George Washington Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-23-02-0304

From George Washington to Major General Alexander McDougall, 21 November 1779

To Major General Alexander McDougall

[West Point] Novr 21st [1779]

Sir,

I have just recd your favor.

It is my desire for various reasons, that you should continue in your present command until relieved by an Officer of equal rank with yourself—this will happen as soon as our situation and the good of the service will permit—until then I have to request, that you will exert yourself, to put matters in general at this post in the best possible train—I make the request as yr knowledge of them must be better than that of yr successors, & because many steps must be taken, (perhaps) ⟨b⟩efore your departure1—I have ⟨on⟩ly to add that when it happens ⟨that⟩ I sincerely wish the retirement may ⟨pro⟩ve a perfect cure to yr complaint ⟨and⟩ answer all your other views. I am.

Df, in Richard Kidder Meade’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. Mutilated portions of the draft are supplied in angle brackets from the varick transcript.

1For the decision to replace McDougall as commander at West Point with Maj. Gen. William Heath, see GW’s two letters to Heath of 27 Nov. (letter 1; letter 2); see also McDougall to GW, 6 Nov., and GW to McDougall, 13 Nov., and to Horatio Gates, 17 November.

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