From George Washington to Brigadier General Peter Muhlenberg, 15 July 1779
To Brigadier General Peter Muhlenberg
Fort Montgomery [N.Y.] 15th July 1779
Sir,
This day Genl Wayne marched down towards stoney point to take a view of the enemy & if an opportunity offered to attempt something serious;1 I therefore wish you to put your Brigade in motion about midnight & march that way in order to act as his situation may make it necessary—You will make your movement as secret as possible & march perfectly light, taking such of your guards as may be in your route with you. One days provision will be necessary for the men to have with them, & the rest that may be at the post, you will have in readiness to follow should circumstances require it.2
You shall hear from me when you are to return unless the enterprise should prove unsuccessfull, in which case you will return to your present post.3 I am Yrs &c.
G.W.4
DF, in Richard Kidder Meade’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. The draft manuscript is addressed to Muhlenberg “at Dean forest.”
1. See GW to Anthony Wayne, 14 July, and Wayne to GW, 14 and 15 July; see also GW to Wayne, 1 July, n.2.
2. For the support Muhlenberg’s brigade provided Brig. Gen. Anthony Wayne’s light infantry during the successful assault on Stony Point, N.Y., during the night of 15-16 July, see Wayne to GW, 17 July.
3. For the subsequent posting of Muhlenberg’s brigade at the Forest of Dean, see GW to Israel Putnam, 19 July; see also GW to Putnam, 20 July, and Putnam to GW, 21 July.
4. On the draft manuscript, Meade wrote GW’s initials over his own struck-out signature.