George Washington Papers, Series 3, Subseries 3C, Varick Transcripts, Letterbook 4
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
George Washington Papers, Series 3, Subseries 3C, Varick Transcripts, Letterbook 4 To GOVERNOR WILLIAM LIVINGSTON October 20, 1780. [See Circular to the States, October 18, 1780] To GOVERNOR GEORGE CLINTON Head Quarters near Passaic, October 21, 1780. Dear Sir: I do myself the honor to inclose Your Excellency the Copy of a Letter which has just come to hand from Mr Duer. 39 Although the testimony contained in it does not seem to be so direct as to make Mr. Smith obnoxious to a Military process, Yet, agreeable to Mr. Duer's request, I thought it necessary you should be apprized of it, that the State may be enabled to take the proper measures for the public safety. How far this information ought to co-operate with other circumstances to have Mr Smith removed from the vicinity of our Posts at Kings Ferry, Your Excellency, from a full knowledge of his character 40 and connections, will be better able to determine than I am. I have the honor etc. To WILLIAM DUER Head Quarters, Prekaness, October 21, 1780. Sir: I have transmitted a Copy of your letter of the 11th., which only reached me last evening, to Governor Clinton, as I did not 39. Thomas Smith. He was a brother of Joshua Hett Smith, and was reported to have been seen in New York City. 40. The draft is in the writing of David Humphreys. George Washington Papers, Series 3, Subseries 3C, Varick Transcripts, Letterbook 4 http://www.loc.gov/resource/mgw3c.004 think it contained evidence sufficient to support a military trial. It may however, added to other circumstances of a very suspicious nature, furnish the Legislature with good reasons for removing the Gentleman in question from Hayerstraw, which, from its vicinity to our posts, affords him an opportunity of gaining and giving intelligence very material to the enemy and injurious to us. Of his 41 dispositions to do this there is little doubt. I am &c. To GOVERNOR THOMAS SIM LEE Head Quarters, Preckaness, October 23, 1780. Sir: Major General Greene, who goes to take command of the Southern Army, will have the honor of presenting this to Your Excellency. I have advised him to take the several States in his way, which are immediately concerned in furnishing Men and supplies for the department committed to his direction, that he may gain a more accurate knowledge of the forwardness they are in, a tolerable Idea of what may be his future expectations, and endeavour to settle some plans for the regular support and subsistence of the Army in provisions, Forage and transportation. I am well aware of the embarrassments under which the Southern States labor, and of the many difficulties which are to be 41. The draft is in the writing of Tench Tilghman. surmounted. But I have a very full dependance that the most vigorous exertions will be made by them upon the present occasion; and the entire confidence I have in the abilities, fortitude and integrity of General Greene, founded on a long and intimate experience of them, assures me that he will do every thing his means will enable him to do; and I doubt not, candid allowances will be made for the peculiar difficulties he has to encounter. I recommend him to your State as worthy of its utmost confidence and support, and to your Excellency, personally, as one whom I rank among the number of my Friends. With the greatest 74 Respect and Esteem etc. [MD.H.S.] To GOVERNOR JONATHAN TRUMBULL George Washington Papers, Series 3, Subseries 3C, Varick Transcripts, Letterbook 4 http://www.loc.gov/resource/mgw3c.004 Head Quarters near Passaic Falls, October 28, 1780. Dear Sir: I am to request your Excellency to direct the salt Beef mentioned in your letter of the 31st: of August, and concerning which 74. In the writing of Tench Tilghman. The same letter was sent to Govs. Thomas Jefferson and Abner Nash. It is printed by Sparks under date of Oct. 22, 1780. I wrote to you from Harford, to be forwarded with as much expedition as possible to Fishkill landing, by the upper route, as that by Crumpond has become dangerous, from the incursions of the Enemy's Refugee Corps. I am the more anxious to have this parcel of salt provision brought speedily to the North River, as I see no other, on which I can depend, for furnishing a Winter supply for the important Garrison of Fort schuyler, and if it is not got up to that post in the month of November, it will be extremely difficult afterwards, from the badness of the Road. Although the season is already arrived when the Magazines of salt Meat, for the ensuing Winter and Campaign, should be laid in, I cannot learn that the Commissary General has been enabled to put up a single Barrel; so far from it, it is with difficulty the troops, in any quarter, are subsisted upon fresh 11 Meat from day to day. I have the honor &c. To GOVERNOR GEORGE CLINTON OR IN HIS ABSENCE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR VAN 13 CORTLANDT Head Quarters, Prackness, October 29, 1780. Sir: I have the honor to transmit your Excellency the proceedings of the Court Martial upon Joshua 14 Smith; by which you will perceive out of four charges exhibited against him the Jurisdiction of the Court was only found competent to one, of which they 11. In the writing of Tench Tilghman. 13. Lieut. Gov. Pierre Van Cortlandt. 14. Joshua Hett Smith. George Washington Papers, Series 3, Subseries 3C, Varick Transcripts, Letterbook 4 http://www.loc.gov/resource/mgw3c.004 15 have acquitted him for want of sufficient evidence. As he was brought out of Your State into this for trial, I have thought proper to send him back to West Point. I think it necessary to inform you, that he will be shortly released from confinement unless the Civil Authority should interpose to 16 demand him. I have the honor etc. 17 P.S. When you have considered the Proceedings you will please to return them. To GOVERNOR JOHN HANCOCK Head Quarters, October 31, 1780. Sir: Upon the representation of Mr. Morey that two Negro Men belonging to him, were detained as Soldiers in the Massachusetts Line contrary to his inclination, I gave directions to Brigadier General Glover to appoint a Board of Officers to enquire into the Justice of his claim and to report the facts with their opinion thereon. A Copy of this Report I now do Myself the honor to inclose to you. As Mr Morey is a subject of your State, and the question appears to be how far the several circumstances stated in the Report ought to affect his property I have thought proper to refer the matter to Your opinion; having no object in view but 15. New Jersey. 16. Smith was imprisoned by the civil authority of New York, but escaped before he was brought to trial and succeeded in getting into New York City. 17. In the writing of David Humphreys. From a photostat in the Washington Papers. a desire that equal justice may be done to the public and the individual concerned. I have the honor 37 etc. To GOVERNOR JONATHAN TRUMBULL Head Quarters near Passaic Falls, November 1, 1780. George Washington Papers, Series 3, Subseries 3C, Varick Transcripts, Letterbook 4 http://www.loc.gov/resource/mgw3c.004 Dear Sir: I was yesterday honored with your Excellency's favor of the 27th. ulto. The letters inclosed for the president of Congress were immediately forwarded by Express. I am happy in believing that the dispatches for which you are apprehensive were not in the Mail lately lost at Stratford as the new Regulations for the Army were not compleated when that post left Philadelphia. They were finished the 21st ulto. and I hope will reach most of the Legislatures during their Fall Session. I have the honor etc. P.S. I transmitted Your Excellency some very important dispatches on the 18th: ulto. I hope they have 64 got safe to hand. 37. The draft is in the writing of David Humphreys. 64. In the writing of Tench Tilghman. From the original in the Connecticut State Library. 74 To REVEREND DIRCK ROMEYN Head Quarters, Colo. Dey's, November 3, 1780. Sir: His Excellency General Washington has been informed, within two days past, that another embarkation, under the command of Sir Henry Clinton in person, is preparing at New York. Should this be so, it is more than probable that you will have heard something of it, as the Communication between Hackensack and Bergen is frequent. You will be good enough to let me know, by return of the Bearer, whether any thing of the kind has come to your knowledge, with any particulars which you may have collected. Should you at any time in future gain any intelligence, which you may think material, you will oblige His Excellency and render essential public service by communicating it to 75 him. I am etc. To PRESIDENT JOSEPH REED Head Quarters, Prekaness, November 4, 1780. 78 Dear Sir: I have received information from New York that a person who is called George Fustner, 79 and who is Brother in law to Rankin formerly of York County, comes frequently out as a Spy by George Washington Papers, Series 3, Subseries 3C, Varick Transcripts, Letterbook 4 http://www.loc.gov/resource/mgw3c.004 74. Of the Dutch Reformed Church, Hackensack, N. J. 75. The draft is in the writing of and is signed “T. Tilghman, A. D.