George Washington Papers
Documents filtered by: Author="Washington, George" AND Recipient="Huntington, Samuel" AND Period="Revolutionary War"
sorted by: date (descending)
Stable but non-permanent link for this document:
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/99-01-02-05527

From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 25 April 1781

Head Quarters New Windsor 25th April 1781

Sir

Since my letter of the 14th to your Excellency on the subject of an immediate supply of provision for Fort Pitt, I have received the following intelligence, thro’ a good Channel, which makes the measures I then recommended more indespensably necessary—"Colonel Conolly with his corps to proceed to Quebec as soon as possible, to be joined in Canada by Sir John Johnson with a number of Tories and Indians said to amount to three thousand.* His Route is to be by Buck Island—Lake Ontario and Vinango and his object is Fort Pitt and all the adjacent posts. Conolly takes with him a number of Commissions for persons now residing at Pittsburg and several hundred men at that place have agreed to join to make prisoners of Colo. Brodhead and all friends to America. His (Conolly’s) great influence in that Country will, it is said, enable him to prevail upon the Indians and inhabitants to assist the British in any measure" The latter part of this intelligence agrees exactly with a discovery which Colo. Brodhead has lately made of a correspondence between persons at Fort Pitt and the Commandant of Detroit. Some of whom have been seized by him. I have immediately transmitted the above to Colo. Brodhead and have directed him to secure or remove every suspected person in the Vicinity of his post—The security of the Frontier of the State of Pennsylvania so immediately depends upon the support of Fort Pitt, that I think the Executive cannot fail, upon a representation being made to them, of taking measures to afford the proper succours, while the thing is practicable—upon the first appearance of an enemy, the communication between the post and the settlements below will be intirely interrupted. I have the honor to be &a.

* the number must be exagerated.

DLC: Papers of George Washington.

Index Entries