From George Washington to Brigadier General Jacob Bayley, 7 December 1778
To Brigadier General Jacob Bayley
Paramus [N.J.]1 7th Decr 1778.
Sir
Your two favors of the 23d & 24th Ultimo came to hand yestrday evening.
Lieut. Col. Wheelok, who has been with Congress, carries up with him their resolutions respecting Col. Bedels Regiment to which I refer.2
The communications in your letter of the 23d seem to be pretty general but I have not had time to give them a very attentive consideration. It is my desire that you would still continue your inquiries in the same line; for altho the expedition, as I have mentioned at length in my last letter, is laid asside, for the present yet it may be resumed at a more convenient season. I would wish therefore to have every intelligence which can be procured from Canada.
You will find on the arrival of your son that I have sent you a supply of money.3 I am Sir &c.
Df, in James McHenry’s writing, DLC:GW; copy, NHi: Gates Papers; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. GW had left Fredericksburg, N.Y., on 28 Nov. and was on his way to Middlebrook, N.J., which he reached on 11 December. His personal guard had gone ahead without him. On 5 Dec., Pvt. Elijah Fisher of GW’s guard wrote in his diary: “We left Troy and Marched and Come to Morristown.” On 6 Dec., he wrote: “We left Morristown and after twenty-three miles March we Come to Mr. Wallases where His Exelency had his winter Quarters and likewise the guard built huts and had there winter quarters in Barringtown” (, 287).
3. GW’s warrant book notes a payment of $923 50/90 on 26 Nov. “To Capt. Frei Bailey for pay of himself Leiut. Powell and Ens[n] Lovell while detained in Canada by Genl Carleton” (Revolutionary War Warrant Book 3, DLC:GW).