George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 6 June 1781
To Samuel Huntington
Head Quarters New Windsor 6th June 1781.
Sir
I have been honored with your Excellencys favors of the 28th May, with their several inclosures.1 I have written to the Board of War on the subject of the removal of the Convention troops, and have given it as my opinion, with my reasons, that they had best, for the present, be halted in Pennsylvania.2 An exchange of those troops, upon proper terms, would certainly be a desirable thing, but, under present circumstances, I do not think it would be advisable to give the enemy any reenforcement of privates. Every Man they get adds immediately to their force—many of those whom we obtain in exchange are out of their term of service,3 and consequently lost to us.4
It is as much my wish as it can be Your Excellency’s that General Gates’s affair should be brought to a decision.5 You must be convinced that nothing has been left undone by me to effect that purpose. General Gates informs me, that he cannot think of serving untill the matter shall have been properly investigated, and that he shall retire in the mean time to Virginia.6 I see no probability of any thing further being done untill there shall be some recess in southern operations.
I hope the Rules of promotion, which Congress have been pleased to establish, will be generally satisfactory. Individuals may be affected by the change of mode, but it will be impossible to devise a plan which will not interfere in some degree with particular interests.7
I send your Excellency by this Conveyance duplicate of my letter of the 30th of May. The original was taken in last Weeks Mail. The communication by the post from hence to Philada has become so dangerous, that I cannot, in future, trust any dispatches of importance by him, and I beg you will observe the same Rule. The parties which are sent out know the exact time at which he may be expected and cannot fail of securing him.8 They have not the same opportunity of intercepting Expresses, as their times of riding are uncertain.9 I have the honor to be with the greatest Respect Yr Excellency’s Most obt Servt
Go: Washington
LS, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DNA:PCC, item 152; Df, DLC:GW; copy, DNA:PCC, item 169; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. Congress read this letter on 12 June (, 20:629).
3. At this point on the draft, which GW’s aide-de-camp Tench Tilghman penned, “or are unfit for any duty untill they can be equipped” is struck out.
4. GW had expressed similar views when wrote Huntington on 10 July 1780 (second letter).
5. See GW to Huntington, 8 May, and notes 2–5 to that document.
6. See Horatio Gates to GW, 22 May.
7. A paragraph is struck out at this point on the draft: “There can be no doubt but Count de Grasse has arrived at Martinico, as the account is brought to the Eastward and is announced in the New York paper I flatter myself that there has been a meeting between the Fleets which has been unfavorable to the British—Your Excellency will judge of this by comparing a paragraph of the inclosed paper with an account brought by Capt. Ledyard to New London, of which I transmit a Copy” (see Rochambeau to GW, 31 May, and n.1 to that document).
8. For this intercepted mail, see GW to Lafayette, 4 June, n.1.