George Washington Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-26-02-0276

To George Washington from Samuel Huntington, 12 June 1780

From Samuel Huntington

Philadelphia June 12. 1780

sir,

I am this Hour honoured with your Excellency’s Favour of the 10th Instant.

The last Evening I received Intelligence from Governor Livingston somewhat similar, respecting the Movements of the Enemy in the Jerseys, which was communicated to Congress & President Reed, that the Militia of this State might be in readiness to march on the shortest Notice from your Excellency.1

President Reed informs me this Day, that the light Horse in this City, & the Militia in several Counties in this State, are ordered to be in readiness to march on the shortest Notice.2

We are still in Suspense, having no certain Accounts respecting the Fate of Charlestown, but a Variety of reports in Contradiction to each other.

I do myself the Honour to enclose a Paragraph extracted from the Williamsburgh Gazette of the 3d Instant, which is one of the latest Pieces of Intelligence, and puzzling, & problematical as others heretofore received.3 I have the honour to be with every Sentiment of respect and Esteem your Excelly’s most hbble servt

Sam. Huntington

LS, DLC:GW; LB, DNA:PCC, item 15.

1New Jersey governor William Livingston wrote Huntington on 11 June reporting the British incursion and asking Congress to call on Pennsylvania to send militia (see Prince, Livingston Papers description begins Carl E. Prince et al., eds. The Papers of William Livingston. 5 vols. Trenton and New Brunswick, N.J., 1979–88. description ends , 3:432). Congress read Livingston’s letter on 12 June and passed a motion requesting that Pennsylvania president Joseph Reed “take the most speedy and effectual measures for reinforcing the army in New Jersey under Genl Washington by such detachments from the militia as the circumstances of this state [Pennsylvania] will admit.” Congress then ordered the Pennsylvania delegates to communicate the contents of Livingston’s letter and the motion to Reed and the Pennsylvania supreme executive council (JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 17:502–3).

2The Pennsylvania council had ordered that “four classes of the Militia of the city and county of Philadelphia, and the counties of Bucks and Chester, be ordered to hold themselves in readiness to march to the support of the Continental Army, if farther advice should make it necessary” (Pa. Col. Records description begins Colonial Records of Pennsylvania. 16 vols. Harrisburg, 1840–53. description ends , 12:386).

3Huntington enclosed an undated handwritten document that reads: “From the Williamsburgh Gazette June 3d 1780. Extract of a Letter from Edenton 27th May 1780. In great haste, I can tell you that yesterday an Abstract of a Letter came here from the Southward, which says that on the 9th 10th & 11th Instant there was a heavy Cannonade at Chas Town[.] on the 12 Genl Lincoln sent out a Flagg, offering to the Enemy Te[r]ms of Capitulation, which were, That if they would agree to a Cessation of arms for Ten Days, that he & his Garrison might March out & carry with them their Stores &c. he would deliver up the Town, this it is said, the Enemy agreed to, we in this place wait with great impatience to know the Truth of this Important Matter” (DLC:GW). The newspaper presumably was the Virginia Gazette (Williamsburg).

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