75851To George Washington from Col. Israel Angell, 31 January 1778 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Col. Israel Angell, 31 Jan. 1778. On 1 Feb., GW wrote Angell : “I am favoured with yours of yesterday.”
75852From George Washington to Ephraim Blaine, 31 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
This Letter will accompany one from the Committee of Congress requiring your attendance at this Place. In addition, I shall Inform you that by a return from the Commissary of Issues we have only 90 head of Cattle in Camp, and the troops only served for this day; Moreover that he Knows not of any supplies Coming on. It also appears by the said return that there is only 560 Barrels of Flour this...
75853To George Washington from Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates, 31 January 1778 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates, 31 Jan. 1778. On 10 Feb., GW wrote Gates : “I have been favd with yours of the . . . 31st ulto.”
75854From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 31 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your several favors of the 14th 19th 22d & 25th Inst. in due order with their Inclosures, which shall have my attention. My application in preparing and digesting matters for the consideration of the Committee who are now in Camp prevented me acknowledging them before. The packet for Governor Livingston which accompanied the first Two, I transmitted him the next day by...
75855From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 31 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I this morning received your favor of the 27th Ulto. I cannot sufficiently express the obligation I feel to you for your friendship and politeness upon an occasion in which I am so deeply interested. I was not unapprized that a malignant faction had been for sometime forming to my prejudice; which, conscious as I am of having ever done all in my power to answer the important purposes of the...
75856To George Washington from Brigadier General Casimir Pulaski, 31 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have the honer to inform your Exclly of three Troops of horse belonging to the state of New Jersy well accoutred & their horses in best order, & the Gentlm. are verry desirious to go down to the lines. I received a letter from Major Jameson that the party of men now under the Command of Capt. Craig is to be releived, as I have send of all the Arms & accoutrements of the Cavalry to be...
75857To George Washington from Brigadier General John Cadwalader, January 1778 (Washington Papers)
The establishing a continental Army at the beginning of the american War was found impracticable—Those Reasons which induced Congress to object to such establishment at that time, I imagine, still appear equally powerful, if not strengthened by many circumstances that have since happened—But if Congress was now convinced that the Establishment was a bad one; so great a change, as is proposed,...
75858To George Washington from Major General Nathanael Greene, January 1778 (Washington Papers)
The commencement of the American war was so singular—it’s duration so uncertain—the hopes of reconciliation so strong, that our defence began, and has been continued rather by temporary expedients, than from any proper and fixed establishment. In the early stages of the dispute, the novelty of war was so great—the spirit of patriotism so high, and the abhorrence of slavery such that the people...
75859General Orders, 1 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Brigade Quarter-Masters are to call on the Assistt Quarter Master General at the Adjt Genl’s Office tomorrow morning at ten oClock for their proportion of 320 camp kettles. Resolved, That the Commissaries General of Purchases & Issues and their respective deputies for neglect of duty or other offences in their respective offices shall be subject to military Arrest and trial by Order of the...
75860From George Washington to Colonel Israel Angell, 1 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am favoured with yours of yesterday. As it is my wish to cut off the intercourse with Phila. as effectually as possible, I desire that no passes may be granted by you to any persons upon any pretence whatsoever; and that you will do all in your power to apprehend those who attempt to go into the City with marketting. There is no way so likely to put a total stop to this practice as making an...
75861To George Washington from Colonel Theodorick Bland, 1 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
As My Regt was destitute of a Paymaster when I quitted Camp, from the Resignation of Mr Joseph Egglestone who Resigned with Yr Excellencys Permission, I have taken the Liberty, to propose Mr Duncan Rose, who is now on his way to Camp & has promised me that he will make what haste he can to arrive there soon, to fill that post; he is a Gentn whose firm attachment to the American Interest, whose...
75862From George Washington to John Parke Custis, 1 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I will just write you a few lines in acknowledgment of your Letter of the 14th Ulto; which was detaind by the Posts not being able to cross Susquehanna, till the Evening before last. I congratualte you upon the birth of another daughter, & Nelly’s good health; & heartily wish the last may continue, & the other be a blessing to you. The money received for your Land was, I think, well applied,...
75863From George Washington to Major John Jameson, 1 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
The quantity of provision, Flour especially, that is carried into Philada is by all accounts so great that the British Army is well supplied with almost every Article. The Committee of Congress now here having expressed a desire that this pernicious intercourse may be cut off as effectually as possible, I know of no other way to prevent the supply of Flour but disabling the Mills as we have...
75864To George Washington from Colonel Henry Beekman Livingston, 1 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Enclosed I send you at the Request of Captain Samuel Sacket, and Captain Timothy Hughs of Colonel James Livingston’s Regiment and as I have no Reasonable Objection against the proposed Exchange, have refered them to Your Excellency, Only Observeing, that if it meets with Your Approbation and Colonel James Livingston is perfectly Satisfied with these proposals which I Shall Acquaint him...
75865To George Washington from George Slaughter, 1 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
The abrupt manner in which you was pleased to refuse me leave of absence: the difficulties and hardships that an American Officer inevitably labours under; the ridicule, that I shall probably incur from the unthinking, for my apparent mutability of temper, would I Apprehend, deter the generality of mankind from an Application Similar to this: but the attachment I have to your Excellency, for...
75866General Orders, 2 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
A General Court Martial to sit tomorrow 9 oClock A.M. whereof Coll Wigglesworth is appointed President a Captain from each Brigade will compose the Court. Varick transcript , DLC:GW . Brig. Gen. George Weedon’s orderly book notes that the general court-martial was to take place at the bakehouse, and it also includes these additional orders: “The broken and worn out Axes are to be collected and...
75867To George Washington from Thomas Bond, 2 February 1778 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Thomas Bond, Jr., 2 Feb. 1778. On 3 Feb., GW wrote Bond : “In answer to your letter of yesterday.”
75868To George Washington from Major John Jameson, 2 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I Recd your’s of Yesterday and shall executed your Commands as soon as possible, I have not been able to see Genl Lacey these several days The Militia on this and the ridge Roads have abandoned their Posts since Saturday and are not yet replaced I shall go in search of Genl Lacey tomorrow and fix on a day to do the business you have Ordered. The Mills on Pennipack and Frankfort have furnished...
75869From George Washington to William Livingston, 2 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to acknowlege the receipt of your favour of the 26 ulto. The recent detection of the wicked design you mention gives me the most sensible pleasure, and I earnestly hope you may be alike successful in discovering and disappointing every attempt, that may be projected against you, either by your open or concealed enemies. It is a tax, however, severe, which all those must pay,...
75870General Orders, 3 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
A report having circulated that Mr Jones, Deputy Commissary General of Issues had granted a pass to a woman to carry thirty pounds of butter into Philadelphia; The matter was fully inquired into and appears to be without foundation. Varick transcript , DLC:GW . Thomas Jones, who submitted regular returns to GW of stores in the middle department (see DNA:PCC , item 192), served as deputy...
75871From George Washington to Thomas Bond, Jr., 3 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
In answer to your letter of yesterday I am sorry to inform you that however willing to oblige your father and yourself, I do not think I can with propriety comply with your request. I cannot suppose your father would mean to make the least ill-use of the privilege he wishes for; but every indulgence of this kind becomes a precedent for others, and you will easily be sensible that it must be...
75872From George Washington to Elias Boudinot, 3 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
A Letter from Congress will accompany this containing two resolutions relative to prisoners. You will perceive by them that Congress go upon the presumption of our furnishing our prisoners in the Enemy’s hands wholly and intirely with provisions. Their fixing no rule for liquidating and accounting for the rations heretofore supplied by the Enemy, is a proof that they do not intend them to...
75873From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 3 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
On the Ulto I had the honor to receive your Favor of the 27th with the Copies alluded to. As the proceedings of Congress in this instance seem to imply, that our Unfortunate people in the hands of the Enemy are to be victualled by us, I have only to wish that the Supplies may be constant & plentiful. I have transmitted your Letter to Mr Boudinot who is out of Camp, and have requested his most...
75874To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 3 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
My last trouble was under the 27th Ulto by Messenger Barry. Your Excellency’s favor of the 31st together with Genl Foremans memorial came to hand last night, I presented it to Congress & the Subject matter will be taken under consideration this Morning. Inclosed your Excellency will find an Act of Congress for appointing a Major Genl under Your Excellency’s direction to proceed with Marquis...
75875General Orders, 4 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
At a General Court Martial whereof Coll Clark was President January 27th—Charles Smith a soldier in 1st New Jersey Regiment tried for desertion & inlisting again as a substitute & acquitted—The General approving orders him to be immediately released. The most pernicious consequences having arisen from suffering persons, women in particular to pass and repass from Philadelphia to camp under...
75876To George Washington from Ephraim Blaine, 4 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
A Few Queries for the Consideration of His Excellency General Washington, & the Honorable the Committee of Congress now sitting at Moore Hall. 1st As this is the Season for procuring the Stall’d Beef, and a time we shall be Necessiated to Issue Pork, would allowing the Soldiery 1½ lb. Bread or Flour & ¾ lb. Beef or Pork be a sufficient ration untill there is an appearence of a more Plentiful...
75877To George Washington from Commodore John Hazelwood, 4 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have received a Letter from the Adjt General, wherein he informs me it’s Your Excellencys express orders, that I shou’d send forward to Camp those few Troops Your Excellency was so kind to spare me for the use of our Fleet. I shall comply with the request assoon as possible—I expect our Pay Master in a few days, & assoon as we can pay them for the time they have been with us, they shall be...
75878To George Washington from Brigadier General Henry Knox, 4 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I wrote to your Excellency from Springfield concerning the Cannon which were sent from Albany to Farmington in Connecticut, and that I had determin’d to wait your further directions about them, as I suppos’d Genl Gates must have had some particular object in view by ordering them to that place. The greater part of the Cannon that arriv’d at Portsmouth have been brought to this Town by Water,...
75879From George Washington to William Livingston, 4 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
Brig. Genl Count Pulaski informs me that there are three Troops of Jersey Horse who would enter into the Continental Service for a short time if they could obtain your Excellency’s consent—They will be a very great releif to our Horse if they can be spared and will answer another very valuable purpose. We find that our common Dragoons are not proof agt the Bribes offered to them by the people...
75880From George Washington to Brigadier General Casimir Pulaski, 4 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have received your two Letters of 29th and 31st of last month; the forming any considerable Deposit of Forage at Trenton, while you have so small a Force to protect it does not appear to me advisable, as the Enemy may with the greatest facility destroy it. My approbation of Capt. Craigs appointment was signified in my last Letter; I cannot at any rate consent to your giving Mr Zelienski the...
75881To George Washington from Brigadier General Casimir Pulaski, 4 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I join the letter from et prisoner, It wil determined mi answer. The Cavalry is Placed according to Instruction from Colonel Bidel. I remain hier with the detachement of Lenceurs. I mean If Your Excely approved of to March toward Borlington in this time. Our Magazin wil be form sufficient for to furnish the Whole Cavalry fifteen Days by Soch Time we shal biguin the Gnrl Exercise I Report...
75882General Orders, 5 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
In Congress June 10th Resolved, That for the future the Quarter Master or other Person drawing provision for any Regiment Corps or Detachment shall on the last day of every month make out an abstract of the number of retain’d rations due to each officer respectively and also the number of each part of a ration due to each regiment corps or detachment and deliver the same to the respective...
75883To George Washington from Major General John Armstrong, 5 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
My unacquaintance at coming to this place, with the Complexion of Congress & exertions of that body for the approaching Campaign has prevented me the pleasure of writing you sooner; and the little I yet know far short as it must be of your better intelligence, can only serve as a farther expression of that line of duty I have long determined to pursue. My apprehensions are Still painful with...
75884To George Washington from General William Howe, 5 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
By Advices lately received from Rhode Island, transmitting to me a Copy of a Letter from General Heath to Lieutenant General Burgoyne, (Copy of which is enclosed) I am informed that it is determined to detain General Burgoyne’s Troops in New England, until all Demands for their Provisions and other Necessaries are satisfied; and that this Determination is grounded, not only upon a Requisition...
75885To George Washington from John Laurance, 5 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
In compliance with your Excellencys desire I have perused the Articles of War with Attention—As they now stand I have found them answer to every Case that has happened since I have acted as Judge Advocate—No alteration occurs to me that is necessary to be made except the restriction in the Number of Lashes, and the Authority of ordering Courts martial for the Trial of Capital...
75886To George Washington from George Read, 5 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am sorry to inform your Excellency that our Legislature have not made any Provision for filling up of the Battalion belonging to the State. One of our Counties is yet unrepresented in the House of Assembly owing to the interference of the Military on the day of Election, this Step occasioned such a division among the Representatives of the other two Counties, that it was impracticable to...
75887To George Washington from Brigadier General George Weedon, 5 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
Since the Commencment of Hostilities in America, we have on our parts observed as far as I have been able to judge a strict line of honor and humanity towards those of the Enemy who the Chance of war put into our hands, Or, who came over to us in the Charecter of Deserters. While we have Acted upon those generous principles & administered comfort to the unfortunate Captive, the Enemy on their...
75888General Orders, 6 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
At a General Court Martial whereof Coll Clark was President January 27th Lieutt William Williams of 13th Virginia Regiment tried for repeatedly behaving unbecoming the Character of an officer and a Gentleman, 1st in buying a pair of Continental shoes from a soldier and thereby rendering the soldier unfit for service—2ndly for messing and frequently sleeping with the soldiers, taking their...
75889From George Washington to Major General Israel Putnam, 6 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
As the resources of this Country in point of fresh Provision are nearly exhausted, and the Army under my command is in consequence litterally reduced to a starving Condition—it becomes indispensibly necessary for us to avail ourselves as much as possible of our more distant Supplies, and not to suffer any part of them to be diverted into other Channels; which has I am told been heretofore in...
75890From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 6 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I must take the liberty of addressing you on a subject, which, though out of your sphere, I am fully persuaded, will have every possible attention in your power to give—It is the alarming situation of the Army on account of provision—Shall not undertake minutely to investigate the Causes of this, but there is the strongest reason to believe, that its existence cannot be of long duration,...
75891General Orders, 7 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Brigade Major of the day will in future take the names of the officers who mount guards, the names of the guards they are appointed to command and the regiments to which they respectively belong. Likewise the names of the serjeants that are to attend as orderlies at the Adjutant General’s quarters and their respective regiments who are regularly to be brought on to the parade at guard...
75892From George Washington to William Buchanan, 7 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
The occasional deficiences in the Article of provisions, which we have often severely felt, seem now on the point of resolving themselves into this fatal crisis—total want and a dissolution of the Army. Mr Blaine informs me, in the most decisive terms, that he has not the least prospect of answering the demands of the army, within his district, more than a month longer, at the extremity. the...
75893From George Washington to Peter Colt, 7 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
The present situation of the army is the most melancholy that can be conceived. Our supplies in provisions of the flesh kind for some time past have been very deficient and irregular—a prospect now opens of absolute want, such as will make it impossible to keep the army much longer from dissolving, unless the most vigorous and effectual measures be persued to prevent it. Jersey Pensylvania and...
75894To George Washington from the Continental Congress Evacuation Committee, 7 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Committee appointed on the 27th of August 1777 to collect evidence of the State of the Army in the Northern department & also the State of the Troops Military Stores & provisions at the Posts of Tyconderoga & Mount Independence before & at the time when the evacuation was determined upon—In obedience to an order of Congress of the 5th Inst. Copy of which will be transmitted by the...
75895To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 7–10 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have received the honor of yours of the 2d Instant pr Captain Hopkins of Colo. Moylans Light Dragoons. shall afford him every assistance in my power. Brigadier General Learned called upon me a day or two since and requested that I would transmit your Excellency the enclosed Certificates, and represent his present state of Health. In the Campaign of 1775 by a violent fall he received a breach...
75896To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 7 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had the honour of presenting in due course Your Excellency’s favours of 31st Ulto & 3d Inst. to Congress—the former, which introduced Genl Foreman’s Memorial on Salt Works remains unconsidered & no day appointed. the latter was sent immediately to the Board of Treasury. I have at present no other Commands from Congress but to transmit—An Act of the 5th Inst. adopting a plan for filling the...
75897To George Washington from Brigadier General Ebenezer Learned, 7 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
With the utmost Exartion I have Complyd with your Excellancies Direction to me of Jany 8th unless your Exellancy had Regard to Cols. Vanscayks & James Levingstons Regts of N. York State, that was left at Schanaitada, and Johnstown by Genl Gate’s order which Regts was anext to my Brigd. by Genl Schuyler—But not being Positive whether it ware Intended by your Exellancy’s Direction to forward...
75898To George Washington from the Pennsylvania Supreme Executive Council, 7 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
Council had the honour to write to your Excellency on the fifteenth day of last month, in the words of the enclosed copy; and as the urgency of levying men to fill up the pennsylvania battalions, pressed on the spirits of the members, they wished to see officers for that purpose, appear. But after waiting some time, and finding none sent up, they have feared, that their letter had miscarried....
75899General Orders, 8 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
The General Officers are requested to meet ten ôClock tomorrow morning at Genl Varnum’s quarters to take into consideration the propriety of altering the present ration. The Commissary Genl proposes that instead of the rations heretofore allowed there shall be issued a pound and an half of flour one pound of beef or three quarters of a pound of salt pork and a certain quantity of spirits—Mr...
75900To George Washington from Colonel Joseph Ellis, 8 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
It gives me the highest Satisfaction to find by yours of the 18th of Januy that my Appointment to the command of a Brigade is agreable to you, and am much oblig’d to Genl Green for the charecter he has been pleas’d to give of me—Nothing in my power shall be wanting to Excite a proper spirit among the people, and shall to the Utmost of my Ability give the most effectual Opposition to any...