From George Washington to Major General Benedict Arnold, 4 June 1780
To Major General Benedict Arnold
Head Quarters Morris Town 4th June 1780
Dear Sir
Inclosed you have the draught of a proclamation addressed to the inhabitants of Canada.1 You will be pleased to put this into the hands of a printer whose secrecy and discretion may be depended on and desire him to strike off a proof sheet with the utmost dispatch, which you will send to me for correction2—We shall want at least 500 Copies—The importance of this Business will sufficiently impress you with the necessity of transacting it with every possible degree of caution3—The printer is to be particularly charged not on any account to reserve a Copy himself or suffer one to get abroad. With great Regard I am &.
Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. The enclosed draft of a proclamation, which was intended to deceive the British, has not been identified, but see GW to Lafayette, 19 May, and n.4.
2. At this point on the draft, the following text is lined out: “The Chevalier de la Luzerne will furnish you with a number of Blanks headed with the Arms of the King of France, on which it is proposed to print the plocamation if the paper will admit—Should it not, the printer must procure some of a proper size and good quality.”
3. Unaware of the ruse, Arnold immediately communicated the proclamation to British headquarters in New York (see Arnold to GW, 7 June, n.2).