George Washington to John Sullivan, 29 May 1781
To John Sullivan
Head Qrs New Windsor May 29th 1781.
Dear Sir,
I have been favoured with your two letters of the 2d & 17th of May; the former reached me at Weathersfield after I had met the Count de Rochambeau at that place1—from which time to the present moment, my whole attention has been so occupied by a variety of concerns, that I have been hitherto involuntarily prevented from doing myself the pleasure of writing to you.
No Arguments were necessary to convince me of the great public utility, which would result from the success of the plan, you proposed laying before Congress. Had I been unapprised of the advantages which might be derived to our cause from a successful attempt, or even a powerful diversion in that quarter, the reasons you have offered, would have carried irrefragable demonstration with them, and induced me to be of your opinion. But the perplexed, distressed & embarrassed state of our Affairs on Acct of Supplies (with which you are well acquainted). The languid efforts of the States to procure Men, and the insuperable difficulties in the way of transportation, would I apprehend, have rendered the scheme (however devoutly to be wished & desired) abortive in the first instance.2 And I must inform you, there is yet another obstacle, which makes the attempt you have suggested, absolutely impracticable with the means you propose,3 but which I dare not commit to paper, for fear of the same misfortune which has already happened to some of my letters.4
You will have seen, before the receipt of this, by my public letter to Congress of the 27th Instt, the result of the deliberations of the Count de Rochambeau and myself at Weathersfield5—That plan, upon the maturest consideration, and after combining all the present circumstances and future prospects, appeared (though precarious)6 far the most eligable of any we could possibly devise while we are inferior at Sea7—The object was considered to be, of greater magnitude, and more within our reach than any other—The weakness of the Garrison of New York8—the centrical position for drawing together Men & Supplies—and the spur, which an attempt against that place, wd give to every exertion, were among the reasons which prompted to that undertaking, & which promised the fairest prospect of success, unless the enemy should recall a considerable part of their force from the Southward. And even in this case, the same measure which might produce disappointment in one quarter, would certainly in the event aford the greatest relief in another.
While9 an oppertunity presents itself of striking the enemy a fatal blow—I will perswade myself, the concurring exertions of Congress, of the several States immediately concerned, and of every individual in them, who is well afected to our cause, will be united in yielding every possible aid on the occasion—At this crisis,10 while I rejoice at the appointment of the Minister of Finance—I have sincerely to regret, that the Ministers of the other departments have not also been appointed especially a Minister of War11—At the same time I am happy to learn, the mode of promotion is on the point of being finally established.12 With the highest Sentiment of regard & esteem I am Dear Sir Yr Obedt Servt
Go: Washington
ALS, MiU-C: Clinton Papers; Df, DLC:GW; copy, P.R.O.: C.O. 5/102; copy, P.R.O.: 30/11/6, Cornwallis Papers; copy, UK-LoPHL: Parliamentary Archives; copy, PPAmP: David Library; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. The British intercepted the ALS, and a duplicate later was sent to Sullivan. GW’s aide-de-camp David Humphreys, who penned the draft, wrote on that document: “June 4th Duplicate—The Original in my own hand writing, supposed to be taken & carried into New York.” Sullivan acknowledged the duplicate, which has not been found, when he replied to GW on 11 June. British general Henry Clinton enclosed the copy at P.R.O.: C.O. 5/102 in a letter he wrote George Germain dated 9–12 June (see , 20:154–57). For GW’s intercepted mail, see GW to Lafayette, 4 June, n.1.
3. GW interlineated these words on the draft, first writing “by the way you propose” but then writing “means” over “way.”
4. The British intercepted GW’s mail in late March and again in early June (see GW to Elias Dayton, 4 April, and n.2 to that document, and the source note above).
6. GW wrote the parenthetical above the line on the draft.
7. GW interlineated the preceding six words on the ALS. They also appear above the line on the draft, but GW wrote “whilst” rather than “while.”
8. Enemy troops recently had been sent from New York City to Virginia (see William Heath to GW, 1 May, n.1).
9. Humphreys wrote and struck out “so flattering” at this point on the draft.
10. GW wrote “cris” on his ALS, but it appears as “crisis” on the draft.
11. For the delay in appointing secretaries of war and foreign affairs, see GW to Sullivan, 11 May, and n.7 to that document. For the election of Robert Morris as superintendent of finance and for his acceptance on 14 May, see Sullivan to GW, 17 May, and n.4 to that document.
12. Congress had adopted a resolution regarding officer promotions on 25 May (see Sullivan to GW, 17 May; see also GW to Sullivan, 11 May, and Sullivan to GW, 28 May).