George Washington to Colonel William Shepard, 8 June 1781
To Colonel William Shepard
Head Quarters New Windsor 8th June 1781.
Sir
Since I saw you at Weathersfeild I have recd yours without date.1 I met so many people on the road as I returned to this place who had been discharged under one pretence or other that I immediately issued orders to discharge no more except there were visible marks of imbecility or their extreme youth should render them of no kind of service.2 If you can yet apprehend any of those who have imposed upon the Mustering Officer here by pretending to complaints which they have not, you will be pleased to secure them and send them back. It will undoubtedly disgust those Classes by whom such persons have been furnished at great Bounties to see them set at liberty; but where the Men are clearly unfit for the service they can have no ground of complaint. I am &.
Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; copy, M-Ar; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. The draft is addressed to Shepard at Springfield, Massachusetts.
1. Shepard’s letter to GW, which he intended to date 28 May, has not been found (see Shepard to GW, 21 June; see also The Wethersfield Conference and Aftermath, 14 May–16 June, editorial note).
2. See General Orders, 27 May.