To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 9 December 1779
From Brigadier General Anthony Wayne
Light Infantry Camp Second River [N.J.]
9th Decr 1779
Dear General
In Obedience to your’s of yesterday Colo. Febeger with the Virginia Light Infantry will March tomorrow morning at 8 OClock, but for want of shoes must carry a great many of his People in Waggons.1
there are a Considerable Number of our men totally barefoot, & many more will soon be in the same predicament, unless the Line sends a speedy Supply of this Necessary article, It’s true that some of the Regiments & Brigades have forwarded a partial supply of Clothing, but have totally omitted the Shoe’s perhaps they have drawn none or mean to preserve them until their people join the Line, they likewise refuse to supply men in place of those whose times are expired, on the presumption of a speedy Dissolution of this Corps, which Idea has also prevented me from being more pressing on the Occation.2
Inclosed are a few late New York papers3 together with some Intelligence from a person who I sent in there a few days since—& who I expect will watch the motions of the Enemy & give the earliest Notice of any Movement.4 I have the honor to be with true Esteem your Excellency’s most Obt & very Hume Sert
Anty Wayne
ALS, DLC:GW; ADfS, PHi: Wayne Papers.
2. For earlier correspondence related to clothing for the Light Infantry, see Wayne to GW, 19 Nov., and GW to Wayne, 27 November. GW subsequently disbanded the Light Infantry (see GW to Wayne, 28 Dec.; see also Wayne to GW, 7 Jan. 1780, DLC:GW).
3. The enclosed New York newspapers have not been identified, but see GW to Stirling, this date, n.3.
4. Wayne enclosed a document that reads: “Inteligence from York City Decr 8th [Wednesday] 1779—viz. that 7 Sail of Men of war was fell Down to the Hook that there is a Grand fleet Equiped and nearly ready to Sail; said to be greater than that which left Philad. when the Enemy left that place, and that as soon as the Transports get ready they fall down to the Hook.
“The number of Troops to serve on this Expedition are Said to be 8000 what number is Imbarked is uncertain as it is said they go on Board from Long and Staten Islands Destination said to be to Chesepeek Bay to Destroy the French Fleet there and Cut off the Communication to the Southward: Great Hopes are placed upon this Expedition the Tories in high spirits and it is Said Clinton is Expected to command himself.
“The Transports for the Above Expedition are all ready fited and some already fell down to the Hook and others lying in the Stream and it is Said the Other Transports left in the Harbour are to Sail for England they are verry Busy in Careening as many of them as can get to the Wharffs and the others that lye in the East River are a Cleaning in the Stream with the utmost Expedition—the number of Troops on york Island and Long Island uncertain as the Embarcation above mentioned Occations such great Movements it’s Impossible to find out the numbers.
“A report is Currant amongst the British Officers that the fleet would have Sailed last Munday if the Storm had not come on Sunday. The Troops on long Island are to be Extended so far down as to Cover and protect the Fishery at Quag [Quogue].
“Our informant hath seen the Hay and firewood in york consists of 5 large Stacks and in his opinion is larger than Newark Church besides some other smaller Stacks. The wood a large quantity and more Coming in every Day.
“Farther says the Troops left are going into winter quarters in york long Island & Statin Island” (DLC:GW; see also Henry Lee, Jr., to GW, 30 Nov., n.4).