From George Washington to David Forman, 25 March 1778
To David Forman
Head Quarters, Valley Forge March 25th 1778
Sir
I am favoured with yours of the 13th instant. The opinion of the council of your state is so directly opposed to the continuance of the men at the salt works you are erecting,1 that to avoid the imputation of partiality and remove all cause for censure both with respect to you and myself, I am induced to direct they may, for the present, join, and act with, Col: Shreves regiment, in the purposes of common defence.2 I have as yet had no answer from Congress, on the subject of your memorial; when I receive one, I shall govern myself accordingly.3 I am with regard Sir Your most Obed. Ser.
Df, in Alexander Hamilton’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. For Forman’s letter of 13 Mar. and the council’s opinion, see William Livingston to GW, 14 Mar., nn.2–3.
2. GW’s aide Alexander Hamilton wrote Col. Israel Shreve on this date, “His Excellency commands me to inform you, that he has given directions, for the party stationed at the Salt works, which Col: Foreman is raising, to join and act with you, ’till further orders” (ALS, owned in 1970 by Mrs. Fletcher Pratt; see also DLC:GW).
3. For Forman’s memorial about the saltworks, see Forman to GW, 1 Jan., n.1.