27801To George Washington from Colonel George Gibson, 2 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had the Honor of writing to Your Excelly the 22d ultimo in which I inform’d Your Excelly I had recd a letter from the Board of War with directions respecting 7 Waggon loads of Cloathing that were on the road from York to this place, since which the Waggons arrived, the directions from the Honble the Board of War have been fully comply’d wth except sending the Goods to Camp, Three of the...
27802To George Washington from General William Howe, 2 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I think it necessary to acquaint you that Colonels OHara & Stephens of the Kings Foot Guards are the Officers appointed by me to meet Commissioners on your Part at German Town on the 10th Instant, for the Purposes expressed in my Letter of the 5th of February. To these Gentlemen I propose to add Capt. Fitzpatrick of the same Corps, and that you may send an equal Number, this early notice is...
27803From George Washington to Brigadier General John Lacey, Jr., 2 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I yesterday recd yours of the 27th Feby. I had heard of the loss of the Cattle before it came to hand, and I am sorry to say that the loss is imputed to your having refused to let the drovers have a guard when they applied for one. I shall be glad to know whether it is so, and if true, what could be your reason for refusing. I desire you to send a party of 150 Men, under a good Officer, well...
27804To George Washington from William Livingston, 2 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have your Excellency’s favour of the 22d instant and am very happy to find that the State of New Jersey possesses so great a share of your Esteem, which I hope it will never forfeit by any remissness in such Exertions as it is capable of making. I am convinc’d the State is not behind hand with you in mutual regard; and as for the personal friendship of your humble Servant, if it is worth...
27805From George Washington to the Pennsylvania Navy Board, 2 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
As the Gallies can now be of no service in the River, and the enemy have it in their power to get them into their possession, with all their cannon and stores, I beg leave strongly to recommend it to the Board, without delay, to evacuate them of their cannon and stores; and—removing these to a place of security, in some interior part of the country—to carry the Gallies up into some of the...
27806To George Washington from George Read, 2 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your Favor of the 26th of February was handed to me by Capt. Lee, who was mistaken in his Representation, that there was no Law in the State to punish the harbouring of Deserters; such a Law was enacted in February 1777 upon your Recommendation, and the Mode of recovering the Penalties therein is both easy and expeditious. It may be said, and I think with Justice, that those Penalties are now...
27807To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 2 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I Remember to have Troubled yr Excy Last Summer with Solicitations in favor of Capt. Sullivan begging your Excys influence in his behalf with Congress —at white Marsh I was informed by General Knox & by the Commissary of prisoners that Capt. Bliss was paid off that if my Brother would Come to Camp there would be no Difficulty in his receiving his money—I wrote him & he has at a most amazing...
27808To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 2 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
Nothing can be more painful to me than the Repetition of a request which is known to be Disagreable to a Commander to whom America in General & myself in particular Stand So much indebted—after So polite a Refusal as I have once had I Should have Remained forever Silent upon the Subject: did not pure necessity which knows no Law Compell me to repeat my request —I Sincerely Lament my being...
27809From George Washington to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 2 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
Yours of the 26th from Mount Holly came to hand last evening. I am pleased to hear that you had so good intelligence of the designs and motions of the Enemy that you were enabled to withdraw your detatchment from Haddonfeild before they invested it. Considering the disproportion of your strength to that of the Enemy all that can be expected of you is to wait upon and circumscribe them as much...
27810To George Washington from Thomas Wharton, Jr., 2 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor of yours of the twenty third of February last which I layed before Council. I hope as the militia called out, are chiefly arrived at General Laceys camp, they will secure the counties of Bucks and Philadelphia, from any further insults and ravages of the enemy (unless they come out in force) who I am sorry to find have been but too successful. General Lacey I am informed is...
278111778. March 3. Tuesday. (Adams Papers)
Our Wind continued brisk and fresh all the last Night, and this Morning. Our Course is about N.E. Showers in the Night and this Morning. The Flocks of Gulls, still pursuing Us. This Morning, Mr. Parison breakfasted with Us. Our Captn. in gay Spirits, chattering in French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Dutch, Greek, and boasting that he could speak some Words in every Language. He told Us he had...
27812[March 3. Tuesday. 1778.] (Adams Papers)
March 3. Tuesday. 1778. Our Wind had continued brisk and fresh all the last night and this morning. Our Course was about North East. Showers fell in the night and in the morning. The Flocks of Gulls still pursued Us. This morning Captain Parison breakfasted with Us. Our Captain was in high Spirits and very gay, chattering in French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Dutch, Latin and Greek and...
27813To Benjamin Franklin from Arthur Lee, 3 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. A. Lee’s respect to Dr. Franklin. As it is probable the Evening will be dark and bad, which together with the badness of the road at this season will render it very inconvenient for Dr. Franklin to go from Challiot in the Evening; Mr. Lee woud prefer postponing the meeting till to-morrow at Passi. Mr. L. begs the favor of Dr. F. to send him the...
27814Franklin and Silas Deane to Arthur Lee, 3 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
L : Harvard University Library Messrs: Franklin and Deane, will be ready to confer with Mr. Lee, tomorrow at 11. OClock precisely. Enclosed are the Dispatches which came by Mr. Austin, but not having as yet received Duplicates, beg they may be returned, when copied, or done with. Addressed: Honble Arthur Lee Esqr / Chaillot. Endorsed: March 3d 1778 In WTF ’s hand. At the meeting, which took...
27815Franklin and Silas Deane to the Duc de La Rochefoucauld, 3 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
L : Bibliothèque municipale, Mantes Messrs: Franklin and Deane, present their respectful Compliments to the Duc de la Rochefoucauld, and shall be happy in the honour of his Company, tomorrow at Breakfast. 8. O Clock will not be the least inconvenient. In WTF ’s hand. The Duke was by now an old friend of BF .
27816Charles-Guillaume-Frédéric Dumas to the American Commissioners, 3 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Algemeen Rijksarchief Ma derniere étoit du 21e fevr. Elle vous portoit, outre les Extraits et dépêches ministrales de Lisbonne, Ratisbonne, Vienne, Berlin, Dantsic et Petersbourg, un autre Extrait de la Lettre de mes amis d’Amsterdam, sur lequel j’espere que vous me favoriserez d’une prompte réponse, par rapport à son double objet, surtout quant aux listes et directions qu’ils demandent,...
27817J.-D. Ramier de Raudière to the American Commissioners in Verse, 3 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We publish this rhymed letter as a sample of the tributes that poets—or poetasters—were showering on Franklin and his colleagues during the period. Others were as fulsome as Raudière; but he, perhaps because he was the neediest, was by far the most prolific. This brief stanza was part of a bombardment. With it came four massive enclosures: (1) a twenty-one...
27818Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, [3 March 1778] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Since my last of the 28 Ultimo I have recvd. advice that the Duchesse of Grammont still remains at St. Nazarre. I hear that two Ships of War which were designed to join the Fleet are returned to Rochfort, we have therefore judged proper to detain the Grammont ’till further orders, in hopes that you will be able to obtain these Ships for a new Convoy: Mr....
27819To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph-Etienne Bertier, 3 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The first letter about a candidate for American service in this volume, as in the previous one, happens to be a recommendation. Again, therefore, we deal first with those who wrote for others and then with those who wrote for themselves. The total number is far less than it had been, and a larger percentage is from outside France. Frenchmen’s incentive to...
27820To Benjamin Franklin from David Hartley, 3 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; transcript: Library of Congress Dont let us despair now. There seems I hope to be a disposition on all sides to Peace. The Conciliatory bill as it is called passed the H of Commons yesterday. The Sentiments of Ld. North towards peace have been declared by the bill itself and by the method and principles which he avowed when he brought it in. Ld. George...
27821To Benjamin Franklin from Patrick Henry, 3 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Captain Lemaire the Gentleman whom you were pleased to recommend to his Excellency General Washington will have the honor to deliver you this. He called here in his Way to the Camp, and fell into Conversation with Mr. Loyaute our Inspector general of Artillery and Military Stores on the Subject of his Department, in which are many capital Deficiencies....
27822To Benjamin Franklin from Courtney Melmoth, [3 March? 1778] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I understand that the Saltpetre man is much indispos’d, and that is probably the Reason why both he and his friend did not keep an Engagement they have so very assiduously sought. The last time I had the honour to see you Sir, Mr. Dean was so good as to appoint me the next Morning at his Lodgings in Paris for an opportunity of conversing on my offer of...
27823To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton, 3 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society By the Bearer Captain All, I have sent you and Mr. Dean the parliamentary Register, The Remembrancer, News Papers &c., And I beg leave to mention to you, (As Captain All desires it, And as I can, with great Truth do it) That his Duty to his Employer has obliged Him to stay much longer here, Than was agreable to Him; But That he has steadily maintained, and...
27824To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 3 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I recvd. your Favour of the 28th Feb. on my return from Quiberon, after it had been laying some time waiting for me. The one Inclosed had no Direction, I was therefore obliged to break the Seal to know for whom it was intended. I did this because I thought it was for some person about to Depart which would leave no Time to obtain your answer, and because I...
27825General Orders, 3 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
A Guard house at Sullivan’s Bridge over Schuylkill is to be immediately built on this side; The officer of the guard is to suffer no non commission’d officer or soldier to pass over from Camp without leave in writing from the Commanding officer of his Regiment. The Quarter Master General is to delay no time in causing this guard house to be built. The General is informed that notwithstanding...
27826To George Washington from Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates, 3 March 1778 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates, 3 Mar. 1778. On 9 Mar., GW wrote to Gates , “I have been this day favd with yours of the 27th February and of the 2d 3d and 4th instants.”
27827To George Washington from Brigadier General John Lacey, Jr., 3 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I reced your Excellencys favour of the 2d Instant at Seven oClock this evening. it is true I refused the Drover a Guard for the Cattle and the reasons were on Account of the Smallness of my Numbers. four Hundred troops Newly Arived from Cumberland and York Countys but only One Hundred of them at that time had reced any Arms, and near half of them was without Flints. About fifty of Chester...
27828To George Washington from Colonel George Nagel, 3 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am just Returned With the Party under My Command. from the Rising sun. I had Great Expectations of drawing out a Party of thier Horse, to Where I had my troops Posted, but it Was Not in my Power, the[y] Did Not Venture from their Picquet of 200 Men and two field Pices. Which Was Posted at three Mile Run. I was fortunate Enough to fall in With two Deserters from Colnl Cranes Train of...
27829From George Washington to Brigadier General Casimir Pulaski, 3 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
This will be delivered to you by Monsieur de Pontieres, to whom Congress has been pleased to grant the brevet of Captain in the Cavalry; this you will observe gives no title to rank or promotion in the line —you are therefore to consider him merely as an Officer à la suite, and to employ him in such way as will be most likely to conduce to the good of the Service. I am Sir Your humble Servt....
27830From George Washington to Brigadier General Casimir Pulaski, 3 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favor of the 28th Ulto informing me that you were proceeding with a part of Blands Regiment to join General Wayne; you will have received my instructions relative to the Service which you are to render. Your intention to resign is founded on reasons which I presume make you think the measure necessary—I can only say therefore that it will always give me pleasure to bear...