51741From Benjamin Franklin to John Laurens, 17 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New York Public Library; copy: Library of Congress Inclos’d is the Order you desire for another Hundred Louis.— Take my Blessing with it, and my Prayers that God may send you safe & well home with your Cargoes. I would not attempt persuading you to quit the military Line, because I think you have the Qualities of Mind and Body that promise your doing great Service & acquiring Honour in...
51742To Benjamin Franklin from James Lovell, 17 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (two): American Philosophical Society; copy: National Archives; transcript: National Archives Doctor Putnam whose Letter is inclosed, by the Uniformity of his Attachment to our public Cause, merits your Patronage; and I inclose also for your Information some former Proceedings of Congress in which this same Gentleman is interested; requesting Sir that you would obtain a Knowledge of the...
51743[Diary entry: 17 May 1781] (Washington Papers)
17th. Received a letter from Captn. Lawrence, near Dobbss ferry, informing me that abt. 200 Refugees were building a block house & raising other works at Fort Lee. Order’d the detachment which had halted at Kings Ferry & another forming under Colo. Scammel to advance down & endeavour to annoy, if they could not prevent them. A Letter from Genl. Foreman of Monmouth (dated the 14th. Instt.)...
51744General Orders, 17 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Enemy having embarked a considerable number of troops lately at New York the General thinks it necessary (though the destination of them is not yet known) to have a detachment of four hundred men immediately formed & held in readiness to march at an hour’s warning. This Corps is to consist of a Colonel Lieutenant Colonel and Major, eight Captains Sixteen Subalterns with staff and...
51745To George Washington from Paul-François-Jean-Nicolas, comte de Barras, 17 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
J’ai reçu la lettre que vôtre Excellence m’a fait l’honneur de m’écrire en datte du 14. Mai, j’aurois bien désiré pouvoir aller au rendez vous que vous m’avés donné conjointement avec M. de Rochambeau, je suis bien faché que les circonstances ne me permettent pas d’avoir l’honneur de faire connoissance avec vôtre Excellence; M. le Cte de Rochambeau vous fera part des raisons qui me privent de...
51746From George Washington to Armand-Charles-Augustin de La Croix, duc de Castries, 17 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I had this morning the pleasure of receiving your favor of the 12th. The dispatches for the Marquis de la Fayette have been forwarded by a servant of his own who was luckily here and just setting out for the southward. I am exceedinly obliged by the trouble you have taken in making me a Copy of the map of the Country in the Vicinity of portsmouth. I have the honor to be with great Esteem and...
51747To George Washington from George Clinton, 17 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I this moment received the enclosed Letter from Genl Schuyler to your Excellency which agreable to his Direction I have perused & now forward by the same Express who handed it to me. This Letter with one which the Express is charged with from Brigr Genl Clinton will I presume give your Excellency all the Intelligences from the Northward and render it unnecessary to communicate the Particulars...
51748To George Washington from James Clinton, 17 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
Since my last of yesterday, another Express has been received from Fort Schuyler, Copies of which Inclosed for your Excellency’s Satisfaction. By the Proceedings of the Court of Inquiry it appears that the loss of the Barracks was occasioned by Accident, however suspicious it appeared at first View, a Circumstance which affords me singular Pleasure. The Distruction of a considerable Quantity...
51749From George Washington to David Forman, 17 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I am just now favored with yours of the 14‘. I am exceedingly obliged by the distinct and full intelligence it contains of the sailing of the British Fleet—I had not before been able to ascertain the Matter, and I was very anxious to do it, as I am to set out tomorrow to meet the French Admiral and General in Connecticut. I shall very willingly consent to take a person into pay at the Rate you...
51750From David Humphreys to Edward Hand, 17 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I am directed by His Excellency to send you the enclosed to be issued to morrow. He also requests (if possible) that from the result of your inspection, or by the Return of the Recruits who have joined since the first of April, you will afford the Means (this evening) of ascertaining our present force with great precision. I have the honor to be with perfect respect Your Most Obed. Servant...
51751To George Washington from Edward Hand, 17 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
It is impossible for me to ascertain the present strength of the Army with more accuracy than the last Return gives it, except by informing your Excellency, that by a Return of the Jersey Line this day received, dated the 10th instant, their total Rank and file exclusive of the command at Wyoming and to the Southward is 426—and that between 60 and 70 Recruits have joined the Massachusetts line...
51752To George Washington from Robert Howe, 17 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I was honourd the night before last with your Excellency’s favour & should have set out as to day but both my servants were and are yet so ill that they are not able to attend me. They are not however in such a way that they can I persuade myself proceed by Sunday or Monday when I shall set out for camp or sooner if they can possibly Travel. The loss of the Confedracy with our Clothing is an...
51753From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 17 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
His Excellency the Count de Rochambeau having received dispatches from the Court of France by his Son the Viscount de Rochambeau, who arrived at Boston in the Frigate la Concorde the 6th instant, has requested an interview with me. I have appointed the place of meeting at Weathersfield on Monday next, for which purpose, I shall set out to morrow from hence. I am in hopes we shall be able, from...
51754To George Washington from Wilhelm von Knyphausen, 17 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed Papers, express the treatment which Lieutenant Sobbe received in Philadelphia, although furnished with Your Passports: from the Public letter addressed to this Gentleman, I have reason to think that the Sick Hessian Soldiers now Prisoners there, are not to be supplied with Medicines; should this be the case, I request that Your Excellency will grant a Passport for a Hessian...
51755To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 17 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
My Correspondance with one of the British Generals, and my denial of a Correspondance with the other, may be perhaps misrepresented—I shall therefore give an Account of what has passed, and hope your Excellency & Genl Greene will approve of my Conduct. On the arrival of our Detatchment at Richmond, three letters were brought by a Flag which I have the honour to inclose; & which as Commander of...
51756From George Washington to Anne-César, chevalier de La Luzerne, 17 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed dispatches have just been sent to me with a request that I would forward them immediately to your Excellency. Count Charlus mentions that the packet for the Marquis de la Fayette is of good consequence and wishes it may be transmitted to him by a safe conveyance. I have the honor to be with very great Respect and Esteem Your Excellency’s Most obt Servant AAE : Memoires et...
51757To George Washington from John Laurance, 17 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have perused the Papers delivered me, Yesterday, by Lieut. Colonel Humphreys, who informed me that the Persons, mentioned in them, were Subjects of the State of Connecticut; and resided in that State when apprehended. I am therefore of Opinion that A Court Martial could not properly take Cognizance of the Facts they are charged with, unless the Court acted under a Law of the State, in which...
51758From George Washington to Jonathan Lawrence, Jr., 17 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have this moment received your Letter of yesterday’s Date. With regard to the proposal made by the Person mentioned in Yours, I cannot say that I place much confidence in the sincerity of it—and yet I think it is not altogether to be neglected. I have no objection to your meeting him with a flag, or his coming to the place you propose—And you are a u thorized to assure him in my name of...
51759To George Washington from John Paterson, 17 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have just received the inclosed. The Detatchments on the lines are very uneasy in their present situation, the Croton being very low and consequently fordable in many places. The y conceive it highly inexpedient to remain in their present Situation, and from my own knowledge of that Country, think it very unsafe to lay more than twenty four hours in any one place. Some instructions relative...
51760To George Washington from Richard Peters, 17 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
We have received a Letter from the Judge Advocate General respecting the Pay of Mr Edwards & Mr Strang Deputy Judge Advocates who complain that their Appointments are not sufficient or settled by the Act of the 10th of Novr 1780. In seems they wish to be put in the same Footing with the Assistants to the AjutantGeneral whose pay is agreed to that of Lieut. Colonels. The Board wishing to...
51761To George Washington from Joseph Reed, 17 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
We have to acknowledge your Excellencys favour of the fifth Instant—the observations on the address of the Artillery Officers of Colonel Proctors Regiment contain so perfect and satisfactory an answer that we hope we shall have no occasion to trouble your Excellency on that subject again much less shall we by any act of ours contravene a system which is established not only by Resolutions of...
51762From George Washington to Alexander Scammell, 17 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have recd intelligence that a party of the Enemy are establishing themselves at or near Fort Lee and building a Block House or some kind of Work. If they are permitted to compleat their plan, they will not only be difficult to remove but they will harrass the Country from thence and may be much in the way of some future operation. When I formed the Battalion which you at present command, it...
51763To George Washington from John Sullivan, 17 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I was last Evening honored with Your Excellencys favor of the 11th Instant. I am sorry that the Report respecting promotions has been so long Delayed. but this delay has not been Occasioned by any Difference in Sentiment between Your Excellency and the Committee. Your reasonings were attended to & there remains no Difference of Sentiment between us, though, perhaps Congress may make some...
51764To Thomas Jefferson from James McClurg, 17 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I am extremely flatter’d with your condescending attention to me, and recieve with the utmost sensibility this new mark of your friendship, which it will always be my ambition to deserve. Nor can I help being prepossess’d in favour of your advice, which I know to have been dictated merely by the kind concern you take in my welfare. It is true that I have leizure enough, at present, to apply to...
51765To Thomas Jefferson from Matthew Pope, 17 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I was this day called by the Marquiss la Fayette to attend him at Wilton the result of which was to provide at a proper distance a general Hospital for the reception of the Sick and wounded if we should be obliged to fly from the Enemy. I told the Marquiss and Genl. Mulenburg who was present that I knew of no place nor had I power to take a place if I could find one at such distance as they...
51766John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 18 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have this Morning received yours inclosing a Letter from the Duke de la Vauguion. Please to inform me in your next, when the Vacation begins. It is my Design that you shall come and spend a Part of the Vacation with me.—I approve very much of your taking the Delft Gazette the Writer of which is a great Master of his Language, and is besides a very good Friend to his Country and to yours. You...
51767To John Adams from C. W. F. Dumas, 18 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
Depuis ma derniere du 13e. qui en renfermoit une de France pour vous, je Serois en peine de son sort, Si je ne savois que Mrs. De Neufville ont reçu le paquet qui la contenoit. Le Mémoire est présentement Suffisamment connu par toute la République, et par toute l’Europe, tant par les Envois du Libraire, que par les Gazettiers qui l’ont répété à l’envi l’un de l’autre. Le Courier du Bas-rhin a...
51768C. W. F. Dumas to John Adams: A Translation, 18 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
Since my last letter of the 13th, with the enclosure from France directed to you, I have been somewhat troubled because I did not know that Messrs. De Neufville received the packet that contained the enclosure. The memorial is sufficiently known throughout the republic and Europe at this time. This is due to the dispatches from the publishers as much as it is to the vying newspapers that have...
51769To Alexander Hamilton from John B. Church (John Carter), 18 May 1781 (Hamilton Papers)
M de Villemansey deliver’d me your Favor of the 25th April, as we are equally faulty in the article of Neglect instead of Apology we have only to resolve to be better Correspondents in future. I felicitate you on your Change as you seem’d so much to desire it, you do not tell me what your future line of life will be, but Villemansey tells me he thinks you are to command a Body of Troops this...
51770To Benjamin Franklin from Le Roy, [18 May 1781] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Voulez vous bien que je vous demande, mon illustre Docteur, ce qui en est de lavantage, qu’on dit que Le Genl Greene a remporté Sur le General Cornwallis, dans la caroline Septentrionale; loin d’en avoir été battu, comme l’ont dit, des lettres d’Ecosse? Si vous avez recu quelques nouvelles d’Amerique à ce Sujet, ou Si notre cour en a euës? Un mot De réponse...