From George Washington to Captain Bartholomew von Heer, 23 August 1779
To Captain Bartholomew von Heer
Head Quarters [West Point] 23d Augt 1779.
Sir
Be pleased to direct an Officer of your troop and six Men to take charge of a sum of public Money at present in the hands of Lieut. Lilley of Massachusetts and proceed with it to Major General Lord Stirling at Ramapough. Lieut. Lilley will most probably be found at the Qr Masters at New Burgh.1 The inclosed for Lord Stirling is to be delivered to him by the Officer commanding the Escorte.2 I am Sir Yr most obt Servt.
Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. The letter was addressed to “Capt Von Heer or Officer commanding Marichause Dragoons New Burgh.”
1. For GW’s orders to Col. Thomas Nixon to have an officer take charge of this money, which had been called out of circulation and deliver it Fishkill, N.Y., see GW to Nixon, 7 August.
Reuben Lilley (1745–1804), of Brimfield, Mass., served as a private in the militia that responded to the Lexington alarm in April 1775. He subsequently served as a sergeant in Col. Timothy Danielson’s Massachusetts Regiment from April to November 1775 and became a sergeant in the 4th Continental Infantry Regiment in February 1776. Lilley joined the newly-raised 6th Massachusetts Regiment as an ensign in January 1777. He became a second lieutenant in March 1778 and a first lieutenant in November 1779. In June 1783, Lilley transferred to the 2d Massachusetts Regiment. He left the army in November 1783.
2. GW probably enclosed his letter to Stirling of this date.