From George Washington to Colonel Ann Hawkes Hay, 4 June 1779
To Colonel Ann Hawkes Hay
Morris Town [N.J.] June the 4. 1779
sir
Your favor of the 2d met me at this place this Morning.1 Your exertions and those of the Militia in opposing the Enemy claim my thanks—and I am persuaded that they will be continued, as long as it shall be practicable.2 This Army is moving towards the North river as fast as possible—and I shall give you every support in my power, that circumstances will admit of.3
The operations of the Enemy must in a great measure influence our conduct. I am sir in haste with esteem & regard Yr Most Obedt st
G.W.
Df, in Robert Hanson Harrison’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. This letter has not been found, but for indications of its contents, see Arthur St. Clair to GW, 3 June (first letter).
2. A letter from Gov. George Clinton to Col. William Malcom on 5 June touched on the situation of Hay’s Orange County, N.Y., militia regiment: “Colo. Hay of Haverstraw writes me that the Enemy are plundering that Country and that his Regt., fatigued and harrassed with continual Service, are not able to resist them & that unless they speedilly receive Succour will be obliged to yield to so superior a Force” ( 5:32). For the dismissal of militia from active duty in the Highlands, see GW to Clinton, 9 June; see also Clinton to GW, same date.
3. For British operations then under way up the Hudson River, and the American response, see William De Hart to GW, 30 May, n.1, and General Orders, 1 June, n.1.
In a letter of 7 June from “Camp near Fort Montgomery,” N.Y., Malcom informed Clinton that 300 “Troops are just joind from G’l Washington” ( 5:49–50).