From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 23 December 1779
To Samuel Huntington
Head Quarters Morris Town 23d Decemr 1779.
Sir
Inclosed I have the honor to transmit the Copy of a letter which I received last evening from General Wayne who had been to reconnoitre the situation of the Enemy upon Paulus Hook1—Should the Fleet, which he mentions to have fallen down to the Hook, proceed to Sea, Your Excellency will receive information of it from Major Lee, who is stationed in Monmouth, and who is directed to advise Congress of every important move of the enemy’s shipping from New York.2 I have the Honor to be with the greatest Respect Your Excellency’s most obt Servt
Go: Washington
LS, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DNA:PCC, item 152; Df, DLC:GW; copy, DNA:PCC, item 169; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. Congress read GW’s letter on 27 Dec. and referred it to the Board of War with directions “to forward on the Virginia troops with all expedition” ( 15:1410). For the march of the Virginia line to the southern department, see GW to Huntington, 29 Nov., and the source note to that document.
1. The enclosure was a copy of Brig. Gen. Anthony Wayne’s second letter to GW of 21 December.
For GW’s eagerness to confirm reports of a major British detachment from New York, see his letter to Huntington, 29 Nov., and n.1 to that document; see also Henry Lee, Jr., to GW, 30 Nov., n.4.
2. See Lee to GW, 16 and 29 Dec., and n.1 to the latter document.