85601From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 8 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
On my arrival at this place, I met with your Excellency’s favor of the 27th November, and immediately gave Orders for the Returns which you request therein. They shall be transmitted to you, as soon as they are brought in. I have given directions to Colonel Sheldon to make the Return of his Regiment immediately to you —I very much regret that the requisition of Congress, for your quota of men,...
85602General Orders, 9 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW . John Pierce, Jr., wrote GW from Philadelphia on this date: “I have the Honor to transmit your Excellency two hundred & sixty four Dollars in Specie, a small Sum delivered me to day by order of Congress to be paid into your hands” ( ALS , DLC:GW ; GW’s aide-de-camp David Humphreys wrote “No Ansr necessary” on the docket). Congress had ordered this payment on 8 Dec....
85603From George Washington to General Henry Clinton, 9 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favor of the 29th November by Brig. Genl Irvine and the Officers who accompanied him. As you have proposed that all accounts respecting prisoners of War, from the commencement of the dispute to the present time, as well as the accounts of the troops of Convention, shall be adjusted by the Commissioners when they meet, I have written to Congress upon the subject, and have...
85604To George Washington from James Duane, 9 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I shou’d not so long have restrained the Expressions of a Heart flowing with the most affectionate and respectful Attachment if Care had not been taken to communicate our Intelligence officially. In the mean time I have never found it so necessary to devote my Attention to the publick business. Amidst pressing distresses it will give your Excellency pleasure to be assured that Congress have...
85605To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 9 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with yours of the 8th—The 100 barrells of salted beef, or as many Tierces as will be equal to that quantity, the beef being cheifly in the latter, shall be forwarded to Albany as soon as a vessell can be procured. The Invalids of the six months Levies have been discharged, & for some days past six men of those worst cloathed from each regiment This haveing taken off the principle...
85606To George Washington from Samuel Huntington, 9 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the Honor to transmit your Excellency the enclosed Extract of a Letter from Europe—What Reinforcement Great Brittain may be able to send to America, is with us uncertain. The partial Successes against Lord Cornwallis and the rising Spirit of the Militia in that Quarter it is to be hoped will much disconcert the British in their intended Operations —Above all, should we be able to...
85607From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 9 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly honored with Your Excellency’s severals Letters of the 3d 10th and 19th Novembr with their Inclosures; at the time of their receipt, the Army was preparing for Winter Quarters, and a multiplicity of business prevented my acknowledging them until this moment. I pray you now, to be assured, I was extremely obliged, by your particular attention, in making those communications,...
85608To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 9 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
You Will be Surpris’d to hear That other Vessels Are Arriv’d from france, And That We have Not Receiv’d By them Any public Nor private dispatches—All the paquets Were on Board The Ariel who Was dismasted in the Storm and put Back into L’orient—Mister de Vauban who was intrusted with these letters thought it Not Adviseable for himself or his pacquets to Come on Board of Merchant Vessels and...
85609To George Washington from John Sullivan, 9 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I was this morning Honored with your Excellency favor of the 25th Instant; I shall be happy to See the Chavalier De Chaltelieux and to pay him every mark of respect & attention in my Power. The Confidence your Excellency is pleased to place in me is exceeding flattering and I can with great Truth assure you That no person Desires more to Comply with your wishes relieve you from the Anxiety you...
85610General Orders, 10 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
85611Circular to State Executives, 10 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency will, I presume, have received before this reaches you, an Act of Congress of the 4th of last Month, calling on the several States for specific quantities of fresh and salt Provisions—Flour, Salt, and Rum, for the Army, and directing all of the above articles except the fresh Meat, to be collected, and deposited at such places in each of the States, as should be judg’d most...
85612From George Washington to George Clinton, 10 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I thank you for the perusal of the inclosed proceedings of the Convention at Hartford. The letter herewith, left open for your perusal to Genl Clinton, calls for Majr Davis; and such Officers as you may want, & he can spare, for the purpose of Recruiting Men for the York Battalions. You will be so good therefore as to act in this matter as you shall think best. With much esteem & respect I am...
85613From George Washington to George Clinton, 10 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have the hon⟨or to inclose⟩ to Your Excellency a Letter this mo⟨ment received⟩ from Mr Stevens Commissy of Issu⟨es at Fish⟩ Kill; I must submit to you the prop⟨riety⟩ of suffering this flour to be exported, ⟨or the⟩ necessity of detaining it, under the present circumstances of the Army. It is with the utmost regret, I am compelled to represent to you, the distressed situation of the Troops...
85614From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 10 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with yours of the 9th. From the representation made by General Clinton and Colo. Hay of the supply of Meat in the Northern department, I do not think there will be any need of sending the 100 Barrels of salt Beef to Albany. You will endeavour to have it distributed in the different Works. Under present circumstances, we should rather increase than diminish the discharge of the...
85615From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 10 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 28th Ulto I met with on my way to these quarters, where I arrived on the 6th Instt. The suggestions contained in it required no apology, as it gives me pleasure at all times to know the sentiments of others upon matters of public utility—Those however which you have delivered relative to an enterprize against the enemy in New York, exhibit strong evidence how little the...
85616From George Washington to Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 10 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your Excellency’s favors of the 14th 16th 24th and 27th of November and 1st of this month. In apology for suffering so many of your letters to remain so long unanswered, I must assure you, that I have been constantly employed, since I broke up my Camp near passaic Falls, in visiting the winter Cantonments of the Army between Morristown and this place. I have experienced the highest...
85617From George Washington to Major General Steuben, 10 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have received the three Letters you did me the favor to write, before you Left Philadelphia; and have made representation to Congress respecting the Inspector Department agreeable to your request. This Moment I am also favored with Yours of the 24th Ulto from Richmond, and am pleased to find you are still pursuing, with indefatigable industry those measures which will tend so much to promote...
85618To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 10 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I was this morning honored with your favor of the 7th, & the company of the Count de Custine, & the Marquis de Laval, to breakfast, who have since proceeded on their way to Phila. attended by Lt Colo. Mentges. Major Fishbourn has this moment returned from Elizabethtown, with the Inclosed Intelligence & papers, which is Corroborated by the Information of two Deserters from the 54th who left...
85619General Orders, 11 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
A Captain two Subs. three Serjeants three corporals and Fifty oarsmen from the Connecticut Line are to be furnished with Boats and reinforce the water Guard—This detachment to be from the Light Infantry companies—The Captain will apply without delay to Head Quarters for Instructions. The General having observed several boats adrift in the river and apprehending many may be lost, directs the...
85620From George Washington to Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 11 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favors of the 25th & 28th of last Month, and it gives me very great pleasure to find that you are appointed to a Committee the subject of whose deliberations you are so well acquainted with—and it adds not a little to my satisfaction to hear, that it is generally composed of Gentlemen remarkable for their good sense & patriotism, at a time when there never was greater...
85621General Orders, 12 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
85622To George Washington from Colonel Zebulon Butler, 12 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
This Waits on you with a return of the Garrision we have lately had a Visit from the Enemy. a Party of twenty five men one of Whom Disarted to us, his Account I have Inclos’d, the[y] have took seven men Prisioners, that had Moved four miles from the Garrision, with their families, they Left the Women and Children unhurt. took the Men and Provisions and some Clothing with them, and Pushed of[f]...
85623From George Washington to Captain Daniel Niven, 12 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Logs which supported the Chain at West point are so water soaken that they will not do to lay down another summer —You will therefore proceed with a party in search of the proper Timber to make new Floats, and wherever you find it cut it down. The Qr Mr General will have directions to find the means of transporting it to the Water. I am Sir Yr most obt Servt Df , in Tench Tilghman’s...
85624From George Washington to Charles Willson Peale, 12 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I perswade my self you will embrace the oppertunity of the Marquis la Fayette’s visit to Philadelphia to give the picture of him the finishing touches. You may not have another oppertunity and I wish for its completion. I am Dr Sir Yr Obedt Servt P.S. as I presume you must be done with my picture of the King of Prussia ’ere this I should be glad to have it returned to me. ALS , MiDbEI . Peale...
85625To George Washington from Captain James Willing, 12 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor of addressing your Excellency upon the most disagreable subject I have ever wrote on. I find by Commy Genl Skinner that the British will not Exchange me unless they receive a Lt Colo. for me, I was captur’d as Master & Commander of an Arm’d Vessell in the United States service, and held no rank in the Line of the Army higher than a Captain with respect to my Command refer you...
85626General Orders, 13 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
85627From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Francis Barber, 13 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your favr of the 11th. If there are good reasons for suspecting Capt. Giffords fidelity, I would by no means give him a discharge from the Army, because he might then go off to the enemy, and we should not have it in our power to treat him as a deserter should he fall into our hands again. I would at any rate bring him to a trial on his arrest—something may, in the course of it,...
85628From George Washington to Major General Nathanael Greene, 13 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favors of the 13th & 19th of last month from Mount Vernon and Richmond. I wish your Business had permitted you to have staid longer at the former. It is happy for you, that you went to the Southward prepared to meet difficulties, which I fear will increase as you go forward. I know of nothing which can releive us in respect to Cloathing but the arrival of the quantity long...
85629From George Washington to Major General Nathanael Greene, 13 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
It gives me much pleasure to hear, that my letters of introduction were serviceable to you —I am perswaded there is not wanting a disposition in Congress, or the individual States to the Southward to afford you every support the unhappy state of our finance (which seems to be the source from whence flows all our difficulties) will admit; but if any thing in my power can give a spring to their...
85630To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 13 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
On the receipt of the enclosed application from Mr Brooks, just before your arrival; I directed two Field Officers from the Massachusetts Line, & one from Connecticutt Line, to make the survey—The Officer from the Connecticutt Line was absent, the other two attended the service inclosed is their report. They inform me verbally that by cutting & putting the parts of garments together, some good...
85631From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 13 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your Excellency’s favors of the 29th Novr and 4th instant. I shall communicate to the Officers of the Army such of the Resolves as relate to them—I would beg leave to remark on that of the 29th Novr respecting the payment for wounded and disabled Horses—that it makes no provision for any that may be left wounded upon the field, and of course lost to the owners—All the...
85632To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 13 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of writing to your Excellency on the subject of an expedition contemplated by this State against the british post at Detroit, and of receiving your answer of october 10th. since the date of my Letter the face of things has so far changed as to leave it no longer optional in us to attempt or to decline the expedition, but compels us to decide in the affirmative and to begin our...
85633To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 13 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have Not Yet Receiv’d Your Answer to Any of My letters—since My last No News have Come to hand—I hope We Shall Soon Some Way or other hear from france. After Many debates Congress have Elected Clel Laurens as An Envoy to france—But he Still Refuses to Go and thinks hamilton Ought to be sent—how this Will End I do Not know —doctor franklin has A party Against him—I think it Would be Very...
85634From George Washington to Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 13 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have to inform your Excellency, that I have received an account from New York, that another embarkation was preparing at that place. The detachment which appears to be about 2500 Men is to be commanded by Generals Knyphausen and Phillips. The destination was not publicly known, but supposed to be to the Southward. This information does not come to me thro’ a Channel on which I perfectly...
85635To George Washington from Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 13 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I came here, to make a jou[r]ney of instruction, and to admire the brilliant Campaign which your Excellency made in this Quarters. On arriving at this place I found very interesting news brought by an American Vessel which left the River of Nantes the 4th of November. she has given me the annexed list of Vessels which are coming from Brest, destined for America, with a Convoy which is...
85636To George Washington from Colonel Elisha Sheldon, 13 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
Agreable to your Excellency’s orders of the 27th ulto I marched my Regt on the way to Colchester for winter Quarters. When we had arived at Danbury, I rode forward to Hartford to wait on His Excellency the Governor and the Assembly. I soon found that there was no Forage provided for the Public at Colchester, & that even some of the public Stables had been removed to Lebanon for the...
85637From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 13 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have this day forwarded a passport to New York for the Brig Jenny to proceed from thence to New London as a Flag of truce with Cloathing for the prisoners at Rutland, and to carry back such of them as have been lately exchanged. An officer has permission to go with the Cloathing to Rutland and return. The Vessel is directed to lay in such part of the port as the commanding Officer there...
85638From George Washington to Captain Roger Welles, 13 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
You are to take the command of the Guard Boats, already in the River as well as of the Detachment ordered from the Connect Line to reinforce them. In the first instance, you will procure from West Point, light Boats sufficient to transport the reinforcement, & pay particular attention Yourself to have them repaired in the best Manner, the Oars Muffled, & every Other necessary provided. Those...
85639General Orders, 14 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Honorable the Congress have been pleased to pass the following Resolutions. Some doubts having arisen in the minds of the General officers whether the resolution of the 21st of October last “Granting Half pay for life to the officers who shall remain in service to the end of the war” was meant to extend to them. Resolved That the said half pay for life be extended to all Major Generals and...
85640From George Washington to Major General Lafayette, 14 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
Soon after dispatching my last letter to you, your favor dated at Paramus was put into my hands by Colo. Gouvion—Yesterday brought me your letters of the 4th 5th & 5th in the Evening—and this day I have received another of the 9th. The Chevr De la Luzerne’s Dispatches came in time for the Post, which is the only means left me for conveyance of letters—there not being as much money in the hands...
85641From George Washington to La Luzerne, 14 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday brought me the honor of your Excellency’s favor without date—but which I suppose to have been written on the 5th Instt, as it accompanied a letter from the Marqs de la Fayette of that date. Receive my good Sir, the expression of gratitude which is due to your Excellency, for the important intelligence you have communicated relative to the designs of the Court of Spain upon the...
85642To George Washington from La Luzerne, 14 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
Colonel Fleury and the Chevr Duplessis who have had the honor to serve under the orders of your Excellency, are desirirous of being admitted to the Advantages which the Congress have allowed to those Officers, who not having an active employ in the Army by the new arrangement, are intitled to receive, after the peace, the Half pay, as well as those who are in immediate service. I have spoken...
85643To George Washington from Abner Nash, 14 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have just had the honour to receive your Excellencys favour of the 6th ult. —your favours by Majr General Green I did myself the honour to answer some time ago & expressed how much the Southern States were indebted to you for your attention Shewn to their interests in the appointmt of that Genl to the Command here & have no doubt he will effect every advantage for us that we may enable him...
85644From George Washington to Francisco Rendon, 14 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inform you that I have just recieved intelligence from New York, that another embarkation was preparing at that place; the Corps of which it is said to consist, will amount to about 2500 Men; it is also reported, this Detachment is to be under the Orders of the Generals Knyphausen and Philips; and supposed to be destined to the Southward. Altho the information is not thro...
85645To George Washington from Colonel Israel Shreve, 14 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday I received a letter for Your Excellency which I suppose contains intelligence of Importance, & which I should have forwarded immideately but had no means of conveyance. The public horses are all sent out of Camp, & I have neither a Dragoon nor Express to convey dispatches of any kind. I trust Your Excellency need only be informed of this inconvenience in order to remedy it. Our huts...
85646General Orders, 15 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Honorable the Congress have been pleased to pass the following Resolutions. Resolved, That no officer of the line of the Army of the United States without express authority from Congress for that purpose, make any contract or bargain or give any orders for the purchase of Articles for the use of the Troops in the departments of the Clothier General—Quarter Master General—or Commissary...
85647To George Washington from John Buchanan, 15 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
Your memorlist Sweth that he has ever since the begining of the Year 1766 been in Publick Service; And has not for allmost three years had Any pay for his Services, Nor Cloathing except two Shirts and a pair or two of Shoes. Your memorlist would be glad that your Excellancy would consider his situation, And point out a method for him to get his pay and Cloathing according to his Appointment As...
85648To George Washington from George Clinton, 15 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
Immediately on the Receipt of your Excellency’s Letter of the 10th Instant stating the Distresses of the Army for want of Bread I issued my impress Warrant to Colo. Hay for upwards of four thousand Barrels of Flour. I am not yet informed what his Success has been: but to induce the Proprietors to part with it with less reluctance and thereby render the Measure more effectual I have authorized...
85649To George Washington from Captain Destouches, 15 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inform your Excellency that this day we had the misfortune to lose the Chevalier de Ternay who died after eight days sickness, which did not appear dangerous till two days before his death. My standing in the service of his Majesty leaves me in the command of his Squadron—The first view of so weighty a charge embarrasses me, having so small Means on account of the succours...
85650To George Washington from Brigadier General Mordecai Gist, 15 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday the General Assembly of this state pass’d an Act to call in the Continental & states money at Forty for One, and an order to give a better circulation to the New Currency no Continental money is to be issued in payment for any contract after the 20th March Next. The Tender Law is repealed —a Bill from the House of Delegates for the Confiscation of British property is now before the...