George Washington to Major General Alexander McDougall, 13 May 1781
To Major General Alexander McDougall
Head Quarters New Winds⟨or⟩ May 13th 1781
Dear Sir
There being but one General Officer (a Brigadier) with the line of the Army at present;1 I must, for particular reasons, request you will expedite your return from Philadelphia as much as possible.2 With great regard & esteem I am Dear Sir Your Most Obedient Servant
Go: Washington
LS, in David Humphreys’s writing, CSmH; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. GW signed the cover of the LS, which is addressed to McDougall at Philadelphia. GW also signed a note that his aide-de-camp Tench Tilghman wrote on the cover: “Colo. Miles is requested to have this letter delivered immediately to Genl Mcdougal, should he be still in Philada.”
1. GW refers to Brig. Gen. John Paterson.
2. McDougall, who represented New York in Congress, wrote New Hampshire delegate John Sullivan from Philadelphia on 22 May that he expected to depart the following morning (see , 17:261–62; see also McDougall to GW, 30 Oct., and n.6). McDougall arrived in the New York Highlands before the end of May, and GW soon named him commander at West Point (see General Orders, 18 June, and GW to McDougall, 22 June).