From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 11 August 1779
To Major General Horatio Gates
Head Quarters West Point Aug. 11th 1779
Sir,
Major General Baron De Steuben who will deliver you this, sets out tomorrow morning, on his journey to Providence, with intention to make the necessary arrangements relative to his department with the troops under your command. I have no doubt you will afford him every aid in your power to complete them as speedily as possible and to carry the regulations into effect.1 The importance of the institution at the head of which this Gentleman is placed and the essential benefits which the service has derived from his exertions have procured him the general esteem and confidence of the army; and I am persuaded will insure him every attention in your power and your heartiest cooperation. I am Sir Your most Obedient servant
Go: Washington
LS, in Alexander Hamilton’s writing, NHi: Gates Papers; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. For Major General Steuben’s new regulations, see his letters to GW of 5 and 17 March; see also GW to Steuben, 26 Feb. and 11 March, and GW to John Jay, 11 March. For GW’s orders to implement the regulations in the army, see General Orders, 12 April and 30 June. For GW’s implementation of regular monthly inspections in the main army, see General Orders, 1 July, and GW to Steuben, 1 July.
Steuben appears to have delayed his departure until 14 August. On that date, GW issued a warrant to Steuben for $1,000, which GW indicated in a letter to John Jay had been issued to Steuben “as he was just setting out on a journey to providence” (see GW to Jay, 17 Aug., and GW’s Revolutionary War Warrant Book 4, 1779–1780, DLC:GW, Ser. 5). In July, GW had ordered Steuben to make arrangements for the inspector general’s department in Maj. Gen. William Heath’s division (see GW to Heath, 1 July). Steuben remained in Providence inspecting Gates’s regiments until 6 Sept. (see Gates’s letter to GW of that date).