To George Washington from Richard Peters, 6 February 1777
From Richard Peters
War Office Baltimore Feby 6th 1777.
Sir,
The Board of War had deliver’d to them a sett of recruiting Instructions given by your Excellency to Colonel Hartley, in which they perceive an Oversight, whereof they have directed me to inform you, that the mistake may proceed no further.1 There is no distinction held up to the Recruits, between those who inlist for three years, and those who engage during the War. In the hurry in which your Excellency must be engaged, you have overlooked the difference, which is, that those only have Land who engage during the War. The Board are confident you will excuse their pointing out this Error, and have it rectified in future. I have the honor to be with the greatest Respect Your very obedient & most humble servant
Richard Peters Secy
LS, DLC:GW.
Richard Peters (1744–1828), an attorney from Philadelphia who served as a register of admiralty from 1771 to 1776, was secretary of the Board of War from June 1776 to December 1781. He served as a delegate to the Continental Congress from November 1782 to November 1783. GW in April 1792 appointed Peters judge of the U.S. District Court for Pennsylvania, an office that he held until his death. Peters and GW shared an interest in scientific agriculture, about which they corresponded after the war.