From George Washington to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 10 October 1779
To Brigadier General Anthony Wayne
Head Quarters West Point [10]th Octobr 1779.
Dear Sir
I have your favr of yesterday inclosing a sketch of the bearings and distances of the Grounds contiguous to Stoney point. It is not to our Interest to disturb the enemy at that or any other detached post just now. Under present circumstances we should endeavour to keep them as much separated as possible, for if part of my plan, recommended to the Count, can be carried into execution, we shall put it out of the power of the detachments to join the main Body.1 I would therefore wish that [they] may be lulled into security, rather than alarmed. A small time will determine whether those posts or a greater object shall engage our attention.2
Be pleased to let some Gentlemen who are proper judges, view the Ground between Springsteels and the point of the Dunderberg opposite Peeks Kill, and determine whether it will admit of a Road for Carriages out of reach of the fire from shipping.3 I am with great Regard Dear Sir Your most obt Servt
Go: Washington
LS, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, PHi: Wayne Papers; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. Tilghman misdated the LS 9 October. The draft is docketed 10 Oct.; additionally, in the dateline of that document, which is also in Tilgman’s writing, the date has been corrected to 10 October.
1. See GW to d’Estaing, 13 Sept. and 4 October. For evidence that Wayne had already alarmed the British, see Wayne to GW, 5 Oct., n.2.
2. For the full scope of GW’s plans for joint operations with the French fleet commanded by Vice Admiral d’Estaing, see Planning for an Allied Attack on New York, c.3–7 October.
3. For these locations, see Map 2. For Wayne’s report of the survey of this area, see his letter to GW of 13 October.