From George Washington to Thomas Sim Lee, 10 March 1780
To Thomas Sim Lee
Head Qrs [Morristown] March the 10th 1780
Sir
Since I had the Honor of writing to Your Excellency on the 20th Ulti—I have obtained Returns of some Corps, which I had not then.1 I find there are in Moylan’s Regiment of Light Dragoons a few Men belonging to the State of Maryland, of which I inclose You a particular Return, specifying the terms for which they stand engaged.2
I have received within a few days past the Honor of Your Excellency’s Letter of the 3d of last month. In consequence, I have informed General Gist that a Flag shall be furnished to convey Your passport to New York, respecting Mrs Chamier’s furniture &c., and I very much wish that She may receive them safe. Her peculiar circumstances and the generosity of Mr Chamier in his life time to our prisoners, as has been frequently mentioned, seem to have given Mrs Chamier a good claim to the indulgence the Council have granted. I have the Honor to be with great respect & esteem Your Excellency’s Most Obedt st
Go: Washington.
LS, in Robert Hanson Harrison’s writing, MdAA: Brown Books; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. GW’s communication dated 20 Feb. was a circular letter to Lee and six other state executives indicating “Quotas of non commissioned Officers and privates to be furnished by the Respective States for the ensuing Campaign.”
2. The enclosed return has not been identified. GW had requested a regimental return from Col. Stephen Moylan for his 4th Continental Dragoons (see GW to Goose Van Schaick, 15 Feb., source note, and GW to Moylan, 21 Feb.; see also Moylan to GW, 29 Feb.).
GW also wrote to Jeremiah Powell, president of the Massachusetts Council, on this date: “Since I had the honour of writing to your Excellency on the 24th Ultimo I have obtained Returns of Moylan’s and sheldon’s Regiments of Light Dragoons, in which I find there are some men belonging to the State of Massachusetts. I inclose a particular return of them specifying the terms of their engagements” (Varick transcript, DLC:GW). The enclosed return has not been identified. For GW’s letter to Powell written on 24 Feb., see Circular to the States, 20 Feb., source note.
A similar letter written on this date from GW to Joseph Reed, president of the Pennsylvania Supreme Executive Council, reads: “Since I had the Honor of writing to your Excellency on the 20th Ulto. I have obtained some Returns of Corps which I had not then. I find there are in Moylan’s Regiment of Dragoons a few Men belonging to the State of Pennsylvania, of shich I inclose you a particular Return, specifying the Terms of their engagements” (American Clipper, October 1938, item no. 184; transcription of the LS advertised for sale. The cover of this letter, with GW’s signature and Reed’s notation on reverse—“Read March 25. 1780”—apparently was in private hands when offered for sale on eBay in March and November 2005 and March 2006). A minute of the Pennsylvania Supreme Executive Council for 25 March 1780 reads: “A letter from his Excellency General Washington, of the tenth day of March, inclosing return of Colonel Moylan’s Corps of Pennsylvanians” (, 12:293).