George Washington to Major General Steuben, 1 May 1781
To Major General Steuben
Head Quarters New Windsor 1st May 1781.
Dear Sir
I have received your favor of the 15th.1 Had it been possible for you to have carried your plan of marching suddenly into North Carolina into execution it would most probably have occasioned the ruin of Lord Cornwallis—But this is one of the thousand instances which daily shew the evils resulting from feeding and paying troops which can only be used for local purposes.
The Arms which Capt. La Touche landed in the Delaware have been forwarded and one thousand Stand with as many Cartouch Boxes will go immediately from hence—Lead is a very scarce Article with us, but as much of that and as much Ammunition as can possibly be spared will be forwarded.2 In short nothing shall be wanting on my part to give every assistance in my power to a quarter which so much needs it.
I have repeatedly urged to Congress and the States the Completion of their Cavalry. I beleive the want of means to purchase Horses at the exorbitant prices asked for them is the reason why it is not done.3
I inclose you a list of all the Virginia Officers who have been exchanged in this department since January 17804—The Dy Commy to the southward can furnish you with an account of those who have been exchanged there—I never have yet had the returns from him.
The Virginia Officers transmitted me a Copy of their representation against General Weedon’s coming again into service. It being a matter intirely dependant upon the pleasure of Congress, I did not conceive myself at liberty to give an opinion upon the subject, and gave them that answer.5
I am exceedingly happy to hear that you are to remain a while longer in Virginia, as I am certain that much of what has been done has been owing to your assiduous exertions, and6 that matters would go on slowly were they left to the management of persons not acquainted with the Business.7 I am &.
Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
2. Captain La Touche-Tréville commanded the Hermione, which carried arms to Philadelphia (see Destouches to GW, 19 March, source note).
On this date, GW met Board of War member Ezekiel Cornell to determine the “Cloathing—arms and Military Stores which might be sent from hence to supply the wants of the Southern Army” (, 3:357). GW then ordered clothing, 1,000 muskets, and 1,000 cartouche boxes (see his letter to the Board of War, 8 May, DLC:GW; see also GW’s first letter to Lafayette, 22 April, n.3).
3. For these appeals, see GW to the Board of War, 31 Jan. and 23 March, and to Samuel Huntington, 27 Feb. and 8 April.
4. This enclosure has not been identified.
5. See William Davies to GW, 20 Feb., and the notes to that document.
6. At this point on the draft, “much I am sure is yet to be done” is struck out.
7. Friction between Steuben and Virginia officials already had impaired his usefulness (see Nathanael Greene to GW, this date, and n.4 to that document).