To George Washington from Samuel Huntington, 21 June 1780
From Samuel Huntington
Philadelphia June 21 1780
Sir,
I have the honour to transmit your Excellency the enclosed Acts of Congress of the 17th & 19th Instant, pointing out the different Measures they have taken for the Support of the southern Army.1
Congress cannot but hope that the Measures they have taken, if executed with Punctuality and De[s]patch, will change the Face of Affairs in that Country.
It is submitted to your Excellency, whether it may not be proper that the Infantry of Major Lee’s Corps proceed to join the southern Army.2
I have been honored with your Despatches of the 18th Instant, which were immediately laid before Congress, and also communicated to President Reed. I have the Honour to be with every Sentiment of respect your Excelly’s most obedt servant
Sam. Huntington President
LS, DLC:GW; LB, DNA:PCC, item 15.
1. Huntington enclosed a document with two resolutions. The first, passed on 17 June, reads: “Resolved, That the executive power of the State of Virginia be earnestly requested to order a reinforcement of five thousand militia including any that may be now in service to join the southern army with all possible dispatch.
“That the executive power of the State of North Carolina be earnestly requested to order a reinforcement of four thousand militia including such as are now in service to join the said army.
“That it be recommended to the State of Virginia to keep in readiness an additional force of three thousand militia and to the State of North Carolina to keep in readiness and additional force of two thousand militia in order to join the southern army upon the shortest notice.”
The second resolution, passed on 19 June, reads: “Resolved That it be earnestly recommended to the States of Virginia and North Carolina to use their utmost exertions to recruit remount & equip Baylor’s and White’s regiments of light dragoons so as to compleat them to at least one hundred and fifty rank and file in each regiment.
“That it be recommended to Genl Washington if not incompatible with the service to order the infantry belonging to Major Lee’s corps now in Virginia to proceed on their rout & join the southern army there to be employed as the commanding officer in that department shall think best” (DLC:GW, filed with documents dated 19 June; see also , 17:523–24, 527–28).
2. GW instead requested the recall of this infantry (see his letter to the Board of War, this date).