Thursday evening next. I wish you were here with us on the occasion. Permit me to make you acquainted with the bearer (& his Lady) Major Pierce who goes to Congress from this State. He

is a very worthy fellow, and she an agreeable lady.

When you write to Connecticut give my love to all our friends. Write me and give me all the news, political and otherwise. I shall miss no opportunity of letting you hear from, dear Webb, your Devoted and affectionate,

Friend and H. Sv't,

Gen'l S. B. WEBB.

J. SEAGROVE.

Major D. Smith's Letter. n Laidley

PINES BRIDGE, 7 Sept., 1782.

DEAR COLONEL :-Lieut. Mansfield returned last evening from a tour down towards Kings Bridge. He lay one day within two miles of the Bridge, conceal'd his party with a view of intercepting some of the enemy's small parties, but could not get sight of them.

By an inhabitant which he took up, he was informed that the enemy were seldom on this side of the Bridge, and then in parties of three or four hundred strong. That the inhabitants and army were much distressed for water, the drought being very severe there a new camp was forming on the heights south of Harlem Plain extending from River to River. The paper of the 4th inst. is the only one I have been able to obtain.

Colo. WEBB.

I am, dear Colo.,

Your very humble serv't,

D. SMITH.

omie.

D. Smith's Letter.

Ms.Laidley

DEANSBOROUGH, Dec. 11, 1782.

DEAR WEBB :-I cordially thank you for your kind attention in speaking to General Knox on the subject of leave of absence. I have written to General Knox and stated fully the reasons on

which I ground my request; whether I succeed or not, I shall note this instance of your politeness and mark of friendship to me among the many I have heretofore received.

I am, dear Webb,

Gen'l WEBB.

Yours, affectionately,

D. SMITH.

Folio 13.

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no P

Gen'l Lord Sterling's Letter

FISHKILL, April 23d, 1782.

DEAR SIR-I have your letter of yesterday evening accompanying one from General Patterson on the subject of the Contract and Contractor.

In consequence of the letter you mention from His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief to General Heath, I do suppose some order has by this time issued, to which we must conform ourselves in our proceedings; but in whatever mode it is to be conducted, the officers of the army may be assured I shall give them the best assistance in my power in fairly stating their grievances, and in detecting the impositions of the contractor.

Whoever is appointed to represent the officers on this occasion, should immediately possess themselves of a copy of the contract, for without it they will be groping in the dark. General Heath has one, which I doubt not he will communicate. They should also possess themselves of every fact, wherein the contractor has deviated from the contract, or attempted it. With these materials, I doubt not their case may be fully and fairly stated, and redress of grievances be obtained.

Be please to present my compliments to General Patterson and communicate this to him, in answer to his letter in behalf of the officers.

I am with much affection and esteem,

Colonel

Ged WEBB.

Your most obedient &

Most humble serv't,
STERLING.

Manuever'd

of water

Lord Sterling to Gen❜l Webb.

[Fishkill], July 6th, 1782.

DEAR SIR-I shall be obliged to you if you will get some per-
son of judgment to examine the ground on the West front of the
ground the troops anecurve on this morning, in order to discover
a good spring near a convenient spot for me to pitch my tent
upon, And if necessary, to order a party to open and improve the
spring. The behaviour of the troops this morning, has gained the
approbation of the Commander-in-Chief and all our visitants. I
now send his approval to Col. Swift in order to be communicated.
With much esteem, I am very
z

ޑ

MY DEAR COLO:-I am happy in the opportunity of telling
you that the result of the last negotiation of Exchange, has pro-
duced a letter from Gen'l Lincoln to his Excellency Gen'l Washing-
ton, who means to refer it to Congress. I think this the Critical
Moment. I shall set off to-morrow or next day for Phila. with the
despatches from Headquarters on this important subject & could
wish to see you before they are delivered. I am sure much depends

on the success that may attend them, and your weight & influence
with Congress is of the utmost Consequence.

The enemy are threatening to send the Privates to Halifax or
West Indies, but say nothing of the officers. God only knows what
may be their fate; it may be worse than it is, but their present
situation is intolerable. I need not say any more. Your own feel-
ings will suggest the rest. I am with unalterable esteem and
friendship.

Your obd't humble Serv't,

AB'M SKINNER,

My pen is bad & I am in haste.
Colo. WEBB.

Com. Gen'l Pris.

Copica

Abm. Skinner's Letter.

Mrs Laidler

DEAR COLONEL :-I congratulate you on the good news from the Southward, and I am happy also to find you have your Permission from New York. Agreeable to your wish, I forwarded it to you yesterday thro' the hands of my friend Adams.

Loring is desirous of your bringing a few extra Turkeys, as your Sea Stores, & I have provided him to get you to do it-he has behaved so politely on this occasion that I think we should not be behind hand with him.

I shall pass thro' Brunswick on Sunday when I hope to have the pleasure to see you-if I should be disappointed permit me to wish you a pleasant Passage, &c., happy sight of your friends in Connecticut.

I am Dear Colonel as ever,

Your Mo. ob't Hble Serv't,

Col. S. B. WEBB.

Eliz. Town, 25 Oct., 1781.

AB'M SKINNER.

Mr. Edw'd Seaman's Letter. Mrs Laidley

NEW YORK, Jan'y 23, 1779.

Mr. Edw'd Seaman's respectful compliments to Colo. Webb. And has sent him under cover a Philadelphia paper of 21st ulto., just received by Miss Schemerhorn from Morristown, containing a piece under the signature of "plain truth," being strictures on the address of common sense to Mr. Deane, which he thinks a very candid, masterly and unanswerable performance, much to Mr. Deane's credit, and highly exposing the author of common sense which it's more than probable Colo. Webb has already been furnished with, as it's of an old date. However should he not it will give Mr. Seaman pleasure of sending the Colo. any papers that have a tendency to remove the prejudices that have been attempted to be raised against the character of a gentlemen so nearly related to him as Mr. Deane.

Mr. Seaman was extremely mortified that he happened not to be at home when the Colo. was kind enough to call and see him when last in town, and hopes the next time he will not be deprived of that happiness. The ladies join in Compliments to the Colonel.

Colo. S. B. WEBB.

orit

Richard Stanwick's Letter.

NEW YORK, May 5th, 1779.

SIR-I am in hopes by means of the obliging letters given to me when I last saw you to see my dear wife here; and it will further add to the kind obligations if you press the matter upon any of your brother officers going out that by means of united and generous interest I may obtain the much wished for sight of my dear wife.

I have obtained for you and Mr. Willing two hampers of the best London porter, which will be delivered to the bearer of the enclosed note whenever called for. I am seeking some other necessary things for you and Mrs. Willing, of which I shall ere long inform you.

Services done to my unhappy wife cannot fail to engage my warmest gratitude, and hence it is that I wish for opportunity to render any acceptable services to you or any of your brother officers, to whom I beg my compliments, being very respectfully Sir, Your most obedient,

Please to tell Captain Willing to send to Peter Lenox's Tavern, near the ship yards, for two jars of excellent pickled oysters there for him.

Mr. St. John presents his compliments to General Webb. He feels himself much honored by the General's very polite attention to the French nation through him. Mr. St. John's short residence. in this city has not yet given him an opportunity of knowing all the gentlemen of that nation who may at present be in this city, and therefore he cannot, with propriety, point out to General Webb such as may be worthy of the compliment the General means to pay