From George Washington to Major Benjamin Tallmadge, 4 November 1780
To Major Benjamin Tallmadge
Hd-Qrs [Preakness] Novr 4th 1780
Dear Sir,
You would oblige me by ascertaining as soon as possible the following things.
The number of Troops and different Corps that composed the last detachment which is supposed to have gone to the Southwd.1
The truth of the present report of another Imbarkation taking place—when it will happen—& to what amount in Men & Corps—and who is to commd the detachment.2
The present disposition of the remaining Troops on Long Island and York Island and the number at each place.
You cannot be too expeditious in your communications on these heads—distinguishing between things certain and matters of mere re port.3 I am—Dr Sir Yr Obedt Servt
Go: Washington
ALS (photocopy), DLC:GW, ser. 9. A later notation on the ALS identified Tallmadge as the addressee (see also Tallmadge to GW, 7 and 14 Nov.).
Tallmadge had written a receipt at headquarters in Tappan, N.Y., on 2 Oct. for twenty guineas from GW “on Acct of Secret Services—to Acct” (Revolutionary War Receipt Book, 1776–1780, DLC:GW, ser. 5).
1. GW refers to Maj. Gen. Alexander Leslie’s expedition to Virginia (see GW to Samuel Huntington, 17 Oct., and n.2 to that document, and Nathanael Greene to GW, 31 Oct., n.4).
2. For a possible source of this erroneous intelligence, see John Jameson to GW, 31 Oct.; see also GW to Huntington, this date, and Samuel Culper to Tallmadge, 12 Nov., found at Tallmadge to GW, 14 Nov., n.1.
3. Writing from Totowa on this date, Tallmadge urged Col. Samuel Blachley Webb, a prisoner anticipating his exchange who had commanded an Additional Continental Regiment, to involve himself in the new arrangement of Connectict regiments: “Since the new Establishment of the Army has come out in Genl Orders, the field officers of the different Lines have been very busy in fixing on those who command the new Regiments for the War. The Provision for the retiring Officers is so ample, that I am sorry to say, there seems to be an emulation among our eastern officers who shall go home, rather than continue in Service. After the great Pains General Washington has taken to provide some honorable Compensation for those Officers who retire, for their past services & sufferings, such a requital would wound him very sensibly. However there is this Check upon them, that none can retire with the benefits promised, until the new regiments are compleatly officered. …
“I intended, when I crossed the North River, to have rode as far as Princetown before I returned. … A Letter from the Genl of this day, on particular business obliges me to return tomorrow” (, 2:307–8; see also General Orders, 1 Nov., and Webb to Joseph Barrell, 29 Oct., in , 2:304–7).