To George Washington from Brigadier General James Potter, 22 December 1777
From Brigadier General James Potter
Decr 22d Eleven oClock 1777
Sir
I have Just Receved you Excelanceys favours of seven and Eight oClock this evening the enemy are not moved towards Wilimington1 they ley en Camped from Philip Prices to Joshewa Asshes Place on the Road leading from Darby to Springfield meetinghous2—your pleaseed to Inform me that you will send down fifteen choice partys as soon as they can be perreaded then you Aske me to Inform you of the Numbers of the Enemy that I am not able to Assurtain General How is out and I Beleve the greater part of his Army they form a line of three mills long, I am of opinion that it will Requier a larg Bodey to Get the Better of them—we have a party In Springfield meeting hous this night and patter Roles from that to there picquates—the Keep verey Closs to gether: they Do not Scatter as they did when out before. I am your excelanceys Humble Servant
Ja’s Potter
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. These letters have not been found.
2. Joshua Ash (c.1715–1779), a member of the Pennsylvania general assembly from 1757 to 1766, owned a 300–acre plantation in Darby Township, Chester County, Pa., about three miles from Philadelphia. One of Ash’s sons, Joshua Ash, Jr. (b. 1743), a butcher, served in the Southwark Associators.