To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 29 January 1781

From Major General Robert Howe

Junes’s [tavern, Orange County, N.Y.]
29th jany 1781

Dear sir,

I unluckily missed of a letter from Col. Barber Sent me express.1 the purport of it however I fancy Can be pretty well ascertained, as it was brought by an intelligent officer acquainted with the occasion of it who met with Col. Sprout. The enemy had taken post at Staten Island with intention to Support the Jersey insurgents. they Sent out a Spy with a proclamation offering the Same terms to the jersey revolters that they offered to the pensylvanians, Complaining highly of the ingratitude of the latter, and hoping better things from the Jersey Corps, and promising to Come and negociate for them—The man bringing this fine epistle thought proper to reveal himself to Col. Dayton, and to give up every paper and by his Conduct appears to be in Our interest—This, Sir, I think is the substance of the letter2—a lame horse obliged me to Stop Short of Smith’s where I intended to be, and take up my quarters for the night in a dirty disagreable doghole where the express must have passed and repassed me which gives me much anxiety—As the troops with me are much fatigued And those gone by Kings ferry, I Suppose by this time well on their way; And each party out of provision I do not think they had to be delayed in their return for anything we have As yet heard. they will therefore March off from thence about ten o’clock—I imagine the enemy upon hearing of the event of the 27th will parade over to York Island Again. I am Dear Sir with the Greatest respect Your Excellency’s Most obedient and most humble servant

Robt Howe

LS, DLC:GW.

1. This letter has not been identified.

2. This messenger was Uzal Woodruff, one of the spies sent by British general Henry Clinton’s officers (see Elias Dayton to GW, 24 Jan., n.7, and Van Doren, Mutiny in January description begins Carl Van Doren. Mutiny in January: The Story of a Crisis in the Continental Army now for the first time fully told from many hitherto unknown or neglected sources both American and British. New York, 1943. description ends , 224–25). For other reports about these spies, see Dayton to Howe, 27 Jan., in Francis Barber to GW, 29 Jan., n.1; and James Caldwell to GW, 30 Jan., postscript. The British soon became aware that their spies had failed. One intelligence report on the mutiny received by Clinton on 31 Jan. reads: “Some papers were dropped in camp and two people are suspected for having dropped them. … The contents are kept secret” (“Clinton’s Secret Record,” description begins “Sir Henry Clinton’s Original Secret Record of Private Daily Intelligence.” Contributed by Thomas Addis Emmett, with an Introduction and Notes by Edward F. DeLancey. Magazine of American History with Notes and Queries 10 (1883): 327–42, 409–19, 497–507; 11 (1884): 53–70, 156–67, 247–57, 342–52, 433–44, 533–44. description ends 10:410). On 28 Jan., another British spy informed Clinton that Howe had suppressed the mutiny, but also gave inaccurate details (see Mackenzie Diary description begins Diary of Frederick Mackenzie Giving a Daily Narrative of His Military Service as an Officer of the Regiment of Royal Welch Fusiliers during the Years 1775–1781 in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York. 2 vols. Cambridge, Mass., 1930. description ends , 2:464, and “Clinton’s Secret Record,” description begins “Sir Henry Clinton’s Original Secret Record of Private Daily Intelligence.” Contributed by Thomas Addis Emmett, with an Introduction and Notes by Edward F. DeLancey. Magazine of American History with Notes and Queries 10 (1883): 327–42, 409–19, 497–507; 11 (1884): 53–70, 156–67, 247–57, 342–52, 433–44, 533–44. description ends 10:341).

Index Entries

You Are Looking At

Source Project: Washington Papers
Title: To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 29 January 1781
Author: Howe, Robert
Recipient: Washington, George
Date: 29 January 1781

Reference

Cite as: “To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 29 January 1781,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-30-02-0270. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 30, 1 January–6 March 1781, ed. Benjamin L. Huggins. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2022, p. 307.]

More between these correspondents