28831To George Washington from Brigadier General William Maxwell, 25 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency Questions for consideration—handed to the Generals dated the 20th Inst. I have carefully considered. The first General plan of operation proposed, Viz. the recovery of Philadelphia, in my opinion is the most eligible and promises the most permanent success, I would recommend at first to begin with Blockadeing the City, till Billings Port and some other places in the Jersey was...
28832From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 25 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
I received your obliging favor of the 18th Inst., only Yesterday evening. I thank you much for the explanatory hints it contains and could have wished it had come to hand a little sooner. I have many things to say to you, but as the Express, who will deliver you this, is going with dispatches that will not admit delay, I shall content myself with taking notice of one matter, that appears to me...
28833To George Washington from Jeremiah Dummer Powell, 25 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honor to enclose you the Resolutions of the General Court of this State, Respecting the filling up the fifteen Battalions belonging to the Massachusetts State; and for Reinforceing that part of the American Army on North River, agreeable to the recommendation of the Honorable Congress &c. We could wish it had been in our power to have sent a much larger reinforcement to your Army,...
28834From George Washington to Colonel Israel Shreve, 25 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favor of the 16th inclosing a return of the prisoners taken by the enemy near Coopers Ferry —The Disposition which you have made of the men under your command I have no doubt is founded on a knowledge of the Country, and calculated to answer the ends in view. Your Quarter master is furnished with an order to procure the number of arms required, at Trenton or Easton —I...
28835To George Washington from Steuben, 25 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
With regard to the first question —We are to examine whether the Enemy may expect formidable Succours—if that be the case we ought to reinforce the army with the greatest dispatch, and strike a daring blow before those Succours arrive—The enemys force is estimated at 10000 men—if ours is under 20000 rank and file, the enterprise would be hazardous, and by exposing ourselves to a general action...
28836From George Washington to Thomas Turner, 25 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
Altho^ I am not much accustomed to accept presents, I cannot refuse one offered in such polite terms as accompanied the Pistols & furniture you were so obliging as to send me by Captn Fauntleroy. They are very elegant, & deserve my best thanks, which are offered with much sincerity. The favourable Sentiments you are pleased to entertain of me, & the obliging and flattering manner in which they...
28837Washington’s Thoughts upon a Plan of Operation for Campaign 1778, 26–29 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
In our present situation, and under our present prospects, there appears to be but one of three things that we either can do, or ought to attempt—First, by a collected force, to aim at the destruction of the Enemy in Philadelphia. Secondly, by dividing it, to attempt something against New York whilst Troops are left to cover this Country—& thirdly, by doing neither, lay quiet in a secure Camp...
28838Sunday [26 April]. (Adams Papers)
Dined at home.
28839[April 26. Sunday 1778.] (Adams Papers)
April 26. Sunday 1778. Dined at home.
28840To John Adams from Fleury, 26 April 1778 (Adams Papers)
Les nouvelles publiques nous ont apris que le congré des provinces unies vous avoit deputé a la cour de france, ne desprouvés pas je vous prie monsieur que je minforme avec vous, si vous ny auries pas connu mr. defleury qui passa avec la probation de la cour a lamerique il y a environ dix huit mois. Ne refuses pas monsieur a un pere et une mere qui nont que ce seul enfant pour toute...
28841Fleury to John Adams: A Translation, 26 April 1778 (Adams Papers)
We have been informed by public reports that the congress of the United States has appointed you to the Court of France. Allow me to enquire if you have met a Mr. de Fleury, who went to America with the Court’s approval, about eighteen months ago. Please do not fail to give a father and mother, who have this only child, as a consolation, any information you may have about him, if he had the...
28842Sartine to the Commissioners, 26 April 1778 (Adams Papers)
J’ai reçu, Messieurs la Lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’écrire le 20 de ce mois. Lorsque la Sommation a été faite à Bordeaux, par les Officiers du Siège de l’Amirauté, à la Frégate des Etats-unis, Le Boston; les ordres du Roi n’etoient point encore parvenu dans ce Port, de traiter les Vaisseaux de guerre appartenant à ces Etats, comme ceux des Etats libres—alliés de la France. Ces...
28843Sartine to the Commissioners: A Translation, 26 April 1778 (Adams Papers)
I have received, gentlemen, the letter that you did me the honor to write on the 20th of this month. When the United States frigate Boston received a summons from the officers of the Admiralty Headquarters in Bordeaux, the King’s orders to treat men-of-war belonging to the United States as those of free countries—allies of France—had not yet reached that harbor. These orders must have crossed...
28844From Alexander Hamilton to James Mease, [26 April 1778] (Hamilton Papers)
By command of His Excellency, I inclose you a letter to him from the officers of the German batalion. There appears, by the representation, to be something particular in the circumstances of that batalion, with respect to cloathing, which deserves attention. You will do whatever can be done with propriety to put them upon an equal footing with other Regiments. I am Sir Your most Obed Serv...
28845George Washington to Major General William Tryon, 26 April 1778 (Hamilton Papers)
Valley Forge, April 26, 1778 . States that the British conciliatory handbills have had free circulation among the troops. Asks Tryon to circulate among Tory troops copies of a resolution of Congress concerning the pardoning of those who have levied war against the states. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Tryon was the Loyalist governor of New York.
28846George Washington to Thomas Wharton, 26 April 1778 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Valley Forge ] April 26, 1778 . Asks for information concerning the militia available for next campaign. Df , in writings of John Laurens and H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
28847From Benjamin Franklin to John Ross, 26 April 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): Library of Congress The Multiplicity of Affairs we have lately been engag’d in, together with Mr. Deane’s Departure who used to correspond with you, occasioned a Deficiency in answering your Letters. On looking them over I find some Reflections on the Commissioners as having acted an injurious Part relative to the Papers left by Mr. Thomas Morris. It appears that you have not been...
28848Antoine-Raymond-Gualbert-Gabriel de Sartine to the American Commissioners, 26 April 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS : Harvard University Library <Versailles, April 26, 1778, in French: When the Boston arrived, the King’s order to treat American warships as those of an ally had not reached Bordeaux. Such ships must identify themselves when they enter harbor as men-of-war; private vessels never receive a salute.> Published in Taylor, Adams Papers , VI , 57–8.
28849To Benjamin Franklin from Madame Brillon, [26 April? 1778] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Madame brillon fait dire a son chér papa, qu’il lui sera impossible d’allér mardi disnér chés madame du tartre, sa petite est trop malade pour espérer qu’elle soit tout a fait bien mardi. Monsieur Brillon a encore la goutte; si le papa veut, madame Brillon ecrira a madame dutartre pour reméttre cétte partie au mardi 5 may; ou au mércredi 6 may; madame...
28850To Benjamin Franklin from Joan Derk van der Capellen tot den Pol, 26 April 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copies: Connecticut State Library; Massachusetts Historical Society (two); National Archives Comme j’ai été le premier, ou pour mieux dire, le seul de tous les Membres de notre Etat, qui ait osé se declarer ouvertement pour la cause Ameriquaine, et cela dans un tems ou elle étoit bien problematique encore, je m’empresse a ne pas étre le dernier a Vous...
28851To Benjamin Franklin from Claude Julien, 26 April 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Je prends la liberté de vous adresser ci jointe, copie d’une Lettre que m’écrit mon Correspondant d’aix-la-Chapelle, le 20 de ce mois, par laquelle il se charge de faire livrer à Amsterdam 5. à 600,000. Tonneaux de houilles, de toute espèce et d’excellente qualité à un prix moins haut que Vous ne les payez aujourd’hui en Hollande. Si ma proposition peut...
28852John Julius Pringle to Ralph Izard, 26 April 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: American Philosophical Society, New-York Historical Society; copy and two transcripts: National Archives In compliance with your request I waited on Dr. Franklin and deliver’d to him your Letter; he had scarcely read it when he said “Mr. Izard has written me a very angry Letter; please to tell him, that he has only made use of general assertions of my having done wrong, which I cannot...
28853General Orders, 26 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Commander in Chief has been informed that it is a common Practice for soldiers to go about the Country and make use of his name to extort from the Inhabitants by way of sale (or gift) any necessaries they want for themselves or others he strictly enjoins it upon officers to take the most effectual measures to put a stop to a practice so daring and infamous and assures all concerned that if...
28854To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 26 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had the Honor to receive Your Excellency’s Letter of the 24th Inst. by the Bearer as I expect Genl Lee is now upon his return hither, I shall wait his Arrival & proceed immediately with him to Head Quarters. By a Letter I have just received from Lieut: Col. Troup, dated Fish Kill the 18th Instant, I am inform’d, that Col: Hughes D. Q. M. General in that Department either has, or is about to...
28855To George Washington from the German Battalion Officers, 26 April 1778 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from the German Battalion Officers, c.26 April 1778. On 26 April, Alexander Hamilton wrote to James Mease: “By command of His Excellency, I inclose you a letter to him from the officers of the German batalion. There appears, by the representation, to be something particular in the circumstances of that batalion, with respect to cloathing, which deserves attention. You will do...
28856To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 26 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been Honored with yours of the 8th Instant. I do myself the Honor to enclose the resolves of the General assembly of this State for Drafting a number of men to Compleat their Battalions, and to Serve on Hudsons River which They appear to be Determined to accomplish without Delay. On the 13th Instant I Published an order in the publick Papers for all Soldiers in this Quarter belonging to...
28857From George Washington to William Livingston, 26 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
I received yesterday your favor of the 15th Inst., with the papers alluded to. Your reasoning, upon the subject of Deserters attending Flags, is certainly right & not to be disputed. Their appearing in that character is an additional crime, and it is the practice of War in such instances, founded in principles of common reason & the delicacy of Truces, to execute them immediately. This is the...
28858To George Washington from Brigadier General Lachlan McIntosh, 26 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
A Report of the general Hospitals. 26th April 1778. Hospitals In What Time Men now in Hospital Dead and Deserted discharged and sent to Camp Other Occurances & Remarks. Prince Town, Jersey From 14th Jany to 8 april ’78 53 52 135
28859To George Washington from Major General Philip Schuyler, 26 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday I received a Letter from Lt Colonel Willett commanding officer at Fort Schuyler inclosing a Speech of the Oneidas and Tuscaroras in Answer to a Message I sent them in March, Copy of the Speech I do myself the Honor to inclose —Your Excellency will percieve that some of these Nations intend to join you as soon as the Fort promised to be built in their Country shall be finished—The...
28860From George Washington to William Tryon, 26 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 17th and a triplicate of the same were duly received. I had had the pleasure of seeing the Draughts of the two Bills, before those which were sent by you, came to hand; and I can assure you, they were suffered to have a free currency among the officers and men under my command, in whose fidelity to the United States I have the most perfect confidence The inclosed Gazette...