To George Washington from Captain Allen McLane, 22 November 1777
From Captain Allen McLane
[c.22 November 1777]
Sir
At, the request of Number, of able bodied, young men, that lives about the lines and is out of Imployment I take this liberty of Informing Yr Excellency that they express a desire of forming themselves in a Company and acting Under your Exclency direction for one Month if your Excellency thinks proper to Incourage this perposial, It might attend, to Cut of all Communication wh the Assistance of a lessor part, of Yr Excelency troops that is now on duty, for that purpose I wait your Excellency Answer, And, Remain Your, Humble servt
Allen McLane
ALS, DLC:GW. A docket in John Laurens’s writing apparently pertaining to this letter appears on the cover of Edward Vail’s letter to GW of this date: “Capt. McLane Proposals of Inhabitants in the Vicinity of Philadelphia 22d November 1777” (DLC:GW).