From George Washington to Brigadier General James Mitchell Varnum, 21 May 1778
To Brigadier General James Mitchell Varnum
Head Quarters 21st May 1778
Dear Sir
Upon perusing the Petition hand’d by you this Morning in favor of Lieutenant Peck—I have given orders that he may be released from his Arrest.1
The Nature of the Charge exhibited against this Gentleman is very weighty, & which, the excellent Character he has hitherto borne, could only induce me to overlook—I hope this Instance will sufficiently warn him, & prevent his doing any thing in future which may draw on him the Censure of his Brother Officers. I am Dear Sir your mo. Obedt Servt
Go: Washington
LS, in John Fitzgerald’s writing, owned (1999) by Joseph Rubinfine, West Palm Beach, Florida.
1. This may be Jesse Peck (1754–1823) of Middletown, Conn., who was appointed a second lieutenant in Col. Henry Sherburne’s Additional Continental Regiment in March 1777 and resigned in April 1780.