George Washington Papers

From George Washington to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 18 October 1779

To Brigadier General Anthony Wayne

Head Quarters West Point 18th Octor 1779

Dear Sir,

Should we undertake an operation of consequence in conjunction with the Count D’Estaing we shall stand in need of a considerable quantity of Facines—Gabions and pickets.1 You will therefore be pleased to set the Troops under your command at that work. The following [are]2 the dimensions which the Engineers have given for each.

Gabions 4 feet high—3½ feet wide.

Facines as long as possible ten Inches thick well bound cut square at both ends.

Pickets of split Wood 4 feet long 3 Inches square.

You may order as many as possible of the above to be made, and that the quantity may not be ascertained by any inquisitive persons, you may direct them not to be drawn together—should you want Bill Hooks or other tools, your Quarter masters must apply to the Quarter Mastr Genl.3 I am Dr Sir Yr Mo. Obet servt

Go: Washington

LS, in Richard Kidder Meade’s writing, PHi: Wayne Papers; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. GW signed the cover of the LS, which is addressed to Wayne at Haverstraw, New York. A note on the docket of the draft, in the writing of GW’s aide-de-camp Tench Tilghman, indicates that like letters were sent to Major General Stirling and Maj. Gen. Robert Howe.

1For the full scope of GW’s preparations for anticipated joint operations with the fleet of Vice Admiral d’Estaing, see Planning for an Allied Attack on New York, c.3–7 October.

2This word is taken from the draft, which is in the writing of Tilghman; Meade inadvertently wrote “in” on the LS.

3GW had also requested the commander of the militia in western Connecticut to construct siege materials (see GW to Matthew Mead, 12 Oct.).

Index Entries