From George Washington to William Livingston, 12 December 1779
To William Livingston
Hd Qrs Morris town 12th Decr 1779
Dr Sir
I have been favored with your Excellencys letter of the 7th. The Troops left at the No. Rivr & East of it1 & the2 large detatchments which we have been obliged to make to the Southward,3 and the times of service of so many of the troops nearly expiring,4 will unavoidably prevent me from affording that effectual cover to the frontier posts which I could wish. However, you may be assured, that I shall take such measures for this purpose as our circumstances will admit, and give them as much protection as can be compassed by our present force. It is to be lamented that the time for wch the Regimt of this state was raised is abt to expire as5 it is indispensibly necessary6 that the most effectual check should be given to the contraband trade carried on with new-York—and which I fear I shall not be able to effect by the detatchments we may be able to spare from this army.7 I have the honor to be with the greatest regard & esteem.
Df, in James McHenry’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. GW is referring to the troops at and near West Point (see GW’s second letter to William Heath, 27 Nov.).
2. GW inserted the previous twelve words on the draft above the line in his own writing.
3. For the transfer of the North Carolina brigade and Virginia line to the southern department, see GW to Thomas Clark, 19 Nov., and notes 2 and 4 to that document, and GW to Samuel Huntington, 29 Nov., and the source note to that document.
4. For GW’s portrayal of expiring enlistments, see his letter to Huntington, 18 November.
5. At this place on the draft, GW wrote and then struck out “I am told.”
6. GW wrote the previous twenty-six words on the draft.
7. GW’s reply undoubtedly dismayed Livingston, who wrote New Jersey delegate William Churchill Houston from Mount Holly, N.J., on 13 Dec. that he anticipated “as favourable an Account as can be expected” to the request for Continental troops ( 3:262–64).