To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 27 October 1779
From Brigadier General Anthony Wayne
Light Infantry Camp heights of Haverstraw [N.Y.]
27th Octr 1779 One OClock in the morng
Dear Genl
Inclosed are two letters this moment Recd in consequence of which Genl Woodford & myself will take up our line of March in the Morning, towards Paramus—so as to be in a Situation to afford every possible cover to the Country & if practicable strike the Enemy on their Return, or follow them should they have our Stores or any other Objects in view.1
You may depend on the earliest notice of any further move they may make. Interim I am your Excellency’s Most Obt Hume Sert
Anty Wayne
ADfS, PHi: Wayne Papers.
1. The enclosed letters have not been identified, but they likely involved communications with Major General Stirling or Brig. Gen. William Woodford (see Stirling to GW, 26 Oct., n.4).
Woodford wrote Wayne on this date, 6:00 A.M.: “I have detained your Horseman longer than I intended.
“I have given orders for everything to be prepared for a march as soon as possible, but do not think it will be in our power to move as early as 8 or 9 o’clock.
“Gen. Muhlenberg & myself will ride down in a Hour or two.
“I think with you that we ought to take up our line of March but not to proceed too far till the Gen. orders arrive—would not the Rout by Morris Town be preferable to Paramus?” ( 2:1101).