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• To Major-general Greene.
• The Writings of George Washington.
• 1782.
• To Brigadier-general Hazen.
• To Lieutenant-colonel John Laurens.
• To Lieutenant-general James Robertson. 1
• To James Mchenry.
• To the Secretary At War.
• To Major-general Greene.
• Circular Letter to the States.
• To John P. Posey.
• To the President of Congress.
• To the Marquis De Vaudreuil.
• To Sir Guy Carleton.
• To Robert Morris.
• To the Chevalier De Chastellux. [extract.]
• To the Secretary At War.
• To the Count De Rochambeau.
• To Colonel Lewis Nicola.
• To the Secretary At War.
• To Brigadier-general Hazen.
• To the President of Congress.
• To Colonel Elias Dayton.
• To Major-general Knox. Instructions.
• To Major-general Lincoln.
• To the Secretary At War.
• To Archibald Cary.
• To Sir Guy Carleton.
• To Robert Morris.
• To James Mchenry.
• To Joseph Reed.
• To the Secretary At War.
• To Thomas Paine.
• To Robert R. Livingston.
• To John Dickinson, President of Delaware.
• To Robert Morris.
• To Lieutenant-colonel Tench Tilghman.
• To Major-general Greene.
• To the President of Congress.
• To James Duane, In Congress.
• To Major-general Greene.
• To the Secretary At War. 1
• To Lieutenant-colonel John Laurens.
• To James Mchenry.
• To James Mchenry.
• To Major-general Greene.
• To Governor Clinton.
• To the Marquis De Lafayette.
• To John P. Posey.
• To the Marquis De Vaudreuil.
• To Doctor William Gordon. 1
• To Captain Charles Asgill. 1
• To Lund Washington.
• To the Chevalier De Chastellux. [extract.]
• To the Secretary At War.
• To Lund Washington.
• To the Count De Rochambeau.
• To Count De Vergennes.
• To the Secretary At War.
• To Major Benjamin Tallmadge.
• To the President of Congress.
• To Count De Rochambeau.
• To Joseph Jones, In Congress.
• To Major-general Knox. Instructions.
• To Bartholomew Dandridge.
• To the Secretary At War.
• To Major-general Greene.
• To Sir Guy Carleton.
• To James Mchenry.
• To Robert Morris.
• To Joseph Reed.
• To Thomas Paine.
• To Tench Tilghman.
• To Robert R. Livingston.
• To Robert Morris.
• To Bushrod Washington. 1
• To Major-general Greene.
• To John Augustine Washington,
• To James Duane, In Congress.
• To the Secretary At War. 1
• To Samuel Ogden.
• To Major Thomas Lansdale.
• To James Mchenry.
• To Elias Boudinot, President of Congress. 1
• To Governor Clinton.
• To the Marquis De Lafayette.
• To Major-general Greene.
• To Joseph Jones, In Congress.
• To Doctor William Gordon. 1
• To Captain Charles Asgill. 1
• To Lund Washington.
• To Lund Washington.
• To the President of Congress.
• To Lund Washington.
• To Benjamin Harrison.
• To Count De Vergennes.
• To Major Benjamin Tallmadge.
• To Alexander Hamilton, In Congress. 1
• To Count De Rochambeau.
• To Joseph Jones, In Congress.
• To Robert Morris.
• To Bartholomew Dandridge.
• To the President of Congress.
• Address to the Officers. 1
• To Major-general Greene.
• 1783.
• To Robert Morris.
• To Joseph Jones, In Congress.
• To the President of Congress.
• To Tench Tilghman.
• To Joseph Jones, In Congress.
• To Bushrod Washington. 1
• To the President of Congress.
• To John Augustine Washington,
• To Lund Washington.
• To Robert R. Livingston.
• To Governor Benjamin Harrison.
• To Samuel Ogden.
• To Major Thomas Lansdale.
• To the Marquis De Lafayette.
• To Elias Boudinot, President of Congress. 1
• To the Chevalier De La Luzerne.
• To Major-general Greene.
• To Robert R. Livingston.
• To Joseph Jones, In Congress.
• To Colonel Bland.
• To Alexander Hamilton, In Congress.
• To Lund Washington.
• To the President of Congress.
• To Theodorick Bland.
• To Benjamin Harrison.
• To Theodorick Bland.
• To Alexander Hamilton, In Congress. 1
• To Robert Morris.
• To Alexander Hamilton.
• To the President of Congress.
• To the Marquis De Lafayette.
• Address to the Officers. 1
• To Sir Guy Carleton.
• To Alexander Hamilton, In Congress.
• To Joseph Jones, In Congress.
• To the President of Congress.
• To the President of Congress.
• To Joseph Jones, In Congress.
• To Sir Guy Carleton.
• To the President of Congress.
• To Alexander Hamilton.
• To Lund Washington.
• To Robert R. Livingston.
• To Tench Tilghman.
• To Governor Benjamin Harrison.
• To the President of Congress.
• To the Marquis De Lafayette.
• Substance of the Conference Between Gen. Washington and Sir Guy Carleton, At an Interview At Orangetown, 6th May, 1783.
• To Sir Guy Carleton.
• To the Chevalier De La Luzerne.
• To Major-general Putnam.
• To Robert R. Livingston.
• To Robert Morris.
• To Colonel Bland.
• To Major-general Heath.
• To Alexander Hamilton, In Congress.
• Circular Letter Addressed to the Governors of All the States On Disbanding the Army.
• To Theodorick Bland.
• To Theodorick Bland.
• To Alexander Hamilton.
• To the Marquis De Lafayette.
• To Lund Washington. [extract.]
• To the President of Congress.
• To Sir Guy Carleton.
• To the President of Congress.
• To Alexander Hamilton, In Congress.
• To Dr. William Gordon.
• To the President of Congress.
• To M. Marbois.
• To Sir Guy Carleton.
• To Alexander Hamilton.
• To George William Fairfax.
• To Baron Steuben. Instructions.
• To Tench Tilghman.
• To the President of Congress.
• To the President of Congress.
• Substance of the Conference Between Gen. Washington and Sir Guy Carleton, At an Interview At Orangetown, 6th May, 1783.
• To the President of Congress. 1
• To Sir Guy Carleton.
• To Robert Stewart.
• To Major-general Putnam.
• To the President of Congress.
• To Robert Morris.
• Address to the President and Members of Congress. 1
• To Major-general Heath.
• To Lieutenant-colonel William S. Smith.
• To Mrs. Richard Stockton. 2
• Circular Letter Addressed to the Governors of All the States On Disbanding the Army.
• To James Duane, In Congress.
• Observations Upon a Peace Establishment.
• To Lund Washington. [extract.]
• To the President of Congress.
• To Governor Clinton.
• To Lund Washington.
• To the President of Congress.
• To Major-general Knox.
• To Dr. William Gordon.
• To Samuel Huntington, Chairman.
• To M. Marbois.
• To the Chevalier De Chastellux.
• To Major-general Knox.
• To George William Fairfax.
• To Baron Steuben. Instructions.
• To Major-general Knox.
• To the President of Congress.
• Farewell Orders to the Armies of the United States.
• To the President of Congress. 1
• To the President of Congress.
• To Sir Guy Carleton.
• To Robert Stewart.
• To James Mchenry.
• To the President of Congress.
• To the President of Congress.
• To Baron Steuben.
• Address to the President and Members of Congress. 1
• General Washington’s Address to Congress On Resigning His Commission. 1
• To Lieutenant-colonel William S. Smith.
• To Mrs. Richard Stockton. 2
• To James Duane, In Congress.
• Observations Upon a Peace Establishment.
• To Governor Clinton.
• To Lund Washington.
• To Major-general Knox.
• To Samuel Huntington, Chairman.
• To the Chevalier De Chastellux.
• To Major-general Knox.
• To Major-general Knox.
• Farewell Orders to the Armies of the United States.
• To the President of Congress.
• To Sir Guy Carleton.
• To James Mchenry.
• To the President of Congress.
• To Baron Steuben.
• General Washington’s Address to Congress On Resigning His Commission. 1
• 1784.
• To Jonathan Trumbull, Junior.
• To the President of Congress.
• To Benjamin Harrison, Governor of Virginia.
• To the Marquis De Lafayette.
• To Thomas Lewis. 1
• To Jonathan Trumbull, Junior.
• To Gilbert Simpson.
• Memorandum to John Lewis.
• To the President of Congress.
• To Benjamin Harrison, Governor of Virginia.
• To Major-general Knox.
• To the Marquis De Lafayette.
• To Dolphin Drew.
• To Thomas Lewis. 1
• To Captain Fielding Lewis.
• To John Witherspoon.
• To Gilbert Simpson.
• Memorandum to John Lewis.
• To Major-general Knox.
• To Edmund Randolph.
• To Dolphin Drew.
• To Captain Fielding Lewis.
• To Major-general Knox.
• To John Witherspoon.
• To Tench Tilghman.
• To Dr. James Craik.
• To Thomas Jefferson, In Congress.
• To Edmund Randolph.
• To Hugh Williamson, In Congress.
• To Major-general Knox.
• To Tench Tilghman.
• To the Marchioness De Lafayette.
• To Dr. James Craik.
• To Thomas Jefferson.
• To Thomas Jefferson, In Congress.
• To Governor Trumbull.
• To Rufus Putnam.
• To Hugh Williamson, In Congress.
• To James Madison.
• To Dr. James Craik.
• To Clement Biddle.
• To the Marchioness De Lafayette.
• To Jacob Read. 2
• To Thomas Jefferson.
• To Count De Rochambeau.
• To Governor Trumbull.
• Certificate to Mr. James Rumsey. 1
• To Benjamin Harrison, Governor of Virginia.
• To Rufus Putnam.
• To James Madison.
• To Dr. James Craik.
• To Clement Biddle.
• To Jacob Read. 2
• To Jacob Read.
• To Count De Rochambeau.
• To George Clinton, Governor of New York.
• Certificate to Mr. James Rumsey. 1
• To Benjamin Harrison, Governor of Virginia.
• To Richard Henry Lee, President of Congress. 2
• 1785.
• To Major-general Knox.
• To Jacob Read.
• To George Clinton, Governor of New York.
• To Benjamin Harrison.
• To Richard Henry Lee, President of Congress.
• To Richard Henry Lee, President of Congress. 2
• To Rev. William Gordon.
• To Major-general Knox.
• To Hugh Williamson, In Congress.
• To Richard Henry Lee.
• To Benjamin Harrison.
• To James Duane.
• To Richard Henry Lee, President of Congress.
• To Francis Hopkinson.
• To Rev. William Gordon.
• To Major-general Greene.
• To Hugh Williamson, In Congress.
• To Burwell Bassett.
• To Richard Henry Lee.
• To William Minor.
• To James Duane.
• To Tench Tilghman. 1
• To William Goddard.
• To Francis Hopkinson.
• To Major-general Knox.
• To Major-general Greene.
• To William Grayson.
• To Burwell Bassett.
• To Richard Henry Lee.
• To William Minor.
• To George William Fairfax.
• To Tench Tilghman. 1
• To William Goddard.
• To Major-general Knox.
• To David Humphreys.
• To William Grayson.
• To the Marquis De Lafayette.
• To Richard Henry Lee.
• To George William Fairfax.
• To Edmund Randolph.
• To Edmund Randolph.
• To David Humphreys.
• To Richard Henry Lee, President of Congress.
• To the Marquis De Lafayette.
• To James Mchenry, In Congress.
• To William Grayson, In Congress.
• To Edmund Randolph.
• To John De Neufville.
• To Edmund Randolph.
• To Edmund Randolph.
• To Richard Henry Lee, President of Congress.
• To Thomas Jefferson.
• To James Mchenry, In Congress.
• To George Mason.
• To William Grayson, In Congress.
• To John De Neufville.
• To Edmund Randolph.
• To Thomas Jefferson.
• To George Mason.

TO SIR GUY CARLETON.

But here, Gentlemen, I will drop the curtain, because it would be as imprudent in me to assign my reasons for this opinion, as it would be insulting to your conception to suppose you stood in need of them. A moment’s reflection will convince every dispassionate mind of the physical impossibility of carrying either proposal into execution.

Head-Quarters, 9 April, 1783.

Sir,

There might, Gentlemen, be an impropriety in my taking notice, in this address to you, of an anonymous production; but the manner in which that performance has been introduced to the army, the effect it was intended to have, together with some other circumstances, will amply justify my observations on the tendency of that writing. With respect to the advice given by the author to suspect the man, who shall recommend moderate measures and longer forbearance, I spurn it, as every man who regards that liberty, and reveres that justice, for which we contend, undoubtedly must. For, if men are to be precluded from offering their sentiments on a matter, which may involve the most serious and alarming consequences, that can invite the consideration of mankind, reason is of no use to us; the freedom of speech may be taken away, and, dumb and silent, we may be led away like sheep to the slaughter.

I feel great satisfaction from your Excellency’s despatches by Captain Stapleton, conveying to me the joyful annunciation of your having received official accounts of the conclusion of hostilities. Without official authority from Congress, but perfectly relying on your communication, I can at this time only issue my orders to the American out-posts, to suspend all acts of hostilities until further orders. This shall be instantly done; and I shall be happy in the momentary expectation of having it in my power to publish to the American army a general cessation of all hostilities between Great Britain and America.1

I cannot, in justice to my own belief, and what I have great reason to conceive is the intention of Congress, conclude this address without giving it as my decided opinion, that that honorable body entertain exalted sentiments of the services of the army, and, from a full conviction of its merits and sufferings, will do it complete justice. That their endeavors to discover, and establish funds for this purpose have been unwearied, and will not cease, till they have succeeded, I have no doubt; but, like all other large bodies, where there is a variety of different interests to reconcile, their deliberations are slow. Why then should we distrust them; and, in consequence of that distrust, adopt measures, which may cast a shade over that glory, which has been so justly acquired, and tarnish the reputation of an army, which is celebrated through all Europe for its fortitude and patriotism? And for what is this done? To bring the object we seek nearer? No! Most certainly, in my opinion, it will cast it at a greater distance.

To your observations respecting particular articles of the peace I am obliged to reply, that it rests with Congress to direct measures for the observance of all the articles contained in the provisional treaty. You may be assured, that, as soon as I receive my instructions from the sovereign power of the United States I shall rejoice in giving every facility in my power to carry into complete execution that article of the treaty, which respects the restitution of all prisoners of war, being perfectly disposed to contribute to diffusing, as much as possible, the happy effects of this great event.

For myself (and I take no merit in giving the assurance, being induced to it from principles of gratitude, veracity, and justice), a grateful sense of the confidence you have ever placed in me, a recollection of the cheerful assistance and prompt obedience I have experienced from you, under every vicissitude of fortune, and the sincere affection I feel for an army I have so long had the honor to command, oblige me to declare in this public and solemn manner, that, in the attainment of complete justice for all your toils and dangers, and in the gratification of every wish, so far as may be done consistently with the great duty I owe to my country, and those powers we are bound to respect, you may freely command my services to the utmost extent of my abilities.

I thank your Excellency for the assurances you are pleased to express, of your readiness to cultivate that spirit of perfect good will and conciliation, which you wish would take place between the King of Great Britain and the United States, and the citizens and subjects of both countries; and I beg, Sir, that you will please to accept a tender from me of reciprocal good will and attention, accompanied with sincere congratulations on this joyful restoration of peace and general tranquillity, with an earnest wish, that, resting on the firm basis of mutual interest and good will, it may prove as lasting as it is happy.

While I give you these assurances and pledge myself in the most unequivocal manner to exert whatever ability I am possessed of in your favor, let me entreat you, Gentlemen, on your part, not to take any measures, which, in the calm light of reason, will lessen the dignity and sully the glory you have hitherto maintained. Let me request you to rely on the plighted faith of your country, and place a full confidence in the purity of the intentions of Congress, that, previous to your dissolution as an army, they will cause all your accounts to be fairly liquidated, as directed in their resolutions, which were published to you two days ago, and that they will adopt the most effectual measures in their power to render ample justice to you for your faithful and meritorious services. And let me conjure you in the name of our common country, as you value your own sacred honor, as you respect the rights of humanity, and as you regard the military and national character of America, to express your utmost horror and detestation of the man, who wishes, under any specious pretences, to overturn the liberties of our country, and who wickedly attempts to open the flood gates of civil discord, and deluge our rising empire in blood.

I have the honor to be, &c.

By thus determining and thus acting, you will pursue the plain and direct road to the attainment of your wishes; you will defeat the insidious designs of our enemies, who are compelled to resort from open force to secret artifice; you will give one more distinguished proof of unexampled patriotism and patient virtue, rising superior to the pressure of the most complicated sufferings; and you will, by the dignity of your conduct, afford occasion for posterity to say, when speaking of the glorious example you have exhibited to mankind, “Had this day been wanting, the world had never seen the last stage of perfection, to which human nature is capable of attaining.”

[1 ]“Official accounts of the happy conclusion of a Peace have been transmitted by Sir Guy Carleton to General Haldimand at Quebec by his officers who passed thro’ this place a few days since, but as a very considerable time must elapse before these Gentlemen can arrive at Quebec and the news be communicated from thence to the British posts in the upper country, and as humanity dictates that not a moment should be lost in endeavoring to prevent any further incursions of the Indians (who it is said have already struck at Wyoming), I have thought it proper to write to General McLean, commanding the British Force in that quarter, and to inclose to him the King of Great Britain’s Proclamation for the cessation of Hostilities, and this Letter I must direct you to forward to him at Niagara by some trusty Indian runner with all possible expedition—the expense attending this business shall be repaid on your informing me of it.

“You will at the same time, give orders to the troops and Indians under your command to forbear all Acts of Hostility against the troops of his Brittanic Majesty other than for their own immediate defence.”—Washington to Colonel Marinus Willet, 14 April, 1783.

[1 ]“Official accounts of the happy conclusion of a Peace have been transmitted by Sir Guy Carleton to General Haldimand at Quebec by his officers who passed thro’ this place a few days since, but as a very considerable time must elapse before these Gentlemen can arrive at Quebec and the news be communicated from thence to the British posts in the upper country, and as humanity dictates that not a moment should be lost in endeavoring to prevent any further incursions of the Indians (who it is said have already struck at Wyoming), I have thought it proper to write to General McLean, commanding the British Force in that quarter, and to inclose to him the King of Great Britain’s Proclamation for the cessation of Hostilities, and this Letter I must direct you to forward to him at Niagara by some trusty Indian runner with all possible expedition—the expense attending this business shall be repaid on your informing me of it.

“You will at the same time, give orders to the troops and Indians under your command to forbear all Acts of Hostility against the troops of his Brittanic Majesty other than for their own immediate defence.”—Washington to Colonel Marinus Willet, 14 April, 1783.