51361To George Washington from Jonathan Johnson, 1 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
After my best wishes for the good of the service—I have to acquaint your Excellency that Capt. St John of the 2d Connecticut Regt—formerly of the 5th Regt is desirous of a discharge from the service—as he will present his own Resignation for that purpose, I shall offer nothing on the subject further than my duty to him requires—Captn St John has served in the Regt with me this five years past...
51362To George Washington from Joshua Loring, Jr., 1 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
Memorandum for His Excellency the Commander in Chief As We are indebted to the Rebels 300 Privates, and from the best Information I have been able to procure, we have still 1000 Men if not more Prisoners with them, I beg leave to submit it to the Consideration of His Excellency The Commander in Chief, whether it would not be adviseable, to order all the Rebel Privates Prisoners at Charles Town...
51363To George Washington from Richard Peters, 1 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
There has been for some time past an Uneasiness among the Officers of Cavalry entitled to the Rank of Major if that Corps is on the same Footing with the Infantry with respect to Promotion & Number of Officers in the Construction of the 2d Section of the Resolve of the 3d of October 1780. The Point is whether the Words " with the same Number of commissioned Officers as at present " refers to...
51364To George Washington from John St. John, 1 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
Having been ever sensible of the importance of the present struggles between America & Great Britain, and from a full conviction of the Justice of our Cause, I early engaged in the services of my Country with a design never to quit it until a peace was settled upon honorable Terms, but by reason of some unforeseen Events, the Situation of my Family is such as loudly calls upon me to retire to...
51365From George Washington to Abraham Skinner, 1 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
You will be pleased to forward the inclosed to Sir Henry Clinton by the speediest conveyance—As it is to revoke the recall of General Burgoyne you may proceed fully upon the instructions of the 12th of April and endeavour to accomplish the exchange of that Officer upon the terms specified therein. I am &c. DLC : Papers of George Washington.
51366From George Washington to Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin, Baron [von] Steuben, 1 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favor of the 15th. Had it been possible for you to have carried your plan of marching suddenly into North Carolina into execution it would most probably have occasioned the ruin of Lord Cornwallis—But this is one of the thousand instances which daily shew the evils resulting from feeding and paying troops which can only be used for local purposes. The arms which Capt. la...
51367To George Washington from Nathaniel Stevens, 1 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I would inform Your Excellency that I have employed Judge Wynkoop of Esopus and Mr Merrell of New Windsor to procure Six or Seven hundred Barrels of Shad for the Army, who are not to give more than three Pecks of Salt for two hundred and twenty pounds of cleaned Fish. I inclose my weekly Return, and have the Honor to be with due Respect, Your Excellency’s most obedient servant, DLC : Papers of...
51368From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 1 May 1781 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Endorsed, “Madison Jas.,” by Jefferson. On the receipt of your request as to the map I procured a copy with one of the pamphlets & have put it under the care of Col. Febiger who will have it conveyed. it is effectually secured against injury on its passage. I inclose your Excellency a letter from Mazzei although indeed its contents are of no great moment. I have not...
51369Virginia Delegates to Thomas Jefferson, 1 May 1781 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). Written by JM and signed by JM, Theodorick Bland, and Meriwether Smith. Docketed, “Letter from Delegates 1 May 1781, Not answerd.” We enclose herewith a letter from Oliver Pollock Esqr: which will inform your Excellency of a very large claim which may soon be expected on the Treasury of Virginia. Mr. Nicholson Agent for Mr. Ross arrived here yesterday. We fear it...
51370From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 1 May 1781—Misdated (Madison Papers)
Letter misdated. 1 May 1781 [ 2 ]. Three of the earlier editions of the papers of JM printed portions of his letter, allegedly written on 1 May 1781, to Edmund Randolph, attorney general of Virginia and delegate from that state in Congress beginning on 14 June 1781 ( Madison, Papers [Gilpin ed.] Henry D. Gilpin, ed., The Papers of James Madison (3 vols.; Washington, 1840). , I, 90–93; Madison,...
51371From Thomas Jefferson to the Auditors, 1 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Wm. Brackenridge came express from Botetourt on necessary public business and was detained in Richmond three days. Th : Jefferson 380 miles @ 2℔ Tobo is 780 Tobo. @ £75 £585 Ferriages 1: 4 Expences 3 days in Richmond 181:16 768 RC (Contingent Fund Vouchers, Vi ); endorsed: “16 June 1781. Wm. Brackenridge £768 Contingent.” TJ’s orders to the auditors are written on the verso of a...
51372To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Claiborne, 1 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
This day the Marquis de la Fayette has given me orders to purchase Sixty good horses for Continental Service, to mount Major Nelsons Corps, and the Field Officers of the Continental detachment from the Northward. I have employed Gentlemen for this purpose, and given them very pointed instructions. In consequence they assure me that the business shall be done without delay; and, that the horses...
51373To Thomas Jefferson from John Dixon, 1 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I received your favor of the 12th. Ulto. requesting Cavalry to be raized to join Majr. Genl. Baron Steuben, and was anxious to have comply’d therewith, but the Executive appearing to discourage my plan of raising and equiping a Troop of Horse, it has effectually prevented the Gentlemen from being equip’d in any manner to answer the purpose for which they were call’d. A few indeed have acted...
51374To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Lawson, 1 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
It gives me great concern to find that the Militia from many Counties go forth to join General Greenes Army with the greatest reluctance. Indeed there are many Counties very deficient in sending the quota call’d for—some of them send none at all. Mr. Bush waits on your Excellency with Mr. Henrys Letter , from Henry County, representing the difficulty of sending the number of Men call’d for...
51375To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 1 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
On the receipt of your request as to the map I procured a copy with one of the pamphlets and have put it under the care of Col. Febiger who will have it conveyed. It is effectually secured against injury on its passage. I inclose your Excellency a letter from Mazzei although indeed its contents are of no great moment. I have not received the antecedant one referred to in it. The Executive have...
51376From Thomas Jefferson to the Members of Assembly for Fluvanna and Certain Other Counties, 1 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
We deferred changing the place of calling the Assembly, in hopes that every Day would give us a prospect of getting rid of the enemy in the neighbourhood of Richmond. The Arrival of the Marquis Fayette with a detachment of Continental Troops, and the junction of our whole force together with his, has put these cowardly plunderers under way down the River, and renders this Place perfectly...
51377To Thomas Jefferson from the Virginia Delegates in Congress, 1 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
We enclose herewith a letter from Oliver Pollock Esqr. which will inform your Excellency of a very large claim which may soon be expected on the Treasury of Virginia. Mr. Nicholson Agent for Mr. Ross arrived here yesterday. We fear it will not be possible for him to get some of the most essential articles even if an exchange of his funds can be negociated, and that the difficulty of such an...
51378Joseph Gardoqui & Sons to Abigail Adams, 2 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
Your much respected and highly Esteemed favour of the 4th of Septr. last we duelly received and after a due acknowledgment for its agreable Contents are not a little sorry to Informe you that it was not in our power to comply with your desire of shipping the articles you are pleased to order by our freind Mr. Smiths Vessell as she putt in at Ferrol and proceeded from thence back to America....
51379From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [2 May 1781] (Hamilton Papers)
I am extremely sorry to have embarrassed you by my late application, and that you should think there are insuperable obstacles to a compliance with it. Having renounced my expectations, I have no other inducement for troubling Your Excellency with a second letter, than to obviate the appearance of having desired a thing inconsistent with the good of the service, while I was acquainted with the...
51380[Diary entry: 2 May 1781] (Washington Papers)
May 2d. No occurrence of note. A very fresh and steady gale of Wind all day from the So. East. Upon its shifting (about dusk) it blew violently, & continued boisterous through the Night or greatest part of it.
51381General Orders, 2 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
At a General Court Martial held at Westpoint the 24th April and continued by adjournments ‘till the 1st instant—Major Graham president. Ensign Murdoch McPherson of Colonel Hazen’s regiment, was tried, charged with "Neglect of duty in leaving the guard under his command (having Prisoners in charge) on his way to Easton, at which time a number made their escape. " The Court on consideration are...
51382To George Washington from Pierre François, chevalier de Béville, 2 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have the honour to inform you of my arrival yesterday at Middle-town through Danbury. this Road from King’s ferry to Middle town is much better than that through lin field and deserves to be preferred though there is neither hay or straw to be found in both roads. I Intend tomorrow to take notice of that from middle-town to Colchester which I am already informed of is very bad; but in case I...
51383From Edward Hand to Elias Dayton, 2 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I did myself the pleasure of writing to you the 28th of March last importing his Excellency’s surprize that the Jersey Brigade had not made returns to the orderly Office since the late arrangement took place in the army and desiring that you might be punctual in sending a Monthly state of the Line to the orderly Office so as to reach it by the last Saturday in every Month, yet no return has...
51384To George Washington from Silas Deane, 2 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
Mr Grieve will do himself the honour of waiting on you with this, and I take the liberty of assuring you in it, that he has on all occasions been the warm and zealous friend of America, and determined to make common cause with us, has lately become our fellow Citizen. He has an affair with respect to some lands, which I believe lie in your neighbourhood, and in which I hope you will be able to...
51385To George Washington from Philemon Dickinson, 2 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
Doctor Jones, a Relation, & very particular Friend of mine, who has the honor of being known to you, & whose Principles in the present controversy, have been uniformly in favor of the Liberties of America—has a Brother Mr Evan Jones, who made a very considerable Settlement at Pensacola, before the commencement of this Dispute—the whole of which, he has lately sacrificed to the American cause....
51386To George Washington from William Grayson, 2 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Board do themselves the honour to inclose you a Resolution of Congress of this date, relative to the sending 6,00 hogsheads of Tobacco from Virginia and Maryland to Charles Town; for the use of the Prisoners at that place, This resolution was founded on information, that the Governor of Virginia had been lately permitted this liberty in two different instances—If this point has not been...
51387To George Washington from Clement Gosselin, 2 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
Puisque Vous voulés avoir la bonté de vous interesser pour moy auprés de Son Excellence je ne demande point que l’on me gratifie de la peine et des risques que j’ai couru pendant mon voyage en Canada; Je m’estime assés honoré et tres Sattisfait d’etre Capable de porter les armes pour le Soutien de la cause presente. Je demande Seulement, Monsieur, que l’argent que J’ai depensé a mes propres...
51388To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 2 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I am extremely sorry to have embarrassed you by my late application, and that you should think there are insuperable obstacles to a compliance with it. Having renounced my expectations, I have no other inducement for troubling Your Excellency with a second letter, than to obviate the appearance of having desired a thing inconsistent with the good of the service, while I was acquainted with the...
51389To George Washington from John Mathews, 2 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
You will no doubt think it some thing singular, that the inclosed should be of so old a date and handed to you with this, but the reason of it is, that it was meant to go by Govr Rutledge, who intended paying a visit at Head Quarters, but being taken ill tho’ expecting daily to be in condition to prosecute his journey finding that not likely to be soon the case, I have requested Mr Duane to be...
51390To George Washington from Samuel Holden Parsons, 2 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
By Inteligence from New York as late as Saturday (which I have every Reason to beleive) General Arnold was every Hour expected there to take Command of an Expedition. Admiral Arbuthnot is going to England his Officers refusing to serve with him since the Action with the french Fleet—his Baggage was landed. Admiral Graves who commands the Fleet was in New York on Saturday but expected to sail...