From George Washington to Brigadier General Charles Scott, 14 December 1779
To Brigadier General Charles Scott
Head Quarters Morris Town 14th December 1779.
Dear Sir
I am glad to find by yours of the 16th ulto that you had nearly surmountd the difficulties attending the march of the troops from Petersburg1—I have no objection to you proceeding yourself to the southward, which I hope will afford that releif to your disorder, which you expect—You will give the most pointed orders to the Officer who shall be left to bring on the Rear, not to lose a moments time in getting them under march.
I am confident that you did every thing in your power to promote the public good at as small an expence as possible, and we must in this instance, as in many others, attribute the monstrous nominal sum of Doctor Shores Acct to the unhappy depreciation of our Money.2 I am &.
Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. Scott’s letter to GW of 16 Nov. has not been found. Scott had been recruiting Continental troops in Virginia since the spring for duty in South Carolina (see GW to Richard Henry Lee, 30 April, and n.1 to that document). He submitted a return dated 18 Nov. that reported 1,002 recruits “sent to the Southward” ( 3:364).
2. For concern over the potential cost of medical services provided by John Shore, Jr., see GW to Scott, 17 August.