Peekskill Letters for the years 1777 thru 1781

Peekskill, NY - 4 January 1777

I have just arrived here; find only part of two regiments of the militia, from the Massachusetts. The badness of the roads hath much retarded the troops.

Peekskill, NY - 9 March 1777

When I had completed the disagreeable retreat from Canada, I was with circumstances of indignity. Since which, and before, every Major-General, except myself, has had the honor of commanding posts, separated from the main army.

Peekskill, NY - 14 July 1777

you are forthwith to repair to Norwalk, Fairfield, and the places adjacent on the Sound, transmit me without delay the intelligence you shall from time to time receive of the movements of the enemy

Peekskill, NY - 21 July 1777

I was this morning favoured with your excellency's letter of the 29th ult., and my appointment to Colonel Malcolm's regiment.

Peekskill, NY - 31 July 1777

I received your favor of the 28th instant, and have, according to your direction, ordered two brigades, namely, General McDougall's and Huntington's, to put their heavy baggage over the river, and to be in readiness to march

Peekskill, NY - 27 September 1777

he informs me that General Howe's army had found means to cross Schuylkill several miles below his army...

Peekskill, NY - 29 September 1777

By order from General Washington, all the troops from this post, except about eleven hundred Continental and four hundred of the militia, are withdrawn.

Peekskill, NY - 4 October 1777

This morning we had information from our guard-boats, That there were two ships of war, three tenders, and a large number of fiat-bottomed boats, coming up the river.

Peekskill, NY - 15 November 1777

The troops now remaining with General Putnam will amount to about the number you intended, though they are not exactly the same. He has detached Colonel Charles Webb's regiment to you.

Peekskill, NY - 25 June 1778

To prevent the enemy's army, now marching across the Jerseys, from receiving any considerable reenforcement from the troops in and near New York, I propose moving the main body of this army to the White Plains

Peekskill, NY - 14 January 1779

Handcuffs will be sent you as soon as they can be made. If you have a number of prisoners at any time to send up, let them be fastened right and left hands, and the guard cut the strings of their breeches

Peekskill, NY - 15 January 1779

I am much mortified that Captain Brown should have merited your putting him in an arrest. But you have done your duty, for which accept my thanks.

Peekskill, NY - 22 January 1779

There are reasons, which I shall explain to you at a proper time, why ----- should not be sought after.

Peekskill, NY - 26 January 1779

He brings with him forty men, I believe as good as any in the army.

Peekskill, NY - 6 February 1779

For the future, order the sentry who does not fire the alarm one hundred lashes, and the like number to any who shall part with his arms without its being wrested from him by the enemy

Peekskill, NY - 7 February 1779

I directed Major Platt, some days since, to inform you, no provision of any kind should be suffered to go below you till further orders.

Peekskill, NY - 15 February 1779

I intend to send down the remains of Colonel Poor's regiment for a few days, to cover a forage making by Mr. Hayes near Mamaroneck; and shall send by them public arms, with bayonets, to be exchanged for yours which want them.

Peekskill, NY - 23 February 1779

Cammell will be down shortly to pay off accounts. One dollar per day is allowed for a saddle-horse.

Peekskill, NY - 23 February 1779

Your several favours have been handed to me. I have not time now to answer them fully.

Peekskill, NY - 26 February 1779

Colonel Putnam is ordered to march and join you, and to act as circumstances shall cast up.

Peekskill, NY - 27 February 1779

At half past ten of the same evening, five boxes of ammunition was sent to you from King's ferry, by water, with orders to keep close in shore, for fear of accidents.

Peekskill, NY - 6 March 1779

Enclosed you have a list of horse-thieves and others who act very prejudicial to our cause. I wish to have them taken and sent up here.

Peekskill, NY - 11 March 1779

If the militia of Colonel Drake's are good men, arm them of General Paterson's, and I will replace them to him.

Peekskill, NY - 20 March 1779

My late intelligence from New-York and headquarters clearly mark the enemy's intention to make a movement very soon.

Peekskill, NY - 2 June 1779

Colonel Burr, being on urgent public business, is to be put across the ferry to New-Windsor without delay.

Peekskill, NY - 27 June 1781

It would have given me the greatest pleasure could I have made it convenient to meet you at Newtown ; but independently of many arrangements, which are necessary at the first taking of the field, I am detained

Peekskill, NY - 28 June 1781

Your opinion of the absolute necessity of a repeal of all Under laws, before a new species of paper, though upon ever so good an establishment, will gain credit with the public, is certainly founded upon reason

Peekskill, NY - 29 June 1781

I have since that heard a thousand vague reports of your situation, and that of the enemy, but none of them satisfactory.

Peekskill, NY - 30 June 1781

Its object is to inform the Count, that I have in contemplation a very sudden surprise of some post of the enemy, which will be of very great importance in our operations

Peekskill, NY - 30 June 1781

You will immediately on the receipt of this be pleased to collect as many men of your command as you possibly can, and march them from the place of rendezvous, so as to form a junction, without fail, with Colonel Sheldon

Peekskill, NY - 30 June 1781

In the fullest confidence I inform you, that I intend to make an attempt by surprise upon the enemy's posts on the north end of York Island, on Monday night.

Peekskill, NY - 1 July 1781

My ideas, as to the most probable mode of attaining this object, have been minutely detailed in the several conversations which we have had upon the subject, and you have been furnished with such papers as I have been able to collect

Peekskill, NY - 1 July 1781

As the Duke will be a stranger to that part of the country, which is to be the scene of your operations, it will be in your power to give him much assistance and information

Peekskill, NY - 2 July 1781

If your Excellency should think fit to alter the time of the arrival of the stores from Philadelphia, I pray you to write to the Board of War on the subject.

Peekskill, NY - 2 July 1781

I think it will be very well for your Excellency to proceed to-morrow to North Castle, where you will continue until you assemble your whole force

Peekskill, NY - 2 July 1781

The arrangement you have made, for the periods of transportation of the heavy stores from Philadelphia, agrees perfectly with my ideas of the matter