From George Washington to Philemon Dickinson, 1 August 1780
To Philemon Dickinson
Peck’s Kill Aug. 1. 1780
Dr Sir
From our present advices, a considerable part of the Enemy’s force is gone to the Eastward with a view of striking the Armament from France.1 In consequence of this I am moving with our Continental force towards New York, there to act as circumstances may justify. Events may arise to make the aid of the Jersey Militia essential, of which I have apprised His Excellency the Governor, & requested that they might be in readiness to move & give us succour should it be requisite.2 If this should be the case I need not tell You that I shall be happy to see You at their Head. I am confident it will be the case—and my principal design in troubling You with this, is to advertize You that the Militia may be called for—and that You may turn your Eyes towards the event, and have it the more in your power to expedite their movement whenever it may be proper. I am Dr sir
G.W.
Df, in Robert Hanson Harrison’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. The draft is addressed to Dickinson at Trenton.
Dickinson replied to GW on 4 Aug. from Hermitage, his home in Trenton: “Your Excellency’s favor of the 1st inst: was deliver’d to me this Day—should the aid of our Militia be thought necessary, your Excellency may rest assured, of my utmost exertions, to expedite their movements—and of my Attendance, on the earliest notice.
“I am much obliged by the Information, and shall upon every occasion, take a singular Pleasure, in endeavouring to execute any Orders, which your Excellency may think proper to communicate” (ALS, PHi: Gratz Collection; Dickinson first wrote “public Service” on the cover but then wrote: “Mr [Moore] Furman is requested to forward this Letter, by the first Express by his Obt St P. Dickinson”).