From George Washington to Colonel Christopher Greene, 26 October 1777
To Colonel Christopher Greene
Head Quarters [Whitpain Township, Pa.] 26 Octobr 1777
Sir
I have sent down Lt Colo. Rollston with three hundred pennsylvania Militia to reinforce Forts Mercer and Mifflin.1 I therefore desire that you and Baron Arent will settle the proportion that each is to have upon the most equitable terms. If you should have been joined by such a Number of Jersey Militia as will render your post quite secure, you are to permit all the pennsylvania Militia to pass over to fort Mifflin. I am &ca
Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. GW on this date wrote to Lt. Col. John Ralston (1744–1825) of the 4th Regiment of Chester County militia: “You will proceed with the Detachment under your Command, with all expedition to Red Bank, where you will receive further orders from Colo. Greene, Commanding Officer at that Post, to which you will punctually conform. The rout I wou’d recommend to you is from this to Bristol, thence across the Delaware to Mount Holly, thence to Haddenfield & thence to Red Bank. You will use ev’ry necessary precaution on your March to prevent any accident happening to your Detachment by surprise, and as it is possible the Enemy may gain intelligence of it and make some attempt to intercept it” (Df, in Richard Kidder Meade’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript DLC:GW). Ralston had been commissioned lieutenant colonel of his regiment in May 1777.