From George Washington to Caesar Rodney, 10 June 1780
To Caesar Rodney
Head qrs Springfield June 10. 1780
Sir
I have had the Honor to receive Your Letter of the 3d Instant.1 It appears to me necessary, that appointments should be made to the Four Vacant Ensigncies which Major Patten has reported. It is essential to service that Troops should be well officered—and in our’s the complement allowed should be generally full, as from the nature of our establishment, it is rather limited; and besides, three or four Officers are employed in the Regimental & brigade Staff who do not act in the common rotine of duty; not to mention that others are often taken as aids & for other purposes. I mention appointments to the Four Ensigncies only—as the places of the Two Officers in captivity cannot be considered as vacant & of consequence ought not to be filled by Others; Their captivity however as Your Excellency very justly intimates, is an additional reason to those I have mentioned, for making the proposed arrangement. I have the Honor to be, with great respect & esteem Yr Excellency’s Most Obedt servant
Go: Washington
LS, in Robert Hanson Harrison’s writing, NNGL; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. On 3 June, Rodney had written GW from Dover, Del.: “Major John Patten of the Delaware Regiment informs me that there are four vacancies of Ensigns in that Regiment, and that taking into consideration two of the officers being, at this time, Prisoners it is necessary there should be some new appointments made—As Congress have advised the States to make no new appointments without first consulting your Excellency on the propriety of the Measure, and as the General assembly are to meet here next week, I would wish to have, as soon as possible, your advice in the Matter” (ALS, MA; ADfS, De-Ar). For the congressional resolution passed on 21 March, see Samuel Huntington to GW, 23 March, and n.1 to that document; see also , 16:272–73.