From George Washington to Major Henry Lee, Jr., 25 October 1779
To Major Henry Lee, Jr.
Head Quarters West Point 25th October 1779
Dear Sir
I have your favr of the 21st:1 No occurrence has happened since I wrote to you last,2 except the evacuation of Stoney and Verplanks Points, which took place on the 22d.3 I have not heard from Rhode Island since the 15th when Genl Gates wrote me that the enemy were seemingly making every preparation for evacuating that place also4—Should Count D’Estaing reach the Hook without touching at the Delaware, you will be pleased to communicate the foregoing with the other intelligences in your possession—Be kind enough to forward the inclosed to Genl Du portail and Colo. Hamilton at Egg Harbour.5 I am with great Regard Dear Sir Your most obt Sert.
Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. Lee’s letter to GW of 21 Oct. has not been found.
2. See GW to Lee, 10 October. Lee was stationed near Sandy Hook, N.J., anticipating the arrival of Vice Admiral d’Estaing’s French fleet.
3. For the British evacuation of Stony Point and Verplanck Point, the termini of King’s Ferry, N.Y., on 21 Oct., see GW to Horatio Gates, 22 Oct., and n.7.
4. For the British evacuation of Rhode Island on this date, see GW to Duportail and Alexander Hamilton, 30 Oct., and notes 1 and 2 to that document.
5. The enclosure almost certainly was GW’s letter to Brigadier General Duportail and Lt. Col. Alexander Hamilton of this date. Lee wrote a letter to Duportail and Hamilton on 29 Oct. that in part reads: “I send you a le[tte]r from Head Quarters” (DLC: Alexander Hamilton Papers).