78881From George Washington to Brigadier General Casimir Pulaski, 7 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had the pleasure of receiving yours by Capt. Le Brun—at this place. The spare ammunition of the Army having gone on with the park of Artillery to Pluckemin I have given an order to have a proper supply sent on from thence. I have likewise given an order upon the Cloathier General for one hundred shirts—We have already made a distribution of what Blankets were upon hand. The Board of War are...
78882To George Washington from Joseph Reed, 7 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Joseph Reed, 7 Dec. 1778. On 12 Dec., GW wrote Reed : “Your favor of the 7th Instt by Mr Laurens came to my hands a day or two ago.”
78883To George Washington from John Sullivan, 7 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from John Sullivan, 7 Dec. 1778. On 20 Dec., GW wrote Sullivan : “I have your two letters of the 2d and 7th Int. now before me.”
78884To George Washington from Jacob Bayley, 8 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Jacob Bayley, 8 Dec. 1778. On 2 Jan. 1779 GW wrote Bayley : “I recd your favr of the 8th Decemr at this place.”
78885To George Washington from Silas Deane, 8 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been so long flattering myself with the hopes of having my affairs finished here so early as to afford me an opportunity of visiting my friends at the Army and elsewhere, before I returned to Europe, that the Season is at length so far advanced on me, that I almost despair of it; five long Months I have spent in humble and continual solicitations to be heard until neither my patience,...
78886To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 8 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
The last Letter which I had the honor of writing to Your Excellency is dated the 6th Instant, in the mean time I have received and presented to Congress your favors of the 4th and 5th, the former is committed to the Board of War. By direction of Congress I now transmit Copy of a Letter of the 23d Ultimo from the honorable Major General Schuyler. You will be pleased Sir to direct your next...
78887To George Washington from the President of the Maryland Senate and the Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates, 8 … (Washington Papers)
Your Excellencys Letter of the 5th of Octobr, we laid before the General Assembly, and by its Direction have the honor of transmitting to you, the enclosed Resolution, relative to the Settlement of Rank in the Maryland line. We have the honor to be with the greatest respect and esteem Your Excellencys Most Obedient & most faithful humble Servts ALS , DNA : RG 93, manuscript file no. 30145. On...
78888From George Washington to Brigadier General William Maxwell, 8 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
Upon my arrival at Middle Brook I shall furnish you with Instructions for the command at this post and its vicinity, at which you are to remain with the Jersey Brigade. I have at present to desire that you will take every measure to prevent an intercourse between the Country and New York and that no persons, inhabitants of these States, may be permitted to go thither or into the Enemy’s lines...
78889To George Washington from Major General William Phillips, 8 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
The unsuccessfull attempts which have been made to ratify the Treaty of Convention of Saratoga and the Asperity which seems to have crept into the Correspondence between Sir Henry Clinton and the American Congress leaves it to be conjectured that the humane purpose of a General Cartel of Exchange of Prisoners of War and Troops of the Convention will not have force so soon as good men like...
78890To George Washington from William Phillips, 8 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from William Phillips, 8 Dec. 1778. On 25 Dec., GW wrote Phillips : “I received the favor of Your two Letters of the 8th Instant.”
78891To George Washington from Elisha Sheldon, 8 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Elisha Sheldon, 8 Dec. 1778. On 17 Dec., GW wrote Sheldon in acknowledgment of “yours of the 8th.”
78892From George Washington to Colonel Theodorick Bland, 9 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your favr of the 6th reached me at this place last evening. I am exceedingly sorry that you have been disappointed in finding the necessary Escorts of Militia in Pennsylvania as carrying forward the Continental troops at this season of the year will be attended with insuperable difficulties. They have to build their Hutts after their return to Middle Brook. The German Regiment which is part of...
78893To George Washington from William Butler, 9 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from William Butler, 9 Dec. 1778. On 16 Dec., GW wrote Butler : “I have received your Letter of the 9th Instant.”
78894To George Washington from Major General Alexander McDougall, 9 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with yours of the 7th instant from Paramus. Sir Harry Clinton was informed there were fifteen Hundred Barrels of Provission at Kings Ferry. The object of it is expected. His expedition as you conjectured was founded on false information. He secured a litle Broken Fish, which was all the acquisition of his enterprise to the Kings Ferry. The detachment of his, that marched out to...
78895To George Washington from Israel Putnam, 9 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Israel Putnam, 9 Dec. 1778. On 20 Dec., GW wrote Putnam : “I am favd with yours of the 9th.”
78896To George Washington from Lund Washington, 9 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Lund Washington, 9 Dec. 1778. On 18 Dec., GW wrote Lund Washington : “Your letter of the 9th Instt came to my hands this day.”
78897To George Washington from Major General Alexander McDougall, 10 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had the Honor to address you yesterday Evening. Extreme bad weather prevents my setting out for West Point, as I intended. It has always been difficult to supply this Post in Winter, with Forage—Your Excellency will readily conceive, how much this must now be increas’d, by the long Continuance of the Army in it’s Vicinity. Upon full Enquiry into, and Report upon the expected Supplies of this...
78898To George Washington from Charles Thomson, 10 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Charles Thomson, 10 Dec. 1778. On 18 Dec., GW wrote Thomson : “I had the honor to receive your favor of the 10th Instant.”
78899To George Washington from Richard Peters, 11 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Richard Peters, 11 Dec. 1778. On 20 Dec., GW wrote Peters : “I have recd a letter of the 11th inst. from the Secy of the Board [of War].”
78900To George Washington from Major Benjamin Tallmadge, 11 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed has this moment come to hand—nothing but the difficulty of crossing the Sound has delayed its arrival agreeable to the time appointed in my last. Your Excellency’s Letter containing some instructions for carrying on the Correspondence with C—- in future came to hand when the Regt was on the march for this place. I accordingly saw them in Qrs first & then proposed returning...
78901General Orders, 12 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
At a General Court-Martial held at Elisabeth-Town December 5th 1778—by order of Major Genl Lord Stirling Coll Shreve President, Major John Conway of the 4th Jersey Regiment was tried for wilfully and insolently countermanding the orders of Coll Ogden then Commandant of the Brigade; After due deliberation, the Court are of Opinion that Major Conway wilfully countermanded Coll Ogden’s order, but...
78902To George Washington from John Parke Custis, 12 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from John Parke Custis, 12 Dec. 1778. On 2 Jan. 1779 GW wrote Custis : “Your Letter of the 12th of last Month from Williamsburg is got safe to hand.”
78903To George Washington from John Jay, 12 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
Among the various Duties incident to the Appointment with which Congress has been pleased to honor me, that of corresponding with those public Characters whom I most esteem, will be particularly agreable. This Consideration, added to those of a public Nature, will constantly press my Attention to every Thing which may respect your Excellency; and permit me to assure you of my Endeavour, to...
78904To George Washington from William Livingston, 12 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have your Excellency’s favour of the 7th before me, & have dispatched orders for the removal of the live stock & Provisions from those parts of monmouth w[h]ere they are most in danger of falling into the Enemy’s hands to places of greater safety—As our Assembly will rise to day, I shall expect your dispatches at Elizabeth Town, & have the honour to be with great respect your Excellencys....
78905From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 12 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 7th Instt by Mr Laurens came to my hands a day or two ago; previous to which, I should have done myself the pleasure of congratulating you (which I now do very sincerely) on your late election to the government of Pensylvania, had not Sir Harry’s late extra Manœuvre up the North River kept me upon the March, & counter-march, from the 5th till yesterday; when I arrived at...
78906To George Washington from Benjamin Temple, 12 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Benjamin Temple, 12 Dec. 1778. On 27 Dec., GW wrote Temple : “I recd your favor of the 12th.”
78907To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 12 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 12 Dec. 1778. On 19 Dec., GW wrote Trumbull : “I am honored with Your Excellency’s favour of the 12th instant.”
78908To George Washington from John Augustine Washington, 12 December 1778 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from John Augustine Washington, 12 Dec. 1778. GW wrote Washington on 12 May 1779 : “Three of your Letters are before me, and I believe unacknowledged, the first is of decr 12th.”
78909General Orders, 13 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
78910From George Washington to Major General Benedict Arnold, 13 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
Upon my arrival here I found your favor of the 5th: Your own letter communicated the first hint that I ever recd of any representations or reports made by the Board of War to Congress respecting you or your command in Philada. The Board some little time ago applied to me for a Regiment or two to be stationed at Philada and Trenton to do the Town Duties and guard the Stores, alledging that the...
78911To George Washington from Captain Lewis J. Costigin, 13 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
Since my last, nothing having turn’d up untill this day. A fleet of Jamacia Men about thirty sail are geting into the North river and are to sail in a few days under convoy of a frigate—the Emerald Tomorrow the Amazon of 32 Guns sails for England, a number of Passenge<rs> among whom, is Colo. Wm Bayard, Colo. Campbell of the 22nd Regt the Major of 16th Dragoon’s name unknown, and a Parson...
78912From George Washington to George Emlen, 13 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
I recd your favr of the 20th November, respecting the damage done to your farm by the Army in the Fall 1777, and am not a little surpd that General Mifflin should refer you to me when he well knows that this is a business clearly within the line of the Quarter Masters department, & that every Acct of the kind is to be settled by him, up to the date of General Greene’s appointment to that...
78913From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Fleury, 13 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
I recd your favr of the 2d upon the Road between the North River and this place. I also at the Same time recd a letter from the president of Congress upon the same subject—In answer to which I have informed him, that, in my opinion, the application to the French Minister plenipotentiary for a renewal of your Furlough would be made with more propriety by yourself than by Congress, and that...
78914From George Washington to John Jay, 13 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
Since my last of the 7th I have been honored with your favors of the 5th 6th and 8th instants with their inclosures, to which the proper attention shall be paid. I have made the Report of the Committee on Canada Affairs the subject of a particular letter which I have the honor of transmitting by this conveyance. I am with the greatest Respect Yr Excellency’s most obt Servt P.S. Lieut. Colonels...
78915From George Washington to John Jay, 13 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
In a letter which I had the honor of receiving from Congress dated the 2d instant was inclosed the Copy of one from Lt Colo. Fleury, upon the subject of which the president desired me to express “my Sentiments, as also of the Merits of Mr Fleury during his services in the Army.” I do not conceive that Congress should request a renewal of Colo. Fleury’s Furlough from the French Minister...
78916From George Washington to John Jay, 13 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
It has not been in my power to return an answer to your favor of the 6th Instt till now. The letter met me on the road, seperated from my papers, and I did not reach this place till late on the 11th; since which I have been much employed, in attending to the disposition for hutting the Army; but in the mean time the objects of the dispatch have engaged my utmost consideration. The earnest...
78917From George Washington to Major General Israel Putnam, 13 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Board of War have requested that Israel Dodge of Colo. Durkees Regiment may be sent to Philada from whence he is to go to Fort Pitt to his Brother who is employed in Indian Affairs. Be pleased therefore to have him paid up and give him a pass to Philada with directions to apply to the Board of War, upon his arrival there, for further orders. I am &ca. P.S. I have recd yours of the 4th with...
78918From George Washington to William Rogers, 13 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have your favr of the 4th. As I have no power to make the appointment of Chaplain to the Garrison of Philada which is sollicited by you, I can only recommend it to you to make your application to Congress who are alone competent to grant your request, if they think it proper. I thank you for your professions of Regard and am with Respect Sir Yr most obt Servt. Df , in Tench Tilghman’s...
78919From George Washington to Peter Scull, 13 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
In consequence of your favr of the 5th I shall take the first opportunity that offers of ordering Israel Dodge to Fort Pitt and shall direct him to call at Philada on his way. Mr Hoogland Adjt of Sheldons Regt of Dragoons is employed by the Colonel to provide the Regimental Cloathing for the ensuing Year. He goes to Pennsylvania as the most likely place of procuring leather Breeches for which...
78920General Orders, 14 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
Much of the sickness among the Troops seems to have been occasioned by the improper method adopted in forming many of the Hutts last Winter; Some being sunk in the ground and others covered with Earth; To avoid consequences of a similar nature as far as in our power from occuring again, The Commander in Chief directs, that all the officers on the ground see that their men observe the...
78921Circular to the Virginia Brigadier Generals, 14 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
As it seems to be the General opinion of the Officers in the Virginia line that those men who have but a short time to serve would inlist on being indulged with leave of absence untill the middle of April next; I would have you proceed on that business immediately—& the better to accommodate the matter it will be well, that it should commence through out the line at the same time, when a...
78922From George Washington to Brigadier General Jedediah Huntington, 14 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 2d Inst. meet me on the road to this place. I shall give directions to-day to the Adjutant General that the men of your Brigade who are on particular guards on this side the North River, be ordered to their respective Regiments. I am Sir & Df , in James McHenry’s writing, DLC:GW ; Varick transcript , DLC:GW . This letter has not been found.
78923From George Washington to Major Henry Lee, Jr., 14 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
The bearer has my horse in exchange for your Mare. He takes with him another which I am willing to give for the old Mare you mentioned to me (if she has not quite passed her teeming time) he is of the same age of the other—bought at the sametime—of the same person, & has given sufficient proofs of his goodness. He has been foundered, & not yet perfectly recovered of it; for which reason, &...
78924To George Washington from Major Henry Lee, Jr., 14 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor of your Excellency’s letr accompanied with your two horses. I will have very great care taken with the foundered horse and will endeavor to procure in exchange for him during the winter a mare suitable to your purposes. It is matter of doubt with me, whether the old troop mare has not been spayed. This matter I can ascertain when I arrive at Burlington, as she came from the...
78925To George Washington from William Livingston, 14 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
Considering the number of the disaffected in the County of Monmouth, it will be difficult for the loyal Citizens of that County to oppose the Enemy aided by the open junction or at least the secret co-operation of the Tories. To call to their assistance the Militia of any the other Counties in Expectation of an Event that may or may not happen, will be attended with much Inconvenience & in...
78926To George Washington from William Livingston, 14 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
Taking in consideration the Enemy’s cruelty towards many of the Citizens of this State their Prisoners in New york not taken in actual Service, & therefore not considered by the continental Commissary of Prisoners (& who indeed seems to look upon his negotiating their exchange even for the Enemys citizens captivated by ours as matter of grace & not immediately in the line of his duty), as...
78927From George Washington to George Measam, 14 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
I received your two letters of the 1st and 4th Inst. this morning. For the present I think it will be best to Store the cloathing forwarded to your charge by Otis and Andrews, where you now are, at least till my further orders on the subject. It cannot be determined precisely what number of Shirts hose—shoes—and hats we shall want in this quarter; however you need not be apprehensive of our...
78928From George Washington to Brigadier General Enoch Poor, 14 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
This morning Captn White handed me your favor of the 5th Inst. While I am willing to gratify your inclination in a visit to your family I could wish at the same time, that it might be as short as convenient with your affairs. It is by no means certain how long we shall continue inactive. It is expedient therefore to have as many as possible of the general and other officers with the army this...
78929To George Washington from Malachi Treat, 14 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Malachi Treat, 14 Dec. 1778. On 19 Jan. 1779, GW wrote to Treat : “I recd yours dated 14th but the month not mentioned.” With the exception of urgent messages delivered by express riders, most letters sent to GW from Albany took over a week to arrive, so Treat probably wrote his letter on 14 Dec. rather than 14 January.
78930General Orders, 15 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
The regimental Pay-Masters are to call on the Pay-Master General for the Month of October’s Pay. Varick transcript , DLC:GW .