George Washington Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-26-02-0176

To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 31 May 1780

From Major General Robert Howe

Highlands [N.Y.] 31st May 1780

Dear Sir

The inclos’d Copy of a Letter from Governor Trumbull received last Night, I transmit your Excellency without Delay, & should wish to receive your Directions thereupon1—The Incursions of the Enemy into this State, & that of Connecticut, the Injuries the[y] do the Inhabitants, & the Benefits the[y] derive from the Supplies they obtain thereby must excite an earnest Desire in every Bosom to prevent a Repetition of such Operations if possible—But while they act with Horse it will be out of our Power to effect this without we make Use of Horse also—For had it not been for the Movements made by my Direction Under Col. Putnam in Consequence of the Intelligence I had of their Intentions the other Day, the whole Country between Golden & the New Bridge, & as far this Way as Crompond would have been ravaged without my being able to counteract their Designs2—for they proceeded with a pretty smart Body of Horse within a Mile of the Croton, & laid aside their Intention & retired, only because Col. Putnam was advanc’d.3 This Detachment however, I cannot in our present Situation continue out, & when that returns their Operations will probably be resumed—for their Apprehensions of a French Fleet seems to determine them to forage at any Risque.

The Fascin⟨es⟩ yo⟨u w⟩ish me to make Sir, it is out of my Power at present to set about4—Even the Fatigue Parties for finishing the Works at this Post are so trifling in Point of Numbers, yet so oppressive as to our Aggregate that little is done, & even that little with Complaints and Murmurings (I am sorry to add) not ill founded.

The Militia of this State embodied for six Months are frequently applying to me for Ammunition, & they have some times been supplied—they are it seems to act with the continental Troops, & in Pay of the Continent.5 I should be glad to know Sir, whether I may serve out to them occasionally & with Oeconomy Ammunition. Major Mournong is gone down to the Sound, in Order to execute what your Excellency desired in a former Letter,6 & also to see if he can spirit up the Militia to make Fascines—in which Case He will give them Instructions & return—It appears to me Sir, that it would be preferable to make Fascines principally, rather than Gabions, as the latter not only take a great Deal of Room in conveying them either by Land or Water, but are so easily injured by Removal, & by lying upon one another, that one half of them probably in being conveyed to any Distance will be rendered unfit for Service, & if Gabions are wanted by breaking up small Fascines they will afford all the Materials for making them except the Uprights, which may be with Ease & Convenience procur’d almost any where—your Excellency will find by Governor Trumbull’s Letter, that a Body of Militia, & State Troops, are to go down to the Sound—these perhaps may be prevail’d upon to exert themselves in Fascine making, & I shall Sir, if you chuse it apply to them upon this Subject as soon as I hear of their Arrival. The Transport Boats ordered to King’s Ferry, I directed to be there at the Time appointed—& they are I presume now lying there.7

By Desire of Capt. Ashley I inclose your Excellency a Letter of his—He complains that he was intitled to a Vacancy previous to the Resolution of Congress requesting the State’s not to fill Vacancies, & urges some other Circumstances which make his Case a special one, & worthy, in my Opinion, of Attention—these Details I presume are given you in his Letter, & from the Character I have had of him He has Merit.8 I have the Honor to be with the greatest Respect & Regard Dear Sir your Excellency’s most obedient Humble Servant

Robert Howe

LS, DLC:GW. GW replied to Howe on 4 June.

1The enclosed copy of a letter from Connecticut governor Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., to Howe, dated at Hartford on 26 May, reads: “I am directed by a Resolve of the assembly of this State, now Setting, to make earnest application to you, as Commanding Officer of the Continental Troops in this Eastern Department, to afford us some Succour and Relief against the Incursions and Depradations of our Enemies on the Western Frontiers of this State. We have had continual and very recent accounts & complaints of the exposed and Distressed Situation of the Inhabitants in that Quarter, Have ordered three hundred of our Militia with about 250 Men of our State Regiments to repair thither for its Defence, as quick as possible, likewise two small Redoubts to be there Built &c. for that purpose. Now Sir as there is a Number of Continental Light Horse Quarter’d out in this State our request is, that a number of them not less then Forty at least might be immediately sent and Stationed in that Quarter to cooperate with such other Horse as may be sent for its more immediate protection & Defence—Forage &c. may as well be furnish’d there for them, as where they now are, and in that Position may at this time render essential Service. We doubt not therefore but you will readily afford us the Assistance requested, & will cheerfully give us all the Aid and Succour in your power, so far as Consistent with the Genl Service” (DLC:GW).

2See Howe to GW, 25 May (first letter), and n.3 to that document.

Goldens Bridge, formerly called Goldings Bridge and Goldensbridge, crossed the Croton River at present-day Lewisboro, New York. Abraham Golding spurred construction of the bridge in the early eighteenth century (see Lederer, Place-Names of Westchester County description begins Richard M. Lederer, Jr. The Place-Names of Westchester County, New York. Harrison, N.Y., 1978. description ends , 57).

3Col. Rufus Putnam wrote Howe from Sing Sing (now Ossining), N.Y., on 28 May: “There was about 40 of the Enimy Horse here about 7 or 8 Clock in the morning but Retired soon being Informed there ware 300 men at the bridge—I arrived … at Collabergh by 12 & immediatly Dispatched a Ser[gean]t & Six Soldiers of the guard on Horse back to observe there motions and bring me Intiligence … I presume the enemy have Retired at lest as far as Terry Town” (Buell, Putnam Memoirs description begins Rowena Buell, ed. The Memoirs of Rufus Putnam and Certain Official Papers and Correspondence. Boston and New York, 1903. description ends , 152–53).

4See GW’s first letter to Howe of 25 May, and n.5 to that document.

5See GW to George Clinton, 18 May, and n.4 to that document.

6See GW to Howe, 15 May, and n.4 to that document; see also Howe to GW, 22 May (second letter).

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