George Washington Papers

To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 19 September 1777

From Brigadier General Anthony Wayne

Paoli [Pa.]1 ½ After 7 OClock A.M.
19th Sepr 1777

Dear General

On the Enemies Beating the Revellee I ordered the Troops under Arms and began our March for their left flank—But when we Arrived within a half a Mile of their Encampment found they had not Stired—but lay too Compact to admit of an Attack with prudence—Indeed their Supineness Answers every purpose of giving you time to get up—if they Attempt to move I shall Attack them at all Events.

this Moment Capt. Jones of Blands Dragoons brought in som prisoners2—three of them belonging to the Queens Rangers & One Artillery man, they dont seem to know much about the Movements of the Enemy Nor the loss they Sustained at Brandywine but have heard it was very great.

There never was—nor never will be a fairer Opportunity of giving the Enemy a fatal Blow than the present, for God sake push on as fast as possible. Interim I am your Excellencies Most Huml. Sert

Anty Wayne

ALS, DLC:GW.

1Wayne’s division was camped about two miles southwest of the General Paoli Tavern at present-day Paoli, Pennsylvania. The tavern was named for the Corsican patriot Pasquale Paoli.

2Llewelyn Jones had been captain of an Amelia County, Va., minute company before he was appointed a captain in Col. Theodorick Bland’s Virginia light dragoon regiment in June 1776. Jones continued serving as a captain in Bland’s 1st Continental Dragoons from March 1777 until sometime after December 1778.

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