From George Washington to Major General Alexander McDougall, 2 June 1779

To Major General Alexander McDougall

Head Quarters Middle Brook June 2d 1779

Dear Sir,

I enclose you copies of my two Letters of the 30th and 31st, lest any accident should have happened to the originals.1

Col. Clarke has informed me that he had received intelligence of the enemy being at Tallar’s point with 42 sail and a number of flat-bottomed boats—that they had landed a party of men on the other side the North River and a party at the Slote—That he had called in his out parties and was prepared to move at the shortest notice to West Point, should they move further up the River.2

If you judge it necessary you will of course make application to the States of New York and Connecticut, for aids of militia, so far as the means of supporting them will permit.3

I doubt not you will keep your force collected and your attention fixed on the forts, notwithstanding all the demonstrations the enemy may make, which will naturally wear a variety of faces. I am with great esteem and regard Sir Yr Obedient servant

Go: Washington

LS, in Alexander Hamilton’s writing, CSmH; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. The date of the draft manuscript was changed from 30 May to 2 June, but it was docketed 1 June. The Varick transcript is dated 1 June.

1. For the enclosures, which are in CSmH, see GW’s letters to McDougall of 30 and 31 May.

2. A letter from GW to Col. Thomas Clark, written at Middlebrook on this date, reads: “Your intelligence of the enemy’s movement up the North River dated the 31st May came to hand last night.

As by my former instructions you are to be subject to the orders of General McDougal, & to march to his assistance agreeable to his directions, I have nothing particular to add on this occasion” (Df, in James McHenry’s writing, DLC: GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW).

3. GW appears to be replying to McDougall’s letter to him of 29 May. For correspondence concerning the New York militia and its being called into service, see McDougall to George Clinton, 30 and 31 May and 1 June, and Clinton to McDougall, 31 May (two letters) and 1 June, in Hastings and Holden, Clinton Papers, description begins Hugh Hastings and J. A. Holden, eds. Public Papers of George Clinton, First Governor of New York, 1777–1795, 1801–1804. 10 vols. 1899–1914. Reprint. New York, 1973. description ends 4:860–61, 866, 871–72, 5:4–6. For the assembling of Connecticut militia, see Clinton to McDougall, 5 June, and McDougall to Clinton, same date, Hastings and Holden, Clinton Papers, description begins Hugh Hastings and J. A. Holden, eds. Public Papers of George Clinton, First Governor of New York, 1777–1795, 1801–1804. 10 vols. 1899–1914. Reprint. New York, 1973. description ends 5:34–35, 39.

Index Entries

You Are Looking At

Source Project: Washington Papers
Title: From George Washington to Major General Alexander McDougall, 2 June 1779
Author: Washington, George
Recipient: McDougall, Alexander
Date: 2 June 1779

Reference

Cite as: “From George Washington to Major General Alexander McDougall, 2 June 1779,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-21-02-0017. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 21, 1 June–31 July 1779, ed. William M. Ferraro. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2012, pp. 20–21.]

More between these correspondents