George Washington to Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 11 May 1781
To Major General Benjamin Lincoln
Head Quarters New Windsor 11th May 1781.
Dear Sir
I have received your favors of the 26th of April and of the 3d inst.1 I am pleased to hear so flattering accounts of the prospects of Men and of some kinds of supplies, but so great are my apprehensions on the score of provisions, that I am sending General Heath purposely to the Eastern States to represent our distresses and to endeavour to fix a plan for our regular supply in future. I refer you to him for particulars, which I do not chuse to trust to paper.2
After General Heath has finished this business, his private Affairs will detain him some time at home, and as he will be able at the same time to attend to what you have in charge, you may, upon his return from New Hampshire to Boston, come on to the Army. You will have my warmest thanks for the zeal with which you have promoted and forwarded every measure tending to the good of the service.3 I am with very sincere Regard Dear Sir Yr most obt and humble Servt
Go: Washington
LS, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, MH; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. For the conveyance of the LS, see n.3 below.
1. The earlier letter commented on espionage activities and recruiting in Massachusetts. When he wrote on 3 May, Lincoln described financial problems that kept the state legislature from providing military supplies.
2. See GW to Heath, 8 and 9 May, especially n.9 to the latter document.
3. GW again wrote Lincoln from New Windsor on 13 June: “I did myself the Pleasure to write you under the 11th May ulto which went on by the Hand of Majr Genl Heath, who was intrusted with a particular Commission to the Eastern States—In that Letter I mentioned your comg on to join the Army.
“Least the above Letter should by any Means have miscarried, I take this Opportunity to mention my Wishes to you again—& to request you will be pleased to come on to the Army as soon as possible after the Receipt of this” (Df, in Jonathan Trumbull, Jr.’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW). Lincoln joined GW’s army at New Windsor on 15 June (see , 116).