To George Washington from Major General Nathanael Greene, 13 November 1780
From Major General Nathanael Greene
Mount Vernon Nov. 13th 1780
Sir
I arrivd here yesterday about noon;1 and met with a kind and hospitable reception by Mrs Washington and all the family. Mrs Washington, Mr and Mrs Custis, (who are here) and Mr Lund Washington and his Lady2 are all well.
We set out this morning for Richmond, and it is now so early that I am oblige to write by candle light. Nothing but the absolute necessity of my being with my command as soon as possible should induce me to make my stay so short at your Excellencys seat; where there is every thing that nature and art can afford to render my stay happy and agreeable. Mount Vernon is one of the most pleasant places I ever saw; and I dont wonder that you languish so often to return to the pleasures of domestic life. Nothing but the glory of being commander in Chief, and the happiness of being universally admird could compensate a person for such a sacrafice as you make. Baron Stuben is delighted with the place, and charmed with the reception we met with. Mrs Washington sets out for camp about the middle of this week.3
I have had no official accounts either of the enimy at Portsmouth4 or of the Southern Army. Mrs Washington received a letter last Night from her brother near Williamsburg who writes that the enemy are fortifying at Portsmouth; and that they have collected a great quantity of provision and distressed many of the Inhabitants.5
I am told the Militia of this State have turned out in greater numbers than have been wanted; and Mr Custis and Colo. Fitzgerald6 think the Inhabitants were never more willing to make sacrafices for the support of the cause than at this hour. But the great difficulty is, the things necessary to equip an Army, are not to be had.
We have various reports respecting Lord Cornwallises retreat and critical situation, but I beleive little dependance are to be placed upon them. I am in hopes to get good information at Richmond both with respect to the enimy in this State and those to the Southard; and will write your Excellency a more full and particular account.7
I had a conference with the Governor and two houses of Assembly at Annapolis. They promise me all the assistance in their power; but are candid enough to tell me, that I must place but little dependance upon them, as they have neither money or credit; and from the temper of the people are afraid to push matters to extremities.8
I left General Gist in the state with proper instruction for receiving and forwarding to the Southern Army, recruits and supplies of every kind; both from Maryland and Delaware.9 Cloaths, and Arms, will be the most difficult articles to be got; nor do I see how either Virginia or Maryland can furnish many, (if any) of either. But I shall be more fully informed of this, on my arrival at Richmond.
If your Excellency has any particular instructions to give respecting the Maryland line, should be glad to receive them as soon as possible; as an arrangment of the officers upon the new establishment will be made without loss of time.10 I also wish to be informed and to receive your directions respecting the other lines in the Southern department.
Colonel Harrison left this, day before yesterday.11 I am sorry I had not an opportunity to see him; as he has been in the state some days, and could give me more full and particular information of the veiws and wishes of the people, than I have had time or opportunity to collect.12 I am with the greatest respect and regard Your Excellencys Most Obedient humble Serv.
Nath. Greene
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. Greene apparently left Philadelphia on 3 Nov. and was at Head of Elk, Md., on 5 Nov. (see his letter to Donaldson Yeates, that date, in , 6:463–65). He was in Annapolis on 7 Nov. and left on 11 Nov. (see William Fitzhugh to GW, 16 Nov., and n.9 below).
2. Elizabeth Foote Washington (1746–1812) grew up in Prince William County, Va., and married her cousin Lund Washington in 1779. The couple resided at Mount Vernon until moving to their own estate, Hayfield, located five miles south of Alexandria, in 1784. See Linda Eileen Parris, “‘A Dutiful Obediant Wife’: The Journal of Elizabeth Foote Washington of Virginia, 1779–1796,” M.A. thesis, College of William and Mary, 1984.
3. Greene wrote on a Monday. Martha Washington left later in the month to spend the winter with GW (see Robert Hanson Harrison to GW, 28 Nov. 1780, and n.15).
4. For the British expedition to Virginia, see GW to Samuel Huntington, 17 Oct., n.2, and Greene to GW, 31 Oct., n.4.
5. The letter to Martha Washington, presumably from her brother Bartholomew Dandridge, has not been identified (see also Dandridge to GW, 1 Oct.).
6. GW’s former aide-de-camp John Fitzgerald then resided in Alexandria, Virginia.
8. Greene vigorously appealed to Maryland officials for their support (see his letter to Thomas Sim Lee, 10 Nov., in , 6:473–75).
9. Greene had written instructions for Brig. Gen. Mordecai Gist at Annapolis on 10 Nov.: “You will continue in this State untill further orders, for the purpose of raising, equiping & di[s]ciplining, the troops required of it. …
“You will address the Governor and Legislature upon the business of the requisition made to them by me.” Gist was tasked to give “particular attention to the business of forwarding the Stores coming from Philadelphia or Delaware” and sending recruits “as fast as possible … but not without their being first equiped for field duty” (DNA:PCC, item 78; see also , 6:472; GW to Gist, this date, found at Gist to GW, 26 Oct., n.4; Greene to the Board of War, 7 Nov., and to Caesar Rodney, 10 Nov., in , 6:468–69, 475; and n.8 above).
Gist wrote Maryland governor Thomas Sim Lee from Annapolis on 14 Nov. “on the Subject of Genl Greenes requisition” and “to press its speedy & effectual execution” (, 45:181–82; see also Gist to “The President of the Committee app[oin]ted to take into consideration the requisition of Major General Greene,” same date, in , 45:183–85, and Gist to GW, 24 Nov., n.3).
10. For the new arrangement of the Continental army, see General Orders, 1 November.
11. GW’s secretary Robert Hanson Harrison had left Philadelphia in late October on his way to Virginia (see Harrison to Alexander Hamilton, 27 Oct., in , 2:490–92).