From George Washington to George Clinton, 7 September 1779
To George Clinton
Head Quarters West-point 7th Septr 1779.
Dr Sir.
I herewith transmit to your Excellency several papers, with a letter from Elias Boudinot Esqe relative to the case of a certain Hallet who is said to be an inhabitant of Long Island1—As I do not consider him cognizable by the military laws, but more properly falling under the jurisdiction of the State to which he belongs, I have therefore sent him under guard to your Excellency.
I also inclose a letter from himself to me, which may give some further particulars of the man.2 I would only observe that Hallet was appointed a Captain by warrant (in 1777) and ordered to raise a company. he did not succeed in this attempt, and was some time after discharged from the army.3 I have the honor to be your Excellency’s most obt Servt.
Df, in James McHenry’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. The Board of War had jailed James Hallet as “a dangerous person” (Board of War to GW, 31 Aug.). The enclosures have not been identified, but GW most likely enclosed the depositions transmitted to him by the Board of War on 31 Aug.; for these depositions, see Elias Boudinot to GW, 19 May, n.2. The letter from Boudinot probably was a copy of Boudinot’s letter to GW of 19 May.
2. This letter may have been one of two letters from Hallett, dated 10 and 12 July. GW acknowledged these letters on 22 July, but they have not been found.
3. Neither the warrant nor the orders have been identified. An undated petition from Hallett to Congress docketed 1 Oct. 1777, in which he gave an account of this appointment and his efforts to raise his company, is in DNA:PCC, item 41. For Hallett’s previous activities in the army, see Clinton to GW, 7 March, n.2.