From George Washington to Brigadier General William Woodford, 30 September 1778
To Brigadier General William Woodford
Head Qrs near Fredericksburg
30 Septr 1778. 9 OClock a.m.1
Dr sir
I have been favoured with your Letter of yesterday.
In consequence of the Enemy’s movements on the West side of the North river, I shall proceed to Fish Kill Town to day & hold my Head Quarters there till their intentions are better understood or while circumstances may make it necessary. You will therefore send all your Letters and information to that post and you will also be so obliging as to communicate my removal to Lord Stirling, that he may do the same.2
I am in hopes there is no foundation for the report you mention of the Enemy’s being at the Clove. That pass is so exceedingly important that they should never be suffered to possess it; and whatever position you take should be calculated to give it perfect security. I have written to Genl Putnam to send a detachment to occupy the pass, leading from Haverstraw through the Mountains by which the Enemy marched to attack Fort Montgomery last year;3 so that I trust there will be nothing to apprehend from that, You will advise Lord Stirling of this.
I am much obliged by your sending Doctr Griffith to the Assistance of Colo. Baylor—Major Clough &c. I regret their unhappy situation and the misfortune that has befallen their Corps.4 I am Dr sir.
Df, in Robert Hanson Harrison’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. The time was mistakenly transcribed on the Varick transcript as “9 O’Clock p.m.”
2. GW was at Fishkill from this date to 8 Oct., when he returned to John Kane’s house near Fredericksburg (see GW to Horatio Gates, this date, and note 5 to that document).
3. For this order, see GW to Israel Putnam, this date.
4. For Dr. David Griffith’s report about his treatment of the Americans in Col. George Baylor’s 3d Continental Light Dragoon Regiment who had been wounded near Old Tappan, N.J., on 28 Sept., see his letter to William Woodford, 30 Sept., in Stirling to GW, 1 Oct., n.1. For accounts of the attack, see Israel Putnam to GW, 28 Sept., and notes 1 and 2 to that document; Charles Stewart to GW, 28 Sept., and note 1 to that document; Otho Holland Williams to GW, 28 Sept.; Israel Putnam to GW, 29 Sept., and notes 1 and 2 to that document; and Baylor to GW, 19 Oct., and note 1 to that document.