From George Washington to Jabez Bowen, 15 December 1779
To Jabez Bowen
Head Quarters Morris town 15th Decemr 1779.
Sir
I have been honored with yours of the 25th ulto suggesting the expediency of letting the park of Artillery remain at providence untill circumstances should determine the probability of the enemy’s repossessing Rhode Island1—This matter I think may be ascertained with a tolerable degree of certainty in a short time, as, by a variety of accounts, a very considerable detachment from the Army at New York is held ready for embarkation, and it is thought are only waiting untill they hear that the French Fleet have left the Coast—The destination of this detachment is not known, but generally conjectured to the West Indies or Georgia, or perhaps to both2—Should that be the case, we may reasonably conclude, that their remaining force will not admit of sufficient Garrisons for New York and Rhode Island, and consequently that they will relinquish the Idea of again holding the latter.
I have wrote to Major perkins to collect the park and stores but to suspend their removal to Springfeild untill further orders, which shall be given as circumstances may require3—I have the honor to be with great Respect Sir Your most obt Servt.
Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. Bowen’s letter to GW of 25 Nov. has not been found, but he had written Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene on 23 Nov. to report the destruction of fortifications at Newport, R.I., to discourage British reoccupation (see 5:110–11). The British had evacuated Rhode Island on 25 Oct. (see GW to Duportail and Alexander Hamilton, 30 Oct., and notes 1 and 2 to that document).
2. For GW’s eagerness to confirm reports of a major British detachment from New York, see his letter to Samuel Huntington, 29 Nov., and n.1 to that document; see also Henry Lee, Jr., to GW, 30 Nov., n.4.
3. GW wrote Maj. William Perkins from Morristown on this date: “You will suspend the removal of the Continental park of Artillery and Stores from Providence to Springfield untill further orders But you will have them collected and heald in readiness to move at the shortest warning” (Df, in George Augustine Washington’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW).