From George Washington to Major General Robert Howe, 11 July 1780
To Major General Robert Howe
Head Quarters Bergen County 11th July 1780
Dear Sir
I have recd your favors of the 8th—The State of Massachusetts having adopted Colo. Jacksons Regt and directed it to be considered in every respect as belonging to that line,1 it in course becomes intitled to a proportion of the drafts—For this purpose the Bearer Capt. Hunt is sent up to receive the number which will fall to the share of the Regiment.2
I have not yet recd the Feild Return of the 1st Massachusetts and two Connecticut Brigades nor of the provision in the Garrison.3 These being essential, you will be pleased to transmit them, should they not have been sent off previous to this getting to your hands.4
Be pleased to forward the inclosed immediately by Express to Major Talmadge and Mr Dobbs.5
A Frigate is said to have arrived at New York on sunday with an account of her having fallen in with the French Fleet the Wednesday before6—Should this be true we may every moment expect to hear from them. I am &c.
P.S. Be pleased to inform me from time to time, what number of Recruits come in and from what State.
Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. Howe replied to GW on 13 July.
2. Having previously served in a company of minutemen and with a Massachusetts regiment in 1775, Thomas Hunt (1754–1808), of Watertown, Mass., became an ensign and adjutant in the 25th Continental Infantry regiment in January 1776, and the following October was named a brigade major. In February 1777, Hunt joined Col. Henry Jackson’s Additional Continental Regiment as a lieutenant and was promoted to captain in 1779. He transferred to the 9th Massachusetts Regiment in January 1781 and to the 3d Massachusetts Regiment in January 1783. Joining Jackson’s Continental Regiment the following November, he served until its disbandment in June 1784. In 1791 he became a captain in the U.S. Army, rising to colonel in 1803.
3. For the request for these returns, see GW to Howe, 27 June; see also Howe to GW, 3 July, and GW to Howe, 7 July.
4. For the transmission of some of these returns, see Howe to GW, 13 July.
5. GW enclosed his letters to William Dobbs and to Benjamin Tallmadge, both this date.
6. See John Mercereau to GW, 8–9 July; see also Elias Dayton to GW, 11 July, n.1. The previous Wednesday was 5 July.