From George Washington to John Jay, 23 August 1779
To John Jay
Head Quarters [West Point] August the 23d 1779
Sir
I take the liberty of transmitting to Your Excellency the inclosed Copy of a Letter I received from Colo. Butler of the 21st Instant. From the character of this Gentleman and the opinion I entertain of him as a man of strict1 honor and probity, I am perfectly persuaded the representation he has made of his loss, is true in every part; and I am exceedingly sorry such an accident should have happened to an Officer of his merit—and who has rendered great services to his Country. The only relief I conceived myself authorised to grant him, was to give him an order on the Cloathing Department, to furnish him with such Articles as he has occasion for, if there are any in it; at proper & reasonable rates;2 and I submit his case to Congress for such farther consideration as they may think it deserves.3 I have the Honor to be with great respect Yr Excellency’s Most Obedt servant
Go: Washington
LS, in Robert Hanson Harrison’s writing, DNA:PCC, item 152; Df, DLC:GW; copy, DNA:PCC, item 169; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. Congress read this letter on 28 Aug. and referred it to the Board of Treasury ( 14:1005).
1. This word does not appear on the draft, which is in the writing of GW’s secretary Robert Hanson Harrison.
2. See GW to Richard Butler, this date.
3. On 15 Sept., Congress directed that the auditors of the main army pay Butler $2,316, providing he gave them his oath regarding the facts set forth in his letter to GW of 21 Aug. ( 15:1068). On 23 Sept., Jay forwarded Butler’s letter to the auditor of the main army with a copy of the act of Congress directing that Butler be paid the sum mentioned in his letter after swearing his oath regarding the facts in his letter (DNA:PCC, item 14).