From George Washington to Elbridge Gerry, 31 March 1784
To Elbridge Gerry
Mount Vernon 31st Mar. 84.
Sir,
Your favor of the 18th came to my hands last Week, but not in time to answer it by the last Post.
I have examined my Letter and orderly Books but find no such order as Mr Gridley alludes to, in his letter of the 21st of Feby, to you.
If his Father, or himself ever received such orders they are no doubt to be produced, and will speak for themselves. Mr Gridley never reported himself to the Chief Engineer (Genl Duportail) nor has he ever been returned to me by him, or any Senior Officer in that department that I remember as one of the Corps—in the Service of the United States—It is not in my power therefore, from any recollection I have of the circumstance he speaks of—or of his Services—to certifie anything on which his claim can be founded.1
It would give me pleasure, at any time when your leizure and inclination would permit to see you, or any of your Brother delegates at this retreat—being with great esteem Dr Sir Yr Most Obt & Most Hble Servt
Go: Washington
ALS, NN: Bancroft Collection; LB, DLC:GW.
1. Col. Richard Gridley was chief engineer for the Continental army in 1775 and 1776. Thereafter until 1780 he held the title of engineer general of the eastern department. In May 1779 General Duportail became the commandant of the corps of engineers and in November 1781, major general chief engineer. For the identity of Gridley’s son, see Gerry to GW, 18 Mar. 1784, n.2. Probably at issue was something related to Gridley’s pay as engineer general. See Congress’s recommendations to the Massachusetts legislature, 26 Feb. 1781 ( 19:197), the letter from Robert Morris read in Congress on 6 Mar. 1783 (ibid., 24:168), and Expenditures for Pensions, 30 Sept. 1785 (DNA:PCC, item 141).