George Washington Papers
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From George Washington to Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 20 April 1777

To Major General Benjamin Lincoln

Head Quarters Morris Town 20th April 1777

Dear Sir

I have yours with the Return of your Division.1 I observe that the Return of the two independent Companies is much smaller than the last and the deficiency not accounted for. I therefore desire the Captains may be called upon to know what is become of their Men. I also observe that there are eight Men of the Corps under Chambers absent on furlough, I desire that they may be ordered in as well as those from the other Corps and I beg that no more be granted on any terms whatever, just at this time. I have ordered up the Brigade of Jersey Militia under the Command of Genl Heard to this place, and I desire that what Jersey Militia are with you may likewise come up, I shall instantly more than replace them, with the several Detatchments of New England, and pennsylvania Regulars that are now here.

I have recd information that the Enemy have brought over some of their Boats to Brunswic and that they are fixing them upon Carriages, pray endeavour to get a person into the Town to know the truth of this, and if it [is] so, how soon they move. I am Dear Sir Yrs

Go: Washington

P.S. If you think sending off the Militia from Bound Brook before the detatchment I intend to send down arrives will weaken you too much, you may keep them till the detatchment does arrive, and then send them off quietly—Send the inclosed to Genl Heard.2

LS, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, MH.

1. This letter has not been found, and the enclosed return has not been identified. GW’s aide-de-camp Richard Kidder Meade wrote Lincoln on 25 April: “As it is necessary the Genl [GW] shou’d at this time have a perfect knowledge of the strength of ev’ry Post he does not doubt recieveing your Weekly returns, every monday; I mention’d to Major [Nathan] Rice, when last here, the Genls desire of knowing where the absent men are” (NjMoHP).

2. This enclosure probably is GW’s letter to Brig. Gen. Nathaniel Heard of 19 April.

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    Washington Papers
    Title
    From George Washington to Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 20 April 1777
    Author
    Washington, George
    Recipient
    Lincoln, Benjamin
    Date
    20 April 1777

    Reference

    Cite as
    “From George Washington to Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 20 April 1777,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-09-02-0202. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 9, 28 March 1777 – 10 June 1777, ed. Philander D. Chase. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1999, pp. 219–220.]

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