George Washington Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-17-02-0188

To George Washington from Brigadier General William Maxwell, 29 September 1778

From Brigadier General William Maxwell

[Elizabethtown, N.J.] 29th Septr 17781

Sir

Your Excellency’s Favour of the 27th Inst. came to hand since I sent of[f] mine of th[i]s morning,2 I shewed it to General Heard and as many of the Colls as was handy, likewise Mr Caldwell that was here as he knew how the Stores was sittuated in Morristown; We were all of opinion that had Your Excellency received my last Letters3 and known the sittuation of General Winds and his strength that he is occasionaly on the East & West side of aquackinac Bridge that he occupies partley the same ground that You have aloted for me; that the Enemy makes no Moves over the Hackensack &Ca worth mentioning; I say We think that had Your Excellency been informed with all these circumstances and the likelyhood of the Enemy crossing here and pillageing this part of the country, as my last letters has shewn You would not have ordered me up to Acquackinac or in that neighbour hood, I have therefore concluded to stand fast with my Brigade at least till an Answer from Your Excellency arives to some of my last Letters4 or till the Enemy offers to make some advances to the Westward, in that case I shall move Immediately and endeavour to fall on their flank or Rear. I send a Field Officer to General Winds dayly to have the necessary Intiligence forwarded to Your Excellency and to me, and will do so. I am Your Most Obedient Humble Servt

Wm Maxwell

ALS, DLC:GW. Maxwell wrote and signed a note in the lower-left corner of the addressed cover that reads: “To be Forwdd by Express. Wm Maxwell B.G.”

1Tench Tilghman docketed this letter: “Elisa. Town 29th Sepr 1778 from Genl Maxwell.”

2Maxwell’s earlier letter to GW of this date has not been found.

3See Maxwell’s letters to GW of 27 and 28 September.

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