George Washington to Major General Robert Howe, 7 May 1781
To Major General Robert Howe
Head Quarters New Windsor 7th May 1781.
Dear Sir
I have received your favors of the 12th of April from portsmouth and 19th from Boston.1
Business of a very urgent public nature will oblige me to send General Heath immediately to the Eastern States2—I am therefore under the necessity of desiring your Return as speedily as possible to take the command at West point, which, with all its dependencies, will be left with only one Brigadier.3 I am Dear Sir Yr most obt Servt.
Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. The internal address on the draft reads: “Major Genl Howe Boston or Newport.”
GW enclosed this letter in one to Massachusetts governor John Hancock written from headquarters on this date: “Your Excellency will oblige me by having the inclosed delivered to Majr General Howe should he be in Boston, or forwarding it to him should he be in the neighbourhood or in New Hampshire—The letter is of consequence, and I therefore hope you will excuse the liberty I have taken in addressing it to your particular care” (Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW). GW enclosed his letters to both Hancock and Howe when he wrote Lieutenant General Rochambeau on this date.
1. In his letter to GW on 12 April, Howe discussed his plan to tour New Hampshire and expressed eagerness to return to the army. Howe then wrote GW on 19 April to report the suspension of his planned tour and reiterate his desire for active service (see Howe to GW, 12 April, and n.3 to that document).
2. See GW to William Heath, 8 and 9 May, especially n.9 to the latter document.
An orderly book kept at West Point (18 April–31 May 1781) contains garrison orders for that post on 11 May: “Major Genl Heath being call’d for a few days to another Quarter The Command of the Garrison devolves on Brigadier Genl Patterson Untill further Orders” (NHi).