From George Washington to John Jay, 16 August 1779
To John Jay
West point August the 16th 1779
Sir
I had yesterday afternoon the honor to receive Your Excellency’s Letter of the 6th with a copy of the Act of the 8th of March and the Report referred to. It might have been better on the score of supplies and some other considerations, if Captain Wilkie’s company had been annexed to the 11th pensilvania Regiment; but as this was not done—and as the arrangement both of Spencer’s and Hubley’s Regiments has been made and it may be difficult, if not impracticable, to introduce the Officers with the Men into the pensylvania line, which would certainly be an act of justice, more especially if they were at the trouble of raising them, it may be best perhaps for things to remain in their present situation. Besides, if the arrangement were to be altered, Spencer’s Regiment would want a company and the 11th pensilvania have one more than the establishment, as it has I believe, it’s complement. The point however is submitted to Congress—and they will be pleased to determine it in such way, as they may think best and most advancive of the service. The Report of the Board of War upon the occasion is returned.1
I intended in my last for the satisfaction of Congress to have transmitted to your Excellency the inclosed Copies of a Letter from Captain Hopkins of Moylan’s Dragoons of the 30th Ulto2 and from Major General Howe of the 6th Instant, but was prevented through hurry.3 I have the Honor to be with the greatest respect Yr Excellency’s Most Obedt servt
Go: Washington
LS, in Robert Hanson Harrison’s writing, DNA:PCC, item 152; Df, DLC:GW; copy, DNA:PCC, item 169. Varick transcript, DLC:GW. Congress read this letter and referred it to the Board of War on 23 Aug. ( 14:988).
1. For the controversy between Col. Oliver Spencer and Lt. Col. Adam Hubley, commander of the 11th Pennsylvania Regiment, over the assignment of the company originally raised by Capt. John Wilkins (at this time known as “Wilkie’s company”) and the report of the board, see Jay to GW, 6 Aug., n.3.
2. Capt. David Hopkins’s letter reported on his engagement with a party of Andreas Emmerich’s dragoons on 30 July (see Heath to GW, 30 July, and n.2 to that document).
3. GW’s secretary Robert Hanson Harrison, who penned the draft, wrote and then crossed out the following text at this point on that document: “The Officers and Men in the two little affairs the subjects of these Letters acquitted themselves with great firmness and.”