To George Washington from James McHenry, 18 July 1780
From James McHenry
Head Quarters [Preakness, N.J.] 18th July 1780
Sir
I would beg leave to mention to your Excellency, a matter, in which I feel too much to be longer without laying it before you. The approaching campaign opening an interesting field, makes me desirous to appear, in a more military character, than that I now hold. I have also had before me for some time past, a prospect of visiting Europe; and especially those places where our interest is most cherished: And as my present character, of secretary, is not in the same estimation, there, as with us, I would therefore request your Excellency, that I may be considered as a volunteer. Hitherto, I have acted without pay, and it is my intention to receive none in future, unless some alteration in my circumstances render it necessary. If I receive your permission, to come as a volunteer, or accept such a station in the army as may place me, wholly, in a military light, I shall be happy, because, in it, I combine, with what I owe myself, that duty proper to my country.1 I have the honor to be with the utmost respect, your Excellency’s most obt & hble sert
James McHenry
ALS, DLC:GW; ADf, MiU-C: McHenry Papers.
1. In a document he signed and titled “21st July 1780 Genls Answer,” McHenry recorded what apparently was GW’s verbal answer to this letter: “You have mentioned, said he to me, in a letter which Col. Hamilton delivered me, that you wished to lay aside the office of Secretary and to serve as a volunteer, or to accept of some military station in the army. I suppose Col. H: told you that your continuing with me as a volunteer would be agreeable till some post in the army offers better suited to your inclination. Added he—you know it is not in my power to produce any thing for you in that line—I replied, I am much obliged to you Sir for your compliance with my request—but as to what you last observed I would beg leave to be understood that in asking your permission to accept of a place, I had not the most remote intention to solicit one” (MiU-C: McHenry Papers).
McHenry soon became a volunteer aide-de-camp to Major General Lafayette (see Alexander Hamilton to James Duane, 22 July, in , 2:363–64).