From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Tench Tilghman, 11 January 1780
To Lieutenant Colonel Tench Tilghman
Morris Town Jany 11th 1780
Dr Sir,
I received two hours since your letter of this morning—The unsettled state of the weather and a desire to obtain more precise intelligence have determined me to defer the march of the detachment till tomorrow—if the attempt is found practicable and the weather permits, we must endeavour at all events to execute it on Friday night.1
The circumstance of patroles is of great importance. I wish you to ascertain this point as well as possible—the places they go to and the hours they commonly make their appearance with whatever else occurs to you that may enlighten us.
I should be glad to know the distances from Connecticut farms to the different crossing places.
General Irvine will regulate the calling in his out posts by the time now fixed unless otherwise directed in the mean time—It ought to be delayed as long as it can be to be in time. We shall hope to see you in the course of tomorrow.
On further consideration I wish you to extend your inquiries from Trimleys point towards new blazing Star from thence to smoaking point2—old blazing Star &ca and to comprehend the same objects with respect to them as with respect to other places. I am with very great regard Dr Sir yr Most obet servant
Go: Washington
P.S. I wish to know the State of the Ice at Amboy—whether it is to be crossed there also with a body of Troops?3 Be pleased to make an apology to Genl Irvine for the detention of his Servant, as it was to save an Express.4
In addition to what I have just put my name, & Seal to the letter, please to enquire where our guards are along the Sound—whether we have any at Woodbridge & Amboy—& in a particular manner let me know whether the Ice is to be crossed at or near a Mill by the House of a Mr C. Dusasway5 (on the Island) one mile or there abouts from Amboy East of it.6
LS, in Richard Kidder Meade’s writing with a postscript partially in GW’s writing, PHi: Papers of William Irvine; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. GW signed the cover of the LS. Though the content of the letter seems addressed to Tilghman, Meade wrote “or Genl Irvine” below Tilghman’s name on the cover.
1. The next Friday was 14 January.
2. Smoaking Point, now known as Tufts Point, N.J., juts into Arthur Kill opposite the southwest shore of Staten Island, just south of Fresh Kill and across from the site of the old Blazing Star Ferry (see Map 4).
3. GW wrote the letters “P.S.” and the previous twenty-four words.
4. Meade wrote the previous twenty-two words.
5. GW is referring to the house of Cornelius Disosway, located on Staten Island near the shore of Arthur Kill (the Sound) below Creischerville (Kreischerville; now Charleston) and near Richmond Valley.
6. GW wrote this paragraph, which does not appear in the draft.