Benjamin Lincoln Letters for the years 1777 thru 1789

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.

Bennington, VT - 10 August 1777

I find the men sent here from the county of Worcester, under the command of Colonel Gushing, left their homes in such haste, that they are by no means prepared to remain in camp any considerable time

Stillwater, NY - 12 August 1777

I waited upon General Schuyler, on my way to the militia who had assembled and were assembling at Manchester, on the Grants, received his instructions, and met the troops the 2d instant.

Bennington, VT - 25 August 1777

I hear that to-morrow I may expect five companies of the three months men. As soon as they arrive, I shall discharge the whole of Colonel Cushing's ; for the discontent among them is so general that they will be of very little service here

Bennington, VT - 4 September 1777

The person I sent to General Burgoyne is returned. He had an opportunity to confer with him, with Fraser and others, and was suffered to return into the country, under the character of a Recruiting Officer.

Pawlet, VT - 4 September 1777

By a scout, who has been near Fort Edward, and from one of the inhabitants in that neighbourhood, I have a confirmation of the enemy's movements mentioned in your letter. I think it is not probable that their design is on your post.

Pawlet, VT - 11 September 1777

I should not have been short of ammunition, had the militia from the Massachusetts attended to the orders of the Court, and had the ball sent from Springfield and Albany been of a size suitable for the muskets.

Pawlet, VT - 12 September 1777

You will please to take the command of five hundred men, and proceed, in the best route, to cross the Narrows, as soon as may be, to the landing at the north end of Lake George

Pawlet, VT - 21 September 1777

All your movements since you left this place have [been] very agreeable to me. I am greatly obliged to you for your exertions, and am glad to hear, that with spirit the officers and men under you have distinguished themselves.

, VT - 23 September 1777

The success Colonel Brown hath met with, you learn by the inclosed, which is a copy of his letter to me. He hath acted with great spirit, and informs me that his officers and men have behaved with bravery.

Hingham - 17 March 1778

Would not an early attempt upon the city of New York, by part of the Continental troops and the eastern militia, be attended with great probability of success ?

Worcester, MA - 1 June 1778

I was honored with your kind favor of the 7th ultimo, on the 19th, accompanying your valuable present, the epaulettes and sword-knot.

Charleston, SC - 19 December 1778

The troops have been supplied by this State ; and the heads of the several departments of Medical, Commissary, and Quarter-master, when supplies were necessary, have applied to the civil authority

Purysburg, SC - 5 January 1779

On the evening of the 25th ultimo, I received information at Charleston, that the enemy had arrived, with upwards of twenty ships, at Tybee, near the mouth of the River Savannah, and in a harbour south of the river.

Charleston, SC - 7 November 1779

We remain unsupported by troops, unsupplied with many essential articles, and uncovered with works ; and, what adds to the unhappiness, is the little prospect that our affairs will speedily be in a better channel.

Charleston, SC - 8 January 1780

I hear, but have no official notice of it, that the Virginia line are ordered from the main army, to reenforce this department. If this should prove true, it will be fortunate indeed for this country

Charleston, SC - 23 January 1780

I had, a few days since, the honor of your favor of the 12th ultimo, by Colonel Laurens, announcing that the Virginia line were ordered to this department, than which nothing could be more acceptable, saving that of their not being needed.

Charleston, SC - 12 February 1780

I have received information that, on the 3d instant, the enemy landed about eight thousand troops, commanded by Sir Henry Clinton.

Charleston, SC - 4 March 1780

Sir Harry seems to be collecting his force on James's Island, and is there throwing up some works ; one among the ruins of Fort Johnson, another a little to the westward of it.

Charleston, SC - 24 March 1780

Since my last, the enemy have, very unexpectedly, brought over the ships mentioned in the inclosed paper. It has been thought there was not water enough for a sixty-four gun ship.

Charleston, SC - 9 April 1780

The enemy crossed the Ashley, in force, near the ferry, on the 29th ultimo, and the next day moved down, and encamped about three thousand .yards from our lines.

Boston, MA - 11 August 1780

I propose to meet General Phillips at Elizabethtown, on the 12th of next month. If your Excellency's permission is necessary, for him to meet me at that place, I wish it might be sent to him.

unknown - 25 September 1780

The prisoners, pained with regret, are become sore; their minds are soured, and their friends and connections think them neglected by the public. This may prevent the recruiting our battalions, and cause a disrelish for the service.

Boston, MA - 25 December 1780

No measure has been left untried to save the question for filling up our battalions for the war

Boston, MA - 25 January 1781

I am informed that Congress have acceded to a general exchange, and that it is left with your Excellency to carry it into effect, at such time as you shall think proper.

Boston - 5 February 1781

n compliance with your wish, that I would give you the outlines of the several movements I made in the Northern department, in the year 1777, after General Gates reassumed the command, to my being wounded on the 8th of October, I offer the following

Boston, MA - 15 February 1781

I have the pleasure to inform you that Colonel Laurens sailed on the 10th, after waiting several days in Nantasket Road for a fair wind.

Trenton, NJ - 31 August 1781

We have put, and are putting on board the vessels, the ordnance, ordnance stores, &c. I shall send, in the same vessels, the corps of artillery, corps of sappers and miners, and also General Hazen's regiment.

York, SC - 26 October 1781

As Count de Grasse cannot aid us in our most favorite object, an expedition against Charleston, and if an attempt to reduce it is now made, it must be independent of a marine force

Boston, MA - 4 January 1786

I have since my return, my dear General, been looking, agreeably to your request, among my young friends, to see whether I could find among them one who would answer your purpose as a private Secretary

Boston, MA - 27 January 1788

I have the pleasure of inclosing two newspapers, in which are the debates of the Convention to Saturday, the 19th. They are not forward enough to give your Excellency a just state of the business.

Boston, MA - 3 February 1788

the Governor has taken his seat as President of the Convention; and that he came forward with a motion for the adoption of the Constitution

Boston, MA - 6 February 1788

The Convention this evening ratified the Constitution ; present, three hundred and fifty-five members ; one hundred and eighty-seven yeas, and one hundred and sixty-eight nays

Boston, MA - 3 June 1788

Hence federalism and anti-federalism were pitted one against the other. The antifederalists were in hopes of throwing such an influence into the Government by a change of its officers, as to prevent an organization of the General Government by this S

Boston, MA - 23 May 1789

This letter will be honored by its being borne by the Honorable George Cabot. Feeling, as all others do, an esteem for and obligations to your Excellency, he intends to wait upon you and express them.