From George Washington to Brigadier General James Clinton, 25 October 1778
To Brigadier General James Clinton
Head Quarters [Fredericksburg] 25th October 1778.
sir.
This Letter is intended to countermand the orders which have been given you for marching1—if therefore upon receipt of it, your troops should still be at the Continental Village—you will remain there with them and revert to the instructions which you received relative to that post2—if it should find you on the march you will halt your troops at the first convenient position—and wait farther orders—in either case you will give me immediate notice.3 I am Sir Your most obedt servt
Go: Washington
LS, in John Laurens’s writing, PPRF; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. This letter was enclosed in GW’s letter to Israel Putnam of this date.
1. For GW’s previous plans to send James Clinton and most of his brigade north to participate in the proposed expedition against Oquaga, see his letters of 19 Oct. to George Clinton and to Edward Hand.
2. For James Clinton’s instructions about the defense of the pass through the Hudson highlands at the Continental Village, see Stirling to GW, 24 Sept., in GW to Stirling, 24 Sept., n.5; and GW to James Clinton or the officer commanding his brigade, 30 Sept., in GW to Charles Scott, 30 Sept., n.2.
3. Col. Goose Van Schaick replied to this letter for Gen. Clinton on 27 October.