George Washington Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-22-02-0015

From George Washington to John Jay, 2 August 1779

To John Jay

Head Qrs West point August 2d 1779

Sir

I do myself the Honor to transmit Your Excellency an Extract of a Letter of the 29th Ulto from a Confidential correspondent in New York.1 It contains the latest advices I have had from thence.

By reports from our Officers advanced on both sides of the River, the Enemy broke up their Camp at philip’s burg on the night of the 30th and morning of the 31st Ulto. The accounts received by the Officers on the East side say, that they had all gone below Kingsbridge2—those on the West—that their march pointed towards Fort Independance. This movement seems to countenance—and to give a greater air of probability to the intelligence from New York, with respect to an embarkation and the Enemys intentions to repair & erect Fortifications.

I inclose Your Excellency some New York papers—the latest of which is of the 29th of July.3 I have the Honor to be with the highest respect & esteem Yr Excellency’s Most Obedt sert

G. Washington

Df, in Robert Hanson Harrison’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. Congress read this letter on 7 Aug. and referred it to the standing committee appointed to correspond with the commanding officer in South Carolina (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 14:934).

1The enclosed extract has not been identified. For the letter of the “Confidential correspondent” Robert Townsend (alias Samuel Culper, Jr.), from which the extract was taken, see Culper, Jr., to John Bolton, 29 July, enclosed in Benjamin Tallmadge to GW, 28–30 July.

3GW may have received these from Col. John Taylor. On 5 Aug., GW thanked Taylor for his letters of 30 July and 2 Aug. that were “with the papers.” These letters have not been found.

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