From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 10 June 1778
To Henry Laurens
Head Qrs [Valley Forge] June 10th 1778
Sir
Major Campbell of the 13th Virginia Regiment will have the Honor of presenting you with this. He is now on his way at the earnest sollicitation of General McIntosh to serve in the Western department and waites on Congress to obtain, if they shall think proper, a Commission for a Lieutenant Colonelcy in the Virginia Line, to which he has been intitled in the ordinary course, since the 20th of February last. The Major sustains the character of a good and brave Officer and has behaved as such during his service. He is the more desirous of getting a Commission at this time, as otherwise he may be commanded by the Lieutenant Colonels to be, or who are appointed to the two new Regiments, lately ordered to be raised in that Quarter. I do not know the particular Regiment to which he should be affixed, therefore, if he obtains a Commission it may be left blank in this instance. I have the Honor to be with great respect Sir Your Most Obedt servt
Go: Washington
LS, in Robert Hanson Harrison’s writing, DNA:PCC, item 152; Df, DLC:GW; copy, DNA:PCC, item 169; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. GW signed the cover of the LS. A note after GW’s signature, possibly added at the receiver’s end, reads: “There are elder Majors in the Virginia line than Major Campbell.” The endorsement indicates that Congress read this letter on 15 June and referred it to the Board of War; see also Laurens to GW, 17 and 20 June.