From George Washington to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 20 September 1779
To Brigadier General Anthony Wayne
Hd Qrs West point 1779 20th Sepr ½ past 4 o’clock P.M.
Dr Sir
I am this moment favored with your letter.1 Accounts received by deserters from Ver-planks-point and the report of a patrole this morning give me reason to believe that the enemy are at least about evacuating this post.2
You will not fail to give me the earliest information of what further movements you may discover. I am Dr Sir Your most hble svt
Go: Washington
LS, in James McHenry’s writing, PHi: Wayne Papers; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. This letter has not been found, but see GW to Robert Howe, this date (second letter).
2. GW soon received intelligence that the British were not evacuating the fort at Verplanck Point, N.Y., but had reduced the number of regiments manning that fort and the fort at Stony Point; the forts guarded the strategically important river crossing at King’s Ferry, N.Y. (see GW to Robert Howe, 22 and 24 Sept.; and GW to John Jay and to Stirling, both 25 Sept.). Shortly after receiving that intelligence, GW ordered reconnaissance of the forts in preparation for a possible attack (see GW to Wayne, 26 Sept., and n.1 to that document; GW’s second letter to William Heath of 29 Sept.; and Henry Knox to GW, 30 Sept.).