Letters / Correspondence

George Washington & Richard Henry Lee

1-50 of 88 letters
Letters table
No. Sender Recipient Preview Date, oldest first
1 George Washington Richard Henry Lee If this letter should (though I do not see any probable chance that it will,) reach your hands in time, it is to ask, if you do not think it necessary, that the deputies from this colony should be... Aug. 7, 1774
2 Richard Henry Lee George Washington I must beg leave at the beginning of this letter to apologise for any incorrectness as I write in great haste. Indeed the hurry of business is such here with many of us, that we have little time... Jan. 13, 1775
3 Richard Henry Lee George Washington Nothing material has occurred since you left this place, except the imperfect accounts we have of the Charleston battle, which upon the whole seems to have nothing unfavorable to our great cause,... Jun. 29, 1775
4 George Washington Richard Henry Lee I was exceeding glad to receive a letter from you, as I always shall be whenever it is convenient; though perhaps my hurry, till such time as matters are drawn a little out of the chaos they appear... Jul. 10, 1775
5 Richard Henry Lee George Washington With most cordial warmth we recommend our Countryman Mr. Edmund Randolph to your patronage and favor.This young Gentlemans abilities, natural and acquired, his extensive connections, and above all,... Jul. 26, 1775
6 Richard Henry Lee George Washington After the fatigue of many days, and of this in particular, I should not sit down at eleven o'Clock at night to write to a Gentleman of whose goodness of heart I have less doubt than I have of... Aug. 1, 1775
7 George Washington Richard Henry Lee Dear Sir: Your favor of the first Inst. by Mr. Randolph came safe to hand - the merits of this young Gentleman added to your recommendation, and my own knowledge of his character induced me to take... Aug. 29, 1775
8 Richard Henry Lee George Washington Two days ago I arrived here from Virginia, which the late short adjournment just allowed me time to visit and return from. I brought two letters from thence for you which come with this. Having... Sep. 26, 1775
9 Richard Henry Lee George Washington I thank you for your obliging favor of the 13th1 and I assure you that no Man living approves the vigorous measures you mention more than myself. Great bodies, you know, move slow; and it is as... Oct. 1775
10 Richard Henry Lee George Washington A Ship in 7 weeks from London brings us pretty perfect intelligence of the infernal designs of our Ministerial enemies,1 as you will see by the inclosures in Dr. Shippens letter. I believe they are... Oct. 8, 1775
11 George Washington Richard Henry Lee As you will be fully informed of every matter and thing relative to the army, by your own committee, I should not have given you the trouble of a letter at this time, were it not on Colonel Reed’s1... Oct. 29, 1775
12 George Washington Richard Henry Lee I mean but to acknowledge the receipt of your obliging favour of the 22d ultimo; for, as I expect this letter will be handed to you in Philadelphia, to recite the contents of my letter to the... Nov. 8, 1775
13 Richard Henry Lee George Washington As Mr. Custis can furnish you with an exact account of our affairs in Virginia, it will be unnecessary for me to say any thing on that subject. Proper persons will certainly and presently be... Nov. 26, 1775
14 George Washington Richard Henry Lee Your favor of the 13th, with the enclosures, for which I thank you, came to this place on Wednesday evening; part of which, that is, the night, I was engaged with a party of men throwing up a work... Nov. 27, 1775
15 George Washington Richard Henry Lee Your favor of the 6th instant did not reach this place till Saturday afternoon. The money, which accompanied it, came seasonably, but not, as it was so long delayed, quantum sufficit, our demands... Dec. 26, 1775
16 Richard Henry Lee George Washington I was in Virga. (from whence I am but just returned) when your favor of the 26th Decr.1 came here, and now I have but a moment before this Gentleman goes off to thank you for it, and to cover a... Mar. 13, 1776
17 George Washington Richard Henry Lee Your favor of the 26th ult. came to my hands last night, by the post; but as I am upon the point of setting out for New York, (by the way of Providence and Norwich,) I can do little more than... Apr. 4, 1776
18 George Washington Richard Henry Lee In great haste I write you a few lines to cover the enclosed, 1 they came in the manner you see them, and as explained in Captain Langdon’s letter to me. I hesitated some time in determining... May 18, 1776
19 Richard Henry Lee George Washington I am informed that a certain Mr. Eustace, now in New York, but some time ago with Lord Dunmore, is acquainted with a practise that prevailed of taking letters out of the Post Office in Virginia and... Jun. 13, 1776
20 Richard Henry Lee George Washington I congratulate you sincerely on the several advantages your Troops have lately gained over the enemy, for tho each has been but small, yet in the whole they are considerable, and will certainly... Oct. 27, 1776
21 George Washington Richard Henry Lee Your last favour, by the purport of it, (having no date) as also one or two others, at different periods, have come safe to my hands; and went unacknowledged from the hurried and distressed state... Jan. 10, 1777
22 Richard Henry Lee George Washington My brother Delegates are of opinion that the inclosed papers may avail you something in settling some disputes about rank that may come before you, and therefore it is sent.1 Congress never did... Feb. 27, 1777
23 George Washington Richard Henry Lee I am anxious to know whether General Arnold’s non-promotion was owing to accident or design; and the cause of it. Surely a more active, a more spirited, and sensible officer, fills no department in... Mar. 6, 1777
24 Richard Henry Lee George Washington The resolves of Congress that you will receive by this Messenger, you may be assured, are not intended, by any means, to obstruct your views a single moment.1 If your judgment should incline you to... Apr. 10, 1777
25 Richard Henry Lee George Washington Your letter to the Committee was immediately laid before Congress, and in consequence thereof, Gen. Schuyler was ordered to carry your ideas into execution with all possible dispatch. The Troops... Apr. 16, 1777
26 George Washington Richard Henry Lee I have been favored with two or three letters from you lately. The last that came to hand was without date, but contained an extract from Doctor Lee’s letter to the Secret Committee, and the French... Apr. 24, 1777
27 Richard Henry Lee George Washington Being often obliged to write in great haste, is the reason that I sometimes omit to date my letters. But I am now to acknowledge the favor of yours of the 24th and I readily acquiesce with your... Apr. 29, 1777
28 Richard Henry Lee George Washington The subject of your letter of the 17th is a very important one, and whilst it deserves the greatest attention, is certainly involved in great difficulty.1 Of one truth however, I beg you Sir to be... May 1777
29 George Washington Robert Morris, Richard Henry Lee, William Whipple, Phillip Livingston I was this Morning honored with your Letter of the 2d Inst covering one for Mr. Boudinot, which shall be delivered him. I wish the Bills transmitted to him, had been for a larger Sum, and I trust,... May 5, 1777
30 George Washington Richard Henry Lee This letter will be delivered to you, by the Chevalier Dannemours,1 who, if I am not mistaken in my judgment, has something more in view than preferment. In the course of two days conversation with... May 10, 1777
31 George Washington Richard Henry Lee Under the privilege of friendship, I take the liberty to ask you, what Congress expects I am to do with the many foreigners they have, at different times, promoted to the rank of Field Officers?... May 17, 1777
32 George Washington Richard Henry Lee Your favour of the 5th. Instant, as also that of the 11th. by Baron de Kalb, are both at hand. It is not in my power, at present, to answer your Query respecting the appointment of this Gentleman:... Oct. 17, 1777
33 Richard Henry Lee George Washington Your favor of the 16th I received yesterday, and was a good deal surprised to find you had been told that Congress had appointed Gen. Conway a Major General.1 No such appointment has been made, nor... Oct. 20, 1777
34 George Washington Richard Henry Lee The report of Genl. Conways promotion was so prevalent, and came from such authority, among others from Baron Kalb, who told me, that by some members of Congress he was informed it either had, or... Oct. 28, 1777
35 George Washington Richard Henry Lee Your favour of the 7th. Instant should not have remained so long unanswered, but for the uncertainty of Colonel Pickering’s acceptance of his new Appointment. He has now determined to do this,... Nov. 18, 1777
36 Richard Henry Lee George Washington I have no doubt of being excused by you for not sooner answering your favor of the 24th last,1 when you are informed that my ill state of health has prevented me from attending as I ought to the... Nov. 20, 1777
37 Richard Henry Lee George Washington The inclosed come to my hand only a few days past altho from its date it appears to have been written long since. There are some useful suggestions in it, and therefore I send it to you - I do not... Jan. 2, 1778
38 Richard Henry Lee George Washington I hope the measures you have taken will be effectual to the purpose of reenlisting the Army because it is an object of great importance; and I readily admit the propriety of first trying those... Jan. 5, 1778
39 George Washington Richard Henry Lee Your letter of the 2d ultimo, from Chantilly, enclosing Lieutenant Colonel Frazer’s orders for the management of the grenadiers and light infantry in an action, and upon a march, came to my hands... Feb. 15, 1778
40 Richard Henry Lee George Washington The unfortunate cause which hath prevented me from attending to your last favor sooner,1will, I hope, be my excuse.The long sickness and death of my much loved brother of Belleview, has for some... May 1778
41 George Washington Richard Henry Lee If any thing of greater moment than declaring that every word contained in the Pamphlet, you were obliging enough to send me, was spurious, had occurred, I should not have suffered your favor of... May 25, 1778
42 Richard Henry Lee George Washington I should long since have answered your favor of the 25th of May had it been worth while for any thing I had to communicate,1to interrupt your attention from the important affairs with which you are... Jun. 1778
43 George Washington Richard Henry Lee A few days ago I received your favor of the 26th. Ulto. inclosing one from Colo. Spotswood,1 for which I thank you. The reputation which this Gentleman had acquired, of being an attentive Officer... Aug. 9, 1778
44 George Washington Richard Henry Lee Your favour of the 6th instant, did not get to my hands till the 18th, it found me at our posts in the highlands, on my circuit to this place, and at a time when I had neither leisure nor... Sep. 23, 1778
45 Richard Henry Lee George Washington The inclosed letter from the Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina, committed by Congress to the consideration of a committee of three, and which, in the name of the committees I have now the honor... Apr. 28, 1779
46 George Washington Richard Henry Lee I was duly honored with your letter of the 28th in behalf of the Committee for Southern affairs, with the enclosed copy of one from the Lt. Governor of S. Carolina. The situation of affairs in that... Apr. 30, 1779
47 George Washington Richard Henry Lee, Henry Laurens, Thomas Burke I have the honor to transmit to your care an Open Letter for Brigr. General Scott, by which you will perceive that I have directed the Levies in Virginia to be formed into three Batalions, and to... May 5, 1779
48 George Washington Meriwether Smith, Richard Henry Lee, Cyrus Griffin, William Fleming I have been honoured with Your favor of the 6th Inst., inclosing a Letter of the 29th Ulto. and a Copy of a Memorial from Colo. Spotswood to Congress, and requesting my advice upon the subject of... May 13, 1779
49 George Washington Meriwether Smith, Richard Henry Lee, Cyrus Griffin, William Fleming I was last night honoured with your favor of the 21st Instant. From the present condition and arrangement of the Cavalry, I cannot think that Major Lee’s Corps can be sent to Virginia, consistently... May 25, 1779
50 Richard Henry Lee George Washington . . . I left Richmond on the 3d Inst. in the Afternoon & in the Evening I received a Letter from the Governour informing me, that Arnold with Six Ships, 7 or 8 Brigs & 10 other Vessels,... Jan. 7, 1781