George Washington Papers
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From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Holt Richeson, 1 July 1778

To Lieutenant Colonel Holt Richeson

[Spotswood, N.J., 1 July 1778]

Sir

Having received information that the State of Virginia has determined to fill up her Regiments by Recruits,1 I desire that you will immediately proceed thither with such Officers of the 3d 7th 11th and 15th Virginia Regiments as can be spared, to superintend the recruiting Service. Upon your arrival at Williamsburg, you are to apply to his Excellency the Governor for your instructions by which you will be informed whether and upon what terms you are to enlist the Men. You are to abide strictly by those instructions, both as to time of enlistment and the Bounty to be given. You are to consider the Officers of the above Regiments under your direction, and you are to appoint them to such Counties as they may be best acquainted with, and have the most influence in. You are to furnish me from time to time with an account of your success and you will forward the Recruits to Camp under the Care of Officers as fast as they are raised. Given at Spotswood New Jersey the 1st day of July 1778.

Go: Washington

DfS, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. The docket of the draft indicates that the same instructions were given to Maj. Ralph Faulkner of the 2d Virginia Regiment. Similar instructions for recruiting the 1st, 5th, and 9th Virginia Regiments had been given to Lt. Col. Robert Ballard on 18 June.

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