George Washington to Lund Washington, 31 May 1781
To Lund Washington
New Windsor 31st May 81.
Dear Lund;
I returned last Saturday from a conference with the Count de Rochambeau at Weathersfield, on Connecticut River,1 & found your letter of the 9th Instt; & the last Post brought me another of the 16th.2
We have heard nothing yet of the detachment (consisting of about 2000 Men) which left New York the 13th Instt, nor do we know whether those Troops were bound for Virginia, North or South Carolina, or elsewhere.3 A report prevails, and is believed by some, that the enemy are about to quit New York altogether, but I shall withhold my opinion of the matter yet a little longer4—If such an event should take place it will be an evidence in my Mind that they expect matters are drawing to a conclusion and that they have a Mind to get as fast hold on the Southern States as possible.
I have already given you my opinion (in some late letters) with respect to my moveable property—after removing the most valuable, & least bulky Articles the rest, with the buildings, must take their chance. I am prepared for the worst that can happen to them, to hear therefore of their being plundered, or burnt, will be no surprize to me.5 In case a body of Troops should come into that part of the Country (belonging to the Enemy) public, as well private considerations, require that Horses & Stock of all kinds should be driven out of their reach.
Mrs Washington who has been very sick for more than ten days, & still continues so,6 joins me sincerely in offering best wishes to you and Mrs Washington & Milly Posey.7 I am Dr Lund Yr Affecte Servt
Go: Washington
P.S. By your figures in your letter of the 9th I do not know whether the number of your Lambs is 118 or 218.8
ALS, MiU-C: Clinton Papers; copy, P.R.O.: C.O. 5/102; copy, UK-LoPHL: Parliamentary Archives. GW signed the cover of the ALS, which is addressed to Lund Washington at Mount Vernon. The British intercepted the ALS (see GW to Lafayette, 4 June, n.1). Gen. Henry Clinton enclosed the copy at P.R.O. in a letter he wrote George Germain dated 9–12 June (see , 20:154–57). The copies omit the final paragraph and postscript.
1. GW returned to New Windsor from Wethersfield late on Friday, 25 May (see the entry for that date in , 3:371; see also The Wethersfield Conference, 14 May–16 June, editorial note).
2. The letters from Lund Washington to GW dated 9 and 16 May have not been found, but see the postscript.
3. The British embarkation was bound for Virginia (see William Heath to GW, 1 May, n.1).
4. For these erroneous rumors, see Arthur St. Clair to GW, 21 May; see also GW to Rochambeau, 2 June.
5. Following British raids along the Potomac River that had endangered Mount Vernon, GW issued directives about his personal possessions (see GW to Lund Washington, 30 April, and the source note to that document).
6. See GW to John Parke Custis, this date; see also GW to Fielding Lewis, 28 June.
7. Lund Washington’s wife was Elizabeth Foote Washington. Amelia “Milly” Posey, daughter of GW’s former neighbor, resided at Mount Vernon during much of the war.
8. See n.2 above.