From George Washington to William Gordon, 3 May 1780
To William Gordon
Head Qrs Morris Town May 3d 1780
Dear Sir,
I received some time ago Your Letter of the 29th of February & 1st of March by Colo. Henley. From a multiplicity of important-pressing business which I have had on hand—I was prevented from communicating it to Colo. Hamilton till yesterday. It was then put into his hands, as You will perceive by the inclosures No. 1 & 2, a Copy of my Letter to him upon the occasion & his Answer.1 While I must ascribe it to your politeness—I regret that the consideration of Colo. Hamilton’s being a member of my family2 should have been a motive for bringing so disagreable a business before me. The Gentlemen attached to me are upon the same footing with the other Officers of the Army and equally responsible for their conduct. You will pursue such a mode in the present case as You deem most effectual, but if You should think proper to exhibit any charge against Colo. Hamilton cognizable by a Military tribunal, you have only to signify your wish and the time You will be able to produce your witnesses, and I shall proceed in it accordingly.3
As far as the temper and disposition of the several Courts of Europe are developed, & known to Us—the assisting of Gt Britn does not app[ea]r to be an object with them; and yet, if we are to form a judgment from report, & indeed from appearances, the King & his Ministers are firmly resolved to prosecute the War in America with unabating vigour—depending, it is to be presumed—upon the wretched state of our money, more than they do on the expectation of foreign aid. If the plan of finance, adopted by Congress, should receive that general support which the exigency of the times loudly call for, and which I hope, & trust, it will not fail to do from every well wisher to his Country,4 I believe the foundation on which the enemy have superstructed their plans, will give way and leave the contrivers & authors of the present mischief to that punishment wch an injured & deceived people are ready to inflict & which the populace of England as well as Ireland seem now to be preparing5—For this purpose a spirit is gone forth & is now manifesting itself I hope undr the appo. of Associatn—Comees6 &ca—that it may also be the harbinger of Peace to this distressed Country, I most fervently wish.
For your good wishes, you will please to accept my sincere thanks—My best respects, in which Mrs Washington joins, are presented to Mrs Gordon—& complimts to all enquiring frds. I am—Dr Sir Yr Most Obedt Servt
Go: Wash⟨ington⟩
ADfS and Df, in Robert Hanson Harrison’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. The draft manuscript is in GW’s writing except for the dateline and first paragraph. GW directed the letter to Gordon at Jamaica Plain, Mass., where it arrived on 29 May (see Gordon to GW, 12 June, DLC:GW).
1. GW enclosed copies of his letter to Alexander Hamilton, 2 May, and Hamilton’s reply, same date.
2. GW means his military secretaries and aides-de-camp.
3. Gordon sought a congressional investigation of Lt. Col. Alexander Hamilton’s alleged remarks that Congress be overthrown, but members declined action. Massachusetts delegate Artemas Ward wrote to Gordon in late November: “I am now to acknowledge the receipt of your favour of the seventh of June last. … When I received your letter I conversed with my Collegues on the subject thereof and we were unanimous in Opinion that it was not advisable to mention the matter in Congress whilst our Publick affairs were in such a Situation as they were then in. And it appears to me that it will not do at this time and I think if I was to converse with you I could satisfy you of the inexpediency of ever mentioning it in Congress at lest untill there was a great change in men and measures” (, 16:381–82).
4. For these congressional financial measures, see Philip Schuyler to GW, 12 March, and notes 3 and 4 to that document.
5. GW earlier had expressed optimism over political dissent in Ireland (see GW to William Livingston, 10 March, postscript, and n.5; General Orders, 16 March, and n.1 to that document; and GW to Lafayette, 18 March; see also Fielding Lewis to GW, 26 March). For evidence that he overestimated the force of these sentiments, see Nathanael Greene to GW, 3 April, and n.8.
6. With abbreviated words expanded, this phrase reads: “under the approbation of Association[s]—Committees.”