To George Washington from Brigadier General William Woodford, 7 September 1779
From Brigadier General William Woodford
Smiths Clove [N.Y.] 7th Septemr 1779.
Dear Genl
I called the Field Officers of this Division together to take their Sentiment upon your Excellencies Letter of the 26th August in Respect to the promotion of Officers.1 but they desired time to consider the matter, which is the reason I have not sooner comply’d with your Excellencies request.
I now enclose their opinion, with the Resolution of Congress of the 24th Novr 1778.2
Lord Stirling is still at Ringwood, nothing has occur’d here worthy of notice.
The Officer who commanded the working party towards New Windsor is return’d, & reports the Road in good repair—I shall send Tomorrow to have it view’d—& if it is found to want any further repairs, I shall order another party upon it. Capt. Waggoner has undertaken that part that leads from here to Suffrans, & I dare venture to promise it will be well done, as he is acquainted with this business.3 I am with great Respect & Esteem Your Excellencies Most Obedt humble servt
Wm Woodford
ALS, DNA: RG 93, Manuscript file no. 31531.
1. GW’s letter of 26 Aug. was addressed to Woodford and Brig. Gen. Peter Muhlenberg.
2. The enclosure has not been identified. For the resolution of Congress, see 12:1154–60.
3. For GW’s orders to Major General Stirling on repairing the road from New Windsor, N.Y., to Easton, Pa., see GW to Stirling, 1 Sept. (second letter).
Andrew Waggener (Waggoner; 1743–1813), a native of the Netherlands, received a commission as a captain of the 12th Virginia Regiment in June 1776. After transferring to the 8th Virginia Regiment in September 1778, Waggener became major of that regiment in September 1779, with a commission dating from December 1778 (see GW to Woodford and Peter Muhlenberg, 18 Sept.). Waggener was captured with the bulk of his regiment at the fall of Charleston in May 1780, and he was still being held as a prisoner in November 1782 (see the list of Americans held prisoner in the Southern Department, dated 26 Nov. 1782, in DNA:PCC, item 137). Remnants of the 8th Virginia Regiment continued to serve in the Continental army after May 1780, but Waggener was superceded as major of the regiment in February 1781. He left the army in January 1783.