Brigadier General William Irvine to George Washington, 14 June 1781
From Brigadier General William Irvine
Philadelphia June 14 1781
Sir
I came here immediately on hearing the Assembly of this State were called,1 Genl St Clair has been here some time, both have laboured incessantly, trying to prevail on them to adopt some more effectual mode for filling up the Line of the State, than they had heretofore done2—The apparent disposition of the House added to rapid approaches of the Enemy3—conspired (we thought) to give a tolerable well grounded expectation, that some laudable exertions would have been made—But the enclosed Bill which was yesterday debated and Ordered to be printed for consideration, if enacted into a Law in its present shape, will blast all our hope, I am not only disappointed but mortified beyond expression—your Excellency will perceive they have gone on a trodden path—which, experience should have taught them would not answer any good purpose,4 I do not expect it will produce ten Men.5
By recent accounts from York & Comberland Countys, a number of young Men are Equipping themselves in order to Join the Army in Virgini⟨a⟩ (If no better prospect should open in a day or tw⟨o⟩ of obtaining Regulars) I intend going up to that part of the Country to encourage that Spirit,6 I mean Volunteering—for there is but a poor prospect in my opinion of even Militia turning out well under the present system—Should I be able to collect any considerable number of Volunteers7—I mean to March with them if they do not ever exceed one hundred—In case your Excellency should think proper to honour me with any Commands, I will leave a direction at the War office—where to find me.8 I have the honour to be with the most perfect esteem Your Excellencys Most Obedient Humble Servant
Wm Irvine
ALS, DLC:GW; ADfS, PHi: William Irvine Papers; ADf, dated 15 June, PHi: William Irvine Papers; ADf (incomplete), dated 13 June, PHi: William Irvine Papers. Each of the drafts has significant variations from the ALS. The ADfS and the 15 June draft have similar wording to the ALS, but Irvine ordered many of the phrases differently. The significant differences in those documents are presented in the notes below. In the earliest draft, Irvine mentions his coming to Philadelphia for the sitting of the assembly, and he describes his involvement in a conference held “some days ago” to discuss the new recruiting bill (see the council minutes for 9 June in , 12:750; see also n.5 below). This draft concludes: “this Committee have Reported, that the only effectual mode will be by drafts from the Militia to serve 18 m[o]nt[h]s—another Committee are ordered to draw up a Bill for the purpose—I am as yet unable to say what.”
1. The Pennsylvania assembly convened on 30 May (see the council minutes for 31 May in , 12:738–40).
2. At this point, the ADfS reads: “we had some hope till yesterday—when the Bill which I have the honour to enclose for your Excellencys perusal was debated & ordered to be printed for consideration.” In his 15 June draft, Irvine stated that he had “been here upwards of two weeks” and did not mention Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Clair’s interaction with the assembly.
3. In the ADfS, Irvine added “towards this State” after this phrase. Irvine refers to the British invasion of Virginia.
4. The preceding twenty-three words do not appear on the ADfS.
5. In his 15 June draft, Irvine wrote that during the debate on the proposed bill “it was so much cut to pieces that it was not left worth any thing in short it is likely to be nothing more than exactly similar to the late Law—by Classes—with this difference, that the delinquent Classes are to pay only nine pounds in stead of fifteen.”
In the ADfS, after his discussion of the bill, Irvine added: “As Genl St Clair intends writing your Excellency I will not take up more of your time on the Subject at present” (see St. Clair to GW, 16 June). The draft dated 15 June includes similar language.
The enclosed printed draft bill “for recruiting the Pennsylvania Line of the Fœderal Army,” ordered to “be Printed for Public Consideration,” called for enlisting 2,700 volunteers to serve for eighteen months, with an enlistment bonus of “three pounds in specie.” Fines were imposed on authorities who failed to enlist volunteers (DLC:GW, filed with 14 June documents). For the final bill that passed the legislature, see St. Clair to GW, 24 June, and Irvine to GW, 27 June.
6. In his 15 June draft, Irvine added that he had been “told 50 young Men are preparing in Cumberland County for this purpose.”
7. The preceding thirty-four words do not appear on the ADfS. In his 15 June draft, Irvine mentioned only gathering “a few Volunteers, to go on to Virginia.”
8. Irvine remained in Pennsylvania on recruiting duty (see Irvine to GW, 27 June).
In the ADfS, Irvine added a paragraph at this point: “Reports are this morning that Lord Cornwalis is retiring towards James’s River—this however is not yet authenticated.”
GW replied to Irvine on 23 June.