29431Francis Coffyn to the American Commissioners, 23 May 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard University Library I take the liberty to enclose a Copy of the Memoire I made last year at the request of M. Carmichael on the advantages the port of Dunkirk offers to the American Trade. I Submit to your Superiour Judgement to decide weither my Ideas may contribute to extend the Commerce and navigation of the United States, and to take [ torn: such?] Steps as may answer that...
29432To Benjamin Franklin from Jean-Baptiste Le Roy, [23 May 1778] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’ai l’honneur de vous envoyer Monsieur et cher confrère le rapport du projet d’établissement de M. De la Blancherie Tel que nous nous proposons de le lire aujourd’hui à l’Académie. Et comme l’usage ainsi que je vous le mandois par ma lettre du mardy, qui a été perdue, est que tous les commissaires l’ayent lu avant qu’on en fasse lecture à l’Académie et que...
29433To Benjamin Franklin from Vergennes, 23 May 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Two copies: Library of Congress J’ai l’honneur de vous envoyer, Monsieur, un Paquet a votre adresse que M. L’Ambassadeur d’Espagne me prie de vous faire passer. Un Courrier Espagnol qui vient de Londres, l’a reçu en Route sans savoir de quelle Part. L’Escadre qu’on suppose destinée pour l’Amerique est sortie de Ste. Helene le 20. Tout le 21. elle etoit en Calme dans le Canal. Les vents ayant...
29434General Orders, 23 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
’Till some further Arrangement of the Army is made—Major General Lee is to take charge of the division lately commanded by Major General Greene, and in Case of Action or any general Move of the Army the three eldest Major Generals present fit for duty are to command the two Wings and second line according to their seniority. The Commanding Officers of Regiments & Corps will immediately apply...
29435From George Washington to Elias Boudinot, 23 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I was duly favoured with yours of the 13th—I am happy to learn, that the appearances with respect to the future treatment of our prisoners are now so favourable—It is much to be wished the disposition, which, at present appears, may be persevered in, though unluckily for the credit of their humanity, it is too evident the change which has taken place, is to be ascribed more to the series of...
29436To George Washington from George Bryan, 23 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
As it is apprehended here, that the Marquis-de-la Fayette has been nominated by the Most Christian King Ambassador to the United states of America, and that he may be expected shortly to pass through this borough in his way to Congress, it would highly oblige the Executive Council of this state, if some previous intimation of the time of his Lordships Journey could be given by one of the...
29437To George Washington from Major Alexander Clough, 23 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I received Your Excellencys instructions Yesterday in the afternoon, the Horse being much fatigued I thought it necessary to give them a short time for refreshment in the main sent down two partys of a Sergt and six men each, the one to be under the directions of Captn McLean the other to the officer Commanding at Plymouth meeting House —Captn McLean sent me the Inclos’d in consequence of...
29438To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 23 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
As very few Drafts, or Recruits, arrive from the Eastward, nor do I find, from the information of General Huntingdon, that any Numbers are upon the road, I must beg your Excellency will please to Order one Regiment of Cavalry, and Two Brigades of Infantry, to reinforce this post. There is near Sixty Miles of Territory between the Highlands & New York, left exposed to be Foraged, & Ravaged, by...
29439To George Washington from Colonel Thomas Hartley, 23 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I inclose you the Proceedings of a General Court Martial —The Criminals were Part of a number of Money makers—Deserters Theaves in who had inhabited the South mountain; between the States of Maryland & Pennsylvania & who had put the Civil Laws at Defiance. You will please to send your Directions concerning the proceedings of the Court to York as soon as you think convenient. Since I had the...
29440To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 23 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly honored by the receipt of yours of the 29th Ulto & 5th Instant. I communicated to the Council of this State that part of your Excellency’s Letter of the 29th which respected the inlisting of prisoners or Deserters from the Enemy, and have added another admonition to the many I had before given the recruiting Officers on the same subject. Having done myself the honor to enclose...
29441From George Washington to Patrick Henry, 23 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I take the liberty to transmit you a return of the Drafts and Substitutes from the State of Virginia, which have joined the Army. By this you will perceive how far short we are at this time in the reinforcements expected; and what is still more unfortunate, I can not learn from any information, I have been able to obtain upon the subject, from Gentlemen who have travelled on most of the Routes...
29442From George Washington to General William Howe, 23 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I duly received your letter of the 10th instant. Inclosed is a copy of a resolution of Congress of the 21st instant; which you will consider as a definitive answer to the propositions, it contains —I shall direct my Commissary of Prisoners in concurrence with yours, to prosecute the exchange, agreeable to that resolve, in the most expeditious and convenient manner. I am With due respect Sir...
29443To George Washington from William Livingston, 23 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I just recieved your Excellency’s favour of the 21st acknowledging the receipt of my Letters of the 17th & acquainting me that the man who brought those Letters is not the Person for whom your Excellency supposes I took him; but I should be glad you would be pleased to inform me in your next whether the name of the man who brought those Letters to your Excellency was Bankson—because if it was...
29444To George Washington from James Mease, 23 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I was honored with your Excellency’s favor of the 16 Instant on Tuesday covering a copy of one sent some time ago which I find hath some how miscaried—Agreeable to the commands of your Excellency of the 16th I immediatly prepared to set out for Head Quarters & should have been there before now but that I have been necessarily detained by the arrival of an Express from Boston on Thursday sent...
29445To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 23 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you a few Days ago by Colo. Johnson; as he is not yet gone, I will now add two Things I forgot to mention then. The first is that if you send any General to Rhode Island you will probably find it most convenient to get rid of Varnom, Whose Temper and Manners are by no Means calculated to teach Patience Discipline & Subordination. Congress having determined on the Affair of the...
29446To George Washington from Colonel Stephen Moylan, 23 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I deliverd to Major Clough the Warrant for 510 Dollars with your Excellencys thanks to him and his party for their bravery, agreeable to your orders in your Letter of the 13th and complied with the orders containd in Col. Laurens Letter of the 17th as Soon as it was possible after the receipt, it reachd me at Brunswick the 19th in the afternoon, and as the first and third Regts were most...
29447From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 23 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been favored with yours of the 19th inst. with its enclosures on the subject of the Indian voyages upon the Western frontier. Previous to the Receipt of it, I had put that part of the 13th Virginia Regt, which remained here under marching orders, with an intent of sending them to Fort Pitt, as they were raised in that county. Immediately upon receiving the account of the alarming...
29448From George Washington to Colonel Israel Shreve, 23 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favour of the 18th—With respect to Hamet the State will do whatever they choose to consider and treat him as a Traitor, I have no objection to it; if they choose to turn him over to me as a prisoner of war, I shall receive him accordingly. As that part of the drafts which come from West Jersey, will pass near your post—it will be inconvenient for them to march to this Army...
29449From George Washington to Brigadier General William Smallwood, 23 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am favoured with your’s of the 19th and beg a continuance of your exertions, for the removal of the stores as fast as possible, as I wish to have it in my power to draw your detachment to this army, which cannot be conveniently done, while there is any quantity of stores at Elk &c. I have no objection to your complying with Col: Chalmer’s request; provided the woman and child remain in...
29450Sunday 24. (Adams Papers)
Dined at Home.
29451[May 24. Sunday 1778.] (Adams Papers)
May 24. Sunday 1778. I was so uneasy at the difficulty of getting any Business done and at the distracted Condition of our Affairs, that I thought it my duty to write in a private Capacity to the Commercial Committee of Congress. I find that the American Affairs, on this Side of the Atlantick, are in a State of disorder, very much resembling that, which is so much to be regretted on the other....
29452John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 24 May 1778 (Adams Papers)
I now having an opportunity which to my Satisfaction I have much oftener than I expected when I first came here, in which I improve every time I can in writing to you who has always been so kind a Mamma to me. I last night went to the theatre, after we had got there we found there was no places empty upon which we came home again. RC ( Adams Papers ); addressed in JA ’s hand: “Mrs. John Adams...
29453From John Adams to the Commerce Committee, 24 May 1778 (Adams Papers)
Passy, 24 May 1778. printed: JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:111–112 . John Adams described the confusion that resulted from the multiplicity of commercial agents, often operating from the same ports, each claiming his authority from a different source. Adams recommended that order be imposed by...
29454General Orders, 24 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
The General Court Martial whereof Colonel Bowman is President is dissolved, another is ordered to sit tomorrow morning nine ôClock to try all such Persons as shall be brought before them—Colonel Chambers will preside: Each Brigade gives a Captain for the Court. At a Brigade Court Martial May 22nd 1778—Lieutt Coll Cropper President Lieutt Davis of the 11th Virginia Regiment tried for...
29455From George Washington to Major Richard Campbell, 24 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
You are to march immediately with the thirteenth Virginia Regiment to York Town in pensylvania, going through Lancaster and collecting from the Hospitals there and at other places all the convalescents belonging to the said Regiment who are able to proceed. You will also remain with the Regiment after it arrives at Yorktown till it receives further orders respecting it’s destination; When that...
29456From George Washington to Philemon Dickinson, 24 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : to Philemon Dickinson, 24 May 1778. Later the same day GW wrote another letter to Dickinson revealing “some intelligence received ⟨si⟩nce I wrote you to day.”
29457From George Washington to Major General Philemon Dickinson, 24 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
From some intelligence received ⟨si⟩nce I wrote you to day, it would seem that the Enemy have a Land movement in view, but where or what their object is, is entirely a matter of incertainty. Some reports say they mean to make a push against us here and that this is the most common opinion—Others that their intention is to pass through Jersey. Lest the Latter should be their object, I think it...
29458From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 24 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I was duly honored with your two favors of the 20 & 21st Instant with their Inclosures. I have transmitted General Howe a Copy of the Resolution of the 21st respecting prisoners, and supposing him willing to effect an Exchange immediately, I have written to Mr Boudinot and requested him, as he is in possession of all the papers concerning them, to come to Camp without delay and superintend the...
29459From George Washington to Colonel Stephen Moylan, 24 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Commissary General of Forage has informed me that he can now accommodate the Cavalry in the Neighbourhood of the Camp. I therefore desire that you will immediately come over with all the Horse of your own Bland’s and Baylors Regiments that are in good order, Sheldons is to remain at Chatham. Good officers are to be left with the Horses out of condition, who ought rather to attend to...
29460To George Washington from Colonel Israel Shreve, 24 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
My Quarters at present At this place, 18 miles from the City. keep out Scouts Constantly, the Enemy Are at Coopers Point yet, Cuting Wood, Covered by the 55th—63rd, Allens, and Roman Catholick Cores, the whole not more than 700 foot, Hovendons Troop of horse about 30, they keep Close Quartr⟨s⟩. the Refugees At Billingsport are Daily Runing home, Delivering themselves up to the Civel Authority....