From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 1 November 1780
To Samuel Huntington
Head Quarters Prackness Novr 1st 1780
Sir,
I have the honor to request you will lay before Congress the inclosed memorial, handed to me by the Marquis De la Fayette, one from the Canadian families which have taken refuge from Albany complaining that they have not for some time past received the provisions allowed them by Congress—Another from a Captn Traversy containing a demand for money due while employed by Major General Gates for secret services which the removal of General Gates from the command he held at the time prevented his being paid.1
As to the first I have taken the liberty to direct General Clinton who commands at Albany to have the Canadian families furnished with a ration for each individual ’till further orders, I hope Congress will approve this step.2
In the Affair of Captn Traversy I could do nothing but refer him to Congress with an assurance that they would satisfy all his just demands. He is the bearer of this letter.3
The Case of those Canadians who have attached themselves to our fortune is in general deplorable—and both justice and humanity make it infinitely to be desired, it were in our power to make some better provision for persons who have left their own country, and involved themselves in every kind of distress in compliance with our invitation. There have been of late frequent representations to me of their sufferings, I am persuaded Congress will do every thing their means will permit for the releif of these unhappy people.4 I have the honor to be With perfect respect & Esteem Your Excellency’s Most Obedt & humble servt
Go: Washington
LS, in Caleb Gibbs’s writing, DNA:PCC, item 152; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. Congress read this letter on 6 Nov. and referred it, “with sundry papers enclosed,” to a committee of three delegates (, 18:1022). Huntington acknowledged this letter when he wrote GW on 12 Nov., postscript.
1. The enclosed memorials have not been identified.
2. No correspondence between GW and Brig. Gen. James Clinton on this subject has been found, but see GW to Clinton, 28 Oct., found at William Heath to GW, 24 Oct., n.10.
In a letter dated 19 Nov., Maj. Joseph Torrey wrote Maj. Gen. William Heath, then commanding at West Point: “There are just arrived twenty seven Canadian Men, Women & Children, from Albany, chiefly Officers & Soldiers Wives, all of whome have been Victualed at Albany & Sanactada [Schenectady], since the retreat of the Continental Army from Canada at the public expence; they are destitute of provisions—I shall Order them to be Victualled with the Regt if I may have your Honor’s Approprobation for that purpose” (MHi: Heath Papers).
3. Congress passed a resolution on 10 Nov. to pay “the accounts of Capt. Traversie, for services done for the United States, by order of Major General Gates … and that the Board of Treasury liquidate his account; and that a warrant issue on the treasurer for the balance which shall be found due to him” (, 18:1042).
Joseph Traversie petitioned Congress for rank in the Continental army on 20 Nov., but the Board of War considered it “inexpedient to give him any military rank in the army of the United States.” Congress agreed with this report on 23 Nov. (, 18:1086; see also , 18:1072).
4. For the resolution Congress adopted on 10 Nov. to assist the Canadian families residing in New York, see Huntington to GW, 16 Nov., and n.1 to that document.