From George Washington to Major Richard Platt, 26 February 1781
To Major Richard Platt
New Windsor 26th Feb. 1781
Sir,
If you have a larger Portmanteau than the one the bearer brings pray exchange it.
Let the Bridle the bearer brings have the best sett of Rains your Saddler can put to the Bitt. & with as much expedition as possible. I am Sir Yr Most Obt
Go: Washington
ALS, DNA: RG 93, manuscript file no. 25274. GW signed the cover, which is addressed to Platt at Newburgh, New York.
On this date, GW’s aide-de-camp Tench Tilghman wrote Platt, the deputy quartermaster general of the main army: “I send you letters for Philada for the Eastwd for Fishkill and some for the Militia Colonels of Ulster and Orange—which be pleased to put in proper train. The two for Osopus will go by an Express which Colo. Lutterloh will have occasion to send after forage. If no opportunities offer speedily for Colo. Hathorne—Jansen and McLaughry an Express must take them.
“The Expresses on the communication from Trenton perform their duties miserably they are longer travelling than a single Express would be, a letter from the Marquis dated the 24 at Morris town only came to hand to day. His Excellency desires you would send a proper person along the Chain to see what is the reason of the delay and to admonish them to make more dispatch in future” (DNA: RG 93, manuscript file no. 26011; see also Circular to Jacobus Swartwout and the Colonels of the Orange County and Ulster County, N.Y., Militia, 25 Feb.).