26171To John Adams from James Lovell, 22 November 1777 (Adams Papers)
We have this Evening a Letter from Mr. Bingham of Octr. 13th. in which he tells us that the french General had received a Packet by a Boat which left Rochelle Sepr. 4th. advising him of the destination of 5,000 Troops for Martinique the Transports being actually ready at Havre Nantes and Bourdeaux to take them on Board. An Embargo was to be immediately laid upon european bound Vessels to...
26172To Benjamin Franklin from A.-M. Hevin de Navarre and François-Antoine, Baron de Seyffertitz, 22 November 1777: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS ?: American Philosophical Society <Würzburg, November 22, in French: Our letters to you of September 24 and November 12 have had no answer and may not have reached you. We speak for twenty-five or thirty veteran officers who, like us, want to enter the American service. We ask for a hundred louis, half in advance and half when we arrive in Paris to explain our plans; Capt. Navarre, our...
26173To Benjamin Franklin from Lebègue de Presle, 22 November 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’ai l’honneur de vous envoyer une brochure que l’auteur m’a chargé de vous remettre comme un temoignage de son respectueux attachement: j’aurois eu l’avantage de vous la presenter moi meme, si mon retour a Paris fixé au mercredi 26 de ce mois ne me donnoit pas ici des affaires; et je n’ai pas cru pouvoir differer de m’acquitter de la commission d’un...
26174General Orders, 22 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
The General Court Martial of the line, of which Colonel Grayson is president, is to sit to morrow morning at nine o’clock, at the house where General Huntington quartered, for the trial of all prisoners which shall be brought before them—An orderly serjeant from each brigade is to attend the court—Lt Col. Heth—Lt Col. Becker and Major Taylor, and a captain from each Continental brigade...
26175To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 22 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
This will inform you one of my Spies has this moment come to me from Philadelphia, he delivered the Dispatches to Sr Wm & has been through his Army says those remaining at Philadelphia do not exceed 5000, the Soldiers much fatigued & grumble at the severe duty they are obliged to do & are exceedingly averse to the service their Redoubts have from two to three Feild pieces in each, in front at...
26176To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 22 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
A few Minutes ago my Spy whom I expected had waited on you Yesterday, came to me, he left Philadelphia after 12, this Day, confirms the account, transmitted you in my Letter of this Date, & says the Troops from Jersey, have not returned, that the Enemy have their Waggons paraded along the line, where they are encamped, that they are busy hauling Fascines up from the Neck, that a number of...
26177From George Washington to Major General Nathanael Greene, 22 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with yours of Yesterday Afternoon from Burlington. As you have crossed the River, an attack upon the Enemy’s detachment if it can be made with success, would be a most desirable object. But I must leave the propriety of it entirely to your own judgment. I have heard nothing more of Glovers Brigade than that they were advancing down the Road from Morris Town; I sent an Express to meet...
26178To George Washington from Major General Nathanael Greene, 22 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I came to this Place yesterday morning—the Difficulty of crossing the Baggage over the River prevented it’s coming up last night. The Boats & Scows at Burlington are under very bad Regulations—Gen. Varnum had retreated as I wrote your Excellency before to this place —He left a Party of Militia at Haddonfield; I am afraid there has a very considerable Quantity of Stores fallen into the Enemies...
26179From George Washington to Major General Nathanael Greene, 22 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Letter of this days date—it does not appear from any account worthy of credit—that any part of the Detachment which cross’d the Delaware under Lord Cornwallis has return’d to Philadelphia. I am inclined therefore to wish that you would advance to meet it as much in force as possible—and that for this purpose you would use every means to hasten the junction of Glover’s...
26180To George Washington from Patrick Henry, 22 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
It was with equal Surprize & Concern that I received Dispatches from Congress, informing me that the Army under your Excellency’s Command, was in so great Want of Necessarys. In order to give the most effectual Releif in the power of this State, Application has been made to several Merchants by our Commissary of Stores, & an Agent sent Southwardly, to purchase Goods. About 3,000 yards blue...
26181To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 22 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
The last I had the honour of writing to you was dated the 19th. Your Excellency’s Letter of the 17th in which was inclosed Copy of a paper from Mr Zantzinger & a Return of deficiencies in Clothing for the Army came Since to hand & have been presented to Congress—& by their order Committed to the Board of War & Treasury from whence no Reports have yet come up, I am thereby left without...
26182To George Washington from William Livingston, 22 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Legislature of this State having passed a Law for impressing a thousand Blankets for the Use of the Jersey Battalions under your Command, & for authorizing Commissioners to Purchase as many others, with as many Articles of Cloathing for the said Troops as they can procure, we presume that all orders that may have been issued to military Officers to seize such Articles in this State will be...
26183To George Washington from Captain Allen McLane, 22 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
At, the request of Number, of able bodied, young men, that lives about the lines and is out of Imployment I take this liberty of Informing Yr Excellency that they express a desire of forming themselves in a Company and acting Under your Exclency direction for one Month if your Excellency thinks proper to Incourage this perposial, It might attend, to Cut of all Communication wh the Assistance...
26184From George Washington to Captain Allen McLane, 22 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have this moment received your Letter containing the Proposals of some of the Inhabitants near the Enemys Lines—I will undoubtedly accept their Offers of Service provided they give in a list of their names, and engage to be under the absolute command for the time specified of such Officer as I shall appoint—this precaution is necessary, for otherwise they may receive the Public Money without...
26185To George Washington from Colonel David Mason, 22 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
When I Last did myself the Honour of writing to you I had the Most Sanguine hopes of having all our New Regiments Compleat & the Old Ones Greatly increased, I cannot but Lament that I have been too Greatly Deceived and I fear it is owing to the Remissness of Many of our Militia Officers, who Regardless of the Duty they owe to their Country & themselves and Posterity Disregard all the Dutys of...
26186To George Washington from Captain Edward Vail, 22 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
To his Excellency Genl Washington Commander in Chief, of the American Continental Army. The Petetion of Capt. Edwd Vail Humbly Sheweth that your Peti[t]oner finds himself Aggriev’d by a Sentance of a Brigade Court Martial whereof Col. Hogun was President, & the whole of the Sd Court Consisted one member Excepted, of Officers below my rank, therefore beg the favour of being Try’d by the Line or...
26187From George Washington to Brigadier General James Mitchell Varnum, 22 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favors of 20 & 21st Inst. by this Express I shall write to Majr Genl Greene from whom you will receive your Instructions respecting your Operations on that shore. I am at a loss to determine upon what Principle the Powder was strew’d over the fort at Red bank as I expected that if an Evacuation was found necessary it might be brought off & if that was impracticable I...
26188From George Washington to Brig. Gen. Anthony Wayne, 22 November 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Brig. Gen. Anthony Wayne, 22 Nov. 1777. A two-page letter in the writing of GW’s aide-de-camp Tench Tilghman and signed by GW was sold in 1935. It reads in part: “Altho’ it is not probable that the Enemy would give us notice of their intentions, I do not think it will be amiss to be in readiness. I would therefore have you put your Division under Arms by day Break and I...
26189The American Commissioners: Memorandum for the French and Spanish Courts, 23 November 1777 (Franklin Papers)
DS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères, Archivo General de Simancas; DS (draft ): Princeton University Library; copy: Archivo Historico Nacional This memorandum had been in preparation for more than a fortnight. On the 8th Franklin had made the original draft, now lost, and Lee had suggested changes that his colleagues accepted; on the 9th the document was ready to be copied and...
26190The American Commissioners to Franco and Adrianus Dubbeldemuts, 23 November 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Connecticut Historical Society We received yours of the 18th and observe the Contents. We shall this Week transmit to America the Papers relative to your Vessel taken and write on the Subject as we proposed in our last Letter; at the same Time as there is danger of the Packets being intercepted, it will be proper for you to send Duplicates to your Correspondent in St. Eustatia from...
26191The American Commissioners to J. Rocquette, T. A. Elsevier, & P. Th. Rocquette, 23 November 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Connecticut Historical Society Yours of the 18th. under Cover of Messrs. F & A Dubbledemuts We received, are obliged to you for your offers of Correspondence and for Accots. of the Price of Sundry Articles of American Produce at your Port. Please to inform us if the Indigo you mention at 50 to 70 Stuyvers per lb. is Carolina growth or other, and what the Difference if any between that...
26192Silas Deane to John Philip Merckle, 23 November 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Connecticut Historical Society Since my last Sir GG has arrived and on consulting with him the Commissioners are of opinion that they can go no farther than to compleat the agreement made between you and him when my Brother was at Amsterdam. This I conclude has been by this Time executed. It is unnecessary to repeat what I have before said and wrote to you on this Subject, as you are...
26193General Orders, 23 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Court of enquiry held the 18th inst: of which Col. Humpton was president, to inquire into the conduct of Col. Price of the 2nd Maryland regiment report as follows—“The Court after considering the evidences that appeared, are of opinion, that the reports circulating to the prejudice of Col. Thomas Price are without the least foundation.” The General Court Martial of the line ordered to sit...
26194To George Washington from the Continental Navy Board, 23 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
It is with the greatest Concern we inform you of the total Destruction of the Continental Fleet at Red Bank; having been burned by our own Officers in Consequence of a Determination of a Council of War. We have not yet had an Opportunity of making a regular Enquiry into the Reasons of so desperate a Measure. As far as we can collect from the Officers and Crews here, it was occasioned by the...
26195To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 23 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am just now honour’d with the receipt of Your Excellency’s Letter of the 14th Instant, from White Marsh. I have never entertained the smallest Idea, that General Burgoyne should be permitted to Change the port of Embarkation, or that the least variation of the Spirit, and Letter of the Convention, would be indulged to the Troops under his Command. There is no doubt, but the British Regiments...
26196To George Washington from Captain Caleb Gibbs, 23 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I wrote Colo. Harrison on the 21st Ulto from Morristown informing him of the disagreable peice of intelligence which I had that day received, of the Illness of Colo. Hamilton, and of my intention to set out immediately for Peeks Kill with all possible dispatch. I accordingly arrived here yesterday morning about 9 oClock, w[h]ere I found Colo. Hamilton much worse than I expected, labouring...
26197To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 23 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am now to acknowledge the honor of the receipt of yours of the 22d Ulto and 5th Instant. In consequence of the former I directed Major Barber to purchase up what Lead he could find in this Town or its Vicinity. He soon informed me that he had purchased Ten Tons, Six of which were forwarded, some days since, to Springfield. the remainder will follow immediately. Mr Jervis, Agent to the...
26198From George Washington to General William Howe, 23 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am compelled by repeated Complaints of the Inhuman treatment still shewn to the Unhappy prisoners in your hands, to call upon you for a clear & explicit Answer to my Letter of the 14th Instant. This I shall expect to receive by Monday Evening next. Their sufferings demand immediate redress; And unless I obtain the most satisfactory assurances on this Head, duty will constrain me to retaliate...
26199From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 23 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly honored with your Favors of the 13 & 19 Instant with their Inclosures. I am well assured Congress have not been inattentive to the Necessities of the Army, and that the deficiency in our Supplies, particularly in the Article of cloathing has arisen from the difficulty of importing, on account of the Numerous Fleet, which line our Coast. However, I am persuaded that...
26200To George Washington from Captain Henry Lee, Jr., 23 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday the enemy abandoned Provence island. We have reason to believe that Gen. Clinton with the late reinforcement, & Lord Cornwallis with his body of troops landed on Carpenters island yesterdy, & passed on to the city. The navy have mostly moved up from Chester, & lay off Billingsport. With profound respect Your Excellys most Obt Hum. servt ALS , DLC:GW . The cover indicates that Lee...