George Washington to Captain Richard Sackett, 30 June 1781
To Captain Richard Sackett
Head Quarters Peekskill June 30th 1781
Sir
On the first day of July (that is tomorrow) you will assemble all the Men of the three Companies of the State Troops of New York under your Command at Bedford—where you will meet with Colonel Sheldon at or before night, from whom you will be pleased to receive your Orders—It will be necessary for you previously to draw four days provision for the Men & have their Arms, Accoutrements & Ammunition in the most perfect readiness for use—I request in the most earnest manner, that you will not Shew this Letter, or mention the subject of it to any Person, ⟨or⟩ make any extraordinary noise, or give any occasion to a suspicion, either among your own Officers or Men, or the Country People, that you are making preparations for any Movement whatever. On your punctual compliance with this Order, your reputation as an Officer Must depend.1 I am Sir Your Most Obedt Servt.
Df, in David Humphreys’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. The draft is docketed “to Capt. Sackett,” but the internal address reads: “Capt. Sacket or the Commandg Officer of the 3 Companies of York Levies.”
Richard Sackett (d. 1827) entered the Westchester County, N.Y., militia as a lieutenant in May 1776 and rose to captain in May 1778. He became a captain in a New York state regiment raised for frontier defense in May 1780. Sackett then received an appointment to command a company in Lt. Col. Albert Pawling’s newly raised regiment of New York state troops. Taken prisoner in November 1781 and exchanged in March 1782, Sackett declined to serve when named to command another company of state troops in April 1782.
1. For the anticipated operation, see GW to Benjamin Lincoln, 1 July, and the source note to that document.