From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 2 October 1779
To Major General Horatio Gates
Head Quarters West-point 2d Otbr 1779.
Sir
I have duly received your two favors of the 24th and 25th Ultimo.
The proceedings of the Court Martial on Milligan are herewith returned.1 I do not conceive it necessary for me to take any order in a case which you are fully authorised to determine; and to which, from your situation and knowlege of circumstances you must be more competent.
In my letter of the 29th, you will find an answer to what relates to the request of the officers taken in the Sandwich packet; I do not think it would be proper to make any alteration on this head at present.
You will judge how far the complaint of the Canadian Soldiers in Livingstons Regiment, i[s]2 founded in Justice, by a particular inquiry into their original inlistments; and should it appear that their engagements were only for three years, they must be discharged when this period of service is completed; provided they cannot be re-inlisted for the war, by the means that congress have put into our power for this purpose.
With regard to the resolve of Congress on which you desire my opinion—I have no doubt but the allowance to the officers who are particularly specified, but to no others, was designed to operate from the date of the resolution—I have requested the sense of Congress on that part of your question which respects the militia, and when their answer is received, it shall be immediately forwarded you.3
I have understood that Congress have other measures before them, to do equal justice to all parts of the army.
I am much obliged to your attention for the stationary ware.4 It is not yet come to hand; but I make no doubt, it will prove very acceptable. I am Sir Your most o[bedien]t—and hble servt
Go: Washington
LS, in James McHenry’s writing, NHi: Gates Papers; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. The enclosure probably was the record of the court-martial proceedings of George Milliman, dated 4 Aug. and signed by Col. Henry Jackson, in NHi: Gates Papers.
2. McHenry inadvertently wrote “in.”
3. See GW to Samuel Huntington, this date. Huntington’s reply of 9 Oct. included an explanatory resolution of Congress, which GW forwarded to Gates on 22 Oct. (NHi: Gates Papers).
4. An “Invoice of Stationary forwarded to His Excellency General Washington by order of General Gates,” dated 20 Sept. and signed by Thomas Shaw at New London, Conn.—in addition to such items as paper, pocket books, ledgers, ink powder, writing pens, and pencils—listed twenty “Enticks Dictionarys,” five “Shaggreen Ink Cases,” four “Foulding knives,” two “penknives,” two reams of “Gilt Paper,” and two sets of “Mathematical Instruments.” The inventory also included forty-one dozen “Ring” for violins, four and one-half dozen “Bassoon Reeds,” and ten dozen hautboy (oboe) reeds. A note on the document, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, indicates that the various items were distributed among headquarters and to the quartermaster general, the adjutant general, the corps of engineers, the surveyors, and the “Musick of the Army” (DLC:GW).