George Washington to William Gordon, 9 March 1781
To William Gordon
Newport. March 9th 1781.
Dear Sir,
Your letter begun on the 28th Ulto & ended the first instant came to my hds at this place—I am conscious of being indebted to you not only for this but for several other unacknowledged favors. I thank you for ascribing my omissions to a multiplicity of other matters.1 I can with much truth assure you that my business has encreased with our difficulties & kept equal pace with them—to what length these have arisen no man of observation need be informed—Excepting to Mrs Washington when she is absent from me, & now and then a letter to a friend (more on business than for the purpose of ⟨private communication) I⟩ rarely2 p⟨ut⟩ pen to paper for private corrisponden⟨ces.⟩ Your complaint therefore is a common accusation against me and will I fear remain in too much force till our Affairs are a little more systamized the powers of Congress enlarged and military matters are in a less fluctuating State than they have been.3 these changes would enable me to conduct the affairs of my department with ease & satisfaction to myself & would allow me some time for private indulgences to which I have long been a stranger.4
I came here the 6th on business & as soon as that business is finished I shall return to my dreary quarters at New Windsor5—We have, as you very justly observe, abundant reason to thank providence for its many favourable interpositions in our behalf—It has, at times been my only dependence, for all other resources seemed to have fail’d us—My respects to Mrs Gordon. I am Dr Sir Yr most Obedt Servt
Go: Washington
ADfS, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. Mutilated material is supplied in angle brackets from the Varick transcript.
1. When Gordon wrote GW on 28 Feb.-1 March, his comments focused on the improving military situation. His other recent letters remarked on the French expeditionary force, European affairs, the discovery of Maj. Gen. Benedict Arnold’s treachery, and Massachusetts politics (see Gordon to GW, 22 July, 21 Aug., and 26 Oct. 1780).
2. GW struck out “very” before this word on his draft.
3. GW struck out “placed on a more permanent establishment” on his draft and wrote the previous nine words above the cancellation.
4. GW initially wrote and struck out “am a total Stranger at present” on his draft before writing the previous five words.
5. For GW’s visit to the French forces at Newport and his return to New Windsor, see his letter to Alexander Hamilton, 7 March, source note, and to Rochambeau, 16 March, n.1. GW previously described his quarters at New Windsor as “very confined” (see his letter to Lafayette, 14 Dec., and n.8).