George Washington Papers

From George Washington to Brigadier General James Potter, 15 October 1777

To Brigadier General James Potter

Head quarters 15th Octobr 1777 8 ’OClock P.M.

Sir

I have just received Advice from Captain Lee of light Dragoons that 7 Regiments of the Enemy’s Force receiv’d1 Marching orders at One OClock P.M. this day, this information he had from a Deserter of the 15th who came out this Afternoon; what the destination or Route was he could give no Account of. I thought it necessary to give you this intelligence by express, as there is a probability that this may be intended as an Escort towards Chester or possibly to surprize your party, in either of which cases you should be prepared for them.2 The Enemy’s communication with Chester is kept up by way of the lower ferry & Provence Island. I am Sir your mo. Obedt Servant

Go: Washington

LS, in Alexander Hamilton’s writing, PPL.

1At this place on the manuscript, Hamilton first wrote: “were under.” He then struck out those words and wrote “receiv’d” above the line.

2See Henry Lee, Jr., to GW, this date. Hessian adjutant Baurmeister says that “on the 15th of October the enemy General Potter withdrew from the neighborhood of Wilmington and Chester. He camped yesterday at Foxhall, six English miles from our jäger outposts, and has since apparently withdrawn further” (Baurmeister, Revolution in America description begins Carl Leopold Baurmeister. Revolution in America: Confidential Letters and Journals, 1776–1784, of Adjutant General Major Baurmeister of the Hessian Forces. Translated and annotated by Bernhard A. Uhlendorf. New Brunswick, N.J., 1957. description ends , 123).

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