From George Washington to Major General Nathanael Greene, 6 October 1780
To Major General Nathanael Greene
Given at Head Quarters Tapan Octor 6th 1780
Sir,
You will take the command of the two divisions consisting of the Jersey and York Brigades, and Starkes and late Poors Brigades with which you will march by the directest route to West Point—The Troops will go all the way by Land, sending their baggage and Artillery by Water from Kings ferry for the security of which you will take effectual precautions.1 I wish the Troops to arrive at their destination as soon as it can be done without fatiguing them.
The first Pennsylvania Brigade marches tomorrow to join the Army, and General St Clair is directed, to move the second Pennsylvania Brigade and Meig’s regiment to the Army as soon as a sufficient Corps arrives to replace them. I wish them to be enabled to begin their march as soon as it can be conveniently done. St Clair waits till he is relieved by a Major General.2
You will observe the instructions already given to the commanding Officers of the Post, of which the inclosed are copies with the following additions—So soon as you arrive with the Troops you will discharge all the New Hampshire and Massachusetts Militia with my thanks for their services. You will send off all the spare Waggon and riding horses, and use every other expedient in your power to œconomise your forage, which you know is an article of the greatest importance—You will exert your self to complete the works and put them in the most perfect state of defence. This is essential, under the knowledge the Enemy have of their present state, as a change in their situation, will not only render them in reality more defensible, but will diminish the usefulness of the information, Arnold has it in his power to give—The approaching reduction of the Army adds to the necessity of having this important post in the most respectable state of defence. Lieut. Colonel Gouvion has my orders to join you for this purpose, with his Corps. You will keep such parties as you judge safe and expedient advanced towards the Enemy on the East side of the River for the purpose of restraining their depredations and protecting the Country.3
You will begin to form winter covering at West Point and its dependencies for a Garrison of about the number of your present command and you will prosecute measures for ample magazines of wood.4
Besides the four Brigades already mentioned, the Artillery and the Corps of Sappers and Miners, you will have under your command, Livingstons regiment and Sheldons dragoons. There are also two Connecticut State regiments stationed on the Sound, which on an emergency you may call to your aid, and with whom in the meantime you can communicate for intelligence of what passes in the Sound.
You will inform General McDougal that his division, Starkes and late Poors Brigades, are with you. His private affairs may demand his attention a while after which he will probably join you.5
When you have made your disposition, you will report it to me6—I commit this important Post to your care in full confidence in your prudence vigilance activity and good conduct.
Go: Washington
LS, in Richard Kidder Meade’s writing, MHi: Heath Papers; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
Greene wrote his wife, Catharine, on 7 Oct.: “I am this moment going to begin my March for West Point which place and the Troops on the East side of the North River I am to have the command of. This is only a temporary disposition for the fall. It is yet uncertain what disposition will be made for the winter. … The situation is not much to my liking, there being little prospect of glory or comfort” (, 6:350–52; see also Greene to GW, 5 Oct.). GW soon selected Greene as commanding general for the southern department (see GW to Greene, 14, 18, and 22 Oct., and Greene to GW, 16 and 19 Oct.).
1. See General Greene’s Orders for 7 Oct. in , 6:350, and Greene to GW, 8 October.
2. GW wrote Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Clair from headquarters at Orangetown on this date: “Four Brigades which are to compose the Garrison of West point march from this Camp tomorrow Morning—As soon therefore as a sufficient number of Men to releive the 2d Pennsylvania Brigade and Meigs’s Regiment arrive, you will direct those Corps to join the Army, which will lay near prekaness, by the shortest Route. I have myself given orders to Genl Wayne to move tomorrow morning with the 1st Brigade. You will be pleased to remain yourself untill releived by another Major General” (LS, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, O; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW; Brig. Gen. William Irvine wrote St. Clair on the LS: “My position—occasioned my taking the liberty of opening your letter—suspecting it might concern me. … we will be up in the morning”). St. Clair replied to GW on 7 October.
GW also wrote Brig. Gen. Anthony Wayne on this date: “You will be pleased to march tomorrow Morning at day light with the first Pennsylvania Brigade by the shortest Route to Paramus, and from thence to the Army, which will be in the neighbourhood of Prekaness. … Be pleased to direct the Quarter Master at the Ferry to forward Genl St Clairs letter immediately to him” (LS, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, PHi: Wayne Papers; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW).
Wayne wrote GW from Totowa at 5:00 p.m. on 11 Oct.: “Will you have the goodness to excuse my not waiting on you to announce the Arrival of the first Pennsa Brigade—& permit me to Inform you of that of the Second under the Conduct of Genl Irvine, who are now pitching their tents, we have also recd a few recruits for the War, which I shall distribute in proportion to the Strength of the Regiments.
“As Genl Officer of the day I will have the honor of Waiting on you tomorrow” (ADfS, PHi: Wayne Papers).
3. For the earlier instructions given commanders at West Point, see GW to Alexander McDougall, 27 Sept., source note; see also The Discovery of Major General Benedict Arnold’s Treachery, 25 Sept.–24 Nov., editorial note. Six-month levies in Continental service were scheduled for discharge before 1 Jan. 1781 (see Christopher Greene to GW, 14 Oct.). For the dismissal of the Massachusetts and New Hampshire militia, see General Greene’s Orders, 9 Oct., in , 6:359–60.
4. For Greene’s efforts to comply with GW’s instructions, see his orders for 9 and 11 Oct. in , 6:359–60, 368); see also Greene to Hugh Hughes, 9 and 10 Oct., to George Clinton, 10 Oct., and to Timothy Pickering, 11 Oct., in , 6:360, 362–63, 369.
5. See Greene to Alexander McDougall, 11 Oct., in , 6:369. New York legislators elected Maj. Gen. Alexander McDougall as a delegate to Congress on 6 October. He subsequently saw Greene at West Point (see Greene to GW, 16 Oct.).
GW wrote McDougall from headquarters at Preakness on 24 Oct.: “I am informed that the State have recently called upon you to repair to Congress, so soon as you have obtained permission to leave the Army. I think your presence there, at this juncture, while all the arrangements for the next Campaign are before them, would be of so much utility, that I cannot but take the liberty to urge your immediate compliance with the pleasure of the State. It appears to me, you can in no way at this time, so essentially serve the public as by going there—the moment is singularly critical; and the determinations depending must have the greatest influence upon our future affairs” (LS, in David Humphreys’s writing, PPRF; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW; see also McDougall to GW, 30 Oct., DLC:GW).
6. See Greene to GW, 13 October.