50801Account of a Fête Champêtre in Franklin’s Honor, [12 April 1781] (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Rivington’s New York Gazette and Universal Advertiser , December 24, 1783 The rustic celebration in Franklin’s honor, which the comtesse d’Houdetot rescheduled to accomodate him, turned out to be a carefully stylized event, scripted by the comtesse in company with her neighbor the comte de Tressan. The two neighbors planned the event well in advance and together worked on verses...
50802General Orders, 12 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
A Fatigue party consisting of one subaltern one serjeant and twenty five rank and file to march tomorrow to the place where the Block-house is erecting in the Clove. The officer commanding the party will take his orders from Major Murnand and see that his party be equipped for a tour of ten days. : Papers of George Washington.
50803From George Washington to James Clinton, 12 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favor of the 5th by Mr Gamble. Nothing gives me greater pain than being obliged to hear daily complaints, which I know are well grounded, from every quarter, and not having it in my power to redress them. Mr Gamble informs me that about 100 Barrels of Salt Meat, which were at Barrington, are upon the way to Claverac. These will be a temporary supply. In the mean time, I...
50804From George Washington to William Heath, 12 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your several Letters of the 9th 10th & 11th Instant. It will be proper upon the general principle & practice, to Order an enquiry to be made into the conduct of the Commanding Officer of the Guard, which escorted the Prisoners to Easton. The discriptive Lists of the Recruits may be lodged with the Commanding Officers of Brigades, or the Dep. Adjt Genl as you shall think best....
50805To George Washington from William Heath, 12 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
The officer whom I sent down the river with the families in the flag sloop, was not permitted to proceed lower than Fort Washington—He procured a New York paper of the 9th which is enclosed. He could not ascertain what troops were doing duty at fort Washington—but saw at the Commandant’s, orderly serjeants from the 38th and 57th regiments of foot, and a dragoon from the 17th—The officer could...
50806From George Washington to William Heath, 12 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I am favored with your Letter of this day. No means in our power, to have the supplies you mention instantly brought forward, shall be left unessayed: the most pointed Orders have already been given to the proper Officers—repeated applications have been made to the Civil Authority for impress Warrants—and finally we have been forced to have recourse to a military impress, to obtain the teams...
50807To George Washington from Robert Howe, 12 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I arriv’d Yesterday at this Place and intend taking a View of th ose Parts of this country worthy of Observation, unless some Circumstance of service should make my return necessary, which should it do I rely upon your Excellency’s Goodness to recall me without the least attention to any suppos’d disapointment it may Occasion me, for nothing however interesting to me Could Compensate for the...
50808To George Washington from Elijah Hunter, 12 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
You may Remember that in Conversation with you yesturday that I informd your Excellensy the Fealings I have for the Destresses of Mr Kenicuts Family who are Now at this Place and are almost Destitute of the Nesessaries of Life Genl McDogal ordered them a Partial Releaf By Drawing one Ration of Provition But that is Now Stopd By Mr Mitchel, I Now Beg Leave to address you upon that Subject in...
50809From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 12 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your Excellencys letter of the 7th inclosing the copy of a peice of intelligence communicated by General Forman. I have yet heard nothing of the kind from New York, but still I cannot undertake to contradict it altogether. I do not however think it probable that a detachment, so large as one ought to be to merit the attention of Sir Henry Clinton himself, can be spared...
50810To George Washington from John Hurlbut, 12 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
your Excellency will remember that you received a letter by me from his Excellency Governor Trumbull: at Litchfield in Connecticut the beginning of last march; Inclosing the Coppys of Two Memorials from this place in the name of Thomas McCluer & Others; John Ryon and Others; praying for a discharge from the Service as also the resolves of the assembly thereon—upon my return home I found that...
50811To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 12 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Owing to a very Heavy Rain and a Most Stormy Night I was yesterday obliged to Counter Mand the orders I Had Given to the troops, and Upon the Representation that the Roads to the Susquehana would be Impassable, I differed our departure to this Morning—We shall encamp on a Ground Near the Ferry and Be as Expeditious as possible in Crossing the River—In Consequence of Your Excellency’s...
50812To George Washington from Samuel Loudon, 12 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Since Mr Montange the Phila. Post Rider was taken in the Clove, I can get no person, fit for the Trust, willing to take that Rout. Montange did it with great reluctance. The bearer has undertook to ride, provided he is permitted to proceed by King’s Ferry; that road is very public, and the Post rarely travelled it alone. If your Excellency will either order your Letters to be sent over here on...
50813From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 12 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I enclose to you the Extract of a Letter from Major General Heath, of this day; and must again request, that the most vigorous and energetic Measures may be pursued for the transportation of Provisions to relieve the Garrison & the Army from the horrors of impending famine, & me from the incessant complaints and perplexities which are occasioned by our present disagreeable circumstances. I am...
50814To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 12 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
J’ai Reçu la lettre du 7. de ce mois dont votre excellence m’a honoré, je suis charmé que les affaires du Sud lui permettent de différer L’ordre de Se faire joindre par mon petit corps de troupes, et je n’avois eu l’honneur de lui écrire, que pour me permettre de faire mes preparatifs, pour le moment où la necessité l’exigera. L’esperance d’une entreprise maritime Sur New-yorck, et pour le...
50815From George Washington to Abraham Skinner, 12 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have examined your report of the 10th of March with the papers accompanying it. I do not see with what propriety the enemy could reject your proposition contained in No. 3 or can postpone the exchange of General Burgoigne on their own principles; two thirds of the Convention officers being now exchanged or nearly so, which was all along made by them a condition to the exchange of General...
50816From George Washington to Walter Stewart, 12 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been favd with yours of the 21st instant and am much obliged by the general information which you have given of the progress of the line in collecting their old Soldiers and Recruits. Be assured your letters can never be troublesome to me. The communication which you so politely made in your last, respecting your own prospects, gave me a particular pleasure, which will be heightened by...
50817To John Jay from Benjamin Franklin, 12 April 1781 (Jay Papers)
I have before me the several Letters you have honour’d me with dated Feb. 27. March 11. and April 1. I was much pleased to learn that you have obtained a Promise for 150,000 Dollars; your Reflection on the Consequence is just. As this Sum must be used in Payment of the Bills drawn upon you, and probably no Part of it can be applied to your Subsistance, I desire that you would draw upon me for...
50818Motion on Court of Appeals, [12 April] 1781 (Madison Papers)
MS ( NA : PCC , No. 36, I, 137–40). Docketed, “Motion of Mr Madison April 12. 1781 Referred to Mr Varnum Mr Bee Mr McKean.” That the Judges of appeal in cases of Capture hold their sessions at Williamsburg in the state of Virginia on the first monday of November in each year—at Philadelphia on the first monday of april—at Hartford in Connecticut Boston M. Providence R.I. on the first monday of...
50819Advice of Council respecting Purchase of Gunpowder, with a Warrant for the Purchase, 12 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The Executive will advance £20,000 to Messrs. Lewis and Thornton on the 12th. of March, and will agree to the terms proposed in Mr. Lewis’s letter of Feb. 6. 1781 . reserving a liberty to pay for the powder in tobacco @ 20/ the hundred or it’s worth in paper money as valued by the grand jury next preceding paiment. Mar. 5. 1781. The Executive will take five tons or so much of it as shall be...
50820To Thomas Jefferson from George Bird, 12 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Middlesex, 12 Apr. 1781 . Was appointed with Col. George Daniel a commissioner of the specific tax for Middlesex, “and Agreeable to Law we appointed commissioners to receive the said Taxes and gave public notice thereof, as also of the places appointed for the People to cary their grain.” Daniel and Bird also appointed, among others, Mr. William Chowning a deputy “for the purpose of seizing...
50821From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Bolling and Others, 12 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Reasons to believe that the enemy intend a movement across the Country towards Carolina have induced Majr. General Baron Steuben to desire anxiously to have made up of a sudden a body of 200 cavalry. It is probable they will not be wanting a fortnight, but in any event they shall be discharged at the end of one month from their rendezvousing at Petersburg. Supposing it would be in your power...
50822From Thomas Jefferson to William Call, 12 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
You are not unacquainted with the Desire which Government has long had of erecting some defensive works at Hoods in your County which might protect so much of the river as lies above that place. The late Incursion of the Enemy up the river, their Acknowledgements of the Obstructions which that Post, well prepared, might have been to their Enterprize, their taking permanent post at Portsmouth,...
50823To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Claiborne, 12 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I do myself the honor to inclose to your Excellency an extract of a letter which I have received from Major General Baron Steuben respecting the horses at Petersburg. These are the horses that have been impressed and purchased for the late expedition against Portsmouth and have been collected agreable to the Baron’s orders. Some of the owners are willing to take them back and give up their...
50824To Thomas Jefferson from the Continental Board of War, 12 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
In answer to your Excellency’s letter of March 31st. referred to the Board by Congress they beg leave to observe, that they think it will be proper for the flag vessel to proceed round from James River to Potomack, and land their Cloathing, refreshments Money &c., designed for the Prisoners at George Town in the State of Maryland; there to be received by two Officers of the Convention Troops...
50825From Thomas Jefferson to the County Lieutenants, 12 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
HAVING received an application from the Commanding Officer to strengthen our army below, and being very unwilling to harrass the Militia more than shall be absolutely unavoidable, we are in hopes an immediate and sufficient accession of force may be obtained by application to the several Counties for their delinquents in Militia duty whom the Law sentences to six months service. Every County,...
50826From Thomas Jefferson to the County Lieutenants of King William and Certain Other Counties, 12 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
As your Militia is now returned or on their return home we have thought it necessary to take off the Suspension of the Act of October 1781 for recruiting this States Quota of Troops to serve in the Continental Army and to desire you to proceed to the raising the New Levies required from your County by that Law, and sending them to the Rendezvous as directed in my Letter of January 19th. 1781....
50827To Thomas Jefferson from William Davies, with Reply, 12 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I was desired by the Baron before his leaving town to lay before your Excellency, an extract of a letter from General Greene, which unintentionally he omitted to present to you yesterday, altho’ I think he said he had conversed with you on this subject. His great anxiety for an immediate supply of ammunition to be forwarded on to General Greene has induced him to press this matter with so much...
50828To Thomas Jefferson from William Davies, 12 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
From the negligence of Col. Munford the issuing continental commissary general in this State, there is the most shameful waste of provision and scandalous abuses in that department that can well be conceived. He has not for many months paid the least attention to his deputies, and has even refused to appoint the necessary issuers to the troops below. The provisions delivered by Mr. Brown [John...
50829From Thomas Jefferson to James Hendricks, 12 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the Honour of an Application from yourself and others of the Town of Alexandria for enabling you to mount some Cannon for the Defence of your Town. This Letter was not delivered ’till after one on the same Subject from Colo. Waggoner had been delivered and answered and the Sum of £5,000. ordered, which I afterwards found was considerably necessary. It was long ago determined to erect a...
50830From Thomas Jefferson to La Luzerne, 12 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honour of your Excellency’s favor of March 23d and shall with great pleasure communicate to our Citizens our prospect of Aid from his most Christian majesty to whom we are already so infinitely indebted. I assure you Sir that these Prospects are necessary to inspirit them under the present Aspect of their Affairs. We suppose one half of the enemys force in the United States to be to...