From George Washington to Jeremiah Dummer Powell, 31 July 1778
To Jeremiah Dummer Powell
Head Quarters White plains 31st July 1778
Sir
About Nine hundred of the Nine Months Men1 from the State of Massachusets have joined the Army, and have been attatched to Nixon’s, Pattersons, and late Learneds Brigades. As Glovers has yet had no proportion, I desire that three hundred of those yet to come on, may be ordered to stop at Providence and join that Brigade, which will make it equal to the others.
It is my intention to proportion all these Recruits among the Brigades of your State, that they may be upon a level, but they claim a right of choice to join which they please, which right they say is founded upon the law for raising them. As I have not a Copy of this law, I shall be glad to be furnished with one, that I may regulate myself according to the Terms of it.2 I am &c.
Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. GW was referring to the troops raised in accordance with Congress’s resolution of 26 Feb., directing the states to complete their Continental regiments by drafting troops for nine months’ service (, 10:199–203).
2. The troops raised by the resolution of 20 April 1778 “for filling up and compleating the fifteen battalions of Continental troops” were to be delivered “to such Continental officers as may be appointed by the Commander in Chief there, to receive them” ( [1 April–1 May 1778], 16–21).