42451To George Washington from Brigadier General Edward Hand, 29 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
Having Agreable to your Excy’s desire considered the present situation of our Forces as well in South Carolina as elsewhere, with as much Attention as I am capable of—I beg leave to Offer it as my Opinion that detaching any part of the Troops now assembled in this quarter, Before the Views of the Enemy at New York can be penetrated, would be impropper. 1st. Because no movement from this place...
42452From George Washington to Brigadier General Jedediah Huntington, 29 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
I am pleased to hear by yours of yesterday of your arrival at Springfield. I have long wished and expected it. Governor Trumbull in his letter by you, requests that a number of commissioned and non commissioned officers may be immediately sent to Connecticut to assist in the business of recruiting: he mentions 50 or 60 if they can be spared. From my idea of the State of the several regiments...
42453To George Washington from Samuel Huntington, 29 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have been honoured with your Excellency’s Favours of the 6th, 8th, 17th, 20th, 23d, 26th & 27th Instant—and laid them before Congress. Have received no later Intelligence from the southern Army than that which you was pleased to communicate. Your Excellency will herewith receive a printed Copy of the Proceeding of the Court Martial on the Trial of Majr Genl Arnold and also an Act of Congress...
42454To George Washington from Major General Johann Kalb, 29 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
Considering the Subject your Excellency have been pleased to lay before the Council of yesterday, our forces in all the parts of the United states compared with those of the Enemy, the Situation on both Sides and on our back Settlements with Several other Circumstances. It is my opinion that no Troops can be spared to be Sent to S. Carolina from this Army, it might be attended with many...
42455To George Washington from Brigadier General Henry Knox, 29 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have endevour’d to consider, in every point of view, the important information, which your Excellency gave your General Officers yesterday, and the question arising from it, Vizt whether any troops shall be detach’d from this army, to the southward, with a view of forming a force, to cover the country, supposing the events at Charlestown, to prove unfortunate? An addition of continental...
42456To George Washington from Brigadier General William Maxwell, 29 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have carefully considered the Propositions made yesterday by Your Excellency, to the Council of General Officers; and am clearly of opinion that no Troops should be sent from this Armey (in its present condition) to the support of Charles Town; for two reasons 1st. If we should spare a number of Troops for that purpose they would arive there too late to answer the end proposed; 2dly. Should...
42457To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 29 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
After reflecting upon the several Matters that your Excellency was pleased to lay before the Council Yesterday, my Opinion in general is that, at present no Detachment can with propriety be made from this Army. for which Opinion my Reasons are That our operating Force, if all collected to a Point, is inferior to that of the Ennemy in New York and its Dependencies; and that from the Expiration...
42458Report of Board of Admiralty, 29 March 1780 (Madison Papers)
MS ( NA : PCC , No. 37, fol. 211). The Board of Admiralty beg leave to lay the enclosed Papers before Congress, and to receive their Instruction thereon. By Mr Langdons letter and estimate it will appear that to compleat the 74 gun Ship building under his agency he requires an immediate supply of Money. That his funds are totally exhausted and by letters of a late date from the Commissioners...
42459Board of War to Charles Porterfield, 29 March 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Williamsburg, 29 Mch. 1780 . Appointment to command the detachment of Virginia troops, consisting of “volunteers of the State Garrison Regiment, The greater part of Marshalls Corps of Artillery and two Troops of Nelsons horse,” to be under Porterfield’s “absolute controul and Command” and to be prepared “to march on the Shortest notice” to Charleston, S.C.; also instructions for procedure....
42460Estimate of Troops for South Carolina, [ca. 29 March 1780] (Jefferson Papers)
for the war till Sep. 30 1780. terms not specifd Total exp. befr. Sep. 30. 80. Detachmt. from the State garrison regimt. under Colo. Porterfeild. 46. 39. 85. 1 Detachmt. from Artillery regiment under Majr. Matthews
42461From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 30, 30 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, March 30 1780. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 383–384). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:581–582. Read by Congress on 11 Sept., this letter contained an account of a confrontation in February between several corps of Irish volunteers and a...
42462From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 31, 30 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honor to inclose to Congress Copies of certain Letters, which I have had the Honor to write to the Comte de Vergennes, and of others which I have recieved from him. It seems that the Presentations of the American Commissioners and Ministers Plenipotentiary have not been inserted in the Gazette, which occasioned some Uneasiness in the Minds of some of our Countrymen, as they thought...
42463To John Adams from William Lee, 30 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have had the Honor of Receiving yours of the 21st. instant. The Name of the person you wish to know is, the Duke of Brunswick, Brother to Prince Ferdinand, Field Marischall and Commander in cheif of the Dutch Land Forces. He is not liked by his Family as they conceive, he is too much attach’d to the House of Austria. The Quintuple Alliance that you mention, I conceive is only the conjecture...
42464To John Adams from the Comte de Vergennes, 30 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
J’ai reçu, Monsieur, la lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’écrire le 21 de ce mois. Je me rappelle très bien de vous avoir dit que votre présentation seroit insérée dans la gazette de France; Mais d’après les informations que j’ai prises, je me suis convaincu que jamais les présentations, soit des ambassadeurs, soit des Ministres Plénipotentiaires, n’ont été annoncées dans notre...
42465Enclosure: Draft of an Article, 30 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
Le S. Adams que le Congrès des Etats Unis de l’Amérique a désigné pour assister aux conférences pour la paix lorsqu’il y aura lieu, est arrivé depuis quelque tems ici et a eû l’honneur d’être présenté au Roi et à la famille royale.
42466The Comte de Vergennes to John Adams: A Translation, 30 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have received, sir, the letter that you did me the honor to write on the 21st of this month. I recall very well having told you that your presentation would be inserted in the Gazette de France . But further investigation has convinced me that never have the presentations of either ambassadors or ministers plenipotentiary been announced in our Gazette , so that to do so in your case would...
42467Enclosure: A Draft of an Article: A Translation, 30 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Adams, whom the Congress of the United States of America has appointed to participate in the peace conferences whenever they may occur, arrived here sometime ago and has had the honor of being presented to the King and the royal family. This notice, which appeared virtually without change in the 8 April issue of Mercure de France , “Journal Politique de Bruxelles” (p. 88), was the second...
42468From John Adams to the Comte de Vergennes, 30 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have the honour of your Excellency’s letter of this day, in answer to mine of the 21st. of this month. Untill the receipt of it, I had taken it for granted that the presentation of every Ambassador was regularly inserted in the Gazette of France; and untill very lately, several days since the date of my letter to your Excellency of the 21st. of this month, I had supposed that the...
42469From Alexander Hamilton to Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens, [30 March 1780] (Hamilton Papers)
I have received lately two letters from you, the last dated the 24th of February and am much obliged to you for the detail you give me. I hope your expectations may not be disappointed, though I confess to you my fears are very much up about your situation. The enemy will push the point at every hazard; and I am apprehensive after all you will be vulnerable on the water-side. If they will cut...
42470George Washington to Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 30 March 1780 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] March 30, 1780 . Introduces and recommends Brigadier General Du Portail. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
42471From Benjamin Franklin to Rodolphe-Ferdinand Grand, 30 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress M. Dumas has written a Long letter to M. Bowdoin [Baudouin] Acquainting him, that the Ambassador had sent for him, produc’d and read to him his Letter to Mr. Charmichael cover’d him with reproches, and menaced his Ruin he has also written to me disiring to know how I dispos’d of that letter he having sent it under Cover of a Letter to me dated Feb. 25. which last was...
42472To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Blackit, 30 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This is to acquaint you that I was lately Boatswain of the Princess Privateer belonging to america. I must give to understand that about two month ago we took a Prize, a brigg belonging to Wales the mate of which was brought on board the Princess Privateer & about forty or fifty prisoners more being on board; & about three weeks after the taking of the Said...
42473To Benjamin Franklin from Pierre Roussille, 30 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society Je me trouve malgré moi dans La nécessitte demprunter une plume etranger pour réclamer vos bontés, quelque jours avant mon depart pour me rendre a bordeau il m’est Survenu une indisposition qui ma totalement privé de Cet avantage pour une maladie qui Sest déclaré, dans Le principe est très Serieuse Ce qui me retient encore au Lit. Mes jours ont été pendant...
42474To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 30 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library; copy: Yale University Library I informed you in my last that the Farmers insisted on the payment of the Duties, & even made a merit of not seizing the Goods. I am sure this is because they do not understand the nature of my Request for it is not an exemption from any Duty which I ask, but I ask not to pay a Duty which I am only liable to by having...
42475[Diary entry: 30 March 1780] (Washington Papers)
30th. Clear & cool—Wind continuing to blow from the same pt.—Ground froze again.
42476General Orders, 30 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
42477From George Washington to the Board of War, 30 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
Upon receiving information that the enemy are preparing to send a reinforcement to the southward, I have determined to detach Major Lees Corps, both Horse and Foot to that quarter, and have written to the commanding Officer to put them in readiness as expeditiously as possible. As they will undoubtedly want many matters to equip them for so long a march, I have directed the Officer to repair...
42478To George Washington from the Board of War, 30 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
The great distress of the Army for want of Blankets induced the board sometime since to attempt to import them from New York. this however they would have been very averse to, if they had not been absolutely certain there were no other possible means of procuring them. Previous to their taking this step, they applied to Congress for a secret Committee to confer with them on the measure; and...
42479From George Washington to Major General Robert Howe, 30 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
From the diminution of our force at the Highlands by the expiration of the service of many of the Troops & which will become still greater from the same cause, and the possibility that the Enemy may attempt to enterprize something against the posts there—I have determined to bring the New-Hampshire Brigade from Danbury to reinforce you—The inclosed Letter to the Commanding Officer there, You...
42480To George Washington from Major Moses Knap, 30 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
As General Howe cannot determine the matter, I am obliged to trouble your Excellency to know, whether the Light Dragoons have a right to recruit out of the Infantry. Last Fall a Cornet of Colonel Sheldons Regiment reinlisted a number of men out of General Glovers Brigade & was about to furlough them. As soon as General Glover hear of it, he immediately ordered the Men to their Regiments, &...
42481From George Washington to Major Henry Lee, Jr., or the Officer Commanding His Corps at Burlington, N.J., 30 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
You will be pleased, upon the receipt of this, to take the most expeditious measures for putting the whole Corps both Horse and Foot in readiness to march. If you move, your destination will be South Carolina. The Horse will go the whole way by land—the Foot will go down Chesapeak Bay by Water and meet the Horse at Petersburg—As soon as you have given the necessary orders at Burlington you had...
42482To George Washington from the Maryland Council, 30 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
Mr Robert Mundell is recommended by this Board to his Excellency General Washington, or the Commanding Officer at Elizabeth Town, for his License to go into the City of New York, for the purpose of obtaining a passage to Great Britain. ALS , DLC:GW . The Maryland Council again wrote GW on 1 April. The letter, in the hand of Gov. Thomas Sim Lee, reads: “Doctor Gustavus Brown is recommended by...
42483From George Washington to John Mathews, 30 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
I am much obliged to you for your favor of the 24th of this month. It would seem pretty evident from the enemy’s inactivity, from which we derive so many advantages, that some very considerable derangement has happened in their affairs. Whether this arises from the want of horses—the loss of military stores, or an insufficiency in the article of small craft for the transportation of troops or...
42484From George Washington to John Mitchell, 30 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the 25th did not come to my hands till yesterday Afternoon. I will take the Chariot at the price of Two hundred and ten pounds in gold, provided you have examined it yourself with a critical eye or will get some good judge or judges to do it and they shall be of opinion that it is made in the present taste—well fashioned—composed of seasoned wood well put together. and also that...
42485To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 30 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Questions which your Excellency has been pleased to State to the Council of war, are of the Utmost importance; so very great as to involve the Event of this War, and the fate of North America, and therefore demand our most Serious Attention and fullest Consideration. The Enemy very early in this Controversy saw that while we could keep up an Army in the Middle Colonies we should Command...
42486To Thomas Jefferson from Riedesel, 30 March 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
New York, 30 Mch. 1780 . Cannot “refrain from once more addressing Your Excellency, and repeating my invariable Esteem for you, your Lady, and amiable Family, also testifying the lively rememberance i , and all mine have of your many Civilities and particular politeness to us.” Announces “the happy recovery of Madame de Riedesel after having presented me a fourth Daughter, near three Weeks...
42487From Benjamin Franklin to William Carmichael, 31 March[–7 April 1780] (Franklin Papers)
Copies (two): Library of Congress I received by M. Gerard your kind Letter written at Philadelphia. His safe Return has given me great pleasure. As soon as I received yours of Jan 25 from Cadix, I order’d a Credit of 1000 Louis d’ors to be Lodg’d for Mr. Jay and you, by Mr. Grand with his Banker at Madrid. He wrote by the next post. It does not appear by yours of March 13, that you had then...
42488From John Adams to Arthur Lee, 31 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have recieved your’s of the 26th, and that of the 15th. of this Month. I inclose a Copy of the Letter You desire. Mr. Garnier is gone into the Country, and I have not seen him since I arrived here. Mr. Iz. however has seen him and will give You a satisfactory Account of what he says. If I were to apply to the other Gentleman, You know what would be the Consequence. It would fly very soon to...
42489George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 31 March 1780 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] March 31, 1780 . Encloses and discusses a report of the commissioners for prisoner exchange who met at Amboy. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
42490From Benjamin Franklin to [Dumas], 31 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Boston Public Library; transcript: National Archives I wrote to you yesterday relating to the Affair of your Letter to Mr Carmichael that you might know exactly the Truth of the Transaction. On Reflection I think it proper to add, that what I wrote was for your Satisfaction only; and that as the making it publick would give infinite Pain to a very worthy Man, Mr. F. Grand, who would then...
42491From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones, 31 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
L and copy: Library of Congress I received yours of the 14th by Mr Dryburugh. I had also another from Mess. Gourlade and Moylan acquainting me that they had received the Ransom Money about 200£ sterling, as paid to me, agreable to the Bill of Ransom; and had given my Acct. Credit for that Sum. This lays me under a Difficulty, for I am thus become accountable for that Sum to the People of the...
42492From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, Jr., 31 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have received yours of the 26th. I am promised an Answer from Mr. Paulze this Morning and If I receive it shall send it to you by tomourrow’s Post. This Soliciting of Interested People to forgive Duties they think their Right, is an odious Task to me. I had rather at any time, If I could afford it, pay ’em myself. Mr. Chaumont thinks Mr. Bondfield’s Propositions too...
42493To Benjamin Franklin from Dumas, 31 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): Algemeen Rijksarchief J’eus la satisfaction, mardi au soir, de voir notre Ami au moment de son arrivée. Il m’a reçu très-cordialement. Je lui avois écrit deux jours auparavant, pour lui demander cet entretien; & je l’avois régalé du Rendez-vous de Salomon chez la Reine de Saba, & de la bile de H [ deleted: arris] ce qui lui avoit fait grand plaisir. Je lui communiquai une longue...
42494To Benjamin Franklin from Robert Morris: Two Letters, 31 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
(I) ALS and LS : American Philosophical Society; (II) ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library I have just recvd by the hands of our mutual Friend Mr Holker your favour of the 22d Octr last recommending the affairs of Monsr De la Freté with Mr. Roulhac of Edenton to my assistance. I had already engaged in that service and you may depend that every recommendation of yours has the Force & effect...
42495To Benjamin Franklin from the Comte de Sarsfield, 31 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library Pouves vous me dire ou Est un mr d’orbrais qui, allant en amérique chargé de quelque Commission de votre part, a Eté fait prisonnier? Il doit Etre a present de retour en france. Il S’est chargé de quelques bagatelles pour moy, Je Suis surpris de ne pas en entendre parler. En relisant la lettre ou on m’en parle Je vois que Jay mal traduit ce n’est pas...
42496To Benjamin Franklin from John Torris, 31 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have Recd. the Letter your Excellency did me the Honnour to write me the 21st. Feby., with the Judgement for the owner’s adventure, which I have sent to Quimper corantin, & am thankfull for same. The Papers relating to the Betsey, have been sent by the admiralty of Brest, to Mr. De Grandbourg Secretary to S. A. S. the Duc De Penthievre, by Error, & it Is...
42497[Diary entry: 31 March 1780] (Washington Papers)
31st. Snowing more or less all day & generally pretty fast. Wind tho not much of it abt. No. East.
42498General Orders, 31 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
By a Division General Court Martial held by order of Brigadier General Clinton—Lieutent Col. Huntington Prest. Ensign Spoor of the 3rd New-York regiment was tried for, “Scandalous and ungentlemanlike behaviour towards Captain Pell on the evening of the 29th of January last, with several others and forcibly putting him out of the room of a public house in which he had passed the evening”—and...
42499To George Washington from Samuel Allinson, 31 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
Thy Character, in the station appointed thee, at this singular and difficult period, having obtained the general esteem of Mankind, I am encouraged to address thee on a matter, which, it is apprehended, ought not to be buried in obscurity, until the action is properly noticed by those in superior command. On the 21st instant, Lieut. Kearns of Major Lees Choir of light horse, seeing me take a...
42500To George Washington from the Board of War, 31 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
The board have recd a letter from Col. Wood at Charlotteville, wherein he mentions “that he is well assured that the Offering pardons to all deserters from the Virg. Line who will surrender themselves at that post by a given time, would be productive of good effects; & that we should recover a great number of Men by it, who otherwise may probably seek an asylum in the New Country.” The board...