George Washington to Major General Alexander McDougall, 2 July 1780
George Washington to Major General
Alexander McDougall
Headquarters [Preakness, New Jersey] July 2, 1780. “I wish to see you here the day after tomorrow morning at furthest to consult you on a matter of the greatest importance to the combined operations.”1
LS, in the handwriting of H, from the W. Wright Hawkes Collection of Revolutionary War Documents on deposit at Union College, Schenectady, New York.
1. When this letter was written, McDougall was at West Point.
Although it cannot be stated with certainty, it appears likely that Washington wished to consult with McDougall concerning cooperation with the French forces. On July 4, 1780, Washington wrote to Colonel Daniel Brodhead: “We are in hourly expectation of a considerable French Land and Sea force which is intended to cooperate with us agt. the common enemy. We are, for this purpose, endeavouring to draw out a competent reinforcement of Men and supplies to enable us in conjunction with our Allies, to strike decisively at the enemy” (Df, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress).