1To George Washington from John Potts, 20 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
As the decision of the present most direful and unhappy contest cannot in any degree be affected by or depend upon the distress which individuals must suffer by a seperation from their nearest and most indearing connections And as the benevolent & humane Character of your Excellency is universally acknowledged I am encouraged (altho personally a Stranger) to address you for permission to...