George Washington to Captain John Pray, 1 July 1781
To Captain John Pray
Head Quarters Peekskill [July] 1. 1781
Sir
You will be pleased to put a Sub. or Sergt with two Boats1 properly Manned under the Command of Capt. Lawrence.2 I am Sir &C.
Df, in David Humphreys’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. A purported LS was offered for sale and partially transcribed in Parke-Bernet Galleries, Inc., New York (5 May 1964), catalog no. 2280, item 251. Humphreys wrote “June” in the dateline on the draft, but GW’s secretary Jonathan Trumbull, Jr., wrote “July 1st 1781” on the docket. The latter month is accurate because Peekskill then served as GW’s headquarters and the order to Pray related to an operation undertaken in late June and early July (see GW to Benjamin Lincoln, 1 July).
1. The transcription of the purported LS continued at this point: “with 16 men under the command of Capt. Lawrence” (see source note above).
2. Maj. Gen. Benjamin Lincoln wrote Capt. Jonathan Lawrence, Jr., from Peekskill on this date: “As the Army will, probably, make some Movements within twenty-four Hours, it is His Excellency’s Wish and Direction (you being well acquainted with the Country on the East and West Sides of the Hudson, and he confiding in your Fidelity and Activity) that you proceed immediately to the West Shore of the River, and appoint some persons, and place them under the Direction of some person in whom you can confide, to watch the passes to New-York. proceed with another Number of Captain Pray’s Seamen (for them you will apply to him) on the East Side of the River, and use all the Vigilance in your power to prevent any Information reaching New-York that the General is in Motion.
“You know the Necessity of Secrecy in all military Movements; in considering this you will feel the Importance of your Charge—That you will execute it with Fidelity I have not a Doubt” (MHi: Benjamin Lincoln Papers).