George Washington Papers

To George Washington from Captain Robert Smith, 2 December 1777

From Captain Robert Smith

Germantown, 2d Decr [1777] 7 OClock

Sir

Hardly any thing has come out to Day. No Passes have been granted from Town. Some Ladies who got out by special Favor say as far as the Accots from the british Officers are to be attended to a Movement will take Place early tomorrow Morning. Some of them say to this Town, others that they do not know the Route. At such a Time I think it my Duty to send your Exy the most minute Circumstances. What makes against their Moving. the Troops some of them have got new Cloathing. others are promis’d in a Day or two. they are also promis’d their Pay to morrow or next Day. they have a very considerable number of flat bottom’d Boats on Carriages. very few Goods are yet Landed, I mention’d the Rumour given out to your Exy yesterday.1 I am yr most hbl. Servt

Robt Smith

ALS, DLC:GW.

1Both John Clark, Jr., on 1 Dec., and Charles Craig, on 2 Dec., reported to GW rumors circulating in Philadelphia of a British advance toward the Continental army in the near future.

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