From George Washington to Colonel George Baylor, 25 August 1777
To Colonel George Baylor
Wilmington [Del.] August 25th 1777
Dear Baylor.
I received your Letter of the 18th by this days post. I have never doubted of your assiduity and industry to raise your Regiment, and am but too well satisfied of the difficulties you have met with. I wish you to come on, with Such Men as you have ready, and that you will leave proper Officers to recruit the Troop you mention to be deficient, and also the Remainder of the Regiment, if you think there is a probability of doing it.
The Fleet are laying in Elk River, and by an Express received this Evening, the Troops were landing on the West side this Morning.1 As matters are thus circumstanced, I think, the upper Road should be your Route. I am Dr Baylor Yr Most Obedt Servt
Go: Washington
LS, in Robert Hanson Harrison’s writing, PWacD, on deposit at PPAmP; copy, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
Harrison wrote a personal note to Baylor below GW’s signature on the LS: “My Good Friend—I give you Joy from the Bottom of my Heart on Account of the late fortunate & Signal stroke given by Old Stark—and also on the threshing the Enemy got at Fort Schuyler. There was a cloud in the North, but I really think Matters in that Quarter look well just now—I think Burgoyne will be severely mauled. It is likely we shall have hot work in this Neighbourhood ’ere long—I wish it most cordially—for I flatter myself, Mr Howe will be hard run. Farewell Yrs R.H. Harrison.”
1. For this intelligence, see GW’s second letter to John Hancock of this date, n.1.