From George Washington to William Brown, 22 April 1780
To William Brown
Head Quarters Morris Town 22d April 1780
Sir
I recd yours from Philada with a general Return of Hospitals enclosed1—I am informed that the sick belonging to the troops collected by General Scott at Petersburg are left at that place without Surgeons—without accommodations and destitute of every necessary for people under their circumstances2—I must request you to inquire as speedily as possible3 into the matter and endeavour to make such arrangements as will afford them releif—The unhealthiness of Petersburg makes that place, in my opinion, a very improper one for an hospital, and I would therefore recommend a removal of the sick from thence to any other place upon the communication to the southward—Indeed I have advised General Muhlenberg, who has the superintendance of the troops in the State, to fix upon some other place of rendezvous than Petersburg merely on account of its unwholesome situation.4 I am &.
Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. The draft gives Brown’s location as Dumfries, Virginia. Brown replied to GW on 29 May (DLC:GW).
1. GW is referring to Brown’s letter to him of 15 April.
2. See GW to William Davies, 20 April, and n.2.
3. At this place on the draft, Tilghman initially wrote “immediately.” He then struck out that word and wrote “as speedily as possible” above the line.
4. See GW to Peter Muhlenberg, 20 April; see also Muhlenberg to GW, 8 May.