1. Spotswood is referring to GW’s unfound letter to him of 12 Oct. (see n.3 below). GW had complained about the sorrel’s slight build in his letter to Spotswood of 15 September. Spotswood then wrote GW on 27 Sept.: “shoud you not be Inclined to Keep the sorrel, and will send him in, I can dispose of him exceeding well, & will procure one other.” GW returned this horse in later December (see GW to Spotswood, 15 Dec.)

2. This letter from Lt. Col. William Washington to Spotswood has not been identified.

3. Again from Fredericksburg, Spotswood wrote GW on the same subject on 21 Nov.: “Your Excellencys favr of the 12th of October I acknowledged—Several weeks haveing elapsed, & not hearing from you, must conclude that my letter has miscarried.

“I Therein, requested that you wou’d send in the sorrel horse, as I was not under the least apprehension of Looseing any thing by his being returned—and as soon as I coud meet with a bay adapted to your weight, wou’d purchase & send him out—I also mention’d, that in consequence of Colo. Meads request to Lt Colo. Washington, he by letter made me an offer of his horse, but as he did not seem to think that his horse had perfectly recovered of his lameness, I declined the purchase—on my return last spring from camp, I saw the horse, was pleased with his appearance, & gave for him a fine mare & Colt, tho, yr excellency may rest assured if he never had been lame, you woud have had the preference—for I never coud have reconciled it to my conscience, to have purchased so ellegant a horse for myself, knowing yr excellencys want, & my being commissioned to purchase for you—if the above obstacle had not been in the way—when I got the horse he was sound & has continued so ever since—he is a beatuful bay—15 hand two Inches high—Six years old—Ellegant in form—trots & canters fine—of great Strength & activity—got by old partner out of a full blooded mare—in short he is Compleet—& if yr excellencys woud Incline to run the risk of his being lame again I will part with him with pleasure—but a carelfull man must be sent in to lead him out, as he is two Valluable to trust with any person—I woud recommend it to you, not to use him this winter—but rather let him run in a paddock, & have a Shelter to feed & go into at pleasure—this will brace him up in such a manner—as will prevent a return of his lameness—which I beleive was Occasioned by a Strain, he haveing been trained for runing—perhaps yr excellency may conclude from my mentioning his being a favourite, that I do not wish to part with him—but you may be assured Nothing of that kind, will ever disturb me a moment—& will give me great pleasure to deliver him when ever sent for—I have another fine horse in view which I expect, I shall get in a few days—with Compliments to yr family—& wishing you—health Success & happiness” (ALS, DLC:GW). For GW’s reply, see his letter to Spotswood of 10 November.