George Washington Papers

To George Washington from Thomas Burke, 24 March 1779

From Thomas Burke

Philadelphia march 24th 1779

Sir

The Governor of South Carolina has pressed the Governor of Virginia for an aid of Cavalry, and the latter has recommended to the Several Counties of his State which lie contiguous to Carolina to raise Corps of Volunteer Cavalry in order to march to the aid of the Southern army and has transmitted his proceedings to Congress.1 the affair is Comprehended in a Business referred to A Committee of which I have the honor to be a member,2 and I am directed to ask you Sir if Colonel Blands or any other Cavalry of the regular army can be Spared to that department The Committee are willing to report that The Volunteers be Countermanded if any other aid of that kind can be afforded, but are unwilling to leave the Southern army without So Necessary an appointment. the report on this particular will be Suspended until we are favored with your answer. I therefore beg leave to request it as early as may be Convenient. I have the honor to be with perfect respect and Esteem Your most obd. hum. Sert

Thos Burke

P.S: the Inclosed letters came under cover to my Collegues. I beg leave to Submit them to you to be disposed of as you Judge best.3

ALS, DLC:GW.

1These letters of 6 Feb., from South Carolina governor John Rutledge to Virginia governor Patrick Henry, and 8 March, from Henry to Rutledge, were read in Congress on 20 March (JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 13:344).

2Congress had resolved on 18 March to appoint a committee of five “to take into consideration the circumstances of the southern states, and the ways and means for their security and defence, and report thereon to Congress without delay” (JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 13:336). The committee members were Burke, Henry Laurens, Thomas Nelson, John Armstrong, and Eliphalet Dyer. For the committee’s report and its adoption by Congress, see JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 374, 385–88.

3The enclosed letters have not been identified, but GW describes them in his reply to Burke of 28 March as requests from “Mr Eustace,” probably Maj. John Skey Eustace, and James Iredell.

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