26551General Orders, 18 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
Persons having any passes from Major John Clarke are to pass all guards. The Commander in Chief approves, the following sentences of a General Court Martial, the 22nd November last, whereof Major North was president. Adjutant Ralston of the 1st Pennsylvania Brigade, charged with “Making a false return, and signing it; with ungentlemanly behaviour—disobedience of orders, and leaving his...
26552To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 18 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you sometime since, concerning some Provision I had sent by a Spy, taken by Warners Militia, & deposited in the hands of Col. Rankin—Your Excellency was kind enough to request me to give General Potter, a state of the matter, & let him know, “’twas your desire, that it shou’d be delivered to the guard,” all this has been done by me, Mr Trumbal waited on him Yesterday, but to no...
26553To George Washington from Joseph Galloway, 18 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
Apprehending that the Business of War by no Means excludes the Feelings of Humanity, and relying on that Candor and Liberality of Sentiment which those who are best acquainted with your Excellency agree you possess, I have presumed to request the Favor of your permitting Mrs Galloway with her Household Furniture and Effects to remove from my Seat in the Country to Philadelphia. Coud I imagine...
26554To George Washington from Colonel John Gunby, 18 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I beg leave to Troble your Excellency with those few lines by way of Informing in what Manner I claim Rank of Colo. Stone on Ower first astablishment & Raising Troops in the State of Maryland, I was appointed Second Capt. of an Independant Company, Colo. Stone was appointed first Capt. in Colol Smallwoods Regiment that then was, & by a resolve of that State at the time we took owr Commissions...
26555Dumas to the American Commissioners, 19 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook summary: Algemeen Rijksarchief, The Hague Repondu à la Lettre de Mr. A. Lee, du 8. Extrait de la Lettre de Mr. Stey[?] du 17. et de LLF [La Lande et Fynje] du 15. Messagers d’Etat envoyés dans les provinces et generalité &c. We have expanded his abbreviations. The names in the second sentence are virtually illegible. The States General, he wrote the committee for foreign affairs on...
26556To Benjamin Franklin from Silas Deane, 19 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL : University of Pennsylvania Library I this instant received the inclosed, and as I do not fully Understand the meaning of it I judged it Necessary to go immediately and see Mr. Gerard. I will be back by about Eight o’Clock. I think that it is designed that Our Letter should be sent by the Minister’s Messenger, it is perhaps the most proper. If so it must be Compleated this Evening, as well...
26557To Benjamin Franklin from John MacMahon, 19 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society At my return here the day before yesterday, I found the chief Gentlemen of this house assembled, who are all wellwishers to your cause, and great admirers of your exalted and respectable character. They were highly pleased with the confirmation and detail of the good news I gave them. Prince De Montbarrey, who was not yet gone away, said that it was lucky,...
26558To Benjamin Franklin from ——— de Reynaud, 19 December 1777: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Villeneuve d’Avignon, December 19, in French: My congratulations on the glory that the brave Americans have deserved. I am myself American, though French, and would have wished with all my heart to share that glory on the famous day of General Burgoyne’s capture. May the Howe brothers have the same fate.>
26559To Benjamin Franklin from [Benjamin Sowden], 19 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society The 16 of last Octr. Mr. Arrenberg dispatched a Letter of mine to his Correspondent in Paris, to be delivered to you. It was an answer of Your last to me concerning the Price, and containing a Specimen of the non Pareil of Enschede at Haerlem. Besides these it contained the following Articles: a recommendation of Mr. Arrenberg as one of the most proper...
26560To George Washington from Major General John Armstrong, 19 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
This day or tomorrow I design moving Over to the Bethlehem or rather the Eastown Road & near the Shamany & Shou’d have moved Sooner, had the weather & Other impediments permitted —the removal of Sick Soldiers & fragments of Continental Stores, with the Scarcity of Waggons to procure Our provisions have Stood in the way. Coll Pickering writes me that two or three hundred Arms, Tents &c. were...
26561To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 19 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
since the reception of your favor I dispatched several Spies into the City, to endeavor to find the intended hour of the Enemy’s march; one of them this moment returned from Philada, which place he left at three oClock this afternoon, at that time, they were leading about three hundred Horses covered with Blankets on the Commons, & were very busy throwing up a ditch from the Road above Middle...
26562From George Washington to Patrick Henry, 19 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
On Saturday Evening I was honored with your favor of the 6th Instant, and am much obliged by your exertions for Cloathing the Virginia Troops. The Articles you send shall be applied to their use agreable to your wishes. It will be difficult for me to determine when the Troops are supplied, owing to their fluctuating and deficient state. However I beleive there will be little reason to suspect...
26563From George Washington to Thomas Nelson, 19 December 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Thomas Nelson, Jr., 19 Dec. 1777. In his letter to GW of 20 Jan. 1778 , Nelson writes “Your favor of the 19th Ultimo should not have remain’d so long unanswer’d.”
26564To George Washington from Brigadier General Casimir Pulaski, 19 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
In my preceeding representations I have been particular respecting the present State of the Cavalry, the means by which it may be augmented & compleated —but on this head I must necessarily know your Excellencys determination—The advantages that would arise from a Superiority in Cavalry are too obvious to be unnoticed—It may be further observed that during this war, the Country will daily...
26565From George Washington to George Read, 19 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have recd information, which I have great reason to beleive is true, that the Enemy mean to establish a post at Wilmington for the purpose of countenancing the disaffected in the Delaware State, drawing supplies from that Country and the lower parts of Chester County, and securing a post upon Delaware River during the Winter. As the advantages resulting to the Enemy from such a position are...
26566From George Washington to Brigadier General William Smallwood, 19 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
With the Division lately commanded by Genl Sullivan, you are to March immediately for Wilmington, and take Post there. you are not to delay a moment in putting the place in the best posture of defence, to do which, and for the security of it afterwards, I have written in urgent terms to the President of the Delaware State to give every aid he possibly can of Militia —I have also directed an...
26567The American Commissioners to [Gérard], 20 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères The Persons going out with the dispatches are Mr. Simeon Deane and Mr. Anthony Knap both of New England. They will set out this Evening for Bordeaux, and will follow Your Orders, which You shall send; inclosed You have a Letter of Credit for the Captn. of Your Ship. We have the honor to be with the utmost respect Sir Your most Obedient and...
26568Gérard to the American Commissioners, 20 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Connecticut Historical Society; AL : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères J’ai recu la lettre que vous m’avés fait l’honneur de m’ecrire avec celle qui y etoit jointe et dont je suis chargé de vous remercier. Voici le paquet dont les deux passagers voudront bien se charger. Il est adressé au Commissaire ordonateur de la marine. On ne lui mande pas leurs noms, et celui de Deane...
26569The American Commissioners to Simeon Deane, [20 December 1777] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: University of Pennsylvania Library You will receive herewith a Packet for Monsr. L Moyne Commissaire &c. at Bourdeaux, and also a Packet for the Committee of Congress for Foreign affairs. You are directed to go for Bourdeaux without loss of Time and on your arrival within one Post of the City that you send forward your Servant to Mons. Le Moyne informing him that you have a Packet for...
26570The American Commissioners to the Massachusetts Council, 20 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL : University of Pennsylvania Library We are much obliged by your Favour of the 24th. October which brought us the first Intelligence of the Defeat and Surrender of Bourgoyne’s Army, which gave great Joy not only to us but to this whole friendly Nation. In return we can only tell you at present, that our Affairs hear wear the most promising Appearance, and that we have little Doubt of seeing...
26571Thomas Thompson to the American Commissioners, 20 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society This Letter is design’d for the particular purpose of giving my Opinion respecting the Ship Duras which Mr. Berard wrote to you about when I was in Paris. She is a large old East India Ship in want of very considerable repairs, which I think would be very expensive and after all be an old Ship, not very fit for our use in her present position; If she was cut...
26572Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 20 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society In expectation of hearing from you I have only at present to inform you that I am just returned from Painbeuf, and have had the pleasure of seeing as fine a Ship as any of her size in any Navy. I am in expectation of seeing Capt. Nicholson soon and if our obstacles are removed I shall soon finish the Expedition; the Ship is all rigged, Guns mounted and...
26573To Benjamin Franklin from B. Giraudeau, 20 December 1777: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <La Rochelle, December 20, 1777, in French: Our merchants’ desire to expand their commerce in conjunction with yours is resulting in shipments to New England from all our ports. I want to send my ship, the François of 350 tons, Jean de La Fontaine master, to Virginia or Maryland, but have no connections in that part of New England. He would have a warm...
26574To Benjamin Franklin from Johann Wilhelm Abraham Jaeger, 20 December 1777: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Frankfurt-on-Main, December 20, 1777, in French: I have a powder mill with twenty-six mixers, and am planning a new one on the model of an oil mill with perpendicular stone mixers, as in the enclosure. Ordinary stone may produce explosions; I experimented with marble and found that it apparently did not. A foreign powder-maker whom I met told me that it is...
26575To Benjamin Franklin from [La Rochefoucauld], [20 December? 1777] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Au moment où j’allois hier, Monsieur, envoier l’Extrait que j’avois fait de vos nouvelles, j’ai reçu le No. XXXIII . des Affaires d’Angleterre et d’Amérique qui contient tous ces détails; en conséquence je me suis borné à y envoier la lettre de M. Washington; vous trouverez ci jointes vos deux lettres Angloises à l’une desquelles il manque une feuille que...
26576To Benjamin Franklin from George Walton, 20 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Having but lately returned from Congress, where I have been ever since you left America, and Captain Dunn and Mr. Curlis being about to depart from this State to France, I do myself the honor and pleasure of congratulating you upon the great and signal successes of our arms this campaign. The two defeats of General Bourgyne’s whole army, and the subsequent...
26577General Orders, 20 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
Genl McIntosh is appointed to the command of the North Carolina brigade. The Major Generals accompanied by the Engineers are to view the ground attentively, and fix upon the proper spot and mode for hutting so as to render the camp as strong and inaccessible as possible—The Engineers after this are to mark the ground out, and direct the field Officers appointed to superintend the buildings for...
26578From George Washington to Lieutenant General John Burgoyne, 20 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
When I had the honor of addressing you on the 17th Inst., I informed you, that I had transmitted a Copy of Your Letter to Congress. The inclosed Copy of their Resolution passed upon the Subject which I send in pursuance of their direction, will shew you the only Answer I have obtained to your propositions. It remains solely with Congress to grant the indulgencies which you request. The Bearer...
26579To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 20 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you last Night, & informed you that I expected a Spy from the City every hour —he has this moment come to me, & brings intelligence that near 1000 of the Enemy, crossed over to Jersey yesterday with six feild pieces from 4 to 6 pounders, with design to let the Country people have the benefit of the Market, the Militia hitherto having prevented—this Day, about 30 Waggons escorted by 100...
26580To George Washington from George Clinton, 20 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was not honored with the Receipt of your Excellency’s Letter of the 3d Instant before Friday last —I am truely sensible that the Security of the North River is a Matter of the utmost Importance to the United States in the present War & that the Safety of this State in a more particular Manner depends upon it—It gives me real Concern therefore that so little has been yet done to effect...