From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 12 August 1779
To Major General Stirling
Head Qrs [West Point] Augt 12th 1779
My Lord
I shall be much obliged by your informing me of the date of Colo. Smith’s resignation of the 2d State Virginia Regmt. Colo. Brent & Lt Col. Dabney can probably ascertain it. The promotion of the former was in consequence of it—& I wish to know whether he has received a Commission. I also must request your Lordship to inform me of the Christian name of Major Meriwether. The reasons of my troubling your Lordship with these matters is—I have just received a Letter from His Excellency the Govr of Virginia—containing his & the Councils entire approbation of the Report of the Field Officers in the case between John Allison & John Lee Esq.—and transmitting Commissions to be filled by myself for the Officers who had a right to promotion by the resignation of Colo. Smith.1 As soon as I am informed of the date—and of the Christian n⟨ame⟩ of M[ajo]r Meriwether I shall fill the Commissions and publish the arrangement of the Field Officers in Genl Orders.2 I am with great regard & esteem Yr Lordships Most Obedt sert
G.W.
Df, in Robert Hanson Harrison’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. See Thomas Jefferson to GW, 23 July, quoted in the source note to GW to Patrick Henry, 9 June.
2. See General Orders, 24 August.
3. These letters have not been found.
4. John Jay had already sent GW a letter from William Bingham, the Continental agent at Martinique, that contained an account of the engagement between the fleets of French vice admiral d’Estaing and British vice admiral John Byron on 6 July off the island of Grenada (see Jay to GW, 10 Aug., and n.1 to that document). GW acknowledged that letter on 16 August.