From George Washington to the Board of War, 27 February 1779
To the Board of War
Head Quarters Middle Brook Feby 27. 1779
Gentlemen,
The inclosed plan for the establishment of a corps of Engineers has been submitted to me by General Du Portail. I now return it to the Board accompanied with my remarks on such parts of it as appeared to me to require them.1 These have been first communicated to General Du Portail. With great respect & esteem I have the honor to be Gentlemen Yr Most Obed. servt.
Df, in Alexander Hamilton’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. The enclosed plan for an engineer corps and GW’s remarks on it have not been identified. On 11 March, Congress approved the establishment of an engineer corps and directed the Board of War to draw up regulations for it (see , 13:305–6). For GW’s involvement in the formulating of those regulations, see the Board of War to GW, 1 April; GW to the Board of War, 4 April (first letter); and GW to Joseph Reed, 5 April (see also , 14:570–71).