George Washington to George Clinton, 25 June 1781
To George Clinton
Head Quarters New Windsor June 25 1781.
Sir
As an Attempt is determined on to reduce New York to our Power, I am under the Necessity of calling on your State for an Aid of Militia, especially as I cannot dispense with recalling the regular Troops now on the Frontiers,1 Wishing to ease a State so harrassed as yours has been, as much as possible, consistent with the Importance of the intended Operation,2 I can only request Eight hundred Men.
But as on some critical Emergency, I may be driven to entreat a farther Aid, permit me to recommend it to Your Excellency to request of your Legislature, to invest You with adequate Powers for the Purpose, should You not already have them.3 I am with great regard & Esteem Your Excellency’s Most Obedt Servt
Go: Washington
LS, in Richard Varick’s writing, MiU-C: Schoff Collection; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. For the recall of the Continental troops, see GW to James Clinton, 30 June; see also GW’s second letter to George Clinton, 16 June, found at his first letter to George Clinton, that date, n.3.
3. “An Act for a further Levy of Troops, for the Defence of this State” passed the New York legislature on 1 July. It took officers and troops “from and out of the Militia of this State” who were “to be subject to the Command of the Commander in Chief of the Army of these United States; and to be employed by him in such offensive and defensive Operations, as he shall conceive most conducive to the Service of the State.” The levies continued “in Service until the first Day of December next, unless sooner discharged.” The act also stipulated that “the Person administering the Government of this State for the Time being, shall and may draw out into actual Service, during the present Campaign, such further Parts of the Militia of this State; as he shall from Time to Time think proper” (, 201).