To George Washington from Brigadier General Jedediah Huntington, 2 December 1780
From Brigadier General Jedediah Huntington
Highlands [N.Y.] 2d Decr 1780
Dear Sir
The Connecticut Line have taken their huting Ground near Constitution Island.1
I shall by Tomorrow Night discharge the most, if not all, the short Levies under Colour of their wanting Cloaths.2
The Line will hut in the Form they are to assume the first of January—The Arrangement is so nearly completed as that it will be done at that Time without any Difficulty—and; I beleive, to great Satisfaction.3
I do not know that my Presence with the Troops can be of any essential Service—the Season bears so hard upon me I wish to retire for the present—Col. Swift will take the Command untill Genl Parsons arrives which I understand is to be in a few Days.4 I am most respectfully Your Excellencys Obed. Servant
J. Huntington
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. This location fulfilled orders that the Connecticut line establish winter quarters in the Highlands on the east side of the Hudson River (see GW to Samuel Huntington, 28 Nov., n.12; see also William Heath to GW, 3 Dec.).
2. See GW to Jedediah Huntington, 27 Nov., found at GW to Heath, 28 Nov., n.1.
3. A new establishment of the Continental army, which called for five infantry regiments from Connecticut, required a new arrangement for officers (see General Orders, 1 Nov.; see also Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., to GW, 27 Nov., and n.6).
4. GW replied to Huntington from headquarters at New Windsor on 8 Dec.: “Since my arrival at this place I have received Your Letter of the 2nd Inst.
“Altho I am utterly averse to have the Line of any State left without a General Officer, yet under the circumstances you Mention; you have my permission to visit Your friends, of whom I wish you a happy sight, and an agreeable journey to them” (Df, in David Humphreys’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW; see also Samuel Holden Parsons to GW, 11 Nov., and n.4).