75331From George Washington to Thomas Wharton, Jr., 1 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
By this Express from General Armstrong he informs me he is of Opinion that 1000 Militia regularly reliev’d may be equal to effect the necessary duty on the North Side of Schuylkill—he also mentions that he writes you to this purpose, & requires my sentiments thereon. As it has been my constant desire & Study to conduct things in such manner as may be attended with the smallest expence &...
75332General Orders, 2 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Commander in Chief, to prevent unnecessary Applications for Furloughs informs the Officers that none will be granted by him unless the Officers who apply for the same produce Certificates from the Major Generals of the Divisions to which they belong, that the state of their Regiments will admit of their absence from Camp. And it is expected that the Major-Generals previous to their giving...
75333From George Washington to the Board of War, 2–3 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your several Letters of the 23d, 24th & 27th Ulto have been recieved. Agreable to your request I shall communicate to Genl Howe the information you have recieved respecting Captn Dick and the other American Officers, with your determination to retaliate on an equal number of their Officers, till Captain Dick &c. are relieved from their cruel & unjustifiable treatment. It would be a happy...
75334From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel William Brent, 2 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
You are to proceed to Wms Burg as expeditiously as you possibly can. You will apply to His Excelly the Governor & the Honorable The Council & take their advice on the most speedy mode for apprehending the Deserters from the Regt to which you belong—A return of which You have with you. You will also apply for the residue of the men to Complete the Regt previous to It’s March from Willms...
75335From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 2 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed you will receive a Copy of a Letter from General Varnum to me, upon the means which might be adopted for completing the Rhode Island Troops to their full proportion in the Continental Army—I have nothing to say in addition to what I wrote the 29th of last month on this important subject, but to desire that you will give the Officers employed in this business all the assistance in your...
75336From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 2 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Captain Hopkins of Colonel Moylans Light Dragoons goes to Boston to procure Cloathing & accoutrements for the Regiment against the ensuing Campaign. As the prices of many articles have risen from there being too great a number of Bidders, I have directed the Captain, if there are any Persons Purchasing for the Continent not to interfere with them, but, to apply to them for such articles as he...
75337From George Washington to Captain David Hopkins, 2 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Being appointed by Colo. Moylan to procure cloathing & accoutrements for the Regt against the ensuing Campaign, you are to repair immediately to Boston as the most probable place of furnishing yourself. Upon your arrival you will see Major Blackden, who has similar instructions with these, & with him you will determine on your manner of proceeding on this business, that you may not by any...
75338From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel James Innes, 2 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Continental Forces from Virginia being at present in a situation, that requires the exertion of some officer in that state to collect together the reinlisted Soldiers of the old Regiments—as well as the recruits & Draughts intended to compleat those & the six additional Battalions—you are while in Virginia, in aid to any superior officer who may be there with Instructions to pay particular...
75339From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 2 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I take the liberty of introducing Major John Clark, the Bearer of this, to your notice. He entered the Service at the commencement of the War and has for some time past acted as Aid de Camp to Major Genl Greene. He is active, sensible and enterprising and has rendered me very great assistance since the army has been in Pennsylvania by procuring me constant and certain intelligence of the...
75340From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 2 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I take the liberty of transmitting to you the Inclosed Copies of a Letter from me to Genl Conway since his return from York to Camp, and of Two Letters from him to me, which you will be pleased to lay before Congress. I shall not in this Letter animadvert upon them, but after making a single observation submit the whole to Congress. If General Conway means by cool receptions mentioned in the...
75341To George Washington from Richard Henry Lee, 2 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed came to my hand only a few days past altho from its date it appears to have been written long since. There are some useful suggestions in it, and therefore I send it to you—I do not know the Writers reason for dating it in April 1776 when from some parts in the body of the writing, it must have been written in the cours of the year 1777. The arts of the enemies of America are...
75342To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 2 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am Directed by a Number of the Genl officers of the Army to Enclose your Excellency a memorial from them to Congress which they beg you to peruse & forward as Soon as Convenient—The General officers further Direct me to Inform your Excellency That The Inclosed Memorial Shows forth as well The Sentiments of the General officers absent as those who have Signed. I have the Honor to be with The...
75343To George Washington from Trenton and Mercer County Magistrates, 2 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Having, with much Concern, been informed that four Regiments of the Light Dragoons of the Army are ordered to be quartered in this Town for the Winter for the Purpose of recruiting, and to be exempt from Duty; and apprehending that, if our Information be true, Your Excellency must have been greatly misinformed respecting the present State and Condition of the Town and the adjacent Country, we,...
75344To George Washington from Brigadier General James Mitchell Varnum, 2 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
The two Battalions from the State of Rhode Island being small, & there being a Necessity of the State’s furnishing an additional Number to make up their Proportion in the continental Army; The Field Officers have represented to me the Propriety of making one temporary Battalion from the two, so that one intire Core of Officers may repair to Rhode Island, in order to receive & prepare the...
75345Lieutenant Colonel John Fitzgerald to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 2 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Inclosed Letter is just come to hand which his Excellency orders to be forwarded to you, that you make proper Enquiry into the truth of the Facts mention’d therin; & Issue such orders as you find necessary for the Reformation of those or any other Abuses or irregulariti⟨es⟩ you find to be committ’d in Lancaster, York, or other such places as you go to whilst absent from Camp. One Step the...
75346General Orders, 3 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
At a General Court-Martial held 28th ultimo whereof Coll Scammell was President, Captn Courtney of the Artillery appeared before the Court charg’d with “leaving his Howitz. in the Field in the Action of Brandywine in a cowardly and unofficerlike manner”—The Court having considered the Charge and Evidence are of Opinion that Captn Courtney is guilty of the charge exhibited against him and do...
75347From George Washington to Patrick Henry, 3 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Colo. Innes having staid a few days longer than he expected, it affords me an opportunity of inclosing you the Returns of the Virginia Regiments which I promised in mine of the 27th December. I refer you to Colo. Innes for more full information, than I have given you by letter, of matters relating to the Virginia line. A valuable prize has fallen into General Smallwoods hands at Wilmington, I...
75348To George Washington from Brigadier General Henry Knox, 3 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
The following hints are humbly submitted to the consideration of your Excellency. The necessity of recruiting the Army is so very obvious, that there cannot be the least doubt but Congress will take the most speedy and effectual methods to induce the respective States to furnish their quotas of men, in such season that they may be collected and disciplind, before the Campaign opens. The mode...
75349To George Washington from Brigadier General Enoch Poor, 3 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I would beg leave to recommend Major Henry Dearborn, who is the Eldest Major in the New Hampshire State, to fill the Vacancy made by Lieut Colonel Colburn of Colonel Scammell’s Regimt Killed the 19th Septemr last.— Hammond, Rolls Isaac W. Hammond, ed. Rolls of the Soldiers in the Revolutionary War, 1775, to May 1777. . . [vol. 1]; Rolls of the Soldiers in the Revolutionary War, May, 1777, to...
75350From George Washington to Brigadier General William Smallwood, 3 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been regularly favd with yours of the 28th and 30th of December and of the 1st instant. I congratulate you upon the prize that has fallen into your hands, and the more so as she turns out more valuable than you at first expected. That her Cargo may be removed and secured with all possible expedition, I have sent Colo. Biddle to assist you, he will take down with him all the Waggons that...
75351To George Washington from Brigadier General James Mitchell Varnum, 3 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Every Gentleman of the Army is convinced of the Necessity of recruiting our Troops to a much more respectable Number, than that of wch they consist at present. A retrospective View of the various Successes and Defeats we have met with from the Beginning of the War will indisputable evince that Superiority of Numbers hath given Superiority in the Field. The Scenes of Devastation and Slaughter...
75352To George Washington from Thomas Wharton, Jr., 3 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday I had the Honor of receiving your Letter of the 1st Inst. which I communicated to Council, and it is with pleasure I can assure your Excellency that Council is perfectly convinced of the strict attention which you have always paid to the safety and ease of the inhabitants of this state. the proposal which Genl Armstrong has made and to which your Excelly has acquiesced in keeping up...
75353General Orders, 4 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
As fast as the men go into Hutts the tents are to be returned immediately to the Quarter-Master General: The Commanding Officers of Regiments will see this performed—The Brigadiers are also to pay proper attention to it; and the Officers of Companies will be answerable for those which have been delivered to them. The Commander in Chief is thus pointed because he is informed that some tents...
75354From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 4 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the 8th Ulto came to my hands a few days ago; and, to my great surprize informed me, that a copy of it had been sent to Congress—for what reason, I find myself unable to acct; but, as some end doubtless was intended to be answered by it, I am laid under the disagreeable necessity of returning my answer through the same channel, lest any member of that honble body, should harbour...
75355From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 4 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Unwilling as I am to add any thing to the multiplicity of matter that necessarily engages the attention of Congress, I am compelled by unavoidable necessity to pass my answer to Genl Gates through their hands. What could induce Genl Gates to communicate a copy of his Letter to me, to that Honble Body, is beyond the depth of my comprehension upon any fair ground; but the fact being so, must...
75356To George Washington from Captain Henry Lee, Jr., 4 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Agreeable to your Excellency’s direction I have informed myself minutely with the country in the vicinity of Radnor-meeting-house. To effect the object of your Excellency’s wishes, vizt security to the camp: I conceive it absolutely necessary to establish two posts of horse. The one to appertain to the picquet, & patrole one mile, more or less, in advance of the advanced centinel. The other to...
75357General Orders, 5 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
At a General Court-Martial held 1st instant whereof Coll Scammell was President appeared Denham Ford Commissary in General Greene’s division charged with Theft—The Court having considered the Charge and the Evidence are of Opinion, That Denham Ford is guilty of the Charge exhibited against him and do sentence him to pay Mr Spencer and Mr Holliway two hundred dollars and that after he shall...
75358To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 5 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
As your excellency’s opinion seems to gree with my ideas for ⟨taking⟩ in our service those Non commissioned officers who came with Mister du Coudray, I schall take the liberty of telling you what I know about the matter—how useful they would be in this army is a thing obvious for every body—those ⟨men⟩ join to a pretty great theory the greatest practice of theyr art—security and exactitude...
75359From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 5 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I yesterday Evening had the honor of your Favor of the 1st Instant with it’s several Inclosures. The Letter you allude to from the Committee of Congress and Board of War came to hand on Saturday morning; But it does not mention the Regulations adopted for removing the difficulties and failures in the Commissary line. I trust they will be vigorous, or the Army cannot exist. It will never answer...
75360To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 5 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Last Night I was honoured with your Excellency’s Letter of the 1st Inst. I presented it this Morning to Congress but have received no other Commands except to acquaint Your Excellency that Colonel Scammel by an Unanimous ballot is elected Adjutant General in the Army which will further appear by the inclosed Certified Act of the present date. I shall likewise inclose a Resolve of Congress of...
75361From George Washington to Brigadier General Lachlan McIntosh, 5 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Plan proposed by the Feild Officers of your Brigad⟨e⟩ is Similar to what is Adopted by some New England Corps, does them Honor, & is approved of. You are therefore as soon as possible to make up the 1st 2d & 3d Battalions of ⟨No.⟩ Carolina as nearly equal as Conveniently may be, from the Non Commissioned Officers & privates of the other Regiments of that state, and order all the...
75362To George Washington from Colonel Daniel Morgan, 5 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
General Potter Militia he tells me, will all leave this place today, which will leave this post very weak, General Polaskey sent for all the horse that was with me to join their rigts, I did not think it advesable to send them before I aquinted your excellency, As none has Come to reliave them, and without Horse we should be very liable to be surpris’d—I have two butchers that Come out of...
75363To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel William Palfrey, 5 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have just receiv’d a Letter from Boston which contains a Paragraph that may not be worth your Excellency’s attention, but which I think it my Duty to Communicate. “The British Officers will lay any Betts whatever that before this Day (the Letter is dated Decr 15th) General Washington is no more. What they mean by their Talk we know not, but suppose some infernal Scheme at the Bottom. It...
75364To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 5 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
As you were pleased to desire my Sentiments upon sundry Matters, I have thrown them together upon the following Sheets without Method as they occurred to me—if they should happen to fall in with your Excellencys, it will be to me a convincing proof that I have not been mistaken. It has appeared to me that the Quarter Master Generals Department has been for some time very ill executed, from...
75365From George Washington to Major Peter Scull, 5 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
A few days ago I recieved your Favor of the 27th Ulto. I wish it had been on any other subject than that of your resignation, and am extremely sorry the situation of your Affairs should have made such an application necessary. I must request, Sir, if it can be done, that you will not entertain an idea of it. It is no time for Officers of merit in which class I consider you, to leave the Army....
75366General Orders, 6 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
The difficulty of procuring Forage for such horses as must necessarily be detained for the common purposes of the camp obliges the Commander in Chief to call upon the General Officers, & Commanding Officers of Regts to see that no Officer under their respective Commands (except those who are allowed Forage by Congress & even to those it is recommended to part with their horses if they can)...
75367To George Washington from James Craik, 6 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Notwithstanding your unwearied diligence And the unparalleled Sacrifice of Domestic happyness and ease of mind which you have made for the good of your Country yet you are not wanting in Secret enemies who would Rob you of the great and truely deserved esteem your Country has for you—Base and Villainous men thro’ Chagrin, Envy, or Ambition, are endeavouring to lessen you in the minds of the...
75368To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 6 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with yours of the 17th and 20th Ultimo. It gave me pain to find myself censured by your Excellency for not attending to your orders in the inoculating the Recruits before they were sent on to join the Army. If I have misapprehended your Excellency’s orders, I hope you will excuse such my mistake: But after you had been pleased repeatedly by Letter to order me to hurry on...
75369From George Washington to Colonel William Malcom, 6 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Letter of the 4th Inst. When you reflect how lately you Joined the Army—What indulgencies you have had, and how long you were at & in the Neighbourhood of your Home, after your Appointment, you cannot be surprized, that I disapproved your Application for a Furlough and with some degree of displeasure. It has been a custom with several Officers to resign of late when...
75370From George Washington to Trenton and Mercer County Magistrates, 6 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I received your Letter of the 2d Instant pointing out the many inconveniencies that will attend Trenton & its Neighbourhood by Quartering the Light Horse there. Before this Step was determin’d on I made Enquiry of the Forage master Genl, who reported that plenty of Forage &Ca could be got convenient to the Town—my desire of adding in some degree to the Security of that Neighbourhood & the...
75371From George Washington to an Unknown Person, 6 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I recd yours of the 20th decemr inclosing a letter from Colo. Marbury’s Freind to Majr Molleson. It was immediately forwarded and I hope will have the desired effect. I am Sir Yr most obt Servt LS , in Tench Tilghman’s writing, PHi : Etting Papers. The letter may have been intended for Maryland governor Thomas Johnson. Luke Marbury of Prince Georges County, Md. served in 1776 as a captain of...
75372To George Washington from Martha Washington, 6 January 1778 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Martha Washington, c.6 Jan. 1778. James Craik wrote GW on this date : “I get the favour of Mrs Washington to Send this under Cover to you.”
75373General Orders, 7 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Quarter Master General is to apply to the Adjt General for a fatigue party & cause all dead horses in and about the camp, and all offal to be buried, after which each division Quarter-Master is to see this regularly performed once a week in & near their own divisions—The Officers commanding Divisions are required to know that this order is executed. The Depy Clothier Genl desires those...
75374To George Washington from the General Officers, 7 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Officers of the Army being fixed to this particular Camp, are not in a Situation to procure many Articles, wch would be very necessary for them; And being informed that in the Vessell taken from the Enemy by Genl Smalwood there were a number of such Articles, which would be of more Utility to the Officers than to any other part of the Community; & being apprehensive that if they should be...
75375To George Washington from Major Peter Scull, 7 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had this day the honor of receiving your Excellency’s Letter of the 5th Instant. Imprest with the warmest sentiments of Gratitude & attachment, I return you thanks for the polite & obliging manner in which you are pleased to answer my late application. At the time I made the Request I was conscious, Sir, that there was some impropriety in doing it, but that or inevitable distress was the...
75376From George Washington to Brigadier General William Smallwood, 7 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Learning that the Captured Brig contains a great quantity and variety, of officers baggage; and necessaries proper for them; many articles of which from the length of time I have been in the service and difficulty of procuring them at first, I stand much in need of, I shall be obliged to you for sending me, if to be had, the things contained in the Inclosed memm. I will pay the appraised...
75377From George Washington to Brigadier General William Smallwood, 7 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed to Govr Johnston, on the subject of compleating and Cloathing the Troops of Maryland, is left open for your inspection. After reading, be pleased to seal and transmit it to the Governor with the Returns for which I have referred him to you. The Officers in this Camp are anxious to come in for a share of the Baggage taken in the prize Brig. That justice may be done to all, I...
75378To George Washington from Major General Joseph Spencer, 7 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
The strength of the Land Force of the Enemy at Rhode Island, remains much as it has been, for several Months past; they have Fortifyed Latterly Considerably, and Especially, near New Port; I have obtaind a Return of four Regiments, in October last, which I Enclose adding the other two Hession, and the 22nd Brittish Regiments, together with the Grenadiers, and Light Infantry of the 54th and the...
75379General Orders, 8 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Commander in Chief is informed that gaming is again creeping into the Army; in a more especial manner among the lower staff in the environs of the camp: He therefore in the most solemn terms declares, that this Vice in either Officer or soldier, shall not when detected, escape exemplary punishment; and to avoid discrimination between play and gaming forbids Cards & Dice under any pretence...
75380From George Washington to Brigadier Generals John Glover and Ebenezer Learned, 8 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
As the short time we have to lay in Winter Quarters ought to be spent in training the Men, and endeavouring to bring them into the Feild in a more regular manner than they have hitherto been, I must desire that you will join your Brigade as soon as possible, in order to effect this Measure. I have another reason, which is, that so many of the Brigadiers and Colonels Commandant, who have been...