George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 11 May 1781
To Samuel Huntington
Head Quarters New Windsor May 11th 1781
Sir
I have the honor to enclose to Your Excellency, the Extract of a Letter from Col. Dayton, which is just received—As this is the first Information, I thought proper to communicate it, altho, from the circumstances of the Wind & Weather at the time the fleet is said to have sailed, as well as from the number of Ships of the Line (of which there were not so many at New York,) and strength of the Detachment, it does not carry the strongest marks of credibility—if founded on fact, it will undoubtedly be soon confirmed, thro’ other Channels, of which I shall not fail to advise Congress.1 I have the honor to be With perfect respect Sir Your Excellencys Most Obed. Servant
Go: Washington
P.S. I have recd Your Excellencys favor of the first Inst. proper steps have been taken to bring Mr Adam the Dep. Com. of Prisoners to account.2
LS, in David Humphreys’s writing, DNA:PCC, item 152; Df, DLC:GW; copy, DNA:PCC, item 169; copy, PHi: Wayne Papers; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. The copy at PHi does not include the postscript. Humphreys also penned the draft, except for the postscript, which is in the writing of GW’s aide-de-camp Tench Tilghman. Congress read this letter on 17 May (, 20:511). Huntington replied to GW on the same date.
1. See Elias Dayton to GW, 9 May.
2. For orders to arrest John Adam, deputy commissary general of prisoners, see GW to Dayton, this date, and n.6.