26681To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Webb, 25 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Bearer of this is a particular Friend of mine. A Mr. Roegler of Leipsig. A long Acquaintance with him myself, as well as the general Sufferage of More who have that Pleasure, confirm me in the Opinion of his being a particularly worthy Character. As such, I take the Liberty to recommend him to an Honor he was very desirous of; that of being introduced...
26682General Orders, 25 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
Each brigade is to detach an active, careful subaltern and eight men, who with an Assistant Commissary are to go to such places as the Commissary General, or his Assistant at Camp shall direct, for the purpose of collecting flour, grain, cattle and pork, for the army—Such men are to be selected, as are able of body, and know how to thresh—Lieut. Col. Bayard is to take the command of these...
26683Plan to Attack Philadelphia, 25 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
Jameison with the light Horse on the other side Schuylkill to guard the Avenues to the City, & even to form a Chain across from Kensington to Schuylkill; and stop, & secure every Person going in, and coming out. obtaing from them all the Intelligence he can. A Small Party of Horse under a careful Officer to waylay the road from the middle & upper Ferry, & do the same. A Party of foot at each...
26684From George Washington to Richard Caswell, 25 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I had the Honor to receive your Favor of the 25th Ulto, with Its Inclosure by yesterday’s post. A spirit of resigning their Commissions, whether resulting from necessary causes or feigned ones I cannot determine, has been but too prevalent in the Army of late. I have discountenanced it as much as possible, especially where the applications were by Men of merit and in some such instances have...
26685To George Washington from Major John Clark Jr., 25 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
This morning a party of the Enemy with a few Field pieces moved from Derby towards Chester, near the White Horse Tavern they fell in with a small party of our Troops, and a pretty smart Skirmish ensued, the Enemy played their Artillery so warm, that our Troops were soon obliged to give way, we have one man killed, & another wounded with a Cannon ball—& we have taken two prisoners, with their...
26686From George Washington to Elbridge Gerry, 25 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
Notwithstanding my last Letters to Congress were very explicit, and expressive of the wants of this Army—the necessity of arranging many matters in it—and making the necessary appointments without a moments loss of time, yet, when I consider the advanced Season, and consult my past experience of delay, I am induced to take the liberty of claiming your particular attention to this business;...
26687To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 25 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
Not long since I received a Letter from Colo. Sam. B. Webb, informing me that the fortune of War had thrown him into the Hands of the Enemy, that he was admitted on parole, and was very desirous if possible to effect an Exchange for some British Officer in our hands. As Colo. Webb is an active and good Officer, I beg leave to recommend him to your Excellency’s particular attention, and as an...
26688To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 25 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I had the honour of writing to Your Excellency yesterday by Colo. Boudinot. This Instant was brought to me a Resolve of Congress dated the 24th in favor of Colonel Barton, which will accompany this. I have in obedience to that Act signed & delivered to Colo. Barton a Commission of Colonel in the Army—that Gentleman will be bearer of this & intends immediately to wait on your Excellency in...
26689To George Washington from Brigadier General William Smallwood, 25 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have not yet been joined by one Militia Man, I inclose you Genl Pattersons Ltr, which is not very promising of any considerable Aid from them, tho he is now endeavoring to draw them out. Our Fortifications go on slower than I cou’d wish, as I am not able to procure more Tools than for 150 Men to work wth at once, but every Effort shall be exerted to render the Place tenable. The Eagle & 25...
26690To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 25 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I would have wrote you earlier this Morning had we not about Eight oClock heard the report of Several Cannon, yet I cannot learn the Occasion of their fireing. The Enemy keep the Same possition and their Waggons Constantly at work Night & day in geting the forrage from the Islands &c. I have 57 Waggons of my own division at work in Carrying off forrage & Grain from the Neighbourhood of Merrion...
26691To Benjamin Franklin from Le Roy, [on or after 31 December 1777] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Voulez vous bien mon cher Docteur que je vous fasse demander s’il ne vous est pas resté des papiers du manuscrit de M. le Comte de Lacepede sur l’Electricité car je n’ai trouvé parmi ces papiers que le 3 le 4m et le 9 mémoire et selon la table il y doit en avoir 1 2–5, 6, 7, 8–10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. Recevez mille et mille complimens. Addressed: a Monsieur...
26692The American Commissioners to Jean H. Delap, 26 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Connecticut Historical Society Yours of the 19th we received Yesterday and immediately enclosed it to Monsieur De Sartine in a Letter of ours, and have not the least Doubt that Justice will be immediately done. The part you have acted merits our Thanks, and Justice to you requires that we should represent it to our Friends in America, which we shall do in our first Dispatches. You on the...
26693The American Commissioners to Vergennes, 26 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères We beg your Excellency’s Permission to make an appeal from the Judgment of the Admiralty at Nantes which ordains a confiscation of two Prizes (British Westindia Ships) taken legally on the high seas by two American Privateers, and that Your Excellency will be pleased to request his Majesty to suspend the Departure of those Prizes, and their...
26694To Benjamin Franklin from the Comte de Lacepède, 26 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’ai osé me flattér que le celebre monsieur francklin voudroit biên agrêer les memoires que j’ai l’honneur de lui envoyér sur un sujét de physique dans lequél les plus sublimes verités lui ont été devoilées: ils font partie, Monsieur, d’un ouvrage plus etendu auquêl je mets dans ce moment cy la derniere main, et que je ne manquerai pas de vous offrir aussi,...
26695To Benjamin Franklin from Lavabre, Doerner & Cie., 26 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
L : American Philosophical Society Messieurs Lavabre & Doerner ont l’honneur de presenter leurs obeïssances a Monsieur le Docteur francklin et luy envoyent cy inclus une Lettre pour luy qui leur est venuë par le Courier d’amsterdam. Ils prient en même tems mondit sieur francklin de vouloir bien Remettre au porteur les Lettres de Recomandation qu’il a eu la bonté de promettre au sieur Doerner...
26696General Orders, 26 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
A General Court Martial is to sit at the House of Wiley Bodles, near the provost, at nine o’clock, this morning, for the trial of all prisoners which shall be brought before them —Colonel Scammell is appointed president of this court; and a Captain from Muhlenberg’s, 2nd Pennsylvania, Glover’s, Paterson’s, Huntington’s, & McIntosh’s brigades, and a subaltern from Weedon’s, Woodford’s, Scott’s,...
26697To George Washington from Major General John Armstrong, 26 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I cannot yet learn whether the Enemy are return’d to Philada—a person from thence, tells me the Citizens were extreamly alarm’d at the little Noise of the evening before last & it was thought the Ravagers wou’d return as of yesterday —As to persons passing in & out of Town, I see that may be done in oppo[si]tion to all we can do to prevent it, nor can every degree of Marketing be fully Stoped,...
26698To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 26 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you yesterday at one o Clock P.M. , informing you the Enemy had moved towards Chester, after which, I took a circuit round them, their design appeared only to disperse our light parties, to make room for their Waggons to hall the remainder of the Hay from Tinicum Island, & the Hook, My Spy from the City has just arrived, & informs me General Knyphausen commands in Philada, & has but a...
26699From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 26 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
The reason of my troubling you at this time is to request that Congress will defer their decision on Genl Woodfords claim of rank for the present. I find that the Gentlemen affected by it are much averst to it, and therefore shall direct the whole to state their Objections, which I shall transmit by the earliest Opportunity, that Congress may be fully possessed of the subject and apprized of...
26700To George Washington from William Livingston, 26 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am quite content to have Lieut. Boskirk, Lieut. Earle & Surgeon Hammel treated as Prisoners of war, being fully convinced by your Excellency’s observations on the Subject of the Propriety of the Measure—They therefore wait your order, being now confined in Trenton Gaol—If you think it for the good of the Service to have Browne treated in like manner, I shall have no Objection after his...
26701To George Washington from Benjamin Rush, 26 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have delayed troubling your Excellency with the State of our hospitals, in hopes you would hear it from the Director General whose business it is to correspond with your Excellency upon this Subject. I beg leave therefore at last to look up to you, and through you to the congress as the only powers that can redress our greivances, or do us justice. I need not inform your Excellency that we...
26702From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 26 December 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Major General Stirling, 26 Dec. 1777. In his second letter to GW of 26 Dec. , Stirling wrote that “I have Just received your Excellencys letter of this date.”
26703To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 26 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I wrote your Excellency yesterday at Noon, the light horse Man whom I sent with it, is not yet returned. As most of our troops are Constantly out on Duty and two of Colonel Proctor’s men deserted to the Enemy the Night before last, and Cannon of no Use here, I thought it most prudent last night to send the four peices of my Division back to the Artillery park. I have this morning seen a...
26704To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 26 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have Just received your Excellencys letter of this date by Lt Col. Davidson, I have sent the three feild down to Col: Morgan to take Command of the three divisions of the 15 detachments according to An Arangement I made of them this Morning & according to their Several States. In answer to your Excellency’s Querie, I do not see, that any Attempt can be made with a proba[bi]lity of Success...
26705To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 26 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
Agreable to your Excellenceys Directions I have Consulted Some of The General officers which I Thought most Capable of advising upon the proper Steps to take in our present Circumstances —They Say that they can by no means advise for or against an Attack they are fully Convinced that General Howe has his whole Force with him That if your Excellencey thinks your force Sufficient to Cope with...
26706To George Washington from Major Benjamin Tallmadge, 26 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
Together herewith I send under G[uar]d two Prisoners, viz. Serjt Jos: Foster & James Carter of Colo. Proctor’s Artillery, who, as they say, left Ld Sterling’s Division near the sorrel horse, at 1 oClock the night before last. They were taken up in Germantown, intending to go into the Jerseys. I am desired by Major Edwards (alias Doctr Edwards) to acquaint your Excellency that at the request of...
26707To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 26 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Inhabitants from being acquainted with me are perpetually lodging their Complaints against the proceedings of the Deputy Commissaries Quarter Masters & Soldiery—they say that all the provision & Provender which they had laid up for their family use and Stock during the Winter, has been taken and Carried off by force—that money will not Replace it, and that they must either Starve or remove...
26708From John Jay to Robert Morris, 26 December 1777 (Jay Papers)
About a Fortnight ago I rec d . three Letters from France, one dated at Dunkirk the 2 d June, another at Passy near Paris the 8 th . June, and the third at Havre the 10 th . June, 1777— All of the same Import & nearly in the same words; an exact Copy of the first is enclosed for the Committee. I should have immediately on the Rec t . of them have sent you Copies, but the necessary Materials...
26709To John Adams from Johann Kalb, 27 December 1777 (Adams Papers)
As you are going to France in a publick Character from the United States, will you give me leave to present you a Letter of introduction for M Le Comte de Broglie, one for M Moreau the first Secretary to Count de Vergennes Minister of State for foreign affairs and two for my Lady, who Shall be glad to see you, and to get news from me by your means. I wish you a good passage a Safe arrival,...
26710Enclosure: Johann Kalb to the Comte de Broglie, 27 December 1777 (Adams Papers)
You take So great an Interest, in the Success of the American Cause, that I have made so bold, as to recommend to you, Mr John Adams, one of the Members of Congress who goes to France, to treat with the Court upon political Affairs, as Mr Deane will be charged, with the Affairs of Commerce. Mr Adams is a Man of Merit, generally esteemed in this Country, and to whom Mr de Valfort and myself,...