From George Washington to Major General Johann Kalb, 2 April 1780
To Major General Johann Kalb
Head Quarters Morris Town 2d April 1780.
Dear Sir
You will be pleased to transfer the command of the troops below to Brig: Genl Huntington, and after communicating the instructions; which you have from time to time received, to him, and giving him such general directions as you may have, from observation, conceived necessary for the security of the small posts along the sound1 and for your main Body,2 you will be pleased to repair hither—Upon a presumption that the opinion of the Council of yesterday will be carried into execution, I intend that you shall proceed immediately to Philada to concert measures with the Board of War—Quarter Mr and Commy Genl for the transportation of the troops to the southward.3
You will be pleased to be very particular in informing Genl Huntington of the methods of communicating the Alarm by signals, should the enemy move. I am &.
P.S. Let your going to Philad. be under the Idea of a Furlough.
Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
GW again wrote Kalb from Morristown on 4 April: “I have, in consequence of the opinion of the last Council of War, left it with Congress finally to determine upon the march of the Maryland division to the Southward—That no time may be lost in the transportation of the troops, should Congress agree in sentiment with the Council, I am to desire you to proceed immediately to Philada, and if you find, upon your arrival there, that the troops are to move, concert with the Board of War, the Commissary and Quarter Master General the necessary arrangements for their provision and accommodation—But should it be determined that the march of the Body of Men alluded to is, at this time, either inexpedient or unnecessary, you will be pleased, after compleating your private Business, to return to your command in the Army—If you proceed to the southward, I wish you a safe and expeditious march and every success that you can possibly desire” (Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW; see also n.3 below).
1. GW is referring to the Staten Island Sound, known more commonly as Arthur Kill.
2. Kalb commanded troops around Springfield and Newark, N.J., that screened the southeastern approaches to the Continental army’s main winter encampment at Jockey Hollow and supported outposts closer to the shore (see Kalb to GW, 11 and 14 March, and GW to Kalb, 11 and 21 March; see also GW to Samuel Holden Parsons, 13 Dec. 1779).
3. A council of war had recommended that a significant reinforcement be sent to the southern department, and GW had requested congressional approval to detach the Maryland division and Delaware Regiment (see Council of War, 1 April, and GW to Samuel Huntington, this date). For congressional approval of the reinforcement and Kalb’s activities related to the transfer of the Maryland division, see Huntington to GW, 6 April, and n.2 to that document. See also GW to Mordecai Gist, this date, and the notes to that document; GW to Benjamin Lincoln, 15 April; and , 188, 194–96.