26001From George Washington to the Continental Navy Board, 12 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have your favr of the 10th and am only sorry that I did not sooner know my request of sinking the Frigates had been complied with. The delay of the Resolve of Congress, from the time you first applied for their advice, was what led me into a mistake, and I am obliged to you for the genteel manner in which you excuse me. I am perfectly satisfied with the measures which you have taken to...
26002To George Washington from Captain Fleury, 12 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
in my quality of engineer in chief at fort mifflin i think that my duty obliges me to informe you of the present situation of the fort. the fire of the enemy has been successful enough to spoile our three Block houses, and dismount the canon of all, except two. the great lockes of which we had covered them are not strong enough to preserve the inside of the block houses, and we have none...
26003To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Hamilton, 12 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have been detained here these two days, by a fever and violent rheumatic pains throughout my body. This has prevented my being active in person for promoting the purposes of my errand, but I have taken every other method in my power, in which Governor Clinton has obligingly given me all the aid he could. In answer to my pressing application to General Poor for the immediate marching of his...
26004From George Washington to James Mease, 12 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with yours of the 4th inclosing Returns of the Cloathing that has been delivered, and which you are now sending on to Camp. If I understand you, it is all that you have on hand made or unmade. If this is so, our prospects are melancholy indeed, except considerable quantities are expected from abroad, or are on some other part of the Continent. Of this I shall be glad to be informed...
26005To George Washington from Pierre Penet, 12 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
permit me to address these few lines in Congratulation of your late success against the Troops of Great Brittain, as we have just had the agreeable news by post of the arrival of a Packet at St Malo’s in this Kingdom, whereby we learn you have drove them & prevented their schemes against the Southern Colonies—I have taken the Liberty of sending you a pair of Shoulder knots & a sword knot, also...
26006To George Washington from Brigadier General James Potter, 12 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I Receved your Excelanceys favour of yesterday at 10 oClock last night. I was out Reconnitring, the Shiping are com up the number of soldiers I cant assurtain. as to the marching of the Militia the were all at Head Quarters before I Recd your Letter, as for my Harressing the Enemy the sitation of the pleace is such that I can do Little, and my numbers so Trifling, that I cant prevent there...
26007To George Washington from Brigadier General James Potter, 12 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am sorey to Inform your excelancey that Last night in the night the enemy got two Briggs and one Sloop up past the Island on the side next the Islands and this day they were unloading them at the Lowast ferrey in Schulkill, there has been a verey hevey fiering this day at the fourt from the Battreys on the Islands the fourt Seldom Returned the fier the Galleys went lower down the River then...
26008From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 12 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I last night received your Favor of the 10th Instant, and am sorry to find the Enemy’s Batteries had played with such Success against our Works. Nevertheless, I hope they will not oblige you to evacuate them. They are of the last importance, and I trust will be maintained till the latest extremity. I have written to Genl Varnum to afford you immediate succour by sending Fresh Troops to releive...
26009To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 12 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I yesterday unfortunately recd a Contusion on my Hip & left Arm both which give me much pain. I imprudently went into my Barracks to answer a Letter from Gen. Varnum & A Ball came through the Chimney & Struck me on the Hip So forcibly that I remain’d senseless for Some time. however I am happy to find myself much less hurted than I at first imagin’d & Hope in 5 or 6 days to be again fit for...
26010From George Washington to Brigadier General James Mitchell Varnum, 12 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am sorry to find from yours of Yesterday, that the fire of the Enemy had made so great an impression upon the Works of Fort Mifflin, that you thought an evacuation would be necessary. As I have not yet heard that the measure was determined upon, I hope it is not carried into execution. If it is not, it is the unanimous opinion of a Council of General Officers now sitting, that the Fort be...
26011To George Washington from Brigadier General James Mitchell Varnum, 12 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Garrison holds out; tho’ the Enemy continue to batter with great Success upon the Works, but few Men are killed and wounded. The Troops are extremely fatigued. I shall send one Hundred fresh Troops this Night, &, all that I have tomorrow Night, if the Fort should remain defensible—The most fatigued will be taken from the Garrison. Colo. Smith will be unable to return to his Command for...
26012From George Washington to Brigadier General James Mitchell Varnum, 12 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Since I wrote to you at One O’Clock this day yours dated twelve last Night came to hand. This has occasioned an alteration in the sentiments of myself and the Council, who find it impossible, from your representation, to give timely releif to the Fort. We therefore are now of opinion that the Cannon and Stores ought immediately to be removed, and every thing put into a disposition to remove...
26013To George Washington from Herman Zedwitz, 12 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I Should not presume to trouble your Exellencey with the inclosed letter to his Excellencey general howe, was it not to prevent mischiefs with three men Send after me from philadelphia by the honorable the Congress to Cure my desease, have Resolved upon to Publish a Shouking Story; but to inform your Excellencey in particular how dangerous them Vilans maid be if not prevented as well to the...
26014To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 13–15 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Since my last of the 7th I have had the honour of reporting to Congress Your Excellency’s favors of the 8th & 10th Currt. The Chairman of the Treasury Board in answer to my pressing intreaty for dispatch to replenish your Military Chest has desired me to inform your Excellency—“that from the removal of the Office from Baltimore & philadelphia the Money department has been greatly obstructed...
26015To John Adams from John Sullivan, 13 November 1777 (Adams Papers)
I this morning was favoured with yours of the 28 ultimo, which gave the more pleasure as I before had began to Conceive that Some part of my Conduct of which I was ignorant had Lost me your friendship and Esteem. This Sir was founded on my not Receiving a Single Line from you to Notify me of the Repeated Storms that were Raised against me in Congress. I Ever have and yet do most Sincerely wish...
26016From Alexander Hamilton to Major General Horatio Gates, 13 November 177[7] (Hamilton Papers)
Since my arrival in this quarter, I have been endeavouring to collect the best idea I could, of the state of things in New York in order the better to form a judgment of the probable reinforcement gone to General Howe. On the whole, these are facts well ascertained, that New York has been stripped extremely bare; That in consequence of this the few troops left there and the inhabitants are...
26017General Orders, 13 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
26018To George Washington from Elias Boudinot, 13 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Commissary General of Prisoners begs leave to report to his Excellency, that he has attended to the Letter deliver’d him from General Howe of the 6th Inst. With regard to the Complaint made therein against the Commissary of Prisoners, Mr Boudinot is greatly surprised at a Charge as unexpected as it is unjust: Mr Boudinot assures his Excellency that since his Appointment he has never...
26019From George Washington to Maj. John Clark, 13 November 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Maj. John Clark, Jr., 13 Nov. 1777. Clark’s letter to GW of 12 Nov. is docketed in part “Ansd 13th.”
26020From George Washington to Commodore John Hazelwood, 13 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
The weight of the Enemy’s Fire upon Fort Mifflin has made such an impression upon the Works, that I think it more than probable that the Garrison will soon be obliged to evacuate it totally, altho’ I have directed them to keep up a shew of possession as long as possible. I shall be glad, to know whether it will be possible for you to remain at or near your present station with the fleet, after...
26021From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 13 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
In my Letter of the 5th in Answer to your’s of the 22d Ulto, I mentioned, that it was not our interest to expedite the passage of the prisoners to England. Upon a review of the matter, I am more & more convinced of the propriety of the observation. The most scrupulous adherence on the part of the Enemy to the Convention of Saratoga, will justify their placing the prisoners in Garrisons, as...
26022From George Washington to Patrick Henry, 13 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was, two days ago, honored with your favs. of the 29th and 30th October. I wish it were in my power to keep up a more regular Correspondence with the different States, but being exceedingly pressed by a variety of Business, I am often under the necessity of being deficient in that respect. Since the Engagement at Germantown no material alteration has happened in the Situation of the two...
26023From George Washington to Patrick Henry, 13 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I shall beg leave to refer you to a Letter of mine which accompanies this, and of equal date, for a general account of our situation and wants. The design of this, is only to inform you, (and with great truth I can do it, strange as it may seem) that the Army which I have had under my immediate command, has not, at any one time since General Howe’s Landing at the Head of Elk, been equal in...
26024From George Washington to Brigadier General James Mitchell Varnum, 13 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you two Letters yesterday, the first contained positive orders to maintain the Fort on Mud Island at all events, the second in consequence of subsequent advices from you gave discretionary powers to evacuate the post—and a Copy of it was sent to guard against miscarriage—I refer you to its Contents and repeat that I would have a show of defence kept up as long as possible, by such a...
26025From George Washington to General William Howe, 14–15 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am sorry to find by the tenor of your Letter of the 6th Instant, that we still unhappily differ in our ideas of those just & reasonable terms upon which a general Exchange of prisoners might take place and that an event so desireable is probably yet at a distance. This being the case, that releif to the unhappy, where it is practicable, may as long be delayed, I am induced to accede to your...
26026John Adams to Abigail Adams, 14 November 1777 (Adams Papers)
Here I am.–I am bound home.–I suppose it will take me 14 days, perhaps 18 or 20, to reach Home.–Mr. S.A. is with me.–I am tolerably well. The American Colours are still flying at Fort Mifflin. The News on the other Side, is from a Merchant to his Partner. RC ( Adams Papers ). Concerning the enclosure, if it can be truly called one, see notes 2 and 3 . On 7 Nov. JA and Samuel Adams were voted a...
26027To John Adams from James Lovell, 14 November 1777 (Adams Papers)
Tho I must refer you as well as Mr. Hancock to what I have written to Mr. S. Adams relative to the Business in Congress, and also omit at present general chit chat of Men Women and Things, yet one little Peice of History which is peculiarly adapted to your improving Fancy I must put down. Mr. Hancock’s Waggoner who went with Mrs. Hancock to Boston, after his Return to Germantown his Home...
26028William Bingham to the American Commissioners, 14 November 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and AL : American Philosophical Society I have been prevented from having the honor of writing to you for some considerable time past, as an Embargo has been laid upon all Shipping bound to Europe, in Consequence of some Dispatches, which the General received from France. I vainly hoped that it would be a Forerunner to a Commencement of Hostilities, but it is now taken off; and there seems...
26029William McCreery to the American Commissioners, [c. 14 November 1777] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society A Prize having been lately made between the Mouth of this River, and the Lighthouse call’d Cordovan, by an American Privateer, and a Letter of Marque; which has occasion’d much talk at this place, much censure to me, as part owner of the latter, and many Letters to the English Ambassador; the purport of which I understand, is, that I, as an owner, shou’d be...
26030To Benjamin Franklin from Barbeu-Dubourg, 14 November 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Je vous prie, Mon cher Maitre, d’accorder un moment d’audience a Monsieur henry Du Bois Negociant d’Amsterdam, qui a des choses tout a fait interessantes a vous communiquer, et que j’espere que vous ne serez pas faché de connoitre. J’ai l’honneur de vous souhaiter le bonjour et de vous renouveller les assurances de mon parfait attachement Addressed: A...