From George Washington to Major General Alexander McDougall, 2 July 1780
To Major General Alexander McDougall
Head Quarters Colo. Deys 2d July 1780.
near Great Falls of Passaic [N.J.]
Dear Sir
Be pleased to send immediately to Mr Hunt, who was employed last year as a Pilot for the sound, and request him to come to this place or wherever the Head Quarters of the Army may be. There is also a person who lived last Fall at the Yellow House in the Continental Village, who was employed as a Pilot for the Chevaux de Frize in the North River.1 I forget his name, but he may be easily found from the above description—if he is yet there, or within reach, be pleased also to send him down. I am Dear Sir Yr most obt Servt
Go: Washington
LS, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, CSmH; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. GW signed the cover of the LS, which is addressed to McDougall at West Point.
GW wrote a second letter to McDougall on this date: “I wish to see you here the day after tomorrow morning at furthest to consult you on a matter of the greatest importance to the combined operations” (LS [photostat], in Alexander Hamilton’s writing, NSchU: W. Wright Hawkes Collection of Revolutionary War Documents; a note on the document reads: “recd 3d at 7 P.M.”).
1. GW called Abraham Marling to headquarters in October 1779 to pilot French warships up the Hudson River (see Circular to Pilots, 5 Oct. 1779, and GW to John Mathews, 10 Oct. 1779).