From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel John Taylor, 5 August 1779
To Lieutenant Colonel John Taylor
West point August the 5th 1779
Sir
I have duly received Your two favors of the 30th of July and 2d Instant with the papers—and thank you for the same and the intelligence transmitted.1 As I am persuaded your best endeavours will be directed to obtain all the information you can respecting the Enemy—I shall not trouble you with any particular request upon the present occasion—except with one, which is, that if at any time the Enemy move from York in force or make any considerable detachment you will endeavour to ascertain with all the precision you can the remaining Corps. For want of this information, I have been frequently under some degree of embarrassment. I am Sir with respect Yr Most Obedt set
G. Washington
Df, in Robert Hanson Harrison’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. These letters have not been found, but the letter of 30 July may have prompted the letters that GW’s aide-de-camp Alexander Hamilton wrote to Col. Rufus Putnam and Brig. Gen. Anthony Wayne from headquarters on 31 July. Hamilton’s letter to Putnam reads: “The General directs that you will have the light infantry put under marching orders and held in readiness to move at the shortest notice—The enemy have made an incursion into the Jerseys.
“You will be pleased to have the woman herewith sent to one of the enemy’s vessels nearest to you. She is a prisoner taken at Stoney point and is to go into New York” (DLC: William Oldridge Collection).
Hamilton’s letter to Wayne reads: “I am directed by the General to inform you, that he has received information, that the enemy are in the Jerseys in force. This will probably give us something to do—We have no particulars” (ALS, PHi: Society Collection).