From George Washington to Brigadier General James Clinton, 14 February 1779
To Brigadier General James Clinton
Head Quarters Middlebrook 14th Feby 1779.
Dr Sir
I received your letter of the 28th Ultimo with its inclosure containing the final determination of the friendly Indians.1
The order for your amunition has been sent forward from Philadelphia under cover to yourself; and I would suppose it come to hand before this time.
The general orders of the 7th 9th and 12th Inst. which accompany this, will point out the steps which are to be taken for reinlisting the soldiers for the war; and for removing disorders in the pay masters regimental accounts.2
If the money which Mr Ried has on hand, should be insufficient to the present expences of the department, and the purpose of reinlisting he will draw for more. But The inlisting service should not be checked on any consideration.3 I am &.
G.W.
Df, in James McHenry’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. The addressed cover of the unfound receiver’s copy of this letter was sold by Siegel Auction Galleries, catalog no. 745A, item 39, 19 Nov. 1992. GW franked the cover, which McHenry addressed to Clinton at Albany.
1. GW is referring to Clinton’s letter of 27 Jan., the text of which is taken from the draft at NjMoHP. The unfound receiver’s copy of that letter may have been dated 28 January.
2. The enclosed copies of these orders have not been found. For re-enlistment instructions, see General Orders, 7 and 12 Feb.; for regimental paymaster regulations, see General Orders, 9 February.
3. For an earlier request for additional funds from Thomas Reed, assistant paymaster general at Albany, see GW to James Duane, 14 January. For the assertion that a shortage of money hampered recruiting, see Clinton to GW, 8 April, DLC:GW.