From George Washington to Brigadier General Henry Knox, 9 February 1777
To Brigadier General Henry Knox
Head Quarters Morris town 9th Feby 1777
Dear Sir
A few days ago I recd a Letter from Genl Schuyler, in which he requests that Colo. Lamb may be immediately sent up to Ticonderoga to regulate the Ordnance department in that Quarter against the next Campaign.1
As I do not know how far Colo. Lamb’s going up, may break in upon any arrangements that you may have made, I will not give you a positive order to send him, only wishing it may be done if convenient, as Genl Schuyler requests it particularly. If you do not send him, I beg you will immediately fix upon an Officer on whom you can depend, and dispatch him to Ticonderoga.
Inclosed you have Recommendations of two Gentlemen, Mr Rice and Mr Talbert, for Commissions in the Artillery Service. The first requests a Company & the other I suppose would be content with a Lieutenancy, if you have Vacancies and can provide for them, I imagine (from their Recommendations) that they will make good Officers.2 I am &c.
Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. See Schuyler to GW, 30 January.
2. These enclosures have not been identified. Joseph Rice, Jr., apparently had joined Thomas Proctor’s Pennsylvania artillery company as a captain in August 1776. He received a captain’s commission in the 4th Continental Artillery Regiment in March 1777 and served until August or September 1780 when he resigned from the army. “Mr Talbert” may be William Talbot, who joined the 4th Continental Regiment as a private in April 1777.