From George Washington to Colonel Stephen Moylan, 10 July 1779
To Colonel Stephen Moylan
Head Quarters New Windsor July 10th 1779
Dr Sir,
I have received your two letters of the 5th and 8th, the last an hour ago.1
The person you mention in the former is employed by me—I place a good degree of confidence in him; though he is obliged in order to answer our purposes to appear friendly to the enemy.2
I thank you for the intelligence you communicate—The ravages of the enemy particularly at this season are distressing; but our situation makes it impossible to prevent them.3
Armand’s corps has been directed to join you.4 I am Dr Sir Your most Obd.
Go: Washington
Df, in Alexander Hamilton’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. GW’s secretary Caleb Gibbs wrote the closing and signature on the draft manuscript.
1. Moylan’s letters to GW of 5 and 8 July have not been found.
2. GW inserted the previous sixteen words in his own writing after striking out more than two lines.
3. Moylan’s cavalry were in the field near Bedford, N.Y., where public and private property had been burned in early July (see William Heath to GW, 4 July, and n.1 to that document). GW almost certainly is referring as well to the British raids on Connecticut, then under way (see GW to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 7 July, source note).
4. See GW to Armand, 28 June and 5 July.