From George Washington to Colonel Roswell Hopkins, 22 July 1778
To Colonel Roswell Hopkins
Head Quarters White plains 22d July 1778.
Sir
I recd yours of yesterday informing me of your having been stationed at King’s Ferry before Colonel Spencers arrival there.1 Be pleased to send for the Cloathes and Tents of the Men under your command, to Fort Arnold, and after they have recd them, let them march to Camp under the care of proper Officers that they may join the Regiments of the State to which they belong. When they arrive, the commanding Officer must report them to me. I am Sir Yr &c.
Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. Roswell Hopkins (1733–1827), a justice of the peace from Amenia, N.Y., was appointed lieutenant colonel of the 6th Regiment of Dutchess County militia in October 1775 and was promoted to colonel in March 1778. He moved to Vermont in 1784.
1. Hopkins had written GW from King’s Ferry on 21 July: “I was ordered here with 300 men the 12th Instant only for 2 or 3 Days to Cover Some Cannon until the Grand Army had Crossed the ferry which is now Done.
“And Colonel Spencer arrived Yesterday with his Battalion of N. Jersey troops with orders to Encamp at this plaice without orders to Relive me, and as my men are without tents or Cloathes which are at Fort Arnold and they a Detachment of nine months men, and I was out with a Regt of N. York Militia who are all Discharged.
“Desire your Excellency would give orders that Colo. Spencer or Some others may Relive us” (ALS, PHi: Gratz Collection).