To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 23 July 1777
From Major General Horatio Gates
Philadelphia 23d July 1777.
Sir
I am desired by The Honorable The Board of War to acquaint Your Excellency, that they have Order’d the Hessian paymaster, who had your pass in May last to go to Lancaster,1 & to return from thence to N. York, to be detain’d at His Quarters in this City, until Your Excellencys further Directions concerning him can be known; It is with Reason Suspected that Certain Tories, & Enemies of the United States, have been endeavouring to gain an Intimacy, & of course Establish a Correspondence with this Gentleman; The Honorable Board are Desir’ous Your Excellency should be apprized thereof, before You Grant him Your permission to Return to New York. I am Sir Your Excellencys Most Obedient Humble Servant
Horatio Gates
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. Gates is referring to Mathias Muller, who took clothing and pay to the Hessian prisoners at Lancaster, Pa., in May 1777 (see Lieutenant General Heister to GW, 8 May, and GW to Heister, 13 May).