From George Washington to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 30 September 1779
To Brigadier General Anthony Wayne
Head Quarters [West Point] Septr 30th 1779
Dr Sir
I have just received your letter requesting the addition of two more light field pieces1—I have not the least objection to it, and will give Genl Knox directions to have them sent to you.2
The guard boats that are under your direction you will be pleased to mention to Genl Putnam, who will keep them employed in the same service3—The Whale Boats & others, you will have delivered to the Quartr Mastr Genl. I am Dr Sr with great regard Yr Most Obet servt
Go: Washington
LS, in Richard Kidder Meade’s writing, PHi: Wayne Papers; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. GW signed the cover of the LS.
On this date, GW’s aide Alexander Hamilton wrote to Wayne: “I am commanded by His Excellency to request that you will at Revellie tomorrow morning detach the light infantry of the Carolina Brigade to join their respective Regiments” (PHi: Wayne Papers; the final sentence of the letter has been clipped). GW had ordered the brigade to prepare to march to join the southern army (see GW to Thomas Clark, 29 Sept.; see also GW to Clark, 1 Oct.).
1. See Wayne to GW, this date.
2. GW may have given Brig. Gen. Henry Knox these instructions verbally; no orders from GW to Knox on this subject have been found.
3. On this date, GW wrote to Maj. Gen. Israel Putnam: “As Genl Wayne is about to move his Camp—I have desired him to mention to you the affair of the guard Boats—you will be pleased to take the direction of them and employ ’em in the same service as they have been heretofore” (Df, in Richard Kidder Meade’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW).