11. Morning lowering—Wind fresh from the So. Mer. 72. Rain in the afternoon. Mer. 74 at Night. Mr. Fitzhugh & his oldest daughter dined here. He went away afterwards & Mr. McHenry—Secy. of war came in the evening.
James McHenry, the secretary of war, brought GW’s commission as “Lieutenant General and Commander in Chief” of the provisional army then being raised in expectation of a war with France. GW’s commission, dated 4 July 1798, is in DLC:GW. GW accepted the commission with the proviso that he would not enter active service until the army was in the field, which never occurred. The army was disbanded in 1800.