From George Washington to John Hancock, 19 December 1775
To John Hancock
Cambridge 19th Decr 1775.
Sir,
Since writing you of this date,1 the Letter herewith Inclosed was put into my hands by Mr Eustice, who is in part the subject of it; thinking it necessary that you should be acquainted with the contents, & a safe oppertunity offering by Mr Irwin. I do myself the honour of Inclosing it, to shew more fully to Congress the views of Lord Dunmore.2 I am Sir Yr Most Obedt Sert
Go: Washington
ALS, DNA:PCC, item 152; LB, DLC:GW; copy, DNA:PCC item 169; copy, NjMoHP; copy, DLC: Hancock Papers; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. GW is apparently referring to his letter to Hancock of 18 December.
2. GW enclosed Dunmore’s letter to Gen. William Howe of 2 Dec., recommending John Skey Eustace (1760–1805) for a commission in the British army. Eustace, Dunmore told Howe, “is the Son of an unfortunate widow Gentlewoman in this Country [Virginia], I have had the Care of Him for these three Years past, and have given him the best Education this Country could afford. . . . pray spare us some troops if you can possibly do it, consistant with your orders, even the Recruits of the 14th Regt would be of service to us; those ordered from St Augustine are not yet arrived, tho’ hourly expected, was the whole Regt here I think we should be able to do some good. . . . I wish to God I had some of your Light Horse here, this is a fine Country for them to act in, and food of all kinds in great abundance for both man & Horses; a winter Campaign would reduce, without the smallest doubt the whole of this southern Continent to a perfect state of obedience” (, 5:39–40). Eustace, who had attended the College of William and Mary, was captured on the sloop Betsey (see GW to Hancock, 18 Dec. 1775, n.1). He became an aide-de-camp to Charles Lee in October 1776, to John Sullivan in November 1777, and to Nathanael Greene in 1779. Eustace left the army in January 1780.