From George Washington to Colonel Rufus Putnam, 11 August 1776

To Colonel Rufus Putnam

New York Augt 11th 1776.

Sir,

I have the pleasure to inform you that Congress have appointed you an Engineer with the Rank of Colonel, and pay of Sixty Dollars pr Month.1

I beg of you to hasten the Sinking of Vessels and other obstructions in the River at Fort Washington as fast as it is possible—advise Genl Putnam constantly of the kind of Vessels you want and other things that no delays that can possibly be avoided may happen. I am Sir Yr assur’d friend & Servt

Go: Washington

P.S. Congress have just sent two French Gentn here as Engineers will either of them be of use at Fort Washington or Kings Bridge?2

ALS, OMC.

1. Congress made this appointment on 5 Aug. (see JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 5:630).

2. These two French engineers apparently were Wuibert and St. Martin (see GW to Hancock, 29 June; Hancock to GW, 1 July [second letter] and 30 July [first letter]; and Heath to GW, 26 Aug.; see also JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 5:477, 480–81, 602, 656).

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Source Project: Washington Papers
Title: From George Washington to Colonel Rufus Putnam, 11 August 1776
Author: Washington, George
Recipient: Putnam, Rufus
Date: 11 August 1776

Reference

Cite as: “From George Washington to Colonel Rufus Putnam, 11 August 1776,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-05-02-0508. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 5, 16 June 1776 – 12 August 1776, ed. Philander D. Chase. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1993, p. 669.]

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