54541From George Washington to Horatio Gates, 1 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 7th of October was received at a time when I was wholly occupied in the seige of York, which will plead my excuse for not answering it by return of Mr Blue who was the Bearer. Your letter of the 22d May last, alluded to in your favor, not being with me at this place, I can only reply from memory. If my recollection is right, that letter informed me of the Resolution of...
54542From George Washington to William Irvine, 1 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
During the Time of my being occupied in the Seige of York, I received a Letter from Colo. Gibson commandg at that Time at Fort Pitt, inclosing sundry Proceedings of Courts Martial held at that post—among which are two Capital Cases, on which Sentences of Death are decreed by the Court. Being informed by Congress, that you have been ordered to the Command of that post—I have to inform—that the...
54543From Jonathan Trumbull, Jr. to Benjamin Lincoln, 1 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
From some recent Intelligence from the Northward, His Excellency grows very anxious for the Departure of the Troops—The General therefore wishes you as soon as possible to consult with Mr Ross Agent for this State—& the officers of the Vessells offerd for the Service what Number of Men it will be necessary for them to take—& have the Men on Board & the Vessells Dispached, as early as can be....
54544To George Washington from Stephen Moylan, 1 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
It is my duty to Lay before your Excellency the situation of my Regiment as it consists of three field officers—Six Captains and five Lieutenants—they have 94 men to Command. one field officer, one Capt. & two Lieutenants with 48 men are gon to Carolina, the remainder are taking care of some of those capturd horses which will not be fit for Service these four months—if ever—Pensilvania, to...
54545From George Washington to Stephen Moylan, 1 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your letter of this date, containing the state and distribution of your regiment—and expressing your desire to return to philadelphia with a view of engaging the executive of pennsilvania to exert themselves in favor of this part of their quota. I cannot conceal from you sir, that it is with pain I see my instructions answered by applications of this kind—the journey to...
54546To George Washington from Stephen Moylan, 1 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have by no means neglected the instructions received from your Excellency but have assiduously attended to them—there are three field officers appointed to go with the Detachment to the Southwd and if your Excellency wishes that I shoud also go, I will march with them as far as I can, the representation I have made you of my State of health, is absolutely the truth, if I had thought myself...
54547To George Washington from Adrian Provaux, 1 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
May it please your Excellency to attend for a moment to the present Application of a Continental Officer, who takes the Liberty of laying his Distress before you. I am Sir, a Native of the Island of Hispaniola, and a Frenchman, and entered so early as the Year 1775 into the American Army, in the second South Carolina Regiment. In this Corps I served from that period and was Captain of a...
54548To John Jay from the Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Robert R. Livingston), 1 November 1781 (Jay Papers)
Your letter to Congress of April last having been read & answered by Congress, tho’ not so minutely as I would wish, I forbear making any remarks upon it, because I am not yet perfectly acquainted with their sentiments (& would not risk any which might interfere with them) having just entered upon the office, in consequence of which I open this Correspondence, tho’ long since appointed. I beg...
54549To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Le Grand de Castelle, 2 November 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library Permettez que j’eus L’honneur de vous ecrire ces lignes pour vous presenter mes respects et vous informer que Monsieur Le colonel george de Mercer d’amerique est tombé malade ici et quil a perdu entierement L’esprit; etant lié D’amitiez avec lui depuis environ trois ans jai pris Le Soin de lui donner un medecin et de faire generalement pour lui tout ce...
54550To Benjamin Franklin from Robert R. Livingston, 2 November 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: National Archives It is with peculiar pleasure that I obey the directions of Congress in making Communications, which shew their Sense of the Exertions of their Ally, & the merit of the Officers She Employs. The Confidence inspired by the first, & the Esteem Excited by the last, form new bonds of Union between Nations whom reciprocal Interests had before Connected. In this View I flatter...
54551General Orders, 2 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
For the Day tomorrow Major General Lincoln Lieutenant Colonel Harmar Major Cummings Brigade Major Cox Colonel Ogden’s and the first New York regiments for duty Tomorrow. The Commander in Chief has been informed there are a number of public horses in the hands of the Officers of the light infantry—they are required to deliver them immediately to the Quartermaster General. The officers appointed...
54552To George Washington from Thomas Durie, 2 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
Agreably to your Excellency’s directions, I have the honor to inform you that the persons named in Governor Lee’s Letter, are not on my list of Paroles, or any such characters reported to me by the Town Major. On making inquiry of some individuals respecting them, I was inform’d a Mr French was with the British Army at Portsmouth, but went from thence to Charles Town, Just before the...
54553To George Washington from Nathanael Greene, 2 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
I beg leave to congratulate your Excellency upon the glorious and important success of your Army. The news of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis and his Army reached us the 27th in the evening; and it came so well warranted that we had a feu de joy upon it the 28th. The intelligence came away the 18th from Richmond; but I find by a letter I have since received from Col. Carrington that the...
54554From George Washington to Thomas McKean, 2 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor of inclosing a letter from Baron de frey, in which after giving me a State of his services, he requests either that he may be employed suitably to his rank—or have a recommendation to Congress to facilitate his retiring to Europe. The former being impracticable in the present circumstances of the Army—the alternative cannot be refused him—I therefore do myself the honor...
54555From Jonathan Trumbull, Jr. to Stephen Moylan, 2 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
His Excellency directs me to reply to your Letter of Yesterday—In Consideration of your Health he consents to your going to Phila. where you are to use your endeavours for placing your Regt in the best State for Service—If any Recommendation from him will be of Service, he is willing to second your Application—altho he has but Little Hope of Success from that Quarter. Before your Departure the...
54556From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 2 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
Pay from the British Military Chest in your Care One hundred and fifty Pounds Lawful Money to Brigadier General Knox of the Artillery, for the Use of his Department and for which he is to be held Accountable. Given at Head Quarters this 2 November 1781. MHi : Henry Knox Papers.
54557From William Stephens Smith to Timothy Pickering, 2 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
The General understands that it was your intention to move the waggons of the Army with the Baggage of the General & Staff Officers destined for the northward in the morning. As Matters are not in that forwardness that he expected to find them in at this period, he desires that it may be postponed untill further orders upon the Subject. I am Sir Your &c. DNA : RG 93—Manuscript File.
54558To George Washington from Philip John Schuyler, 2 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday a letter from Colo: Hamilton announced the glorious success which has resulted from your operations in Virginia accept my Dear Sir such congratulations as flow from a heart replete with every sentiment of affection, esteem and gratitude and permit me to super add a wish that you may, not only live, to compleat the business, which Your perseverance through the vast variety of...
54559Motion on Negotiations with Cherokee Indians, [2 November] 1781 (Madison Papers)
Printed text ( JCC Worthington Chauncey Ford et al ., eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (34 vols.; Washington, 1904–37). , XXI, 1089). A motion was made by the delegates of Virginia, that the resolution of yesterday, respecting the appointment of commissioners, to treat with the Cherokee and Chickasaw Indians, be repealed. Ordered , That Thursday next be assigned for the...
54560Richard Cranch to John Adams, 3 November 1781 (Adams Papers)
By Capt. Haydon who arrived here the day before yesterday I received a Pacquet of News-Papers and Pamphlets from you, also I received two other Pacquets by Capt. Brown a few Days ago, for which I thank you. I had however the mortification of not finding a Line in either of them from you or Mr. Thaxter. I have wrote you often but have not had the Happiness of receiving a Letter from you since...
54561To Benjamin Franklin from John Bondfield, 3 November 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I am honord with your favor of the 25th past. I forwarded by Mr Bory the Bond for the Commission of the Mariana which I doubt not will be deliver’d safe to your hands. I have order’d three hhds [hogsheads] of our best wine to be fined down and bottled which shall be packt with care and held ready to ship by the first conveyances say one hhd by each...
54562General Orders, 3 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
For the day tomorrow Brigadier General Clinton Lieutenant Colonel Antill Major Fish Brigade Major Lloyd Hazen’s brigade to furnish the guards and fatigue in York tomorrow. At a Brigade General Court martial held at Camp near Yorktown in Virginia October 26th 1781 By order of Brigadier General Gist whereof Major Roxburgh was president the following prisoners were tried, James Stite, William...
54563From George Washington to William Colfax, 3 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your Sick, Invalids and weak men—Your heavy Stores, & such other articles Papers excepted as you may judge proper, are to go by Water under the care of Mr Holden, or yourself, to the head of Elk; where they are to remain till the Waggons and other parts of the Baggage go round, to that place, by Land. When the whole are united, you will, if you should not receive further orders, proceed to...
54564From George Washington to Thomas Durie, 3 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
After the Vessels, for which you have obtained Passports to New York are dispatched, you may suffer the remaining officers—on Parole—Merchants—and others (included in the Capitulation of York) together with those which have been detained by Count de Grasse & liberated by me, to procure a Vessel for New York—or to Charles Town; and will fill up the blank Passports herewith given you,...
54565To George Washington from François-Joseph-Paul, comte de Grasse-Tilly, 3 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
Mille raisons s’opposent au désir que j’aurois de rester plus longtemps dans cette Baye; la plus forte, c’est ma mission qui m’appelle ailleurs. Trouvés bon en consequence, que j’ai l’honneur de Faire mes adieux á Votre Excellence, et de luy demander de me conserver une place dans son souvenir. je regarde comme infiniment heureux pour moy d’avoir pû être de quelqu’utilité aux Etâts unis, mais...
54566To George Washington from William Heath, 3 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed papers contain my latest advices from the northward. The intelligence from that quarter has been very complicate and very uncertain. As major-general lord Stirling is now on the spot, I hope the accounts in future will be more accurate. Although there are no official or particular accounts from colonel Willet, yet from his situation when the last accounts were received from his...
54567From George Washington to Benjamin Lincoln, 3 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Troops which you will have under your command are to be Marched, after debarking at the head of the Bay, into the States of New Jersey & New York—Those of New Jersey will take Post somewhere in the Vicinity of Morristown, to cover the Country adjacent, & to secure the communication between the Delaware & North River. The two Regiments of New York, unless the situation of our affairs to the...
54568From George Washington to William Moore, 3 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
Colo. Moylan’s Regiment of Cavalry, assigned to the State of Pennsylvania, being ordered to join the Southern Army under the Command of Major Genl Greene, many of the Men are reported to me unfit to move for want of Horses, Arms, Accoutrements & Cloathing—It being of Importance to have those Troops fit for the Service to which they are destined, I have permitted Colo. Moylan to return to...
54569To George Washington from John Moylan, 3 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
Before I left Philadelphia I wrote Colonel Tilghman a few lines Requesting him to Inform Your Excellency that it had been determined to bring on the Clothing by Land, & that the Board of War had ordered me to proceed hither, for the purpose of sending it forward—I was accordingly furnished by Mr Morris with an order for the necessary Monies to Accomplish this Business; but on my Arrival here...
54570From George Washington to Thomas Nelson, Jr., 3 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inform your Excellency that 467 of the British and German Convalescents marched this day from York under the Escort of Courtlands New York Regiment, which will conduct them as far as Fredericksburg—of this I have apprised General Weedon, and directed him to prepare a sufficient Guard of Militia for the purpose of relieving the Regiment above mentioned, and recieving the...