instead of those which furnish’d them Yesterday. “Mislaid or taken from the Artillery Park on the 8th Inst, a Genteel Silver mounted sword, shell of openwork and...
25963To George Washington from a Board of General Officers, 10 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Board of General Officers assembled at General Greene’s Quarters by order of the Commander in Chief Beg leave to represent to His Excellency: That the Rations allow’d to the Army in future ought to be as follows Vizt. 2/ One pound & one quarter of a pound of Beef—or One Pound Pork or 1¼ lb. Salt Fish— /5d. 1¼ lb. Flour or Soft bread or 1 lb. hard bread— /7d. Half a Gill Rum or Whiskey pr...
25964To George Washington from the Continental Navy Board, 10 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
In Answer to your Letter of yesterday, we would inform your Excellency that when we first fixt the Navy Board at this Place & got our Frigates up, we had formed a Plan for defending them by a small Battery: of which among many other Things we gave Notice to the Marine Committee of Congress. We had no Answer to our Letter from that Committee, till the Day before yesterday, when they sent us the...
25965To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Hamilton, 10 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I arrived here last night from Albany. Having given General Gates a little time to recollect himself I renewed my remonstrances on the necessity and propriety of sending you more than one Brigade of the three he had detained with him, and finally prevailed upon him to give orders for Glover’s in addition to Patterson’s brigade to march this way. As it was thought conducive to expedition to...
25966Brigadier General Henry Knox’s Artillery Estimate for 1778, 10 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Estimate of Ordnance, Arms, and Stores necessary for the Army of the United States for the Campaign of the year 1778, supposing it to consist of Forty thousand Men. Battering Train of Cannon, Mortars, &ca Iron Cannon 30 18 Pounders } On Travelling Carriages—6 spare ones for the 12 Prs and 6 for the 18 Prs 30 12 Do Iron Mortars 12 13 Inch. } With Beds Complete—3 spare beds to the 13, and 5 to...
25967From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 10 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly honored with your Favors of the 4th and 5th Inst., with their several Inclosures. Among those of the former, I found the Resolution you are pleased to allude to, respecting your Appointment as president. permit me, Sir, to congratulate you upon this Event, and to assure you, I have the most entire confidence, that I shall experience in you, during your presidency, the same...
25968From George Washington to William Livingston, 10 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor of yours of Yesterday. I am sorry that you construed a part of my last letter into any kind of reflection upon the exertions of your State. I could not mean it as I am conscious they do not deserve it—As it happened from several particular Circumstances that the two thousand Militia voted to reinforce this Army could not leave the State, I only meant to urge the necessity of...
25969From George Washington to Brigadier General James Potter, 10 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
It is without a doubt with me that the Enemy intend makeing attack on Mud Island, perhaps this may be the time, as a considerable firing is heard. You must know it, if tis so & I hope will take every step in your Power, by Manœuvres or otherwise, to attract their attention for the relief of the Fort. When ever this event may happen I must request you to give me the very earliest information....
25970To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 10 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
This morning the enemy open’d their Battery in the Rear of our Nort. West Block House, about 500 Yards distance from it of 6 pieces of Cannon 18 to 32 pounders, and one eight inch howitz, one other eight inch howitz opposite the right of our Battery. they were so fortunate to strike one of our 18 pounders in the two Gun Battery on the Muzzle, by which, she is rendered useless; their Shott from...
25971From George Washington to Brigadier General James Mitchell Varnum, 10 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am pleased to find by yours of the 8th that proper dispositions were formed for the Reception of the Enemy at Forts Mercer and Mifflin and that the Garrisons were so full of confidence. We already hear a firing which we suppose a prelude to something more serious. I sincerely wish you sucess; but let the event be fortunate or otherwise pray let me have the speediest intelligence. I am Dr Sir...
25972To George Washington from Brigadier General James Mitchell Varnum, 10 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Enemy this Morning opened against us with five Batteries. At two this afternoon, no Man was killed or wounded. The Cannonade and Bombardment have continued feebly since that Hour. I suppose the Rain has prevented their being more brisk—They have thrown some Shot among our Shipping: Theirs remain below us. They have made but little Impression upon the Works or Pallisades. I have just...
25973To Alexander Hamilton from Brigadier General Enoch Poor, 11 November 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Fishkill, New York, November 11, 1777 . On November 12, Hamilton wrote to Washington : “By a letter … of yesterday, General Poor informs me… “ Letter not found .]
25974To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 11 November 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Your Favour of the 23d Octo. I did not receive ’till the day before yesterday owing I suppose to M. Montieu’s return to Paris. As to the Prizes I am very much afraid that we are on all hands deceived for while M. C was amused with the Idea of returning them to us orders were absolutely given to confiscate, and after that, when he was again amused with the...
25975General Orders, 11 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Honorable Continental Congress have passed the following resolves, which have been transmitted hither to be made public in the army. vizt. Resolved—That His Excellency Governor Caswell of North Carolina be requested to erect a monument of the value of five hundred dollars, at the expence of these United States, in honor of the memory of Brigadier General Francis Nash, who fell in the...
25976To George Washington from Colonel Arendt, 11 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Substance of Baron Arendt’s Letter—General Varnum informed me this morning, that Colo. Smith had sent him word by an Officer, that he thought it impossible for the Fort to hold out longer than ’till night —and asked my opinion upon the subject—it was that the Fort should be maintained to the last extremity, but that the Cannon of the Battery should be brought off with all the superfluous...
25977From George Washington to Ephraim Blaine, 11 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
This is to signify to you my express order that no time be lost in writing to the Commissarial Department in New England and procuring from thence the Wine and Spirits wanted for the use of this Army—I have Received a letter from Genl Putnam in which he mentions that he is doing all in his power to send forward provisions according to my Direction. I am &c. Df , in John Laurens’s writing,...
25978From George Washington to Daniel Cunyngham Clymer, 11 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Letter of the 4th containing an apology for sending an agreeable piece of Intelligence which you have since discover’d to be false —mistakes of this kind are not uncommon and most frequently happen to those whose zeal and sanguineness allow no room for scepticism when any thing favorable to their Country is plausibly related—I beg you to be persuaded that my good opinion...
25979From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 11 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
The condition of the Army for want of Cloaths and Blankets, and the little prospect we have of obtaining relief according to the information I have received from the Board of War, occasion me to trouble you at this time. The mode of seizing and forcing supplies from the Inhabitants, I fear, would prove very inadequate to the demands, while it would certainly imbitter the minds of the People,...
25980To George Washington from William Livingston, 11 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
your Excellency’s Favour of yesterday’s date I just now received—It gives me very great Concern Sir that you should think I meant to construe any part of your Letter into any kind of reflection upon the Exertions of this State. If there is any Expression in my Letter (of which I have no Copy) that appears to carry that Idea, I am confident your Excellency’s Candour will ascribe it to the hurry...