George Washington to Major Samuel Darby, 28 June 1781
To Major Samuel Darby
Head Quarters Peekskill June 28th 1781
Sir
Colo. Pickering informs there are now 24 Boats compleatly repaired at Wappings Creek.1 Be pleased to send a party to bring these instantly to Peekskill Creek: Let these Boats, and every Batteau at West Point, that is fit for service (including all those now used as ferry Boats, and on every other duty) be hurried to Peekskill with all possible expedition.2
The Work must not cease, or the Men rest a Moment day or Night, untill 35 or 40 Batteaux are got down the River,3 I expect this number will be here by tomorrow Night, or the next day Morning without fail. I am Dear Sir Your Hble Servant.
P.S. Heavy Flat Bottomed Boats or those not in good repair may be given to the Ferry & to the other necessary services from whence good Batteaux are taken.4
Df, in David Humphreys’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. For repairable boats at Wappinger’s Creek in Dutchess County, N.Y., see Timothy Pickering to GW, 18 May.
2. These directives anticipated operations against British defenses around New York City (see GW to Benjamin Lincoln, 1 July, and the source note to that document).
3. Humphreys wrote and struck out “for the transportation of the Baggage” at this point on the draft.
4. Darby wrote GW’s aide-de-camp David Humphreys from West Point on 29 June: “Have this moment received Yours of this day. I shall instantly dispatch a Boat to Fish Kill for all the muffled oars at that place. The boats from Wapping’s Creek have not arrived as yet, but Expect them every moment and as soon as they arrive shall proceed immediately to Peeks Kill. I shall procure every material that is to be had at this place for the repairing of the boats as many of them will stand in need … before I Sealed my letter 22 boats have arived from Wapping Creek” (DLC:GW; addressed to Humphreys at Peekskill). Humphreys’s letter to Darby dated 29 June has not been identified.