From Alexander Hamilton to Colonel Samuel Blachley Webb, 13 March 1777
To Colonel Samuel Blachley Webb
Head Quarters Morris Town [New Jersey] March 13. 1777
Dr. Sir
If General Knox has not passed through on his way here, and gotten out of your reach, you will be pleased carefully and expeditiously to convey the inclosed letter to him; as it is intended to hurry him on to Camp.1 If he is out of reach, destroy the letter, for it will be of no consequence to return it.
The family2 are all well; and hope soon to see you here, at the head of your bloody myrmidons.
I am Dr. sir Your most hum servant
A Hamilton ADC
P.S. If the General has not yet come from the Eas[t]ward, send the letter to him by express.
ALS, Yale University Library.
1. At the time that this letter was written, Samuel Webb was colonel of a Continental regiment at Wethersfield, Connecticut, and Brigadier General Henry Knox was en route from Boston to Washington’s Headquarters. On March 14, 1777, Washington wrote to Knox: “I have for some time past most earnestly expected you, to arrange matters in the Artillery department, which has in a manner lain Still since you went away.… I beg you will endeavour to bring forward as many of the Artillery Men, intended for this department, as you possibly can.… As you see how necessary your presence is here, I hope you will make as much haste as possible to Join” (George Washington Papers, Library of Congress). This may have been the enclosure to which H refers in his letter to Webb.
2. This refers to the members of Washington’s staff at Headquarters.