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...
26201To George Washington from Brigadier General Casimir Pulaski, 23 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
The desire which I have of fulfilling my Duty, leads me to make frequent representations to Your Excellency of matters which regard the Service of the Cavalry. What follows is my opinion, and if I am so happy as to find it agreeable to Your Excellencys Views, it will be necessary to carry my Plan into execution as soon as possible. As in all appearance it will be late before we retire to...
26202To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan and Brigadier Generals William Maxwell and Anthony Wayne, 23 … (Washington Papers)
May it please your Excellency, We the Subscribers, General Officers in the American Army, beg leave to represent, That we have severally been accus’d of unsoldierly Conduct, dangerous Neglect, and other Crimes, which, had they been prov’d, must have blacken’d our Characters as Officers, and sunk us beneath the Reproaches of our Country. In Consequence of these malicious Accusations, Courts...
26203General Orders, 24 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Information having been given that divers of the late sutlers, and some of the inhabitants have opened tippling houses within and adjacent to the encampment of the army, by which the design of banishing the Sutlers from the army is in a great measure frustrated. The Deputy Quarter Master General is required forthwith, to make diligent inquiry, and examination, for discovering such houses, and...
26204Brigadier General John Cadwalader’s Plan for Attacking Philadelphia, 24 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
As the Enemy have made very considerable Detachments from their main Body to New Jersey under the Command of Lord Cornwallis; and a considerable number of men being necessary to defend the several Posts on the Islands which are at least 7 miles from the Lines it may be very proper to consider whether a successfull attack cannot be made on the City. The following plan of an attack is offered...
26205To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 24 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am this moment returned [from] Mr Philip Prices near the lower Ferry, at which place I thought to have taken a view of the River, but was prevented by the thickness of the Air occasioned by a Smoak on Province Island, I immagine the Enemy are about to evacuate it, by a Person of distinction from Philadelphia (a Friend) this Evening, I am informed, the Enemy are exceedingly alarmed, Orders...
26206To George Washington from Robert Erskine, 24 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
The twenty Ovens ordered last Summer, concerning which I have your favour of the 14th Inst., were delivered as follows; four to Coll Mifflin, as the army passed Pompton; fourteen were sent after it to Morristown, by seven Waggons impressed for that purpose; & two large and ten small ones remained here, when I was at Wilmington, which I mentioned to Coll Mifflin; who ordered me to send four,...
26207From George Washington to Col. David Forman, 24 November 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Col. David Forman, c.24 Nov. 1777. In his letter to William Livingston of 24 Nov. , GW writes: “I have given orders to have all the Officers ... except Colo. Forman, for whom you have a letter.”
26208From George Washington to Major General Nathanael Greene, 24 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
If you have not moved from Mount Holley when this comes to hand, I wish you to wait there till you see Colo. Meade, who will set off immediately charged with some important matters which I thought it improper to commit to paper. This However you are to understand under this restriction—That I do not mean to prevent you a moment from prosecuting any Object you have immediately in view that...
26209To George Washington from Major General Nathanael Greene, 24 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have nothing new to communicate to your Excellency with Respect to the Motions of the Enemy—they remain or did last night at Woodbury, with a Guard at Timber Creek, consisting of about six hundred men. The Boats that went up, mentioned in my former Letter, I conjecture had on Board the Baggage of the Army; the Soldiers seen on board, were the regimental Guards to the Baggage. The Militia of...
26210To George Washington from Major General Nathanael Greene, 24 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I receivd your favor by Col. Mead who has communicated to me the design of an attack upo[n] Philadelphia, the consequences if successful are so desireable that I wish it appeard to me more practicable—In war there must be always some thing left to chance and I would always recommend to trust some consequences to the Spirit and bravery of the troops—An excess of caution which councils of War...
26211From George Washington to William Livingston, 24 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with yours of the 22d. It gives me great pleasure to find that your Legislature have undertaken to procure a Quantity of Blankets and other Cloathing, by Civil Authority, which mode ought ever to be adopted instead of the Military. I have given orders to have all the Officers, who were vested with powers to collect these Articles, immediately recalled, except Colo. Forman, for...
26212From George Washington to Brig. Gen. James Potter, 24 November 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Brig. Gen. James Potter, 24 Nov. 1777. GW writes in a letter of this date to Potter : “I wrote you . . . this morning & . . . fear my Letter should have miscarried.”
26213To George Washington from Brigadier General James Potter, 24 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was at Chester yesterday the most of the shiping is gon up the River as far as the Bend below Billingsport, the enclosed lines I Receved from a good honast whig that would not assart a falce hood Knowing it to be such he lives in the City. I am your Excelanceys Most Obedant Humble sert. AL , DLC:GW . The enclosed undated intelligence report reads: “I Receiv’d the Beef & Return Thanks till...
26214From George Washington to Brigadier General James Potter, 24 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I thank you for your Favor of this date & for the intelligence it contained. You will continue your endeavours to obtain further information, and will transmit as soon as you can whatever you may think material and necessary to be known. I intend to send a Reconnoitring party over Schuylkill to Morrow Morning and request that you will detach Two Hundred Men to cover them. you will direct them...
26215To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 24 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the Honor to Inclose you our Arrangment of the field officers of Light Horse which the Board Directed me to forward. upon a Supposition that your Excellencey would Call in their former Commissions & grant them De novo we Took the Liberty of Hinting At the Dates their Respective Commissions Should Bear—but if that is Disapprovd by your Excellencey, our opinion is that they Rank as...
26216The American Commissioners to Thomas Thompson, 25 November 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Two AL : Library of Congress, Harvard University Library We advise you on your return to L’Orient to put your Ship in readiness for Sea, Capt. Hinman will do the same, and after you have obtained the best intelligence to be had, of the British Merchant Ships, and Commerce to pursue the Course, which you judge best for intercepting and making prizes on Our Enemies Ships, and property. As it is...
26217Dumas to the American Commissioners, 25 November 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; letterbook summary: Algemeen Rijksarchief, The Hague Depuis le départ d’ici de Mr. Sym. Deane, j’ai eu l’honneur d’écrire le 30e. Octob. à Mr. Sil. Deane, le 14e. Nov. à Mr. W. Carmichael, et 18e. à l’hon. Commission en général comme la présente. Il y avoit aussi dans celle du 18e. une ouverte pour Mr. le Chev. Grand. Nous avons avis de notre bon ami Mr....
26218Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 25 November 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Virginia Library M. Peltier has recvd. his Instructions from M. Montieu, but they are not exactly similar to yours, M. Montieu intending to put all his Goods on board the Chalotais, and I prefer putting as much of yours as I can on board of this Ship, which by the tenor of your agreement it appears I have liberty to do. However rather than have any further Difficulty or...
26219To Benjamin Franklin from F. and Anton Georg Eckhardt frères, 25 November 1777: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <The Hague, November 25, 1777, in French: One of us was known to you in London, and had the honor of your esteem. Our friend and correspondent M. Penet will give you the prospectus of a work describing an instrument that we have invented; we should be immensely flattered if you would allow your name to be included among our subscribers in France. We include...
26220To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Grand, [c. 25 November 1777?] (Franklin Papers)
AL : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Mr. Hy. Grand is come up to pay his most humble Respects to Doctor Francklin. Was excessively sorry in not being fortunate enough as to meet him in order to take his Commands once more for America. His Recomandations, is one of the great motives that engaged him to go over. He in consequence takes the Liberty to crave him not to forget them. His father...
26221General Orders, 25 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
For the information of the troops lately arrived, the General Order issued some time since is repeated; That Tatoo is not [to] be beaten in camp. Varick transcript , DLC:GW . See General Orders, 6 September .
26222To George Washington from Major General John Armstrong, 25 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Without such an acquaintance of the Enemies lines as wou’d discover to you where they are more or less accessible I can not well approve of an attack upon them, nor can I conceive the opposite numbers at Philada under Six thousand or upward—And question whether an attack can be Succesful if the lines are not penetrated in so Short a Space of time (perhaps some Seven or at most ten minutes) as...
26223To George Washington from Lieutenant General John Burgoyne, 25 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency will have observed by the dispatch from Sir Willm Howe to me which passed thorough your hands, that it was matter of great doubt whether the transports destined to carry the troops to England according to the Convention would be able to make the Port of Boston in this advanced season of the year; & therefore that it might be advisable to send them to Rhode Island, upon the...
26224To George Washington from Richard Caswell, 25 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honor to Inclose you a Resolve of the General Assembly of this State, respecting the Resignation of the Officers of the Troops raised here; And am to request you will be pleased, in case any of the Officers who come within the meaning of the said Resolve, do resign, to Certify the same to me so soon as you find the same practicable. I am sir, Your Excellency’s Most Obedient Humble...
26225From George Washington to Major John Clark, Jr., 25 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your two favors of the 22d & that of the 24th Instant have been duly received. I thank you for your exertions to procure intelligence and hope they will be continued. I have inclosed you a List of Questions to which I wish the most satisfactory Answers that can be obtained. You will direct your Emissaries & Spies particularly on these Head, and will request their pointed attention to them. I...
26226To George Washington from Brigadier General Duportail, 25 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
To attack the Enemy in their Lines appears to me a difficult and dangerous Project, it has especially this very considerable Inconvenience, the exposing our Army in case it does not succeed to a total Defeat. This is easily demonstrated—One of the principal means proposed is to throw two thousand men in the rear of the Enemy—if we do not succeed these are so many men absolutely lost—as to the...
26227To George Washington from Major General Nathanael Greene, 25 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
This moment receivd intelligence the enemy are embarking from Glouster and [c]rossing over to Philadelphia Col. Comstock sends this intelligence and sais it may be depended upon —I have orderd General Varnums & General Huntingtons brigade to advance immediately to fall upon the enemies rear and prevent their geting off their stock—I wait your Excellencies Orders to march where you may think...
26228From George Washington to Major General Nathanael Greene, 25 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Colo. Mead delivered me Yours this Morning as I was upon my way to reconnoitre the Enemy’s Lines from the West side of Schuylkill. I had a full view of their left and found their works much stronger than I had reason to expect from the Accounts I had received. The Enemy have evacuated Carpenters Island and seem to be about doing the same by province Island. Accounts from the City say Lord...
26229To George Washington from Major General Nathanael Greene, 25 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I wrote your Excellency this afternoon that the enemy were crossing from the Jerseys to Philadelphia and that the intelligen[c]es came from Col. Comstock—he is stationd at Haddenfield to collect intelligence—I have receivd two letters from the Col. to day the first dated at 12 oClock the last at three both of which I have inclosd —It appears to me the enemy are crossing their Cattle but I much...
26230To George Washington from Brigadier General James Irvine, 25 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have seriously revolved in my mind the subject that was debated in council last night, and notwithstanding the present disagreable situation of our affairs, cannot think that we are yet reduced to the necessity of hazarding the total destruction of the army by a general attack, on the very ground that general Howe would wish to fight us on; to attack redoubts &ca with any prospect of...