George Washington Papers
Documents filtered by: Author="Sullivan, John" AND Recipient="Washington, George" AND Period="Revolutionary War"
sorted by: editorial placement
Permanent link for this document:
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-23-02-0173

To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 6 November 1779

From Major General John Sullivan

Sovereigns [Suffern’s] Taveron [N.Y.]
Novr 6th 1779

Dear General

I am now movving to Pompton agreable to your Excys orders of yesterday.1 I find that the whole of the Rhode Island Army is Encamped on Staten Island in Addition to the Troops before Stationed there2 That they are making preparations for an Excursion Somewhere & it is Generally Conjectured That they Intend a Descent upon the Jersy Shore—This Conjecture Seems to be Strengthened by the Light Horse being Sent on to the Island & the preparations they are making in the Boat way—If the Forage is their object will our Troops at Pompton be within Sufficient Distance to give a Timely opposition—& may not the magazine at Pluckaman be an object for them.3 I See the Disadvantage which may arise from this Division of the Army being Sent at too great a Distance from the others & beg pardon for the above hints which are only Intended to Express my wishes to be in Such a Situation as may Enable me Effectually to answer your Excellenceys wishes The place which will best answer this purpose your Excy can best Determine. I have the honor to be with the most perfect Respect Dear General your Excys most obedt Servt

Jno. Sullivan

P:S. I have not a Horseman or any thing in place of one for Expresses or any other purpose.

ALS, DLC:GW.

1. Sullivan is referring to GW’s letter to him of this date.

2. For the British evacuation of Rhode Island on 25 Oct., see GW to Duportail and Alexander Hamilton, 30 Oct., and notes 1 and 2 to that document. Rather than being concentrated on Staten Island, the bulk of the evacuated troops were quartered in New York City or on Long Island (see Prechtel, Diary, description begins Johann Ernst Prechtel. A Hessian Officer’s Diary of the American Revolution. Translated and edited by Bruce E. Burgoyne. Bowie, Md., 1994. description ends 39–40; Döhla, Hessian Diary, description begins Johann Conrad Döhla. A Hessian Diary of the American Revolution. Translated and edited by Bruce E. Burgoyne. Norman, Okla., and London, 1990. description ends 113–14; and 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 317–20). Only “the Regiment of Buriau [Bünau]” was posted on Staten Island (entry for 31 Oct. 1779, Ritchie, “New York Diary,” description begins Carson I. A. Ritchie, ed. “A New York Diary [British army officer’s journal] of the Revolutionary War.” New-York Historical Society Quarterly 50 (1966): 221–80, 401–46. description ends 443).

3. For the powder magazine at Pluckemin, N.J., see the first letter from the Board of War to GW, 3 Sept., n.5.

GW was doubting the prospect of a British incursion into New Jersey when he wrote Sullivan on 13 November.

Index Entries

    You Are Looking At

    Source Project
    Washington Papers
    Title
    To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 6 November 1779
    Author
    Sullivan, John
    Recipient
    Washington, George
    Date
    6 November 1779

    Reference

    Cite as
    “To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 6 November 1779,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-23-02-0173. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 23, 22 October–31 December 1779, ed. William M. Ferraro. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2015, pp. 183–184.]

    More between these correspondents