George Washington Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-24-02-0458

To George Washington from Colonel Return Jonathan Meigs, 24 February 1780

From Colonel Return Jonathan Meigs

Middletown [Conn.] 24th Feby 1780

Sir.

A few days before the Light Infantry Join’d the Body of the Army, I obtain’d leave of absence of Genl Wayne, on a promise to return to that Corps without delay in Case the Enemys fleet should enter Chesapeak Bay, which was at that time thought probable: But as that did not happen, & my private affairs being in a bad situation occasion’d by my absence since the commencement of the War, I have tarried to this time, and cannot without great injury to my family return to Camp till the last of March: notwithstanding which Your Exellencys pleasure by a line, which I will esteem a great favor, will intirely determine my conduct. I am with the greatest respect Your Exellency’s Obedt servant.

R. J. Meigs Colo.

ALS, DLC:GW.

GW replied on 12 March from headquarters at Morristown: “Yours of the 24th ulto reached me yesterday. I imagine from your letter you will be setting out for the Camp by the time this gets to your hands—the scarcity of Feild Officers, of whom there are barely sufficient to perform the necessary duties obliges me to request you to join your Regt with as much dispatch as possible” (Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW).

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