From George Washington to John Gill, 6 October 1777
To John Gill
Camp at Pawlins Mill [Pa.]1 6th Octobr 1777
Sir
Lieut: Dongan has waited upon me to know in what manner you can best employ the Militia of Bucks.2 I think at present you cannot do better than to post them upon the different Roads leading to Philada beginning at the Bristol Road and extending across the Country to the Westward. The Guards should fall down as near philada as they possibly can and pay particular attention to stopping all persons from going in with marketting. If any are taken coming out of the town from whom any particular information is obtained, let the Officer who receives the information report it to me. If any persons leave the Country and go in to the Enemy their Horses and Cattle should be immediately secured for the public & sent to this Army,3 leaving their Milch Cows and a horse or two to draw wood &ca for support of their families. I am Sir Yr most obt Servt.
Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. For an insertion in GW’s writing on the draft manuscript, see note 3.
John Gill of Bensalem Township in Bucks County, Pa., was appointed sublieutenant for his county in August 1777. He also served as purchaser of supplies for the Pennsylvania militia.
1. Pawling’s (Pauling’s; Pawlins) Mill, which was on the west bank of Perkiomen Creek directly opposite Pennypacker’s Mill, apparently was named for John Pawling, who had owned Pennypacker’s Mill from 1730 to 1747.
2. Garrett Dungan (Dunghan; c.1740–1820), who was a private in the Bucks County militia in August 1775, was appointed in 1776 to repair weapons collected in his district, and in May 1777 he became first lieutenant of the 1st Regiment of the Bucks County militia.
3. On the draft manuscript GW wrote the phrase “& sent to this Army” above the line.