Title: From George Washington to John Hancock, 23 February 1777
From: Washington, George
To: Hancock, John

Sir
Head Qrs Morristown February 23d 1777.

Congress having resolved that Several Regiments of Cavalry should be raised to form a part of their Army, I beg leave, through you Sir, to lay before ’em, the inclosed List of Officers which appear necessary to be appointed to each Corps, and which they will be pleased to establish.
At the same time I should suppose it highly expedient to fix their pay and that of the privates. There is now One Regiment in service, and three more recruiting. This makes it indispensably necessary, that it should be done. Applications are constantly making to know what the pay is, and objections raised against the service for want of due information. I have transmitted a List of such pay, as seemed to be thought reasonable for part of the Officers to receive when Colo. Sheldon’s Regiment was directed to be levied, and a Copy of the Memorandum made at that time. This Colo. Sheldon conceived would not be more than adequate to their services, trouble and expence, and which, in some degree, was founded on the Opinions of Other Gentlemen of whom inquiry was made upon the Subject. I did not fix it in the instances where it is set down with certainty, as the Memorandum will shew. A criterion by which I was also governed, upon that occasion, was the Resolve appointg Mr Sheldon Lt Colo. Commandant with the Rank and pay of Colo. From thence I attempted to proportion that of some other Officers. Upon the whole I think it should be settled without further loss of time, and wish the earliest attention of Congress to be had to it.
Our delicate & truly critical situation for want of a sufficient force to oppose the Enemy, who are now ready and before many days elapse, will take the Feild, induced me to expect, that the Troops raising in the Southern States and intended for this Army would march in Companies or half Companies as they were made up, without waiting for their Regiments to be compleat. policy strongly suggested the propriety

of the measure, and I requested it. But to my great anxiety and surprize I am told, that this line of conduct is totally neglected, though a great number of Recruits are actually engaged. I must intreat Congress to interpose again with their most pressing applications & commands, that this expedient may be adopted without a moments delay. No injury can result from it, because a sufficient number, and proper Officers can & must be left to recruit the Corps to their full Compliment. Nor will my fears respecting the State of our Arms, allow me to be silent on that Head—Let the States be urged to send their Men equipped with them and every other necessary if possible—I know not what supplies may be in Store elsewhere or in the power of Congress, but they must not depend upon their being furnished here with any or but with very few. No human prudence or precaution could secure, but a small part of those belonging to the public and in the Hands of the Soldiery, from being embezzled & carried off when their time of service expired. Nor can the same abuses be restrained in the Militia. I have the Honor to be with great respect Sir Your Most Obedt Servt

Go: Washington


Title: To George Washington from John Hancock, 23 February 1777
From: Hancock, John
To: Washington, George

Sir,
Baltimore Feby 23d 1777.

I have the Honour to enclose you sundry Resolves of Congress, to which I have only Time to refer your Attention, nor indeed, is any Thing further necessary as they are so very explicit.

I have forwarded Commissions to the Majors General, and shall forward, by the next Opportunity, Commissions for the Brigadiers General.
As I am empowered to adjourn the Congress from Baltimore to Philada on next Tuesday, and shall set out myself on Wednesday, I must request you will please to direct your Letters to me at Philada the Powers of the Committee of Congress in that Place expiring on our Arrival there.
I have wrote to Genl Gates requesting him to resume the Office of Adjutant Genl nor have I any Doubt of his Compliance. I have the Honour to be, with the greatest Esteem & Respect Sir your most obedt & very hble Servt

John Hancock Presidt


Title: To George Washington from Brigadier General Peter Muhlenberg, 23 February 1777
From: Muhlenberg, Peter
To: Washington, George

Sir
Winchester [Va.] Febry 23d 1777.

The Honble The Continental Congress, pass’d a Resolve the 21st of last Month, Ordering that part of my Regiment, which was still to the Southward to return to Virginia, & that all the Companies belonging to the Regiment, should be Recruited to their full Complement of Men, & Marchd to Camp as soon as Compleat. The Detachment from the Southward Arrivd here this Week, in a Shattred Condition, with only Seventy Men fit for duty; so that it will be Allmost impossible to March the Men as soon as I could wish, if the Companies are to be wholly Compleat; I have a sufficient number of Recruits to fill up the three first Companies belonging to the Regt & hope to March them in about Ten days—We have been much retarded in the Recruiting Service for want of Officers, as there are at present 12 or 14 Vacancies in the Regt. I have applied to The Governor & Council of this State, as well as to General Lewis, to know in what manner the Vacancies should be filld up but was told, they were entirely unacquainted with the Matter; Colo. Gresson Advisd me to Apply to Your Excellency, & to send a Recommendation, which I have accordingly done; There is at present one entire Company wanting in my Regiment in the room of Captn Stinson’s from Pittsburg, whose Time of Enlistment expird in September last. Mr Swain who waits on Your Excellency with this Letter has Servd as Adjutant in my Regt since it was raisd. He bears the Character of a Good Officer, & would willingly undertake to raise this Company with Your Excellencys Approbation—I must trouble Your Excellency with another Petition in behalf of my Regiment; The whole Regt at present consists of Riflemen, & The Campaign we made to the Southward last Summer fully convinces me, that on a march where Soldiers are without Tents, & their Arms continually exposd to the Weather; Rifles are of little use, I would therefore request Your Excellency to Convert my Regt into Musketry. Your Excellency’s Most Obedient humble Servant

Peter Muhlenberg


Title: To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 23 February 1777
From: Parsons, Samuel Holden
To: Washington, George

Dear General
Lyme [Conn.] 23d Febry 1777

having receivd Information that a Vessel was laden with Provisions in a Harbour on the East End of Long Island & bound to New York I sent Lt Wait with a Party of Men to bring her over to the Main; they left this Place the 16th Inst., but the Shippers of the Wheat &c. having receivd some Information of the Party coming over, removd the Provisions into different Parts remote from the Water that it could not be seisd—The Vessel which was to receive the Stores with Seven Barrels of Sugar on Board they seisd & bro’t over to the Main—They have also taken from Murray & Wright a Quantity of Merchandize mostly White & Checkd Linnens, perhaps of the Value of One Hundred & fifty Pounds lawful Money which they have bro’t over and a Letter from Mr Murray to me, a Copy whereof & of Lieut. Wait’s Orders are herewith sent You. These Things the Party suppose are to be divided amongst them—By the Letter & Order it appears the Goods were not taken pursuant to any Authority from me, yet if your Excellency considers the Inhabitants or Merchants on the East End of Long Island subject to be divested of their Property by Parties sent on there, there may be some Foundation for their Expectations—Mr Wait informs me Murray & Wright have furnishd large Quantities of Provisions to the Commissary of the British Army & are imployd to purchase for that Purpose as he was told by the Inhabitants there; How this Fact is I do not know.
The Goods are all deliverd into my Care, An Invoice is taken & they are safely Stor’d—As this Case will draw into Consideration the State of the Inhabitants & Merchants there, & the Decision involve in it Consequences of great Importance to the Peace of the Inhabitants of the Islands, I did not think myself at Liberty to give any Countenance to the Measure or to decide about it when done; this being, perhaps, the first Instance of a Practice which will, if allowd, soon become very general & may have Effects too extensive for me to Judge of—I have therefore Stated the Case as far as I can collect the Facts & would beg your Excellency’s Direction, that I may know what is my Duty in this Matter & others of like Kind if any such should happen.
In a Letter from your Excellency to Govr Trumbull, I find Directions have been sent to me to Superintend the Innoculation of the Troops in this State; I have not receivd any Letter from your Excellency since I left Peekskill, But on Advice of the Govr & Council of Safety have establishd Hospitals in different Parts of this State for that Purpose where some of the Soldiers are now under the Operation.
I am persuaded the Enemy’s Guards at Huntington, Oyster Bay &

perhaps at Flushing may be cutt off & the Stores (which I understand are there) destroyed, if ’tis tho’t an Object worth hazarding Eight Hundred or a Thousand Men on the Island. if your Excellency should think it worth attempting I should be glad to make the Trial as soon as I can procure a Body of Troops sufficient for the Purpose. I am with the greatest Esteem yr Excellency’s Obedt hbl. Servt

Saml H. Parsons

P.S. If Mr Wait’s taking the Goods from Mr Murray should not be approvd, I ought in Justice to him to inform your Excellency he does not appear disposd to hide any Part of his Proceedings, and (altho’ not warranted by his Orders) from the Information he receivd on the Island, Really intended to Promote the Public Service in this Transaction more than any private Advantage he might derive from it.


Title: From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 23 February 1777
From: Washington, George
To: Reed, Joseph

Dear Sir
Morristown Feby 23. 1777.

Your Letters of the 13th and 18th Instt are both to hand—the last in date arrived first, the first this Morning only—I am sorry, upon the footing you have put it, and under the apprehensions you seem to be, that I did not accept your Commission as Adjt Genl when you offered it, tho your fears cannot be realizd, because at that time it was mentiond in Genl Orders, that you having resign’d, Colo. Weedon was appointed Pro Teme; your having the Comn in possession therefore can be no Argument against your Resignation—but I am willing to receive it at any time.
I am sorry the Cartel settled by Genl Conway with the French cant be found. I have lately wrote to Genl Gates for it, who I think told me he had it. I would by no means wish you to come up merely on that Acct; especially as I have not, as yet, got any answer from Congress relative to my recommendation of you to the Command of the Horse—If they should listen to my wishes in this appointment. if a seperate Quarter Master is necessary for the Horse—& Colo. Coxe Inclines to accept it, I can have no possible objection to it, but how far the Rank of Colo. can be annexed to the Office I cannot undertake to say—I wd wish to think of it a little.
I beleive all the Prisoners from the Eastern States are now gone in—that they did not do it long ago is not my fault—This I thought Colo. Miles had been satisfied of when he was out—& what method I could devise, to furnish their pay, except in a currency that would not pass I am sure I know not. All the hard money that could be had he must know was sent in.
I am not a little surprizd at what you mention concerning Colo. Griffin—Before Christmas I offered him a Regiment, & the nomination of his own Officers—this he refused—Since that he has been offered the Lieutenant Colonelcy of a Regiment of Horse, & this he has refused. If his expectations are higher than that of a Regiment, which he was offered (even before I was vested with full Powers to do it) the Congress are alone competent to the gratification of them, as I have no authority to go beyond what I have already offered him.
If you should have the Command of the Horse, it will be quite agreeable

to me that you should have one of those that was bought at Boston—if you have not, as they were got for that particular Service by Express order of Congress and I have already refused Genl Green, I could not with propriety consent to it; as I mean, after chusing a couple, or three for my own use, to throw the rest into some of the Troop, or let them go among the Officers.
I wish your leizure woud permit you to digest a proper plan for the prevention of Desertion, and apprehending of Deserters that would have a general operation throughout all the United States. I have, in genl terms recommended to Congress, & to all the States Individually, the absolute necessity of adopting some efficatious mode to accomplish the latter, but each will, Unless some method can be adopted by, or recommended from Congress, or the Commander of the Army, have some new fangled, or inadequate schemes of their own. In like manner, if you can give any assistance to General Mifflin in an arrangemt of Waggons I shall be glad of it. One Snickers, a Gentn on or near Shanandoah in Fredk County Virginia has offered to buy a Number. He is a person well acquainted in this business, and may be depended on.
I think the Congress ought not, under the present appearance of things by any means to return to Philadelphia—I think we are now in one of the most critical periods wch America ever saw & because the Enemy are not in actual motion (by the by I believe they are not far from it) every body almost seems to be lulled into ease and Security.
Would Colo. Coxe accept the appointment of Comy of Prisoners? if he will, I wish to God he would repair hither immediately—I want a shrewd sensible Man exceedingly for this business & obtaining Intelligence which Offices are very corrispondant. Let me hear from you on this point as quick as possible—the Pay May, I presume be equal to that of Colonel. I am Dr Sir Yr Most Obedt Sert

Go: Washington


Title: From George Washington to John Warren, 23 February 1777
From: Washington, George
To: Warren, John

Sir
Head Quarters Morris town 23d Feby 1777

I have yours of the 10th Instant. Your continuing to act in the Hospital, upon the uncertainty of being provided for under the new Arrangement, is very commendable, but I can assure you it was ever my Intention to take particular Care that those who had filled their old Stations with reputation, should not be degraded in the new appointments. The plan for the establishment of the General Hospital i[s] now before Congress, and whenever I receive their Approbation, the Officers will be appointed.
I cannot promise that you can be fixed at Rhode Island, but I dare say in the Settleme⟨nt⟩ of the Surgeons and Physicians who are to superintend the different departments, the private conveniencies of Gentlemen will be attended to, if thereby the public will not be injured. I am Sir Yr most obt Servt

Go: Washington


Title: General Orders, 24 February 1777
From: Washington, George
To:

Head-Quarters, Morristown, Feby 24th 1777.
Virginia.Venice.

The troops of Genl St Clair’s Brigade are, as soon as the weather will permit, to be drawn together and quartered as near this town, as possible: All the Recruits of Col. Ogden’s Regiment, now quartered at Troy, and elsewhere, to be immediately called together, armed and accoutred; they are to join Genl St Clair’s Brigade, and to be quartered with them. The strictest Attention must be paid by the officers, to the Arms & Ammunition belonging to their different Corps, to see them frequently examined, and kept in good Order, for Action. All Recruits raised by Capts. Morrison & Flahaven to join Col. Ogden’s Regt ’till further orders.


Title: To George Washington from Jonathan Bryan, 24 February 1777
From: Bryan, Jonathan
To: Washington, George

24 February 1777. “The Bearer John White Esquire is appointed Colonel of the fourth Battalion of Musquetry, for the State of Georgia; and as we are in great want of Men, we are obliged to send him to the northern States, on the recruiting Service.... Your Excellency we are well assured will give him every indulgence & encouragement, when we inform you of our alarming Situation, surrounded with Enemies on every side, and daily subject to the cruel depredations of Indian Savages. We would beg leave to refer your Excellency to the Colonel for further particulars, respecting the dangers we are continually exposed to, as a Frontier State.”


Title: From George Washington to Patrick Henry, 24 February 1777
From: Washington, George
To: Henry, Patrick

Dear Sir,
Morristown in New Jersey Feby 24th 1777.

Mr Walker has, I doubt not, informed you of the situation in which I have placed him, in Order that he may obtain the best information; and, at the same time, have his real design hid from the World; thereby avoiding the evils which might otherwise result from such Appointments, if adopted by other States.
It will naturally occur to you, Sir, that there are some Secrets, on the keeping of which so, depends, oftentimes, the salvation of an Army: Secrets which cannot, at least ought not to, be intrusted to paper; nay, which none but the Commander in Chief at the time, should be acquainted with.
If Mr Walker’s Commission, therefore, from the Commonwealth of Virginia, should be known, it would, I am persuaded, be followed by others of the like nature from other States, and be no better than so many marplots. To avoid the precedent, therefore, and from your Character of Mr Walker and the high Opinion I myself entertain of his abilities, Honour, and prudence, I have taken him into my Family as an Extra Aid de Camp, and shall be happy, if in this Character, he can answer your expectations.
I sincerely thank you, Sir, for your kind congratulations on the late success of the Continental Arms: (Would to God it may continue), and for your polite mention of me.
Let me earnestly entreat that the Troops raised in Virginia for this Army be forwarded on by Companies, or otherwise, without delay, and as well equiped as possible, for the Field, or we shall be in no condition to open the Campaign. With every sentiment of Respect & Regard, I am, Dear Sir, &Ca

G. Washington


Title: To George Washington from Maj. Gen. Stirling, 24 February 1777 [letter not found]
From: Stirling, Lord (né William Alexander)
To: Washington, George

Letter not found: from Maj. Gen. Stirling, 24 Feb. 1777. GW wrote Stirling on 25 Feb. that “I was last night favoured with your Letter of the 24th Instt.”


Title: To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 24 February 1777
From: Trumbull, Jonathan Sr.
To: Washington, George

Sir.
Lebanon [Conn.] February 24th 1777

I am now to acknowledge the Receipt of your several Favours of the 31st ulto and the first, sixth, ninth Tenth and eleventh Instant, also of sixty Thousand Dollars of which I have forwarded Twenty Thousand to General Knox agreable to your Request, the remaining Forty

Thousand I shall divide out to the Colonels of our Battallions as needed, having regard to the Sums they have already received for that Service.
Upon Request of Congress, a Law was passed by the General Assembly in December 1775 to prevent and punish the harbouring and concealing Deserters, and for returning them to the Service they may have deserted. if any further regulations should appear necessary, they will, doubtless, chearfully be come into.
What Cloathing is in this State we have ordered to be delivered to the Colonels of our Battalions, there will be probably enough for four Battalions, of which the Cloathing for two is collected or manufactured in this State, the residue was sent here by the Continental Agents, the Quantity is much less than we should have had, had we retained the Cloathing purchased here, and sent to the Northern Army and to the continental Stores in the State of New York. Colo. Saml B. Webbs Battallion is likewise provided for, the Cloathing for our remaining four Battallions we have applied for to Messrs Livingston & Trumbull who have referred us to the Clothier General, to whom we shall apply & hope we may succeed, unless your Excellency will point out some other Method of furnishing them.
Part of the Checque Books for this State are received, and lodged with the loan Officer, the remainder, we are assured by the Treasurer, will be forwarded in season. the Loan Officer hath already borrowed Seventy Thousand Dollars, which will nearly answer the Draughts made upon Him.
When the new Army has got thro with Inoculation for the small pox, I flatter myself it will not only contribute to its Health and Safety, but also that of the Inhabitants. our returning Soldiers have spread the Infection into almost every Town in the State, a Mischief that cannot happen when the Distemper is out of the Army. tho at present the inoculating such Numbers may expose us to have it spred in the Country from them; we have concerted the best Measures in our power to prevent the Mischief and find General Parsons well disposed to give us his Assistance to render them as effectual as possible. I am, Sir, with the greatest respect your obedient humble Servant

Jonth; Trumbull


Title: From George Washington to John Augustine Washington, 24 February 1777
From: Washington, George
To: Washington, John Augustine

Dear Brother,
Morris Town Feby 24th 1777

Your Letter of the 24th Ulto from Mount Vernon came duly to hand, and I thank you for the visit to Mrs Washington—I do not recollect the date of my last to you, but nothing of any great Importance has occur’d of late—I believe there soon will, as Genl Howe has withdrawn great part of the Troops from Rhode Island in order to strengthen those in this State for I should think, (considering the Situation of our Army) some Offensive operation—If he does not, there can be no Impropriety, I conceive, in pronouncing him a Man of no enterprize, as circumstances never will I hope, favour him so much as at present—But—as this is too delicate a subject for a Letter liable to miscarriage, I will ho[l]d my tongue—Whether his designs are against the Militia I at present Command—another attempt against Phila.—or—wch I cannot believe, to make his own defense more Secure, time only can tell. and a little of it, I believe, will do it.
Our Scouts, and the Enemys Foraging Parties, have frequent Skirmishes; in which they always sustain the greatest loss in killed and wounded, owing to our Superior skill in Fire Arms—these, and frequent Desertions, thô not of any great magnitude serves to waste their Army—but this is counterbalanc’d by a set of Parricides, who have engaged in their Service, and Inlist all our Countrymen they can seduce.
Your remark “that you cannot depend upon the Reports of our strength” is most litterally true—It is morally impossible that any body at a distance shou⟨l⟩d know it with precision and certainty; because, while it depends upon Militia, who are here today, & gone tomorrow—whose ways, like the ways of Providence are, almost, inscrutable—and when it is our Interest, however much our characters may suffer by it, to make small numbers appear large, it is impossible you should; for in order to deceive the Enemy effectually, we must not communicate our weakness to any body.
It behooves every friend, in every State, to hasten the Recruiting Service—It behooves them to forward the levies on by Companies; or otherwise as ⟨soon⟩ as possible—and, believe me, it behooves every friend to the American Cause to exert his utmost endeavours to apprehend Deserters—Desertion is a growing evil. it is become a kind of business under the present bounty, to Desert one Corps to Enlist in another—In a word, if vigorous measures to apprehend, and rigorous in punishing are not pursued the cause will be exceedingly injured.
If we can once get the new Army compleat and the Congress will take care to have it properly supplied, I think we may thereafter bid Defiance to great Britain, and her foreign Auxiliries.

My warmest affections I make a tender of to my Sister and the family—my compliments present to all enquiring friends—and with strongest assurances of unalterable love to yourself I remain Yr Affecte Brother

Go: Washi⟨ngton⟩

P.S. Yeste⟨rda⟩y a skirmish happ⟨en⟩’d ⟨betw⟩een a Foraging Party of th⟨e En⟩emy and a Party collected from our out Posts, in wch it is said, from the best accts we have been yet able to get that the Enemy in killed and wounded must have lost ⟨u⟩pwards of an hundred Men. Seven Prisoners were ta⟨k⟩en and brought In. Our loss was three killed—Eight wounded.

G.W.


Title: General Orders, 25 February 1777
From: Washington, George
To:

Head-Quarters, Morristown, Feby 25th 1777.
Yarmouth.York.


Title: To George Washington from John Hancock, 25 February 1777
From: Hancock, John
To: Washington, George

Sir,
Baltimore Feby 25th 1777.

From the Resolves, which I have the Honour of transmitting herewith, you will perceive the Measures Congress have taken to reinforce your Army at this Juncture.
I have wrote to the Convention of New York to place a proper Guard of Militia at the Passes in the Highlands, in Case you should think proper to call to your Assistance the Troops under Genl Heath, which will be highly agreeable to Congress.
I have likewise wrote to the Governor of New Jersey, and to the Council of Safety of Pennsylvania to call forth their Militia at this important

Crisis. It is indeed devoutly to be wished, and is the earnest Desire of Congress, that the Army under your Command may be made not only strong enough to confine the Enemy within their present Quarters and prevent them from getting Supplies from the Country, but totally to subdue them before they can be further reinforced. You will therefore be pleased to write to the Colonels or other Commanding officers of the Regiments that are raising in the New England States as well as those of New York and New Jersey, and order them immediately to march the Troops under their Command in the most expeditious Manner to Head Quarters. Similar Letters will be written by the Board of War to the Commanding Officers of Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. I beg Leave to refer your Attention to the whole of the inclosed Resolves.
Your Favour of the 20th inst. came to Hand the 24th and was immediately laid before Congress. I have the Honour to be, with Sentiments of the greatest Esteem & Respect Sir your most obedt & very hble Servt

John Hancock Presidt

In consequence of your Letter & one from Mr Morris, Congress have suspended their Remove to Philada for a few days.


Title: To George Washington from Maj. Gen. Israel Putnam, 25 February 1777 [letter not found]
From: Putnam, Israel
To: Washington, George

Letter not found: from Maj. Gen. Israel Putnam, 25 Feb. 1777. GW writes in his letter to Putnam of 28 Feb. that “your several favours of the 25th & 26th Inst. came to hand.”


Title: From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 25 February 1777
From: Washington, George
To: Stirling, Lord (né William Alexander)

My Lord.
Head Qrs Morristown 25th February 1777.

I was last night favoured with your Letter of the 24th Instt. I concur in your Lordships proposition so far as it goes for incorporating the three Companies of Virginia Volunteers and forming them into a Batallion; But tho I have a high opinion of the conduct, merit & bravery of Captn Thruston, in whose behalf you have interested yourself, and would wish to do him any Favor, I cannot appoint him to the rank you mention. The reasons upon reflection, I am persuaded will readily occur to you & to him.
The greatest part of the Officers and Men composing our present Army, are in the same predicament, and on the same footing with these three Companies, or differ but very little. Many have been longer in service, and coming from different States, they would not bear the distinction, or suffer it to pass without complaints & objecting to me a charge of partiality in favor of the Virginians. I feel strongly the reasons upon which your Lordships application is founded, but yet I trust, you and Captn Thruston maturely considering the delicate situation in which I stand, & the expediency of my steering clear of every cause of disgust and jealousy, will think with me, the measure unadvisable and improper. Upon the whole, I desire, that the Three Companies may be united in One Corps under Mr Thruston as Captn Commandant.
to prevent the inconveniences, which the Gentn apprehend would result from their not having Commissions in case of Captivity, I have

inclosed certificates under my Hand, shewing the Rank and command they hold in the service of the States, but I cannot give Commissions in usual form. The precaution is prudent, but I hope their situation will never be such, as to prove that it was necessary.
The Commanding Officer of McCoys Regiment should transmit a List of the shoes & Stockings wanted to the Adjut. Genl, who will give an Order on the Clothier for the same. I wish a Surgeon could be got, but I don’t know One to be had. Inquiry shall be made upon the subject. I am My Lord with great esteem Yr Lordships Hb. Servt

Go: Washington

P.S. The Inclosed Certificates you will please to deliver. also the Letter for Mr Lewis in Capn Thruston’s Company.
Captn Thruston will forward the Letter to W. Washington Esqr. when a safe conveyance to that part of the Country affords.

G. W——n


Title: To George Washington from Colonel George Baylor, 26 February 1777
From: Baylor, George
To: Washington, George

dear Sir
Fredricksburg [Va.] Feby 26th 1777.

I am a few days retur[ne]d from the Southward, where I have a prospect of geting my horses.
As the Quarter Master of this department is unwilling to Let me have any thing for the use of the Regiment, I should be glad to know of you, and have your instructions to him, for what we are to be allowed;

is it not reasonable that the Men should be firnished with a Sute of Clothes? that is a Coat, waistcoat, a Pr of Breeches, a Shirt, one Pr of Stocking and Shoes; and also a Cloak, Cap, Boots and Spurs; or what part you think proper to direct; If the Men are obliged to pay for these things, it will take nearly their years wagers. My Officers are all out Recruting, some of them have got a few men, but I find it slow and tediout work. Capt. Smith of Baltimore informes me that he has inlisted most of his men, and will be at this place in a little time with them, Pore little Stark was carried off the stage by the smallpox, and I have oppointed to that vacancy Mr John Baylor of King and Queen, a pretty youth. Capt. Fontain has resign’d his recruting instructions, not having the least prospect of geting his men, and am happy in having it in my power to offer it to a Brother of my Friend & Lewise’s Mr Fielding Lewis, who George informes me is very desireous of entering into our Corps. Nothing Sir wo’d give me so much pleasure as to be able at this instant to join you, and be assured that I will exert myself, to get the Men and Horses together, that they may be traind, so as to render you some Service, when we shall arrive. If it is not disagreeable to you, I should be happy to call my Regiment after your name, by way of disttincion from the others. I shall not be able to get Carbines here, the Swords and Some of the Pistols, will be made at Mr Hunters. I am with much Respect Dear Sr your Obt Hbl. Servt

George Baylor

P.S. Colo. Lewis and his Family are well—I am desired by Lieut Collo. Nelson to express to you, his great desire of entering into the Cavalry, he askes only for a Lieutenant Colonels commission, and I think I can say with propriety that there is not a man on the continent more capable of the command of a Regiment of Horse than himself. Yr Hble servant

G. Baylor


Title: To George Washington from Major General Charles Lee, 26 February 1777
From: Lee, Charles
To: Washington, George

My Dr Sir
New York Feb’ry the 26th 1777

I am extremely glad that Morris is so far recover’d that there is a probability of his leaving Philadelphia Where I left him (as I thought) in a very bad way from the effects of his Southern expedition—I have the sincerest love and affection for him—his excellent qualities, his good sense and integrity must endear him to evrybody who knows him—Eustace I consider as my adopted Son. considering the circumstances of his being taken out of other hands and his affection for me I ought to look upon him in this light—in short, shou’d any accident happen to me, it has long been my resolution to leave evrything I possess on this side the water betwixt these two young Men—You will much oblige me therefore in sending Morris to N. York the instant He joins You—General Howe, will I make no doubt transmit a passport for him by the same Flag of truce with this letter as likewise for the Gentlemen Whom I impatiently expect from the Congress—Eustace if He comes up in consequence of the enclosd letter will I dare say have the same indulgence. Adieu, My Dr Friends, God preserve and protect You—Yours most sincerely

Charles Lee

P.S. You will, I request, shew this note to Morris and his Father if He is with You.


Title: To George Washington from Major General Israel Putnam, 26 February 1777
From: Putnam, Israel
To: Washington, George

Dear Genl
Princeton 26th Feby 1777

Capt. Smith is induced by Arguments I have used to return and accept of the Offer you was pleased to make him, of an Independant Company of 100 Men, I could wish as an additional Requisite, he had, to pay and cloath them him self—His Experience last War and the Spirit which to my Knowlege he has shewn in this, convince me, he is capable of rendering his Country particular Services in the Way he proposes, I have not the least Doubt, but, his Conduct will be such as you could wish and that his Spirit will shortly entitle him to higher Command—should your Excellency confirm him in this—I shall esteem my self particularly obliged.
Frequent Applications have been made to me from Monmouth for Reinforcements and I have not a Man to spare them—The Militia of that County are now embodying, to serve for one Month.
It has been proposed to me and I think would not be improper—to post these Men in some other Quarter and put others in their Stead to Defend that Country, who can be more relied on—for I am credibly informed many of those lately taken, engaged in our Service with a View to assist the Enemy by behaving ill—and that a constant Correspondance has been carried on between some of them and Lawrence. I am Sir very sincerely your most Obt hume Servt

Israel Putnam


Title: To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 26 February 1777
From: Stirling, Lord (né William Alexander)
To: Washington, George

Dear Sir
Baskenridge [N.J.] Febr: 26: 1777.

I had the Honour of receiveing your Excellencys letter of Yesterday’s date with the Several Inclosures. on Communicating the Contents of the Letter to Capt. Thruston he was perfectly Satisfyed with the propriety of reasons which determined your Excellency’s Conduct with regard to his Commission, the rest of the Gentlemen will feel great Satisfaction in receiveing their Certificates.
I now send the Eight prisoners mentioned in my last taken on Saturday

& Sunday last, the latter all agree that the troops which Came from Rhode Island were the third Brigade of Brittish, 6 Companies of the 3d Battalion of Granadiers & 6 Cos. of 3d Bat: of Light Infantry; that they all remain Quarterd on Ship Board, that the talk is that they are to remain in those Quarters ’till the weather is fit for Encamping, that this Body of Men landed on Sunday Morning about Six oClock, without any provision Rum or Packs and expected to have been out only a few hours, but in following our people in the Morning were drawn out further than was intended, that several Waggonloads of Wounded were Carried off. Two deserters from the 5th Regiment were brought in this Morning, they say they were quarterd at the Landing Bridge, that 400 Men went out from thence on Sunday Morning and returned at Night with thirty odd Wounded, that it was said they had buried 15 dead in one hole. how it can be that these should Come all the way from Woodbridge I can not Conceive, the Prisoners deny that any such party Joined the Troops from Amboy, and say their Wounded were sent towards Amboy: Indeed Colonel Baker Johnston had an Affair with a party he took for their picket but by his Account of it, it did not Continue long enough to have had such an Effect.
I enclose your Excellency an Account of the Corps that Compose General Howe’s Army & their Stations from the best Accounts I have been Able to Collect, by which you will be Able to form some Idea of their Strenght. the Regiments of the first Six Brigades do not on an Average exceed 200 Men Each.
The Letter to W. Washington Esqr. went this Morning by Governor Johnston. I am very Sincerely your Excellency’s Most Obedient and Affectionate Humble Servant

Stirling,

Colonel Willson dyed the Night before last of an Inflamation of the Lungs. There is now no feild Officer belonging to that Regiment except Major Butler who Joined them two day’s ago.


Title: Enclosure: Arrangement of British Forces, 26 February 1777
From: Stirling, Lord (né William Alexander)
To:

[c.26 February 1777]

Light Infantry.
Each Battalion Consisting of 8 Companies of 100 Men Each

 1st Battalion
2d Ditto
3d Ditto Came from Rhode Island except one Company

 Reserve
 Granadiers. Strength of Battalions as above.
 1st Battalion
2d Ditto
3d Ditto Came from Rhode Island except one Company
4th Ditto

 In Jersey.
 33d Redgment
42d Ditto
 Brigades. Regiments.

            1st
            4th 15th 27th 45th Some in New York the Rest Uncertain

            2d
            5th 28th 35th 49th In Jersey.

            3d
            10th 37th 38th 52d Came from Rhode Island to Amboy

            4th
            17th 40th 46th 55th At Amboy

            5th
            22d 43d 54th 63d Left at Rhode Island.

            6th
            23d 44th 57th 64th In Jersey.

            7th
            71st Three Battalions in Jersey.

            2 Brigades of Hessians left at Rhode Island

            1 or two Brigades of Hessians at Brunswick

            1 Ditto at or Near New York.

            1 Regiment of Waldeckers at Amboy.


Title: To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 26 February 1777
From: Trumbull, Jonathan Sr.
To: Washington, George

Sir.
Lebanon [Conn.] February 26th 1777.

Major Wyllys having returned to New York, is again permitted to return Home upon his parole to negotiate his Exchange, and yesterday presented me with a Letter from Mr Loring Commissary of prisoners in which is the following paragraph. “having received a Letter from General Washington, by Brigade Major Wyllys, desiring he might be exchanged the first after Capts. Dearborn & Trowbridge who go for

Capts. Williams and De la place, he is permitted to go out again on his parole engaging to send in Capt. Luke of the 55th Regiment in Return, which when effected will release him from Captivity”, and desired me to give Orders that Capt. Luke might be sent in accordingly.
It would have given me great pleasure to have been able to gratify him in this request, but as I Consider the Exchange of prisoners as your Excellency’s province, I can only refer him to you, & intreat your Excellency to Order the proposed Exchange to take place.
The Bearer will return to me immediately, and I shall hope for the pleasure of receiving your Excellencys permission by him to send in Capt. Luke as proposed. As Major Wyllys has the offer of a Company in the New Army, which he purposes to accept, if released, I apprehend it is of Consequence he should be speedily exchanged, that the raising the Company may not be delayed. I am, Sir with every Sentiment of Esteem & Respect your Excellencys most obedient humble Servant

Jonth; Trumbull


Title: From George Washington to the Continental Congress Executive Committee, 27 February 1777
From: Washington, George
To: Continental Congress Executive Committee

Gentlemen
Head Quarters Morris town 27th Feby 1777

I am honoured with yours of the 20th 21st and 22d Insts. The French Gentlemen having been demanded by General Howe as Officers belonging to the British Army, I gave directions to the Council of Safety of pennsylvania, on the 22d Inst. to send them to Easton, from whence, they might go to Brunswic or Amboy. It will probably be some Months before they reach Canada, for if we deny them the Liberty of returning by land, they must wait at New York till the St Lawrence is navigable.

I shall signify the want of Rope Makers, in General Orders, and if there are any in the Army they shall be sent.
On recurring to my letter to Genl Gates of the 19th I found with much concern the paragraph alluded to in yours, importing a Censure unmerited by you and not designed by me. I only meant to convey to him my Ideas of the expediency of removing the public Stores from philadelphia and that he should converse with you upon the Subject. By some means, the Gentleman who drafted the Letter, adopted a Language different from what I wished, or what Justice, and a regard to your exertions and polite Attentions to my requisitions, would justify.
It is true that whatever is under my Signature is imputable to me, and to be considered as my Act, but in this Instance, permit me to assure you, that the immense Business which surrounded me at that time, occasioned me to be less attentive to the letter than I otherwise should have been, and which would have prevented your Regret and my Concern.
I am free to declare that I have the highest Sense of your exertions in the great Cause in which we are engaged, and to profess my warmest thanks for the strict and pointed Regard you have ever paid, and which you promise to shew to my Requisitions upon all occasions.
The Recruits from the new Regiments come in so slowly, or rather do not come in at all (tho’ I hear that Town and Country are full of them) that I shall be under the Necessity of calling for a Reinforcement of Militia to supply the places of those whose Terms of Service are near expiring. Some of General Johnson’s Men are already gone, and the whole will go the 5th of next Month. The Eastern Militia under Genl Lincoln are engaged to the 15th March. These two Bodies form so considerable a part of our Army, that unless they are replaced by continental Troops or Militia from some of the other States, we shall be left almost in a defenceless Situation. Add to this, that a Number of our best Troops will be down in the small pox for a time to come.
The Militia of Baltimore, Harford and Cæcil were ordered out, as well as those of Frederick, but I have never heard whether they turned out. I shall be glad to know whether I may expect them, at what time and in what Numbers?
If those of the pennsylvania Militia, who have not yet performed their tour of duty, can be prevailed upon to come out, and to stay five or six Weeks from the time they join the Army, they will render most essential Service.
If General Howe, who certainly must have intelligence of our Situation, does not take Advantage of our weakness, he must have reasons that I am altogether at a loss to account for, unless it be the want of

Horses, which I beleive are much reduced. However, it is our Business to prepare for the worst; and not to reason ourselves into a Beleif that the Enemy are unable to attack us. I am Gentlemen with the sincerest Esteem & Regard Your most obt Servt

Go: Washington


Title: To George Washington from Robert Morris, 27 February 1777
From: Morris, Robert
To: Washington, George

Dear Sir
Philada Feby 27th 1777

I have your favour of the 22d Inst. which wears a very serious countenance and the opinion I entertain of the Strength of your judgement and propriety of your observations, creates doubts in my Mind which I confess I had discarded, as to the safety of this City. from various Accounts I have been taught to believe that the Enemy have since Christmass lost so many Horses, are in such want of Forage, and their remaining Cavalry so worn down, that the defects in this department alone wou’d render any Movement of their Main body impossible without strong reinforcements. If such be their situation, a reinforcement of Men without fresh & large supplys of Horses, Waggons & Forage, wou’d only embarras them, and oblige ’em the sooner to quit their present station. and probably this may still happen, but when I find you so very Urgent to have the public stores removed from hence, knowing as you must, that the expence & loss or Waste arising by such removal, amounts almost to the same thing as a total destruction of

them It seems to convince me I have been misinformed as to the real state of the Enemy with respect to Horses Waggons & Forage, especially as you don’t say one Word of their deficiencys in these articles that I remember. I have therefore complyed litterally with your wishes & the Committee have given orders to every department to remove all stores not immediately wanted, as fast as they can.
It seems to me however that the Enemy will be pressed with very great difficultys in their designs on this place. allowing some degree of truth to their want of Horses Waggons and Forage, those wants will be infinitely more felt since the late fall of Snow than before for the Snow before it Melts will exceedingly impede the Motions of the Stoutest Horses. they will require more dry food as nothing can be got from the sod and the difficulty of obtaining such food, as I apprehend, will be greatly encreased by Your parties particularly the Rifle Men. When the Snow Melts it will render the Road totally impassable for the Carriages must then be dragged through Mud instead of Snow in short my Dear Sir I cannot help concieving that General Howe’s situation somewhat resembles that of a Strong Bull in Trammells, sensible of his own Strength, he grows mad with rage & resentment when he finds himself deprived of the use of it The Bull may not so well understand the causes of his disapointment & therefore may be more patient & I fancy if my picture has any resemblance to the truth patience wou’d be of great use to the British Commander. If you find him embarrassed in these trammells provided by kind Providence I hope you will be able to teaze & harrass him untill our New Inlistments shall put him in Your power, or oblige him to take Shelter onbd the Shipping provided for that & other purposes.
I do not like to be too sanguine & yet it is very necessary in a Contest like this we are engaged in to view the best side of the picture frequently. remember good Sir, that few men ever Keep their feelings to themselves, & that it is necessary for example sake, that all leaders shoud feel & think bold in order to inspirit those that look up to them, Heaven (no doubt for the Noblest purposes) has blessed you with a Firmness of Mind Steadiness of Countenance and patience in Sufferings that give You infinite advantages over other Men this being the case You are not to depend on other Peoples exertions being equal to your own, One Mind feeds & thrives on misfortunes by finding resources to get the better of them, another sinks under their weight, thinking it impossible to resist and as the latter description probably includes the Majority of Mankind we must be cautious of alarming them, under this Idea I have been backward about removing the public Stores, well knowing that a panic is sooner Caused than retrieved, and I confess myself much hurt At finding you Concerned your admonitions

on that score were not attended to; during our greatest alarm here and when our prospects were at the Worst, when my inward feelings were most wrung, I put a good face on things and was then Convinced it was of infinite use. I hate deception and cannot wish any thing like it shou’d ever escape You, but I really think if the bright side of our affairs were sometimes to be painted by your pen or Sanctifyed by your Name it wou’d draw forth the exertions of Some good Men sooner than distress does from others. I hope you will excuse me for this stile of writing which almost amounts to the Confidential and was I sure of such being received in the same light in which I write it, I shou’d lament to You the absence of many great good & Valuable Men from Congress, for if great care is not taken that Body, so respectable from the Nature of the appointment, the Importance of its objects and the respectable Characters of its heretofore individual Members, will loose great part of its Weight & Consequence in the Eyes of our own people, We have now to lament the absence from the public Councils of America, of a Johnson, a Jay R. R. Livingston, Duane, Deane, W. Livingston Franklin, Dickenson, Harrison, Nelson, Hooper Rutledge & others not less Conspicuous, without any proper appointments to fill their places and this at the very time they are most wanted, or wou’d be so, if they had not very wisely supplied the deficiency by Delagating to your Excellency Certain powers that they durst not have entrusted to any other Man, but what is to become of America & its cause if a constant fluctuation is to take place amongst its Counsellors & at every change we find reason to view it with regret, however this is deviating from my own plans, I am holding up the wrong side of the picture, altho I am one of those People who think the best part of the Community will ultimately swim at top, notwithstanding others get uppermost during the general jumble, and I can see the way to liberty & happiness through the Cloud or mist before us. I beg your Pardon for takeing up so much of your time & remain Your Excellencys most Obedt & very hble Servant

Robt Morris

P.S. I venture to tell Mr Tilghman here that I recd his letter & sent the enclosure to his Father. I hope my letter herewith to Genl Lee may go in safe & the Money be pd to him.


Title: From George Washington to James Bowdoin, 28 February 1777
From: Washington, George
To: Bowdoin, James

Sir
Head Quarters Morris town 28th Feby 1777

I yesterday recd a letter from Lieut. Colo. Campbell of the 71st Regt dated Concord Goal 4th of this Month.
The Colo., in this letter, gives me such an account of the severity of his Confinement, as is scarce ever inflicted upon the most atrocious Criminals. The following Extract of his letter shews the Reasons that were given to him upon his Confinement. “The first of this Month, I was carried, and lodged in the common Goal of Concord, by an order of Congress, thro’ the Council of Boston, intimating for a Reason, that a refusal of Genl Howe to give up Genl Lee for six Feild Officers of whom I was one, and the placing of that Gentleman under the Charge of the provost at New York were the Motives of their particular ill treatment to me.” He then proceeds to give a description of the place in which he is confined, which if true, is shocking to humanity, and not to be justified upon the most strict interpretation of the resolve of Congress which is as follows “Should the proffered Exchange of General Lee for six Hessian Feild Officers be not accepted, and the treatment of him as above mentioned be continued, that the principles of retaliation shall occasion five of the said Hessian Feild Officers together with Lieut. Colo. Archibald Campbell or any other Officers that are or may be in our possession equivalent in number or Quality, to be detained, in order that the same Treatment which Genl Lee shall receive may be exactly inflicted upon their persons.”
By this you will observe, that exactly the same Treatment is to be shewn to Colo. Campbell and the Hessian Officers, that Genl Howe shews to Genl Lee; and as he is only confined to a commodious House with genteel accommodations, we have no right or reason to be more severe upon Colo. Campbell, who I would wish should, immediately upon the receipt of this, be removed from his present Situation, and put into a house where he may live comfortably.
Colo. Campbell mentions the case of Capt. John Walker of Colo. Gorehams Corps who he says is confined in the same Goal and in the apartment with the common Men. I know not what crime is alledged against Capt. Walker; but I will only observe that except there is very good foundation, such treatment is impolitic, for the Enemy have three hundred of our Officers, whom we have little Chance of exchanging, upon whom they may retaliate.
Colo. Campbell lodges a complaint against Capt. Bradford the Continental Agent, which if just, reflects dishonour upon our Service. He says “I was plundered of half my private property, the very necessary Articles of living, by the Continental Agent Capt. Bradford of Boston,

who has since as I am informed, seized upon and disposed of for the dirty consideration of Gain, the very side Arms of my Officers to whom they had been restored by the Captors and afterwards lodged in the hands of Major Chase of Boston by order of Genl Ward.”
I have given you Colo. Campbells own Words: if they are not true, Capt. Bradford may have an opportunity of wiping off the aspersion. But if it is a matter of fact, he ought to be obliged to account with Colo. Campbell for every farthing, for it appears that the Captors relinquishd their Claim.
Before I had closed my letter, I was honoured with your favors of the 11th and 13th Instants. Nothing distresses me more than the universal Call that is upon me from all quarters for fire Arms, which I am totally unable to supply. The scandalous loss, waste and private appropriation of public Arms during the last Campaign is beyond all Conception. Every State must exert itself and call upon their Colonels to produce Receipts or to account for the Arms that were delivered out to them last Year; I beg you will not only do this, but purchase all, fit for the feild, that can be procured from private persons, of which there must be a vast Number in the Government. I have wrote to Govr Cook to return Twelve hundred of the eighteen hundred Stand of Arms that were lent by your Agent to the State of Rhode Island, and I have also desired Colo. Lee to defer drawing for the three hundred Stand, till he finds that there is a certainty of raising his Regiment.
There can be no doubt, but that the Arms that are on hand should be delivered out to the Men that are first raised.
I desire you will, as I directed in my former Letters, forward on your Troops, as fast as they can be equipped, to the Northward. For Genl Schuyler continues to assure me, that he expects an Attack upon Ticonderoga, either by passage over the Ice, if the lake freezes, or by Water as soon as the Navigation is clear.
A Sum of Money went thro’ this place a few days ago for your State, so that your difficulties for want of Cash will be removed. I have the Honor to be Sir Your most obt Servt

Go: Washington

P.S. I omitted to mention above, that the Commissions of all the Officers upon the new Establishment are to bear date upon the 1st January 1777 and the precedency to be settled by a Board of Officers. I desire, for particular Reasons, that the Contents of the above letter, may not be suffered to go beyond the Council, for the present. Colo. Campbells Confinement may be enlarged, without assigning the Reasons publicly.


Title: To George Washington from John McKinly, 28 February 1777
From: McKinly, John
To: Washington, George

Sir
Wilmington [Del.] 28th Febry 1777

I received Directions from the General Assembly of this State just before their adjournment, a few Days agoe, to acquaint your Excellency that on the Receipt of your Letter of the 31st January last, they passed “An Act against Desertion & harbouring ⟨Deserters⟩ or dealing with them in certain Cases” which I flatter myself will answer the intended purpose—I also have it in charge to inform You that Lieut. Collo. Bedford & Major McDonagh totally decline entering into the Service—& to remind You that the Battalion raising in this State is without Field Officers, the want of whom has gr⟨ea⟩tly delayed the filling up of the Battalion—there are some Vacancies among the ⟨mutilated such⟩ as have come to my knowledge I have noted in the general ⟨mutilated⟩ Companies, nearly full, raised by the Captains Kirkwood ⟨mutilated m⟩arching Orders & I expect they will proceed this Day to Philad⟨elphia mutilated⟩ furnished with Cloathing & some Accoutrements—We have not had ⟨with⟩ our ⟨mutilated⟩ either Linnens or Woolens from abroad—some few attempts that have been made proved unsuccessfull & the home manufacture is very triffling, therefore our Quota of Troops must depend upon the publick Stock for Cloathing—by the Returns of the other Captains about the beginning of this Month some of their Companies were about half full, others extremely deficient—The recruiting Service suffered much in it’s beginning by the uncommon Sickness & Death of the Men who returned from the late Campaign, about the Months of December & January, &

by the want of money to pay off those that had served out their time of Inlistment in the Delaware Battalion—We have also had a Number of recruiting Parties from other States constantly amongst us—I mention these things as an Apology for our recruiting Officers not being in greater forwardness with their Companies—Enclosed your Excellency will find, Doctr Tiltons Commission & Letter of Resignation, with two Blank Commissions intended for the Lt Collo. & Major, & Copies of the Report &c. of Collos. Collins & West Commissioners from this State for the Appointment of Officers, as returned to the General Assembly, for your further information. I have the honor to be with the greatest Esteem—Sir—Yr most obedt humble Servt

Jno. McKinly Presid⟨t⟩


Title: From George Washington to Major General Israel Putnam, 28 February 1777
From: Washington, George
To: Putnam, Israel

Dear Sir
Head quarters. Morris Town. 28th Feby 1777

Your several favours of the 25th & 26th Inst. came to hand—The pass granted by Ld & Genl Howe to William Taylor dated the 18 Int. is of such a nature as not to afford any protection to the Vessell & Crew even on the most scrupulous Construction of the Law of Nations; and she came in so suspicious a manner, without a Flag flying, as would have justified severer treatment than mere detention—But ’tis possible that Taylor & the master of the Vessell not sufficiently informed of the practice necessarily observable in bearing Flags, or strangers to the Instances in which Protection can with propriety be granted by an Enemy—came with no ill design—I would therefore have the Vessell & hands released, being desirous to remove from our Army eve[n] the smallest Imputation of an Infringement on the sacred dignity of a Flag—Indeed I would pass over unnoticed any small deviation from the usual Line in these Cases—if not attended with danger to Us—They are to consider this early discharge as an Indulgence, which they, or any other person, must not expect a Repetition of—When the English letters, that were found onboard, come to you, please to send them to me—if of any Consequence.
Capt. Smith mistook my meaning about raising an Independt Compy. no such powers are vested in my hands—On yr recommendn I offered him a Compy in a Regt of Rangers, which he declined—I approve yr resolution of making the Militia do duty as far from their homes as conveniently can be done. I am &C.


Title: General Orders, 1 March 1777
From: Washington, George
To:

Head-Quarters, Morristown, March 1st 1777.
Dorchester.Derby.

Alexander Hamilton Esqr: is appointed Aide-De-Camp to the Commander in Chief, and is to be respected and obeyed as such.
Isaac Budd Dunn Esqr: will do the duty of Adjutant General, Pro Tempore, and to be attended to accordingly.


Title: From George Washington to Colonel George Baylor, 1 March 1777
From: Washington, George
To: Baylor, George

Dear Sir,
Head quarters, Morris Town 1s. March 1777.

Your several favours of the 31st Jany & 7th Febry are now before me. I am happy in being informed that the Govr of Virga has consented that their Muskett-factory shall equip yr Regimt with Carbines & Pistols. I have no doubt of your keeping the Workmen closely to their duty; nor of your using your best Endeavours to purchase proper horses. As I am not acquaintd with all the Gentlemen mentioned in yr Letter, shall defer my Approbation of them ’till they join the Army. I observe that You have appointed Messrs Jno. Stith & Willm Armistead—If they are the Gentn who were in the 4th & 6th Virga Batns, I must disapprove the Choice: They left the Army without permission, & must return to their Companies immediately, or expect to be treated roughly—If you find, upon Inquiry, the fact to be as I suppose it is, You will inform those Gentn of my Resolution, & fill up their Vacancies. Wishing you success equal to your warmest Desire I am Dear Sir, Yr most Obedient Servant

Go: Washington


Title: From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell, 1 March 1777
From: Washington, George
To: Campbell, Archibald

Sir
Morris Town March the 1st 1777

I last night received the favor of your letter of the 4th instant, and am much obliged by the opinion you are pleased to entertain of me.
I am not invested with the powers you suppose; & it is an incompatible

with my authority as my inclination to contravene any determinations Congress may make. But as it does not appear to me that your present treatment is required by any resolution of theirs, but is the result of misconception, I have written my opinion of the matter to Colonel Bowdoin, which I imagine will procure a mitigation of what you now suffer. I have also requested that inquiry be made into the case of Capt. Walker and proper steps taken to remove all just cause of complaint concerning him.
I shall always be happy to manifest my disinclination to any undue severities towards those whom the fortune of War may chance to throw into my hands. I am Sir &c.


Title: To George Washington from the Continental Congress Executive Committee, 1 March 1777
From: Continental Congress Executive Committee
To: Washington, George

Sir
Philada [1 March] 1777

The dispatches from Congress sent herewith came up last Night & we send them forward this Morning soon as the Express can be ready after delivering them to you he is to go on to the Convention of New York with the enclosed Letter from Congress to them, and you will please to deliver it to him for that purpose unless some conveyance equally safe & expeditious but less expensive offers, in that case the express may return here. We Issued orders in writing to every Department here, that have the care of Public Stores to be prepared for the removal of them & to the quarter Master General to supply the Number of Waggons necessary for each departmt, but we feel distressed exceedingly at the necessity of doing so, because the expence & destruction Occasioned thereby is terrible. They write us from Baltimore that the British Ships of War have left Chesapeak Bay, probably they may Visit us again. You wou’d see in the Boston papers an Acct of Doctr Franklins arrival in France & we have the pleasure to tell you the Acct is Confirmed by a private letter from Bourdeaux dated 23d Decr now in this City. As more Snow is now falling with appearance of being a heavy one, We cannot help flattering ourselves that it will afford you the means of taking many advantages of our Enemies & perhaps cause them to evacuate the Jerseys. With the warmest Wishes for your Success & happiness We are Your Excellency’s Most Obedt hble Servts

for & on behalf of the Committee
Robt Morris, Chair Man


Title: From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 1 March 1777
From: Washington, George
To: Cooke, Nicholas

Sir
Head quarters. Morris Town. 1st March 1777.

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your favour of the 18th Ulto by M. Green. As yet the Letter by you referred to, as explaining the Motives by which the General Assembly of your State were governed in ordering the Brigade to be raised for 15 Months, & the plan upon which they are inlisted, has not reached me. During the last Campain, the greatest part of the Army were at a considerable Continentl Expence well armed; from whence I had hopes that in arming our new one, no very great difficulty would obstruct Us—But in opposition to all my Orders & notwithstanding my utmost Vigilance, most of the Regiments going off at different times—from different Places, and under different Circumstances took off with them many that were put into their hands. These no doubt are still in possession of the Individuals who bore them away, and may, I should suppose, with little Expence & some activity in the Officers aided by the supreme Civil power in each State, be regained to the Public. Unless some such Step as this is adopted, & attended with Success, I fear we shall not be able to furnish a sufficient Number for our Soldiers—Satisfactory Answes to my repeated applications on this Subject have not yet been favoured me by Congress; So that I am still a Stranger to the resources they have—It therefore behoves each State to exert her most unwearied Activity in arming her quota before they March for the Field. Application is made to me by The Council of Massachusetts desiring that the 1800 Arms furnished to your State, by the Continental Agent at Boston may be delivered to their Troops ordered immediately to Tyconderoga. When I attend to your Situation & just Claim to a part, I can direct a return, but of 1200 of them; these you will be pleased to forward to them, with all Expedition. The important Post of Tyconderoga is weak, & I design to garrison it with the Troops (among others) of that State.
Our situation and prospect compell me in the most pressing manner to call your attention towards expediting the recruiting & equipping

of Your Battalions—I beg that not a moments time may be lost in innoculating them; & that, when over the Disorder, they may be marched immediately to Peekskill & placed under the Care of Brigr McDougall.


Title: From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 1 March 1777
From: Washington, George
To: Gates, Horatio

Dear Sir,
Morris Town 1st March 1777

Your Favor of 23d Ulto came to hand Yesterday with the inclos’d returns which I think are very extraordinary ones, particularly Colo. Penrose’s as I well remember having asked him early in December how his Regiment fill’d, & his answer as well as I can recollect was, that he then had got 300 Men—The returns of Desertion given in to you appear to be utterly impossible, should therefore be glad you would call the Colonels together, & endeavor to find out the Source of this Iniquitous Scheme; & if you are fortunate enough to fix it on any person to bring him to the most exemplary Punishment; You can at least fall upon some Plan for discouraging such proceedings in future, such as reviewing the Companies at certain times, or any other Method you think most likely to effect this necessary purpose.
The remainder of the two Virginia Regiments if not already pass’d by Philadelphia you will please order to be Inoculated there—& any other Continental Troops that come that way; If they could be Inoculated to the Sthward as they are Inlisted & have time to throw off the Infection before they March it would answer. But by Inoculating them in a Body they would spread the Disorder throughout the Country, as it would be necessary for them to March as soon as able; moreover as they will in general be Cloath’d & Accoutred in Philada the necessaries can be providing whilst they are under the Disorder.
I request your Attention to the Behaviour of Colo. Dehaas & his Friend Houseggar. The Abilities of the former I have a good Opinion of & am sorry he should take any turn to the prejudice of the Service. I suppose it is necessary to comply with the promise given the Men by Genl Schuyler. I am Dear Sir Yr Obedt Hhble Servt

Go: Washington


Title: From George Washington to Col. William Grayson, 1 March 1777 [letter not found]
From: Washington, George
To: Grayson, William

Letter not found: to Col. William Grayson, 1 Mar. 1777. Grayson wrote to GW on 1 April: “I wrote you by the last post an answer to your letter of the first of March from Morris town.”


Title: From George Washington to John Hancock, 1 March 1777
From: Washington, George
To: Hancock, John

Sir
Head Qrs Morristown March 1st 1777.

I was this Evening honoured with your favor of the 23d Ulto accompanied by sundry proceedings of Congress. Those respecting Genl Lee and which prescribe the treatment of Lt Colo. Campbell and the Five Hessian Feild Officers, are the Cause of this Letter.
Though I sincerely commiserate the misfortunes of Genl Lee, & feel much for his present, unhappy situation, yet with all possible deference to the Opinion of Congress, I fear that these Resolutions would not have the desired effect—are founded in impolicy, and will, if adhered to, produce consequences of an extensive, and melancholy nature.
Retaliation is certainly just & sometimes necessary even where attended with the severest penalties; But when the Evils which may and must result from it, exceed those intended to be redressed, prudence and policy require that it should be avoided.
Having premised thus much, I beg leave to examine the Justice and expediency of it in the instances now before us.
From the best information I have been able to obtain, Genl Lee’s usage has not been so disgracefull & dishonourable, as to authorize the treatment decreed to those Gentlemen, was it not prohibited by many other important considerations. His Confinement, I beleive, has been more rigorous than has been generally experienced by the rest of our Officers, or those of the Enemy who have been in our possession; but if the reports be true, received on that Head, he has been provided with a decent Apartment, and with most things necessary to render him comfortable. This is not the case with One of the Officers comprehended in the Resolves, if his Letter, of which a Copy is transmitted, deserves your credit. here retaliation seems to have been prematurely begun, or to speak with more propriety, Severities have been and are exercising towards Colo. Campbell, not justified by any that Genl Lee has yet received.
In point of policy, under the present situation of our Affairs, this Doctrine cannot be supported. The Ballance of prisoners is greatly against us, and a general regard to the happiness of the whole should

mark our conduct. Can we immagine that our Enemies will not mete the same punishments—the same indignities—the same cruelties to those belonging to us in their possession, that we impose on theirs in our power? Why should we suppose them to possess more Humanity than we have ourselves—Or why should an ineffectual attempt to releive the distresses of One brave unfortunate Man, involve many more in the same calamities. However disagreable the fact may be, the Enemy at this time have in their power and subject to their call, near Three hundred Officers belonging to the Army of the United States. In this number there are some of high rank, and the most of them are Men of bravery and of merit. The Quota of theirs in our hands, bears no proportion, being not more than Fifty at most. Under these circumstances we should certainly do no Act, to draw upon the Gentlemen belonging to us, & who have already suffered a long captivity, greater punishments than they have and now experience. If we should, what will their feelings be and those of their numerous & extensive Connections. Suppose the treatment prescribed for the Hessians should be pursued, will it not establish what the Enemy have been aiming to effect by every Artifice & the grossest misrepresentations? I mean an Opinion of our Enmity towards them, & of the cruel conduct they experience, when they fall into our Hands, A prejudice which we on our part have heretofore thought it politic to suppress, and to root out by every act of lenity and of kindness. It certainly will. The Hessians would hear of the punishment with all the circumstances of heightened exaggeration—would feel the injury without investigating the cause, or reasoning upon the justice or necessity of it. The mischeifs which may & must innevitably flow from the execution of the Resolves, appear to be endless & innumerable. On my own part I have been much embarrassed on the Subject of Exchanges already. Applications are daily made by both Friends & Enemies to compleat them as far as circumstances of Number & Rank will apply. Some of the former have complaind that a discrimination is about to be adopted perhaps injurious to their reputation, and certainly depriving them of their right of exchange in due course, as established upon the principles of Equality proposed last year—acceded to by both parties—& now subsisting. The latter charge me with a breach of faith and call upon me to perform the Agreement. Many more Objections might be subjoined were they material; I shall only observe, that the present State of our Army, if it deserves that name, will not authorize the language of retaliation or the Stile of menace. This will be conceded by all who know, that the whole of our force, is weak & trifling and composed of Militia (a very few regular Troops excepted) whose service is on the Eve of expiring.
There are several Other matters which might be mentioned upon

this Subject, would time and Opportunity permit, but as they will not, I beg leave to refer you to Colo. Walker who will deliver this and give satisfaction to any inquiries that may be deemed necessary. persuading myself that Congress will indulge the liberty I have taken upon this occasion, I have only to wish for the result of their deliberations after they have reconsidered the Resolves, and to assure them that I have the Honor to be with every sentiment of respect their Most Obedt Servt

Go: Washington


Title: From George Washington to John Jay, 1 March 1777
From: Washington, George
To: Jay, John

Middlebrook, March 1, 1777.
 [Private.]Dear Sir:

I have been a little surprised that the several important pieces of intelligence lately received from Europe (such parts of it, I mean, as are circulated without reserve in conversation) have not been given to the public in a manner calculated to attract the attention and impress the minds of the people. As they are now propagated, they run through the country in a variety of forms, are confounded in the common mass of general rumors, and lose a real part of their effect. It would certainly be attended with many valuable consequences if they could be given to the people in some more authentic and pointed manner. It would assist the measures taken to restore our currency, promote the recruiting of the army and our other military arrangements, and give a certain spring to our affairs in general.
Congress may have particular reasons for not communicating the intelligence officially (which would certainly be the best mode if it could be done), but if it can not it were to be wished that as much as is intended to be commonly known could be published in as striking a way, and with as great an appearance of authority as may be consistent with propriety.

I have taken the liberty to trouble you with this hint, as sometimes things the most obvious escape attention. If you agree with me in sentiment, you will easily fall upon the most proper mode for answering the purpose. With great esteem, etc.,

Geo. Washington.


Title: From George Washington to Major Apollos Morris, 1 March 1777
From: Washington, George
To: Morris, Apollos

Sir
Morris Town 1st March 1777

I am favor’d with yours of 18th Ulto & upon perusing your Letter to Genl Howe, am sorry to find myself under the Necessity of returning it to you, as forwarding it by a flag from this would have the Appearance of our asking these Questions in an indirect manner, which are already answer’d to the Satisfaction of Congress & indeed of every individual engag’d in this dispute—for your private Satisfaction I wish it was consistent with my duty to indulge you in this matter, nor would I have any Objection to your Letter being sent in by any Mode of Conveyance, which could not be construed or suppos’d by Genl Howe to come from any Authority on this Side—You are sensible that Independance has been declar’d by the United States, nor could they in my Opinion for the sake of Engaging the first Military Genius in Europe in their Service, recede a single Iota from it, so that let my Inclination be never so great to have the addition of a Man of your Abilities to our Army, it must be under the same Circumstances that every other Gentleman has Engag’d.
I thank you for your Kind professions of Attachment to me & shall be glad to hear that you have reconcil’d the principles of our Opposition to your private Opinion. I am &C.

G.W.


Title: From George Washington to the New York Convention, 1 March 1777
From: Washington, George
To: New York Convention

Headquarters. Morris Town. 1s. March 1777

During the last Campain, the greatest part of the Army were, at a considerable Continental Expence, well armed; from whence I had hopes that in arming our new one, no very great difficulty would obstruct us. But in opposition to all my Orders, and notwithstanding my

utmost Vigilance, most of the Regimts going off at differt times—from difft Places—& under different Circumstances, took off with them many that were put into their hands. These no doubt are still in possession of the Individuals who bore them away, and may, I should suppose, with little Expence & some Activity in the Officers aided by the supreme Civil power in each State, be regained to the public. Unless some such Step as this is adopted, & attended with success, I fear We shall not be able to furnish a sufficient Number for our Soldiers. Satisfactory Answers to my repeated Applications on this Subject have not yet been favoured me by Congress: So that I am still a Stranger to the Resources they have. It therefore behoves each State, in Addition to my Endeavours, to exert her most unwearied Activity in arming her Quota before they march for the Field.
Our Situation & prospects compell me, in the most pressing manner to call your Attention towards expediting the recruiting & equipping of yr Batns. I beg that not a Moment’s time may be lost in innoculating them, & that (when over the Disorder) they may be marched immediately to Peekskill & placed under the Care of Brigr McDougall. The advanced season of the Year renders an Attack upon Tyconderoga over the Ice not so much to be dreaded, as to induce me to prepare against a possible Inconvenience there, at the Expence of not guarding effectually against a certain one here—Wherefore I have determined to send no more of yr Batns to that place, having ordered a sufficient force from the East. I have the honor to be Gentlemen Your most Obedt Servant.


Title: From George Washington to William Shippen, Jr., 1 March 1777
From: Washington, George
To: Shippen, William Jr.

Sir,
Morris Town (New Jersey) 1st March 1777

I am sorry that any of the Continental Troops which have not had the small-pox, should have been lately marched past Philadelphia, without suffering Inoculation; as accommodations are so much better there, than here, & as in the natural way that Disorder proves so fatal, to the Soldiery. I have however written to Genl Gates fully on this Subject.
I wish you would look out for Surgeons, & indeavour to Supply each Continental Regiment with one as the Troops pass by you. I am so conscious that the Surgeon’s Wages are too low, that I shall use my Influence with Congress to have them advanced.


Title: From George Washington to Captain Benjamin Tallmadge, 1 March 1777
From: Washington, George
To: Tallmadge, Benjamin

Sir
Head Quarters Morris Town 1st March 1777

In answer to yours of the 20th last Month I must inform you, that the Order respecting the Colour of Horses, particularly excepted to Whites or those near White, as being too conspicuous for the purpose of reconnoitering, for which the Light Horse will be much used.
I would not wish to have even dark Greys, if others equally good could be got, but if they cannot, you may purchase them, and when

they change Colour by Age, we must put them to other Uses in the Army. I am Sir Yr most obt Servt

Go: Washington


Title: General Orders, 2 March 1777
From: Washington, George
To:

Head-Quarters, Morristown, March 2nd 1777.
Winchester.Fairfax.


Title: From George Washington to the Continental Congress Executive Committee, 2 March 1777
From: Washington, George
To: Continental Congress Executive Committee

Gentlemen
Head Quarters Morris Town 2d March 1777

I was last Night honored with yours of the 26th last Month, inclosing the late Resolves of Congress. My opinions upon the parts that relate to Genl Lee, you will find at Length in mine to the Congress of this date, which after perusing, you will please to forward by Colo. Walker, who goes immediately to Baltimore if the Congress should not have adjourned from thence. If they have, I agree with you, that Lancaster will be the safest and properest place for them to sit.
I never meant that the public Stores should be removed in such a manner as would give any Alarm to the Inhabitants, and I gave early notice, that they might be began upon in time, and carried off by degrees. By these Means, the Business may be done imperceptibly as it were, and the people not distracted by Fears that may prove groundless. I am Gentlemen with true Respect Yr most obt Servt

Go: Washington


Title: From George Washington to Robert Morris, 2 March 1777
From: Washington, George
To: Morris, Robert

Dr Sir,
Morristown March 2d 1777.

Your favour of the 27th Ulto came to my hands last night—the freedom with which you have communicated your Sentiments on several matters therein contained is highly pleasing to me, for be assured Sir, that nothing would add more to my satisfaction than an unreserved Corrispondance with a Gentleman, of whose abilities and attachment to the Cause we are contending to support, I entertain so high an opinion of as I do of yours. Letters however, being liable to various accidents makes a communication of thoughts that way rather unsafe, but as this will be conveyed by a Gentleman on whom I can depend, I shall not scruple to disclose my Mind—and Situation—more freely than I otherwise should do.
The reasons my good Sir which you assign for thinking Genl Howe cannot move forward with his Army are good, but not conclusive—It is a descriptive Evidence of the difficulties he has to contend with, but no proof that they cannot be surmounted—It is a view of one side of

the Picture, against which let me enumerate the advantages of the other, and see which preponderates.
Genl Howe cannot, by the best Intelligence I have been able to get, have less than 10,000 Men in the Jerseys and on board of the Transports at Amboy—Ours does not exceed 4,000—His are well Officerd, well disciplined, and well appointed—Ours raw Militia, badly Officered, and ungovernable—His numbers cannot, in any short time be augmented—Ours must, very considerably (and by such Troops as we can have some reliance on,) or the game is at an end—His situation with respect to Horses & forage is bad, very bad I grant—but will it be better? No—on the contrary, it is growing daily worse, and therefore an Inducement, if no other, to shift Quarters—Genl Howes Informants are too numerous, & well acquainted with all these Circumstances to suffer him to remain ignorant of them; with what propriety then can he miss so favourable an oppertunity of striking a capitol stroke against a City from whence we derive so many advantages, the success of which wou’d give so much eclat to his Arms, and strike such a damp upon ours. Nor is his difficulty of removing so great as is immagined—All the heavy Baggage of the Army—their Salt Provisions—Flour—Stores—&ca—might go round by Water, whilst by their superiority of numbers, they might Sweep the Country round about of Horses, left by us.
In addition to all this, Genl Howes coming over to Brunswick himself—his bringing Troops which cannot be Quartered, & keeping them on Ship board at Amboy, with many other corroborating Circumstances did induce me firmly to believe that he would move—and towards Philadelphia—and I candidly own, that I expected it would have taken place before the expiration of my Proclamation—the longer it is delayed however the better for us, and happy shall I be, if I am disappointed.
My opinions upon these several matters are only known to those who have a right to be informed—As much as possible I have endeavour’d to conceal them from every one else—And, that no hasty remove of the Public Stores at Philadelphia shd take place (thereby communicating an alarm) it was, that I early recommended this measure, and have since urged it, well knowing that if it shd be hastily set about when the Enemy were advancing, unfavourable Impressions would be given, & bad consequences follow. To deceive Congress, or you through whose hands my Letters to them went, with false colourings, & unwarrantable assurances, would, in my Judgment be criminal, and make me responsable for Consequences—I have endeavourd in my Accts therefore to paint things as they really appeard to me, without adding to, or diminishing ought from the Picture.

I wish with all my heart that Congress had gratified Genl Lee in his request—If not too late I wish they would do it still—I can see no possible evil that can result from it—some good I think might—The request was his, not the Commissioners, where then was the danger of hearing what he had to say; especially as he declard that it nearly concernd himself.
The resolve to put into close confinement Lt Colo. Campbell and the Hessian Field Officers in order to retaliate Genl Lees punishment upon them, is, in my opinion, injudicious in every point of view; and must, I conceive, have been entered into without due attention to Circumstances, & Consequences. Does Congress know how much the Balle of Prisoners is against us? that the Enemy have near, if not quite, 300 Officers of ours in their possession & we scarce Fifty of theirs? That Generals Thompson and Waterbury are subject to a recall? Do they immagine that these Officers will not share the fate of Campbell &ca? or, possibly by receiving very different Treatment, mixed with artful Insinuations, have their resentments roused to Acts highly Injurious to our cause, & that It is much easier to raise than allay Resentments, I believe no one will deny. To this may be added, that evry Artifice is now practising to instill into the Hessians (in Howes Army) an Idea of our Cruelty to their Brethren with us, that we are actually selling of them as slaves. will not the close confinemt therefore of their principal Officers be adduced as strong Evidence of this—the confinement will be proved to them—the cause will be concealed. In a word, Congress should be cautious in adopting measures that cannot be carried into Execution without drawing after them a train of consequences that may be destructive in their effects.
To Sum up the whole; common prudence dictates the necessity of duly attending to the Circumstances of both Armies before the Style of a Conqueror is assumed by either—And sorry I am to add, that this does not appear to be the case with us—nor is it in my power to make C—ss fully sensible of the real Situation of our Affairs, and that it is with difficulty (if I may use the expression) that I can by every means in my power keep the life and Soul of this Army together—In short when they are at a distance they think it is but to say—Presto begone—and every thing is done—or in other words to resolve, without considering, or seeming to have any conception, of the difficulties & perplexities attending those who are to carry those Resolves into effect—Indeed Sir, your observations on our want of many principal Characters in that respectable Senate, are but too well founded in truth. however our Cause is just, & I hope Providence will aid us in the Support of it.
If the Resolves of Congress respecting Genl Lee strikes you in the same light it has done me I could wish you would signify as much to

them, as I really think they are fraught with much Evil—We know that the Meeting of a Comee of Congress and Lord Howe stopped the Mouths of many disaffected People—I believe the same would happen in the present Instance, for there will be enough to say, if the application is known, & not complied with, that the Congress were determin’d to listen to nothing. but the other matter relative to the Confinement of the Officers is what I am particularly concernd about, as I think it will Involve much more than Congress has an Idea of. & will bring on repentance when it is too late if carried into execution.
I have wrote you a much longer Letter than I expected when I Sat down to it; and yet if time woud permit I could enlarge greatly on the Subject of it—At present I shall beg pardon for taking up so much of your time and only assure you that I am most sincerely Dr Sir Yr Most Obedt Servt

Go: Washington


Title: To George Washington from Major General Joseph Spencer, 2 March 1777
From: Spencer, Joseph
To: Washington, George

Dear Genl
Providence 2d March 1777

we have made the necessary preparations for making a Descent on Rhode Island in almost Every perticular and Should have soon proceeded if we had not been Intirely Prevented for want of men, I was in hopes of having troops Sufficient for that purpose after I have permission from your Excellency to Call in some Continental troops so as to have made the tryal before the troops now at this place would Leave us, the Engagements in General of those from the Massechusitts and Connecticut will Terminate by the 15th of this month. I had no perticular Directions from your Excellency what Continental Regts to Call in, I therefore applyed Both to the State of the Masechusets and the State of Connecticut to See what Troops there were that Could be had for this Emergency, and to Expedite the matter I Desired Genl Arnold to go himself to Boston, I Applyed Both to the Governor of Connecticut and Genl Parsons on this Subject, and Receivd for answer that all the Contenantal troops in the States of Masechusets had orders from your Excellency to March Imediately to Ticondaroga, and that all those troops Raised in the State of Connecticut were Directed to take the Small pox by way of Inocculation Imediately, and that the number of those Continental Soldiers in Connecticut that have had the Small pox are Very Small and Inconsiderable, a Coppy of a Letter from Genl

Arnold and one from Genl Parsons Relative to this—I herewith Transmit to your Excellency, to Evince to your Excellency that I have proceeded with the advice of the Genl Officers in making the preparations which I have made for a Descent on Rhode Island I Send a Coppy of the Opinion of a Council of the Genl officers of this army, and observe that I have procured Every necessary with as Little Expence to the Continent as Possible. I have Collected all the Boats I possibly Could in the Adjasent parts of the Country to prevent the Charge of building boats, the Council advised, to the building a Hundred Flat Bottomed Boats, we have built onely Seventy four, which with what we have Collected is Sufficient to Carry the Artillery and necessary Stores and Eight Thousand men. I have also procured from Boston Ten Field Carriges for four and six pounders and have been at Very Little Expence in building Carriges for the guns, the guns we have from this State and perticular Gentlemen that belong to it—I Committed the Care and Conduct of buildind the boats to Genl Arnold, I beleive thay are as good boats and as well Constructed as any I have Seen, that have been built by the Contenant. they will Carry Each on an Averidge fifty men Very well—Soon after the Resolutions of the Genl officers in favor of Making an attack on Rhode Island and before I attempted to order the building of boats or was at any Considerable Expence, in making preparations therefor, I applyed to the Respective States to See wheather I might Depend upon haveing their full Quotas of men Soon to join this army, and in perticular to the State of the Massichusets to know wheather I might depend not onely on their Quota of men, but also a Thousand Continental Troops from that State which the Committees, from the Several States agreed Should Join this army, as part of the Six Thousand men, when I applyed to the State of the Massichusets Relative to troops I also applyd to them for Several other things, and on the whole Receivd an answer from their assembly—a Coppy of which I Send to your Excellency—from the answer I received from the Several States I had reason to Expect we Should Soon have to Join this army the Number of men agreed upon, by the Several States, depending on this and that we Could have Such an additional Number from this State and the adjacent Parts of the other States as Volunteers that would be Sufficient to make the Descent on Rhode Island with a good prospect, I then ordered the preparations to be made with utmost Expedition—The Disappoint we have met with in the failure of troops for our Designd Emergency has been Shocking to me not onely as it Gives me pain to put the Contenant to fruitless Expence but I am Concernd for fear we Shall Soon be with out an army at this Place Except what is provided by this State, and they think themselve much Burdand by what they now do. this army now Consist of about five

Thousand men officers Included to gether with the Invalids, about fifteen Hundred and Fifty of that number are from the Masichusets, and Nine Hundred and fifty from Connecticut—The two Thousand five Hundred from this State, are Cheifly of the Melitia and what is here Called the alarm List men which Includes all under the age of Sixty not of the Melitia—The Melitia here and Alarm List men are Cald in to join the army, one Third at a time, by Rotation once a month New Hampshire has yet Sent no Troops to this army, those from the Masichusets and Connecticut as I have Mentioned before the time that they Engaged for is nearly Expired, I applyed to those two States without Delay (when I Saw my hopes of Continental Troops was frustrated) Intrusting them States to Supply this army with Troops agreeable to their Respective Quotas and Seasonably to replace those whose times would be out Soon, with other men, but I fear it will not be Done in Season Besides this is a very bad part of the Country to Defend against the Enemy, the Shore from here to Point Judith to keep the waters Edge Round the Necks and Points is upwards of seventy Miles and it is full as far from hence to Seconnet Point, and it is Very Easy for the Enemy, Very soon to Move to any part of this Shore—The Enemy at Rhod Island by all the acounts we have here are much as they were when I wrote Last—I Send this by Mr Lerned as Express a Gentleman who has been preaching for Some time in this Town he will probably be able to give your Excellency Information about many things which I have Omitted. I have the Honor to be with great Respect and Esteem Your Excellencys Most Obedient Humble Servant

Jos: Spencer


Title: To George Washington from Brigadier General David Wooster, 2 March 1777
From: Wooster, David
To: Washington, George

May It please Your Excellency
Rye Neck [N.Y.] March 2 1777

Your Excellency’s favor of the 24th Ult. came to hand yesterday. I am sorry to inform that it was not in my power to persuade my Troops to continue at New-Rochelle, so near a much superior force of The Enemy: and having very good inteligence that about fourteen hundred from Long-Island had actualy landed on City-Island with design to surround and attack us. But a Storm prevented their landing on The

Main and they returned leaving a strong guard on the last mentioned Island.
The Troops here are dayly inlisting into the Continental Army so that we are now rendered very weak, our whole strength not exceeding six hundred and fifty rank & file fit for duty, but have assurances of being reinforced from this State in a few days. In the mean time I send out every day all but my necessary guards to East & West Chester, in order to prevent the Enemy from foraging and to give every possible assistance to the Committee of Convention to bring off all they can.
We are informed that but few Troops are left in New-York; General Robinson sailed last week, (it is said), for England with twenty sail of Transports carrying off the Sick, wounded &c: General Pigot commands in his stead.
I beg leave to inform Your Excellency that on Tuesday of last week two men, boatmen, belonging to East Chester, John & James Stanton ran off to New York and the very next day were honored with a Flag of Truce from Lord Howe to pass to Rye to carry a Widow woman and her effects to New York. They accordingly proceeded to Rye with a Flag at mast-head, and on their arrival there John Stanton went on Shore, travelled through the Country to New Rochelle, through my Camp and to my quarters without the least signature of a Flag or letter to any Officer commanding here, for which reason as well as their having no proper Officer with them, and as they say having never sworn allegiance to The King of Great Britain, I thought proper to detain them untill I could have Your Excellencys opinion on the Subject.
Your Excellency may be assured I shall exert myself and recommend it to all my Officers by all the ways & means in Our power. I have the honor to be with the greatest respect your Excellency’s most obedient humble Servt

Davd Wooster


Title: General Orders, 3 March 1777
From: Washington, George
To:

Head-Quarters, Morristown, March 3rd 1777.
Savannah.Georgia.


Title: From George Washington to Brigadier General Benedict Arnold, 3 March 1777
From: Washington, George
To: Arnold, Benedict

Dear Sir
Morris Town March 3d 1777

I am to acknowledge the receipt of your favour of the 10th of last month, with the enclosed papers.
I must recall your attention to what I have before said on the subject of your intended attack. You must be sensible that the most serious ill consequences may and would, probably, result from it in case of failure; and prudence dictates that it should be cautiously examined in all its lights, before it is attempted. Unless your strength and circumstances be such, that you can reasonably promise yourself a moral certainty of succeeding, I would have you by all means to relinquish the undertaking, and confine yourself, in the main, to a defensive opposition.
We have lately had several promotions to the rank of Major General, and I am at a loss whether you have had a preceding appointment, as the news-papers announce, or whether you have been omitted through some mistake. Should the latter be the case I beg you will not take any hasty steps in consequence of it, but allow proper time for recollection, which, I flatter myself, will remedy any error that may have been made. My endeavours to that end shall not be wanting; as I am with great respect Dr sir Yr most Obdt servant

G.W.