From George Washington to Major General John Sullivan, 27 October 1779
To Major General John Sullivan
Head Quarters West Point
27th Octbr 1779 8 O’clock A.M.
Dr Sir
I have this moment received advice that the enemy (said to be 5000) landed yesterday at Amboy and were advancing towards Brunswick.1 Their intent yet unknown but I think a forage or the interruption of our stores from the Southward is most probable. The Virginia division and the light infantry who were near Kakeyate marched this morning at Sun rise to Paramus, from whence they will proceed as circumstances may require. From the situation of matters I think it will be advisable for you to direct your march towards morris town instead of the route which I pointed out in mine of yesterday.2 By sending some gentlemen of the Jersey Brigade forward3 you will be able to learn from Lord Stirling, or if he is not well enough to join, from the commanding office⟨r,4 the⟩ real situation of affairs, and should you find that the⟨re⟩ is occasion to fall even lower down than Morris town, you can do it. Should you hear that the enemy have retired you may again turn your course to Sufferans. I am Dr Sir Your most obt & hble servt
Go: Washington
LS (photocopy), DLC:GW, ser. 9; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. On the LS, Sullivan noted below GW’s signature: “Recd this at Sussex Court house [N.J.] the 27th Inst. 7 oclock P.M.” Mutilated portions of the LS are supplied in angle brackets from the draft.
1. For the receipt of this intelligence, which proved to be Lt. Col. John Graves Simcoe’s raid into New Jersey, see Anthony Wayne to GW, and GW to Wayne, both this date; see also GW to George Clinton, 29 Oct., and n.5.
2. GW almost certainly is referring to his letter to Sullivan dated 25 Oct. from the surviving draft manuscript. The LS of that letter, perhaps dated 26 Oct., has not been found.
3. For the location of Brig. Gen. William Maxwell’s New Jersey brigade in late October, see 274.
4. For Major General Stirling’s return to the field after a period of ill health, see GW to Stirling, 26 Oct., n.4; see also GW to Stirling, 29 October.