28141From George Washington to Major General Alexander McDougall, 21 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
This will be delivered to you by Colonel de la Radiere of the Corps of Engineers, who was employed to superintend the fortifications on the North River—but from some misunderstanding between him and the late commanding Officer, in which he thought his own honour and the public interest were committed, he determined to renounce the work, and return to Camp —I can safely recommend him to you as...
28142From George Washington to Brigadier General Lachlan McIntosh, 21 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
Having recd information that a considerable number of the Enemy both Horse and Foot have advanced as far as Hickory Town upon the Wissahicken Road, you are immediately to cross the Schuylkill with the detatchment under your command and endeavour to discover the number, situation and intention of the Enemy. I have recd information that a large drove of 500 Cattle are upon their way from...
28143To George Washington from Colonel David Mason, 21 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I Greatly fear my long Silence to your Excellency from this Quarter may be Imputed to a want of Duty as well as respect to your Desire & High Station, Permit me Sir, in the warmth of my Soul to tell You that I have Often reflected on this Matter & from a Multiplicity of Business I have on hand which Many worthy Officers will Testifie ⟨of me⟩, that I have not a single Moment to Enjoy myself or...
28144From George Washington to Brigadier General William Smallwood, 21 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have your favr of the 20th: I think the Steps you are taking in regard to removing what Forage can be carried off and destroying what cannot, are very proper—As it is more than probable that the Enemy will attempt a stroke at you with a superior Force, nothing more ought to be kept at the post than is absolutely necessary. I would therefore have you immediately send four pieces of your...
28145To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 21 March 1778 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Major General Stirling, 21 Mar. 1778. In GW’s letter to Stirling of 21 Mar. , he refers to “your favor of this date.”
28146From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 21 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
In answer to your favor of this date give me leave to say that I am well pleased at the termination of your corrispondance with Colo. Wilkinson—I sent for that Gentn after the conversation had with your Lordship, & showed him the Letters wch Mr Harrison furnished you with a sight of. he seemed a good deal surprized at G——s’s Letters & was not at all sparing in his abuse of him & C——y. The...
28147To George Washington from Colonel John Hoskins Stone, 21 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
From my present situation I cannot flatter myself that I shall ever be able to take the field as an officer, as yet I cannot walk without my Crutches, nor shall ever be able to walk well, my command will be so very small that it will not entitle me to ride, and as my Regiment must suffer much for the want of a field officer, I shall, if ever, not be able to take the field ’till after the...
28148From George Washington to Jean-Baptiste Ternant, 21 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
Knowing it to be the intention of Congress to employ no more foreigners except such as come under special engagements or whose recommendations & former Services speak so powerfully as scarce to leave a choice I coud not undertake to give Mr T—— any assurance of a permanent appointment much less the promise of Rank without authority of Congress. Nor could I stand justified upon any principle...
28149George Washington to Sir William Howe, 22 March 1778 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Valley Forge ] March 22, 1778 . Demands exchange of Lieutenant Colonel Ethan Allen for Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell and release of Captains Isaiah Robinson and Nathaniel Galt. Informs Howe that Elias Boudinot, Colonel William Grayson, and Lieutenant Colonels Alexander Hamilton and Robert Hanson Harrison have been appointed as commissioners for negotiating an exchange of prisoners. Df...
28150To Benjamin Franklin from the Comtesse Conway, 22 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society God Bess liberty! I drunk with all my heart to the republick of the united provinces, end to your dear health. I am prepared to my departure if you will, end if it possible. Give me I pray you leave to go. I shall be happy of to live under the Laws of venerable goodman richard. Adieu my dear father I am with the most respect end tenderness, your humble...
28151To Benjamin Franklin from John MacMahon, 22 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Give me leave to congratulate you upon the great and long wished-for event, which fixes now the publick attention, and in which you have such an honourable share. The brave and unshaken perseverance of the Americans, joined to your calm and yet active prudence have at last been crowned with their deserved success. No war entred into by France for many ages...
28152General Orders, 22 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
As a System of easy Manœuvres and Exercise is to be introduced with a view of establishing Uniformity in these points throughout the Army the Commanding Officers of Brigades and Regiments are desired to discontinue exercising & manœuvring their men by way of instruction until new regulations shall be distributed—Such Evolutions and Exercise as are indispen[s]ibly necessary in the ordinary Camp...
28153To George Washington from Colonel Armand, 22 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
the time Employed by the congress to determine Some thing upon the affairs of the marquis de la fayette, gave me an opportunity of Speaking for myself; i have asked from the board of war Some money to recruit & three Commissions for the officers whom i did take with me in albany being approved of it by your Excellency : it has been requested from me to tell what kind of recruits i did intended...
28154From George Washington to Colonel George Gibson, 22 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am favor’d with yours of the 19th I desire that the British Serjeants, their Horses, arms & accoutrements may be sent down by the first party that marches after the receipt of this. The Party that took them have no right to any thing belonging to them. Plunder taken from the Enemy where any risk is run is given to the captors, but that could not have been the case when there were only two...
28155To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 22 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I received the honor of yours of the 27th Ultimo per Capt. Gooch; shall communicate your advice to Brigr Genl Learned immediately. Colo. Lee has been anxiously waiting an answer to his request for leave to resign his Commission, and was much disappointed on finding that your Excellency had not mentioned it in your last, He has beg’d of me again to renew his request for leave to resign,...
28156From George Washington to Colonel James Hendricks, 22 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
Lieut. Colo. Parker has made application to be appointed to the command of the first Virginia Regiment said to be vacant by your resignation: But as that resignation has not been made to me in proper form, I do not think myself at liberty to fill the vacancy without having it from yourself. I shall expect your answer by return of post or sooner if a good opportunity offers, because if Colo....
28157From George Washington to General William Howe, 22 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your several Letters of the 15th 19th and 21st Inst. have been duly received. You are under a mistake, as to the rank of Mr Ethan Allen, which is only that of Lieutenant Colonel and as such he has been returned & considered by your Commissary, Mr Loring. The fact truly is to the best of my information that at the time of his capture, he had an appointment, as Lieutenant Colonel, from the State...
28158From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Adam Hubley, Jr., 22 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I recd yours of the 19th inclosing proceedings of a Court Martial against Docr Smith. Some of the facts do not appear to me well supported by the evidence. I have made my remarks against such as are doubtful. If, upon the hearing, the proofs appeared to you to be satisfactory, I desire that the Sentence may be confirmed. As the Court have no more Business it may be dissolved. And if the time...
28159To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 22 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I can never miss an opportunity of rembembering to your excellency the mighty Commander in chief of the irruption into Canada , and I seize with the greatest pleasure the first occasion of telling you how happy I have been to see in your last favor a new assurance of those sentiments of yours so dear to my heart —as soon as I have got intelligence by G[ener]al Schuyller that you were desirous...
28160To George Washington from Colonel Henry Emanuel Lutterloh, 22 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellencys letter of the 17th instt I had the honour to receive. I shall with the greatest readiness and pleasure obey at all times Your Excelly command, and should now have attented again according to Your Excelly order, was I not fully persuated, Thro’ a long experience in old armys, that when the Departments are filled up without placing the Acting persons either in their stations or...
28161From George Washington to Brig. Gen. Lachlan McIntosh, 22 March 1778 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Brig. Gen. Lachlan McIntosh, c.22 Mar. 1778. On 23 Mar., McIntosh wrote GW from Spring House Tavern, “I recd your orders ⅌ Express this Morning one o’Clock & in obedience to them returned on my way to Camp thus far.”
28162From George Washington to Colonel Thomas Proctor, 22 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have yours of the 19th inclosing sundry papers relating to a dispute between Major Forrest and Colo. Crane, founded upon an Arrest of Capt. Proctor. I had heard of this matter before, as Colo. Crane had laid before me a letter from Major Forrest to him, which he conceived couched in very improper terms from an inferior to his commanding Officer. I refused to give any opinion upon the...
28163To George Washington from Major General Philip Schuyler, 22 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
On the 20th Instant I had the honor to receive Your Excellencys letter to the Commissioners for Indian Affairs In this department and have already dispatched Copies to Mr Duane and Mr Edwards. The treaty at Johnstown concluded on the 12th Instant, from what we Could learn by private Intelligence of the temper and dispositions of such of the Mohawks as have left their Country, of a majority of...
28164To George Washington from Thomas Turner, 22 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
Altho’ I have not the honour of being personally acquainted with your Excellency, neverthless I am far from being a Stranger to your distinguished merit, both in private and publick life; your indefatigable zeal, and unwearied attention to the true Interest of your native Country, since the commencement of these differences, must excite the warmest sense of gratitude in the breastt of every...
28165From George Washington to Lund Washington, 22 March 1778 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Lund Washington, 22 Mar. 1778. On 1 April, Lund Washington wrote GW , “By the last Post I got two Letters from you of the 15th & 22d of March.”
28166From Benjamin Franklin to John Emery, 23 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: American Philosophical Society I received your favour of the 11th. inst: and have the pleasure of informing you that tho Capt: Babson’s prizes were confiscated legally in France for a breach of the marine Laws by entering under a false declaration, and altho’ the King who might justly have profitted of the confiscation had nevertheless for political reasons given it up to the English yet...
28167Francis Coffyn to the American Commissioners, 23 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Referring to the letter I had the honnor of writing to you the 14th. instant whereas the Treaty you have gloriously concluded in the name of the united and Independant States of America with the Court of France, is no more a mistery Since it has been declared by his Christian Majesty’s ambassador to the British Ministry, I hope you’ll indulge the liberty I...
28168To Benjamin Franklin from William Lee, 23 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Lee presents his most respectful Compliments to Dr. Fraklin and will have the pleasure of waiting on him tomorrow forenoon to take leave and hopes the Copy of the Treatys will be ready for him. Addressed: Honble / Benjamen Franklin Esqr. Notation: W. Lee 23 March 1778 to BF. He had requested these copies on the 19th. BF , answering on the 24th, pointed...
28169To Benjamin Franklin from Jean-Baptiste Le Roy, [23 March 1778] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Il faut Mon illustre confrère que je vous importune encore il fait un temps si terrible que je ne puis vous aller voir. C’est un usage dans L’Académie que quand il arrive quelque chose d’agréable à un academicien comme d’être nommé à un nouvel employ à une nouvelle dignité L’académie lui députe plusieurs de ses membres pour lui faire compliment sur cette...
28170To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton, 23 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society I find a Disposition among several of my Friends to lend Money to the United States, And I am desired by One of Them, to request the Favor of you to furnish Me with the Manner, in Which the Loans must be made, and inform Me, What Interest The United States give. Mr. Thornton waits, so that I have not Time to add More, Than my hearty Congratulations On the...