George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 21 June 1781
To Samuel Huntington
Head Quarters New Windsor 21st June 1781
sir
I have the Honor to acknowlege the Receipt of your Excellency’s Favor of the 15th of this Month—with its several Enclosures.1
By Dispatches from the Count De Rochambeau, dated Providence the 15th instt—I am informed, that he would leave that Place on the 18th—with the first Regiment of his Troops—and that the others would follow by Regiments on the next succeedg Days, untill the whole would be on their March—expecting to reach the North River with the first Regiment in 14 Days from the Time of leaving Providence.2
The few Troops which I have in this Vicinity, under my immediate Comand are on the Point of taking the Field—their first Collection will be formed at Peekskill—where an Encampment is marked out, & the Troops are beginning to file off this Day to take their Position on that Ground; at or near which I have an Expectation of formg our Junction with the Count De Rochambeau and his Troops.3
I am sorry to inform your Excellency, that notwithstandg my earnest Applications to the several States from N. Hampshire to N. Jersey, I am at this Time uninformed, how far I am to rely on their Aid & Exertions in Support of the concerted Operations of the opening Campaign.4 I have the Honor to be—with the highest Regard & Estimation sir Your Excellencys Most Obedient and humble S[e]rvant
Go: Washington
LS, in Jonathan Trumbull, Jr.’s writing, DNA:PCC, item 152; Df, DLC:GW; copy, DNA:PCC, item 169; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. Congress read this letter on 25 June (, 20:693). For Huntington’s acknowledgment, see his letter to GW on 3 July.
1. See Huntington to GW, 15 June.
2. See Rochambeau to GW, 15 June.
3. See General Orders, 19 June. The French army joined GW’s army near Philipsburg, N.Y., on 6 July (see the entry for that date in , 3:390).