George Washington to Lund Washington, 30 April 1781
To Lund Washington
New Windsor 30th April 1781
Dear Lund,
Your letter of the 18th came to me by the last Post.1 I am very sorry to hear of your loss—I am a little sorry to hear of my own—but that which gives me most concern, is, that you should go on board the enemys Vessels, & furnish them with refreshments. It would have been a less painful circumstance to me, to have heard, that in consequence of your non-compliance with their request, they had burnt my House, & laid the Plantation in ruins. You ought to have considered yourself as my representative, and should have reflected on the bad example of communicating with the enemy, and making a voluntary offer of refreshment to them with a view to prevent a conflagration.
It was not in your power, I acknowledge, to prevent them from sending a flag on shore—and you did right to meet it—but you should, in the same instant that the business of it was unfolded, have declared, explicitly, that it was improper for you to yield to the request—after which, if they had proceeded to help themselves, by force,2 you could but have submitted (and being unprovided for defence) this was to be prefered to a feeble opposition which only serves as a pretext to burn and destroy.
I am thoroughly perswaded that you acted from your best judgment—and believe, that your desire to preserve my property, and rescue the buildings from impending danger, were your governing motives—But to go on board their Vessels—carry them refreshments—commune with a parcel of plundering Scoundrels—and request a favor by asking the Surrender of my Negroes3—was exceedingly ill-judged—and ’tis to be feared—will be unhappy in its consequences, as it will be a precedent for others, and may become a subject of animadversion.
I have no doubt of the enemys intention to prosecute the plundering plan they have begun—And, unless a stop can be put to it by the arrival of a Superior Naval force, I have as little doubt of its ending in the loss of all my Negroes, and in the destruction of my Houses—but I am prepared for the event—under the prospect of which, if you could deposit, in safety, at some convenient distance from the Water, the most valuable & least bulky articles, it might be consistent with policy & prudence, and a mean of preserving them for use hereafter. Such, & so many things as are necessary for common, & present use must be retained & run their chance4 through the firy trial of this Summer.
Mrs Washington joins me in best and Affectionate regard for you, Mrs Washington & Milly Posey; & does most sincerely regret your loss—I do not know what Negros they may ha⟨ve⟩ left you—and as I have observed before, I do not know what number they will have left me by the time they have done—but this I am sure of, that you shall never want assistance, while it is in my power to afford it.5 I am Sincerely & Affectionately Yrs
Go: Washington
ADfS, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. A fragment of this letter, also in GW’s writing and with his signature, is in private hands. It is part of either another draft, the ALS, or less likely, a copy (see n.4 below; see also GW to Lafayette, 4 May).
In March 1781, Gen. Henry Clinton ordered his commanders in Virginia to destroy American magazines to aid Brig. Gen. Benedict Arnold. The British navy subsequently raided along the Potomac River in April and May. Beginning around 7 April, Capt. Thomas Graves, commander of the sloop-of-war Savage, cruised up that river with a small squadron. The raids commenced when a party landed “to distroy a Linen Manufactory” near Mathias Point, Va., and managed to destroy “the greatest part” (Fritz Hirschfeld, ed., “‘Burnt All Their Houses’: The Log of HMS Savage during a Raid up the Potomac River, Spring 1781,” 99 [1991]: 513–30, quotes on 522).
The Maryland Council began a letter to Major General Lafayette on 8 April: “We have just received Information from Col. Beall Lieutenant of Prince George’s County that six of the Enemy’s Ships have burnt Col. Barnes house on St. Mary’s River and plundered him of all his Property, and have burnt Priest Hunters House at the Mouth of Port Tobacco Creek and are proceeding up Patowmack River to Alexandria with any Intention to destroy that Town and plunder the Inhabitants on the River” (, 4:15; see also Robert Hanson Harrison to GW, 14 April, and notes 4 and 5 to that document). The Pennsylvania Packet or, the General Advertiser (Philadelphia) for 5 May printed an extract of a letter dated 10 April from Boyd’s Hole, Va., a trading center on the Potomac River in present-day King George County: “The enemy’s fleet of ten sail, 2 of 24 guns, 2 of 18 guns, and 6 transports and tenders, are gone up to Alexandria; they have burnt and destroyed numbers of houses, and much property on both sides of the river, particularly on the Maryland shore.” The New-York Gazette: and the Weekly Mercury for 7 May printed an intelligence report from Alexandria, Va., dated 15 April: “Enemy’s vessels twelve miles below Alexandria:—Ship Savage, Captain Graves; ship Hope, Captain Thomas; and ship General Monk, Captain Douglass, of 16 guns and 125 men each;—two brigs of 12 guns and 60 men each;—schooner Jack-in-the-Box, carrying one 18 pounder, three 9 pounders, three 4 pounders, and 65 men;—one schooner of 10 guns and 46 men, with three tenders.”
On 12 April, “a flag was sent from the above squadron to Major Lyles, for a supply of vegetables and fresh provisions, and advising the militia to lay down their arms, offering to pay for every thing that should be supplied them; but that, if their boats were fired upon, and their application slighted, they would burn and destroy. On being assured by the Major, that no part of their requisition could be granted, and the militia were armed and would defend themselves, nine barges were sent from the squadron, with 230 men, who landed under a heavy cannonade, and burnt all the Major’s houses, killed and carried off hogs, sheep, poultry, &c. The militia fired on the barges and killed two men.”
Virginia governor Thomas Jefferson received accounts from civilians, including one from Richard Henry Lee written at Chantilly, Va., on 13 April: “By the number of Vessels that are now here, and by the concurring accounts of deserters and of our own people who have come from the enemy, it appears that Potomac river will be much the scene of their predatory war this summer. Robt. Carter esqr late of the council has had 25 negroes taken off a few nights ago from a quarter close by the river side, and from Ceder point Warehouse in Maryland they have lately taken a considerable quantity of Tobacco in open day, besides burning a house or two, and plundering largely” (, 5:434–36, quote on 435; see also Robert Mitchell to Jefferson, 12 April, and Lindsay Opie and James Ball to Jefferson, same date, in , 5:423–25).
In his letter to Jefferson written at Fredericksburg, Va., on 21 April, Brig. Gen. George Weedon wrote: “I got here last night from Potowmac. On my leaving Williamsburg I pushed across the Country into the Northern Neck, and geting Intelligence of the Ships coming down proceeded to Hollis’s marsh where a body of Militia ware drawn together under the command of Colo. Richard Henry Lee. Two Ships, Two Brigs, a Topsail Schooner and two Tenders, lay oposite, at Blackstones Island. The whole Fleet that had been up the River consisted off Three Ships, Three Brigs, and Seven others of different Sizes. They landed on their way up at Stradford near the Marsh, and ware beat off by the Militia, this was the only place they landed at on the Virginia side as they went up the River. They ware as high up as Genl. Washingtons seat, and some of their small Vessells went to Alexandria, cut out a Tobacco Vessell which however was by the Vigilence of the Inhabitants recovered and part of the pirats taken. As they came down they landed in Joetank took off several of Mr. Washingtons Negroes and did him other damage, again they landed at Mr. Hoos Ferry, distroy’d Mr. Hooes Furniture, broak his Windows, and set his House on fire which was happily Extinguished. They are now all gone down” (, 5:529–30).
On 13 April, the log of the Savage placed the vessel “¼ of a Mile [from] General Washington[’s] House.” Graves reached Mount Vernon the next day and “Sent a Flag of Truce on Shore” (Hirschfeld, 524; second set of brackets in source). Lund Washington chose to negotiate and boarded the Savage to offer food and other articles. A number of slaves sought freedom on the British ship. In a memorandum prepared at that time, Lund Washington records that the Savage took “a very valuable Boat: 24 feet Keel” and then lists the enslaved that escaped to the Savage: “Peter. an old man. Lewis. an old man. Frank. an old man. Frederick. a man about 45 years old; an overseer and valuable. Gunner. a man about 45 years old; valuable, a Brick maker. Harry. a man about 40 years old, valuable, a Horseler. Tom, a man about 20 years old, stout and Healthy. Sambo. a man about 20 years old, stout and Healthy. Thomas. a lad about 17 years old, House servant. Peter. a lad about 15 years old, very likely. Stephen. a man about 20 years old, a cooper by trade. James. a man about 25 years old, stout and Healthy. Watty. a man about 20 years old, by trade a weaver. Daniel. a man about 19 years old, very likely. Lucy. a woman about 20 years old. Esther. a woman about 18 years old. Deborah. a woman about 16 years old.” In a later note, Lund wrote: “Frederick, Frank, Gunner, Sambo, Thomas recovered in Philadelphia. Lucy, Esther were recovered after the siege of York. The Genl. pd. salvage on Tom, in Philadelphia but I cannot tell what it was. I pd. 12 Dollars expence on him from Philadelphia here” (, 22:14). Major General Lafayette condemned Lund’s conduct and praised GW’s neighbors, which drew GW agreement (see Lafayette to GW, 23 April, and GW to Lafayette, 4 May; see also Lafayette’s second letter to GW, 10 April). GW and John Parke Custis later recaptured some of the escapees (see Custis to Martha Washington, 12 Oct., ViMtvL: Martha Washington Collection, and Hirshfeld, 519–20).
George Greive—translator of Chastellux, Travels in North-America in the Years 1780, 1781 and 1782, 2 vols. (London, 1787)—recalled from a visit to Mount Vernon in 1782: “Mr. Lund Washington, a relation of the General’s, and who managed all his affairs during his nine years’ absence with the army, informed me that an English frigate having come up the Potomac, a party was landed who set fire to and destroyed some gentlemen’s houses on the Maryland side in sight of Mount Vernon, the General’s house; after which the Captain … sent a boat on shore to the General’s, demanding a large supply of provisions, etc. with a menace of burning it likewise in case of a refusal. To this message Mr. Lund Washington replied, ‘that when the General engaged in the contest he had put all to stake, and was well aware of the exposed situation of his house and property, in consequence of which he had given him orders by no means to comply with any such demands, for that he would make no unworthy compromise with the enemy, and was ready to meet the fate of his neighbors.’ The Captain was highly incensed on receiving this answer, and removed his frigate to the Virginia shore; but before he commenced his operations, he sent another message to the same purport, offering likewise a passport to Mr. Washington to come on board: he returned accordingly in the boat, carrying with him a small present of poultry, of which he begged the Captain’s acceptance. His presence produced the best effect, he was hospitably received notwithstanding he repeated the same sentiments with the same firmness. The Captain expressed his personal respect for the character of the General, commending the conduct of Mr. Lund Washington, and assured him nothing but his having misconceived the terms of the first answer could have induced him for a moment to entertain the idea of taking the smallest measure offensive to so illustrious a character as the General, explaining at the same time the real or supposed provocations which had compelled his severity on the other side of the river. Mr. Washington, after spending some time in perfect harmony on board, returned, and instantly despatched sheep, hogs, and an abundant supply of other articles as a present to the English frigate” (Chastellux, Travels in North America, 2:597).
1. The letter from Lund Washington to GW of 18 April has not been found.
2. On his draft, GW wrote the remainder of this paragraph above nearly three struck-out lines that are now illegible.
3. On his draft, GW wrote the previous twenty-one words above the first three of nearly four struck-out lines that are now illegible.
4. A fragment from another variant of this letter appears to continue from this point with: “thro’ the firy tryal of this summer—Mrs Washington joins me in best and Affectionate regard for you Mrs Washington & Milly Posey & does most sincerely regret your loss—I do not know what Negros they may have left you—and as I have observed before I do not know the number they will have left me by the time they are done—but this I am sure of, that you shall never want assistance while it is in my power to afford it. I am Sincerely & Affectly Yours” (see the source note above).
5. Possible replies from Lund Washington to GW dated 9 and 16 May have not been found.