From George Washington to the Board of War, 21 June 1779
To the Board of War
Smiths in the Clove [N.Y.] June 21st 1779
Gentn
Your favor of the 14th arrived at Hd Qrs about 10 OClock on the night of the 18th but owing to my being absent at West point I did not receive it till yesterday. The Gentn of the light horse of Philadelphia and Lieut. Col. White will have made report upon the subject of it. If any circumstances should occur, indicating a design on the part of the enemy against Philadelphia—I shall communicate the earliest notice after they come to my knowledge; At present there is nothing that seems to point to such an enterprise. The Enemy remain nearly in the situation they were at Verplanks & stoney point.
I inclose the Board an Invoice of some cloathes in the hands of Mr Hunter at Fredericksburg, which Genl Woodford gave me yesterday, that they may direct them to be purchased, if they should think it necessary.1
G.W.
P.S. I return the Commission of Capt. Finney, it must be renewed & dated the 10th of Augt, 1776, which it seems is the time he succeeded to a company.2 I also return the memorial of Captain Keene—he is to be arranged in the 11th Pennsylvania—and his commission dated the 13th Jany 17773—If he is in Philadelphia he should be directed to join the Regiment.
G.W.
Df, in Richard Kidder Meade’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. The enclosed invoice, which likely involved James Hunter, Jr., has not been identified.
James Hunter, Jr. (1746–1788) was trained as a merchant and managed the public stores at Fredericksburg, Va., between March 1776 and early 1778. He engaged heavily in private trade and speculation during the latter years of the war. His ventures generally failed, and he died insolvent. Hunter, Jr., should not be confused with his older cousin, James Hunter, Sr., an important iron and arms manufacturer also associated with Fredericksburg (see R. Walter Coakley, “The Two James Hunters of Fredericksburg: Patriots Among the Virginia Scotch Merchants,” 56 [1948]:1–21).
2. The enclosure, Capt. Walter Finney’s commission, has not been identified. For his rank dispute, see GW to Peter Scull, 25 May, and n.2 to that document.
3. The enclosed memorial related to Capt. Lawrence Keene has not been identified, but see GW to Arthur St. Clair, 25 July, and n.4 to that document.