George Washington to Daniel Carroll and Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, 7 June 1781
To Daniel Carroll and Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer
New Windsor 7th June 1781.
Gentlemen
I was this day honored with your favor of the 3d instant.1 I very sensibly feel not only for the danger to which the States immediately invaded are exposed, but for the general bad consequences which may ensue, if the enemy are permitted, at this time, to gain and hold possession of a part of our Country,2 and I have been endeavouring to concert such plans with our Allies, as I hope will eventually frustrate the projects which the enemy seem to have in view. Nothing but an adherence to regular plans and Systems can ultimately be attended with salutary effects, and I flatter myself the issue of those now in contemplation will justify the observation.3
I have desired4 the Executives of the States of Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland to send the Corps of Infantry—Artillery and Cavalry, requested by the Resolution of the 31st of May, to the Head Quarters of the Army in Virginia or in Maryland (should the enemy have advanced into that State) as fast as they are raised and equipped.5 I cannot promise any further assistance as to Arms and Accoutrements, having already forwarded to the southward all that could possibly be spared of those on hand.6
The danger to which letters are exposed upon the communication between this and Philadelphia, renders it unadvisable to enter into details upon paper,7 but I beg you to be assured, that the slender means, with which I am yet furnished, shall be directed, to the best of my Abilities, to the general good. To those who are experiencing the calamities of War, all relief only in prospect seems very far off, but I trust the enemy will in the end8 repent the hasty advance which they are now making. I have the honor to be with very great Respect and Esteem Gentlemen Yr most obt Servant
Go: Washington
LS, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, MdAA: Red Book, vol. 8; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
Daniel Carroll (1730–1796), merchant and planter, served in Congress from 1781 to 1783. Elected to the Constitutional Convention in 1787, he became a member of Maryland’s first delegation to the Federal Congress in 1789. During his presidency, GW appointed Carroll to serve as one of the commissioners to superintend the development of the new Federal City (see Commission, 22 Jan. 1791, in 7:258–60).
1. The letter that Carroll and Jenifer wrote GW on 3 June 1781 has not been found, but they also wrote George Plater, president of the Maryland Senate, and William Bruff, speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates, from Philadelphia on that date and promised to “transmit by an express going to the General this evening a Copy of your Letter and doubt not but he will do every thing in his power to afford the desired assistance, consistent with his General plan of Operations for the present Campaign which we presume he has before this time concerted with the Count de Rochambeau” (, 17:290–91). For the letter from Plater and Bruff, see Board of War to GW, 5 June, n.1.
2. Struck-out material appears at this place on the draft, which Tilghman also penned: “It has uniformly been my endeavour, as far as I have been furnished with means.”
4. On the draft, Tilghman wrote “desired” after he had penned and struck out “directed.”
5. See Circular to the Executives of Delaware, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, this date. For the congressional resolution, see Samuel Huntington to GW, 3 June, n.2.
6. Struck-out material continues on the draft: “To those who are unacquainted with the true state of our Affairs and to those more particularly who are now experiencing the calamities of War, it may seem strange that I do not afford immediate releif. To you, Gentlemen, who from your public station have an opportunity being acquainted with the true situation of public Affairs I must depend.”
7. For recently captured letters, see GW to Lafayette, 4 June, n.1.
8. On the draft, Tilghman wrote “in the end” above the line after striking out “be made to.”