1General Orders, 1 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Brigade Quarter Masters are daily to attend at the Orderly Office for the Quarter Master General’s Orders precisely at three ôClock in the afternoon—It is expected this order will be strictly complied with as the delinquents may depend on being severely noticed by the Quartr Mastr Genl. As the Adjutant General is now furnish’d with the Names of all the men in the Hospitals and the...
2From George Washington to Colonel George Baylor, 1 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with yours of the 5th of last month. I have not the least doubt but your time and attention have been both fully applied to the Business upon which you were sent, and in which, I hope you will have the desired success. I wrote to Colo. Bland about ten days ago, and directed him to send forward the Horses and Recruits in squads, as they could be got ready; those men who have not had...
3From George Washington to Colonel Theodorick Bland, 1 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have received yours of the 10th Ulto with an Account of your Proceedings up to that Time. As the Money put into your hands by the board of Treasury was particularly for the purpose of procuring Horses and Accoutrements I think you were right in not applying it to the payment of the Cloathing purchased by Collo. Temple—I can see no objection to your taking up Money from the Deputy Paymaster...
4From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 1 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with yours of the 25th and 29th last Month. As I have never heard any thing from Genl Heath respecting the Exchange of Genl Hamilton for Genl Thomson since his letter of the 6th January, copy of which I transmitted to Mr Peters in mine of the 25th January, I concluded that the exchange could not be effected; but that no means may be left untried to regain so valuable an Officer as...
5From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 1 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have had the honor to receive your dispatches of the 27th Inst. In compliance with the request of Congress, I shall immediately call upon the Officers in the Army to take the Oath of Allegiance & Abjuration. This I should have done, as soon as the Resolution passed, had it not been for the state of the Army at that time, and that there were some strong reasons which made it expedient to...
6From George Washington to Major General Alexander McDougall, 1 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I return you my thanks for your favor of the 27th Ulto and heartily congratulate you on the important intelligence contained in it. As the matter is related in general terms, France appears to have acted with politic Generosity towards us, and to have timed her declaration in our favor, most admirably for her own interests and the abasing her ancient Rival. One immediate good consequence I...
7To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 1 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
Knox is to attend the Council. Conway hath resigned & his Resignation is accepted. The Affairs of the Army are necessarily delayed by the foreign Affairs which have broken in upon us. As to the Half Pay Matters stand thus the Questions have been carried but by an Entry on the Minutes there is an Agreemt that a final Question shall be put whether it be finally determined in Congress or sent to...
8From George Washington to Brigadier General Casimir Pulaski, 1 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am exceedingly concerned to learn that you are acting contrarily both to a positive Resolve of Congress and my express orders, in engaging British prisoners for your Legionary Corps—When Congress refered you to me on the subject of its composition, to facilitate your raising it I gave you leave to enlist one third deserters in the foot, and was induced to do even that from your assuring me...
9From George Washington to Brigadier General William Smallwood, 1 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
A Plan has been formed for establishing uniformity of discipline and manoeuvres throughout the army by instituting an inspectorship— and the troops in camp have already derived evident advantage from the execution—Baron de Steuben a Prussian Officer of high rank and great experience acts as Inspector General and has under him two ranks of inspectors; the first superintend several divisions of...
10From George Washington to Brigadier General William Smallwood, 1 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
Mr Francis Wade who has been lately appointed Deputy Qr Mr General for the State of Delaware and three Counties in Maryland, has applied to me for a letter of introduction to you. As his Business will lay among a number of disaffected and refractory people he will probably sometimes want your advice and assistance to enable him to execute his duty. Mr Wade is represented to me as an honest Man...
11To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 1 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I beg leave to lay the enclosed account before your Excellency, which only Contains, some of the principal losses I have met with in the Service of the United States, the Smaller ones I have kept no Account of. These losses would amount to more than any pay I have yet received in the Service, and I cannot Suppose it will be thought reasonable that I should be the Sufferer. If your Excellency...
12From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 1 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I do not conceive my self authorized to direct payment of such Acct as your Lordship inclosed me, however just and reasonable they may be, referring the Claimants to Congress, always; If your Lordship chooses it, I will transmit your Acct & Letter to that body; but should think the chance of payment, or a knowledge of the decision upon it, would be greater, were you to inclose it to some...
13To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 1 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I Should have Long Since wrote your Excellencey was there any thing in this Quarter worth Ingaging your attention. I found upon my Journey Home that there was not the Least probability of the Enemys attempting to Rescue Genl Burgoine & Army: I therefore went to New Hampshire where I tarried about twelve Days upon my Arrival here I found no Troops worth mentioning & by the Inclosed Return your...
14To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 1 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
In my Letter of this Day I mentioned the State of this Post: I Expect the Troops will be Soon here, if There is any Spirit Left in the New England States: but when they Arive I Shall have only one Brigr viz. Brigr Genl Cornell to assist me in taking Care of Troop So Scattered as mine must be, viz. from Point Judith to Providence on the west, & from Providence to Seconnet Point on the East;...
15From George Washington to Francis Wade, 1 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I recd yours of the 30th last month informing me of your appointment to the Qr Mastership for the Delaware State and three Counties in Maryland. As I am a stranger to all arrangements in that line, I do not know how it comes to pass that there should be so many employed in the same Business in the same district. At any Rate the thing must be wrong, as it increases Officers and consequently one...
16General Orders, 2 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Commander in Chief directs that divine Service be performed every sunday at 11 oClock in those Brigades to which there are Chaplains—those which have none to attend the places of worship nearest to them—It is expected that Officers of all Ranks will by their attendence set an Example to their men. While we are zealously performing the duties of good Citizens and soldiers we certainly ought...
17From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 2 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed from Doctr Gordon, came under cover to me in the order you will receive it. immediately upon the receipt of your Letter of the Ulto, I sent it to Genel Green, who informs me that he hath written very urgently to Mr Hughes to continue in Office, but hears, or fears, he will not do it. The Letter for Genl Lee you will please to forward, or deliver, if he is expected soon. I am Sir...
18To George Washington from Brigadier General John Lacey, Jr., 2 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
My Camp was Surrounded Yester Morning by Day Light With a body of the Enemy who appeared on all Quarters my Scouts neglected the Perseading night to patrole the Roads as they were ordered, but lay in Camp till Near day. one of the Scouts met the Enemy Near two Miles from the Camp, the officer who Commanded Says he Was So Near the Enemy before he Espide them, that he thaught it dangerous to...
19To George Washington from William Livingston, 2 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I now sit down to inform your Excellency what number of our militia may be expected to join your army, which after all will, I fear, be in great measure conjectural. With the county of Bergen your Excellency is too well acquainted to want any information. Essex, Middlesex, and Monmouth, are all frontiers, and almost worn out in defending their own borders. The same is the case with Cumberland,...
20General Orders, 3 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
In future no guard in Camp is to be suffered to remain on duty more than forty eight hours without being relieved. On Monday next the several Brigades will begin their Exercise at six ôClock & continue ’till eight ôClock in the morning and from five to six oClock in the afternoon, the men for guard not to attend the Exercise. The Medicine Chest from Lord Stirling’s Division to be sent to the...
21From George Washington to Colonel George Baylor, 3 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
You will receive another Letter from me, by this conveyance, & to which I refer; but cannot help again cautioning you against making new appointments, & filling up vacancies in your Regiment without first obtaining full powers for that purpose. If there are any Gentlemen whom you would wish to get into your Regiment, & who would do credit to the Service, it will always meet with my...
22To George Washington from Colonel Theodorick Bland, 3 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
This day fort’night I did myself the Pleasure to Inform Yr Excy of my situation and prospects at this place Since which I have Continued to purchase horses and recruit men the Number of the former now at the Rendezvous is thirty seven, exclusive of what the Several officers who have been lately detachd for that purpose may have bought. I Say lately detachd, as from the dispersed Situation of...
23To George Washington from Major General Nathanael Greene, 3 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
From the Situation in which I found the Quarter Master General’s Department on my entering upon the Office, which is not unknown to your Excellency, it appeared to be absolutely necessary to make very extensive & speedy Preparations for the ensuing Campaign, especially in Horses, Teams, Tents, and other Articles of high Price. In Consequence of this apparent Necessity, I have given extensive...
24From George Washington to Brigadier General John Lacey, Jr., 3 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I received yours of yesterday giving me an account of your misfortune. You may depend that this will ever be the consequence of permitting yourself to be surprised, and if that was owing to the misconduct of the Officer who was advanced, you should have him brought to trial—It is not improbable that the Enemy, flushed with their success, will soon be out again, if you keep a strict watch upon...
25From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 3 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
In a late letter from General Schuyler, I received the proceedings of a Board of Commissioners for Indian-affairs held at Albany the 15th of last month. It appears by them, and some other accounts, I have seen, that there is but little prospect of succeeding in the plan, for engaging a body of Indians from that quarter to serve with this army. The advantage, which the enemy possess over us, in...
26To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 3 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
My last trouble to Your Excellency was dated the 30th Ulto by Ross. The present will cover an Act of that date for ascertaining the Rank & pay annexed to Brevet Commissions, whether this is, or is not intended to have a retrospective effect, I think is not clearly expressed by this Letter, & as I apprehend such operation may in many Instances give Umbrages I shall embrace the first proper...
27To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 3 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
Soon after I had dispatched my Letter of this Morning by McKlosky—the Secretary sent in the Inclosed Act of Congress dated 2d Inst. for raising two Regiments for the protection of the Western frontier & for authorizing your Excellency to appoint a proper Officer to the Command of Fort Pitt—a Copy of the Letter mentioned in the Act will also be inclosed. I likewise transmit about 100 Copies of...
28From George Washington to Captain George Lewis, 3 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I should be glad if you would let the inclosed go by a safe hand, as it is to thank Mr. Turner for an elegant pair of pistols and furniture which he obligingly made me a present of. I do not know where to direct to him, but believe he lives somewhere on Rappahannock, either near Leeds or above it. He is the son of Harry Turner, and I think married the sister of Captain Fauntleroy. I would not...
29To George Washington from Colonel Israel Shreve, 3 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
thirsday 23rd April, I assembled all the troops under my Command at Woodberry, at 1 oClock marched with 30 horse, 270 foot to Sand town, 4 miles from Billingsport Ordered the horse Down towards the fort, to keep a Look out, in the mean time Executed Seeds the Deserter, the horse Returned, Reported they were within Musket shot of the fort, Exchanged a few Shot, and Come off. an hour by Sun, we...
30General Orders, 4 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Sub and Brigade Inspectors are to be pointedly exact in pursuing the written Instructions of the Inspector General. That the strictest Uniformity may be observed throughout the whole Army, they are not to practice a single Manœuvre without his direction—nor in a method different from it—Any Alteration or Innovation will again plunge the Army into that Contrariety and Confusion from which...