From George Washington to Colonel Frederick Frelinghuysen, 5 June 1779
To Colonel Frederick Frelinghuysen
Pumpton [Pompton, N.J.] June 5: 1779
Sir
I have been informed that you are out with a party of Militia. I request that you will let me know where they are stationed—what their number is—and whether they would join the Continental troops in case their aid s⟨hould be⟩ found material, to act against the Enemy who appear to be meditating an attack with their whole force upon the Highland posts.1 Besides the Militia, which are now with you,2 it is to be hoped that more of your Regiment would turn out on an emergency; You will therefore ascertain as nearly as you can the whole number that you think might be expected3—I shall write to Colonel Dey upon the same subject with respect to the Militia that are with him.4 I am sir.
Df, in Robert Hanson Harrison’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. The docket of the draft manuscript reads “To Colonel Frelinghausen &c.” Harrison also wrote initially at the bottom of the draft manuscript “To Colonel Frelinghausen Dey & Hawkes Hay.” He then struck out the name “Hawkes Hay,” suggesting that this letter was sent to Col. Theunis Dey of the Bergen County, N.J., militia, but not to Col. Ann Hawkes Hay of the Orange County, N.Y., militia, as indicated by the Varick transcript. Mutilated material on the draft manuscript is supplied within angle brackets from the Varick transcript.
1. For recent British operations up the Hudson River, see William De Hart to GW, 30 May, n.1, and General Orders, 1 June, n.1.
2. For Frelinghuysen’s command, which was based at Hackensack, N.J., and included militia from Bergen, Morris, and Somerset counties, see William Livingston to Frelinghuysen, 26 May, in 3:98.
3. Frelinghuysen apparently obtained a furlough that took him from his command “for 8 or 10 days” on, or soon after, 7 June (William Livingston to Gertrude Frelinghuysen, 7 June, in 3:106).
4. This letter has not been found.