Samuel Huntington to George Washington, 23 May 1781
From Samuel Huntington
Philadelphia May 23. 1781
sir,
I do myself the Honor of transmitting for your Excellency’s Approbation, the enclosed Copies of Despatches from General Greene, from No. 1 to 6, if the Information hath been already communicated (which is probable) by General Greene, the Trouble of perusing these Papers will be unnecessary, the Expence of transmitting them is inconsiderable.1
By the latest Accounts from Virginia & North Carolina, General Phillips was near Petersburgh and Lord Cornwallis at Hallifax.2 I have the Honor to be, with the greatest Regard Your Excellency’s most obedient & most humble Servant
Sam. Huntington
P.S. Your Excellency’s Despatches of the 17th have been duly received.3
LS, DLC:GW; LB, DNA:PCC, item 15.
1. Enclosed were Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene to Huntington, 22 April, docketed “No. 1”; an extract from Brig. Gen. Francis Marion to Greene, 21 April, docketed “No. 2”; Greene to Huntington, 27 April, docketed “No. 3”; “Terms of Capitulation proposed by Lieut. McKay Commandant of Fort Watson,” dated 23 April and docketed “No. 4”; “Field Return of Infantry serving in the Southern Army of the United States,” with casualties for the Battle of Hobkirk’s Hill on 25 April, docketed “No. 5”; and “Field Return of the Detachment of Calvary commanded by Lieut. Colonel Washington, accounting for the killed, wounded & missing in the Action before Camden” on 25 April, docketed “No. 6” (all DLC:GW, the last two filed under 26 April; see also , 20:519). For GW’s receipt of these items directly from Greene, see Greene to GW, 22 and 27 April; see also GW’s reply to Huntington, 30 May.
2. The army under Lt. Gen. Charles Cornwallis had joined the British force at Petersburg (see Lafayette’s first letter to GW, 24 May, and n.1 to that document).