To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 3 April 1780
From Major General Robert Howe
Highlands [N.Y.] April 3d 1780
Dr sir
My letters written one on the morning of the 2d Instant, and one on this day,1 both of which I believe you will receive by Majr Bawman, in some measure anticipate the necessity of this.
When I Ventur’d to express a wish, that I might be permitted to call down Poors Brigade, I order’d Barracks to be prepared for their reception, which are now ready, I therefore with gladness dispatch’d an Express to Danbury, the moment I was Honour’d with your Excellencys letter last evening,2 to press their proceeding, with all possible expedition to have the earliest notice of the Enemies designs, which if the least consequential, will instantly be Transmitted.
I hope to put down the Chain tomorrow, it has for many days past ingrosd the principal attention of Colo. Cosciasco;3 the river is now Just fit to receive it.4
If nothing makes it improper, I think to ride to Poughkeepsie tomorrow, as an intervew with Governor Clinton is upon some accounts Consequential,5 and in the way I mean to be at a conference between Colo. Hay, and the Magistrates near Poughkeepsie, where he thinks my presence will have a good effect, Some stimulous is requisite to these Gentlemen whose aid in procuring Teams is absolutely necessary, without which we shall be distressed for Provisions and letters to them, like a Medicine often repeated, appears to have lost its effect6—If I go I shall not stay an unnecessary moment. I am Dr Sir with the Greatest regard & respect your Excellency’s Most Obt Hume Servant
Robert Howe
LS, DLC:GW.
1. For Howe’s earlier letter to GW on this date, see GW to Howe, 30 March, source note.
2. See GW to Howe, 30 March, and n.1 to that document; see also GW to Howe, 1 April.
3. Howe is referring to Col. Thaddeus Kosciuszko.
4. Pvt. Zebulon Vaughan of the 5th Massachusetts Regiment recorded in his diary entry for 5 April: “Nothing to da[y] onley the chain was putt Down Cros the River Hudson” ( 331).
For Howe’s views on the defensive chain across the Hudson River at West Point, N.Y., see his letter to GW, 16–17 March, and n.6 to that document; see also GW to Howe, 21 March, and Howe’s first letter to GW, 10 April.
5. Howe wrote to New York governor George Clinton on this date from the Highlands. That letter in part reads: “If the Appearance of Matters here will permit me, I think to visit you at Poughkepsie in a Day or two, as I wish much to confer with you upon several Subjects” (, 5:580–81). Howe wrote in another letter to Clinton on the same date: “The Intelligence received gives Room to think that this Post is an Object with the Enemy, which is among some of the Reasons for my removing Poor’s Brigade. As it may become necessary to alarm the Country, to call in the Militia, I should be obliged to your Excellency to give me a Detail of the Signals of Alarm agreed upon, that no Mistake may happen, which please do without Delay by this Express, as no Detail has been left me” (, 5:582).
Clinton replied to both letters from Howe on the same date: “I am hon’d w’th yo’r favors of this Day. I now enclose you the Signals for alarm’g & call’g in of the militia . … I am made hapy in the Hopes you give me of the Pleasure of a vissit” (, 5:582–83; the enclosure has not been identified).
6. For Howe’s concern over supplies, see his letter to GW, 16–17 March; see also GW to Howe, 21 March.