From George Washington to the Board of War, 21 June 1780
To the Board of War
Hd Qrs Springfield June 21st 1780
Gentlemen,
The Board, in a late letter, left it with me to determine the recall of the infantry of Major Lee’s corps.1 It will certainly be eligible, that the corps should be united—and as the services of the horse in this quarter cannot be dispensed with, it is in my opinion adviseable that the infantry should be without delay ordered to join this army—They are too inconsiderable in number to make any difference in the scale of Southern affairs. If the Board agree with me in sentiment I request them to dispatch an order to the Commanding officer to hasten him back.2 I have the honor to be With perfect respect Gentlemen Yr most Obedt serv.
Df, in Alexander Hamilton’s writing, DLC:GW; copy, enclosed in GW to Samuel Huntington, 25 June, DNA:PCC, item 152; copy, DNA:PCC, item 169; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. See Board of War to GW, 12 June.
2. Capt. Allen McLane commanded the infantry companies of Maj. Henry Lee, Jr.’s partisan corps. The Board of War wrote McLane from Philadelphia on 23 June: “It being the desire of his Excellency Genl Washington, that the men under your Command should rejoin the Cavalry of the Corps—now with the main Army—as early as possible. you will immediately upon the receipt of this, set out on your return to Philadelphia or the main Army whereever it may be by the most expeditious route. by Land or water as you shall Judge proper, consistent with the safety of your Party” (NHi: McLane Papers). McLane’s battalion did not rejoin Lee’s corps until August (see Lee to GW, 15 Aug., DLC:GW).