George Washington Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-11-02-0314

From George Washington to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 23 September 1777

To Brigadier General Anthony Wayne

Camp, Forkners Swamp, about 4 Miles from
Pots Grove1 [Pa.] 23 Sepr 1777.

Dr Sir

I received Your favor of Yesterday morning, and am apprehensive, as you have not acknowledged the receipt of a Letter, I wrote you the Night before, that It has fallen into the Enemy’s hands.2 By that, I directed Genl Smallwood & Yourself to march immediately with your Respective Corps by the way of Pots Grove to join me.3 You will both pursue the Line thereby marked out & which I have mentioned above. For it is my wish, that we should draw our Whole force together, as soon as possible and that I should be immediately joined by Your Corps. Should we continue detached & in a divided State, I fear, we shall neither be able to attack, or defend ourselves with a good prospect of Success. I am Dr Sir Yr Most Obedt Servt

Go: Washington

LS, in Robert Hanson Harrison’s writing, PHi: Wayne Papers. GW franked the addressed cover.

On the back of the cover, Wayne wrote the following undated intelligence report: “Serts Bigham & Nambright. Crossed at the Middle ferry in One of the ferry Boats, being two of them but no Bridge 23d Regt. the Hessian Granediers—Mr Gallaway has the Inspection of all Market people, & Others—and grants passes—was very Inquisitive about our Camp[.] the Soldiers—were very free in expressing their Sentiments.” Joseph Galloway entered Philadelphia with Lord Cornwallis’s division on 26 Sept., and in early December he was appointed superintendent general of the city (see “Morton Diary,” description begins “The Diary of Robert Morton, Kept in Philadelphia While That City Was Occupied by the British Army in 1777.” Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography 1 (1877): 1–39. description ends 35–36).

1Falckner’s Swamp, named for Daniel Falckner who settled there in 1700, was near New Hanover, Pa., northeast of Pottstown.

2Neither of these letters has been found.

3At this place on the manuscript, Harrison first wrote and then struck out the words: “If the Letter has not come to hand.”

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