George Washington Papers

From George Washington to Henry Knox, 4 November 1790

To Henry Knox

Mount Vernon November 4th 1790.

Sir,

I have received your letter of the 25th ultimo with its enclosures.

I am apprehensive that Governor St Clair’s communication of the object of the expedition to the Officer commanding at Detroit has been unseasonable and may have unfavorable consequences—it was certainly premature to announce the operation intended until the troops were ready to move—since1 the Indians, through that channel, might receive such information as would frustrate the expedition.2 I am Sir, Your most obedient Servant.

Df, DLC:GW; LB, DLC:GW.

1“As an early information to” was originally written and then crossed out in the draft.

2For the realization of GW’s apprehension, see Jefferson to GW, 29 Aug. 1790, n.2.

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