Yorktown Letters for the years 1777 thru 1781

Yorktown, PA - 30 September 1777

I wish soon to receive the most pleasing accounts from you. We are in daily expectation of agreeable tidings, and that General Howe is totally reduced.

Yorktown, PA - 30 September 1777

the Congress were alarmed in their beds by a letter from Mr. Hamilton, one of General Washington's family, that the enemy was in possession of the ford over the Schuylkill

Yorktown, PA - 7 October 1777

One thing is now becoming more and more certain every day, that is, that our people will and do fight. And although they make a clumsy hand of it, yet they do better and better.

Yorktown, PA - 9 October 1777

It is with the highest pleasure I comply with the order of Congress, in conveying to you the inclosed resolve, expressing the thanks of that body to you for the wise and well-concerted attack upon the enemy, near Germantown

Yorktown, PA - 9 October 1777

They have, for this end, authorized you to sentence, by court-martial, any person convicted of either of the above-mentioned offense

Yorktown, PA - 12 October 1777

the enemy have, at different times, compelled our troops, who are prisoners with them, to labor, and that a number are at this time actually engaged in throwing up some works at and near Kensington

Yorktown, PA - 15 October 1777

Government and law in the States, large taxation, and strict discipline in our armies, are the only things wanting as human means.

Yorktown, PA - 17 October 1777

As the Congress will doubtless proceed to appoint a successor in my stead, on him, therefore, will devolve the business of the chair. It will fall within the line of his duty to keep up that connection and correspondence with you

Yorktown, PA - 24 October 1777

News I am afraid to write, be cause I never know, until it is too late, what is true.

Yorktown, PA - 25 October 1777

A few months relaxation will, I hope, restore my health and constitution, and enable me still to contribute my feeble efforts, in some mode or other, to the advancement of the cause of freedom in America

Yorktown, PA - 25 October 1777

As to news we are yet in a painful suspense about affairs at the northward, but from Philadelphia, we have accounts that are very pleasing.

Yorktown, PA - 26 October 1777

The forts at Province Island and Redbank have been defended with a magnanimity which will give our country a reputation in Europe.

Yorktown, PA - 28 October 1777

WE have been three days soaking and poaching in the heaviest rain that has been known for several years

Yorktown, PA - 19 March 1778

in the language of an old soldier and of a citizen, that, in coming to America, my sole object has been to devote myself entirely to her welfare and glory, in using every exertion in my individual power to secure her freedom.

Yorktown, PA - 4 April 1778

While General Burgoyne was at General Schuyler's house, in Albany, he wrote as follows to Lord George Germain, October 20th, 1777, concerning the American troops.

Yorktown, PA - 8 April 1778

Upon reading the first, I took occasion to intimate to Mr. Duer the distressed situation of his friend General Schuyler, as described by the General himself in a late letter of the 15th of March

Yorktown, PA - 14 April 1778

Congress, with great concern, perceive that your sensibility is wounded by their resolutions. Placing the firmest confidence in your prudence, abilities, and integrity, they wish to preserve that harmony with you, which is essential to the general we

Yorktown, PA - 27 April 1778

I am directed, by Congress, to request your Excellency will immediately require all officers, civil as well as military, in the army, who are at present delinquent, to comply with the terms of an act of Congress of the 3d of February last

Yorktown, PA - 27 April 1778

Your Excellency is too well acquainted with the integrity of your own heart, and too well assured of the good opinion of your countrymen., to admit any anxious impression from the forgeries of an enemy.

Yorktown, PA - 28 April 1778

I choose that my friends should write freely, and those who know me must know that such freedoms need no apology. I never thought the person you allude to so steady as could be wished. We have all of us our weak sides ; would to God that were the wor

Yorktown, PA - 3 May 1778

The present will cover an act of that date for ascertaining the rank and pay annexed to Brevet commissions. Whether this is, or is not, intended to have a retrospective effect, I think is not clearly expressed

Yorktown, PA - 5 May 1778

Human nature pervades every human breast. A residence at Paris will not exempt men from infirmities of the mind

Yorktown, PA - 8 June 1778

My colleague, Mr. Drayton, having shown me, about a fortnight ago, the draft of a report which he had prepared, stating charges against the General Officers who lately abandoned Ticonderoga, and flattering me with assurances that he would soon offer

Yorktown, PA - 18 June 1778

Yesterday there was an extraordinary motion on our floor for calling upon members to lay before Congress such letters as they had received from the Commissioners, or other persons, meaning persons in Great Britain, on political subjects.

Yorktown, VA - 2 August 1781

After a passage of four days we landed here and at Gloucester without opposition.

Yorktown, VA - 4 August 1781

I am not easy about my post at Gloucester, and am in great want of negroes to work

Yorktown, VA - 16 August 1781

The evacuation of Portsmouth has employed one engineer and a number of labourers and artificers

Yorktown, VA - 20 August 1781

Before I resolved to pass James River, to enable me to comply with your requisition of troops, I had very maturely considered the general tenour of your despatches to General Phillips

Yorktown, VA - 22 August 1781

Portsmouth having been completely evacuated without any interruption from the enemy, General O'Hara arrived here this day with- the stores and troops

Yorktown, VA - 8 September 1781

I have made several attempts to inform your Excellency that the French West India Fleet, under M. de Grasse, entered the Capes the 29th ult.

Yorktown, VA - 16 September 1781

The enemy's fleet has returned. Two line-of-battle ships and one frigate lie at the mouth of this river

Yorktown, VA - 29 September 1781

I have ventured these two last days to look General Washingtons whole force in the face, in the position on the outside of my works

Yorktown, VA - 3 October 1781

The enemy are encamped about two miles from us. On the night of the 30th September they broke ground, and made two redoubts about 1100 yards from our works

Yorktown, VA - 11 October 1781

I have only to repeat what I said in my letter of the 3rd, that nothing but a direct move to York River, which includes a successful naval action, can save me.

Yorktown, VA - 15 October 1781

Last evening the enemy carried my two advanced redoubts on the left by storm, and during the night have included them in the second parallel