From George Washington to Colonel Armand, 28 June 1779
To Colonel Armand
Head Quarters [New Windsor] June 28th 1779
Sir,
You will without delay march your corps towards Bedford, to join the troops at or near that place1 under the command of Colonel Moylan.2 You are not for the present to go with the corps yourself, but to send it with the officer next in command, as there is a complaint of a3 serious nature against you made by Mr Vandeburgh a very respectable inhabitant of this state,4 which will oblige me to have an enquiry into the affair. I am extremely sorry any thing of this kind should have happened; but it is not in my power to be inattentive to the representations of the inhabitants when they complain of violences committed by the officers of the army. So soon as I receive the specific charges, they shall be communicated to you—Till then you will remain in this vicinity.5 I am Sr Your Most Obed⟨t⟩ humble servan⟨t⟩.
Df, in Alexander Hamilton’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. At this place on the draft manuscript, Hamilton first wrote “which you find there.” He then struck out those words and wrote “at or near that place” above the line.
2. See GW to Stephen Moylan, this date; see also GW to Armand, 5 July.
3. At this place on the draft manuscript, Hamilton wrote and then struck out the word “very.”
4. James Van Derburgh (Van Der Burgh, Van Deburgh; c.1729–1794) served as lieutenant colonel in the 5th Regiment of the Dutchess County, N.Y., militia and advanced to colonel on 10 March 1778. He fathered numerous children.
5. Col. Thomas Clark wrote GW from West Point on 12 July: “I beg leave to acquaint your Excellency, that the Court of Enquiry (on Coll Armand’s affair) was clearly of opinion the Complaints of Coll VandeBurgh, his Son and Mr Jonas Adams, ought to be heard and determined in a Court of Civil Law—This Idea they wished to have conveyed, in Saying, the Complaints were so far supported as to render a Tryal Necessary” (ALS, DLC:GW). For Armand being found guilty on selected charges related to unruly behavior, see the general orders for 5 July and 5 and 31 Aug.; see also GW to Armand, 5 July.