From George Washington to Brigadier General William Maxwell, 19 May 1780
To Brigadier General William Maxwell
Head Quarters Morris Town 19th May 1780
Sir
I recd yours of the 17th by Capt. Rochefontaine. Was I not so taken up with the Committee of Congress now in Camp,1 I would ride down myself and endeavour to fix upon the most advantageous place and manner for your Brigade to encamp, so as to answer the purpose for which it was sent down and at the same time pay a proper attention to its security2—I have therefore instructed Lord Stirling to go down in the Morning with the Engineer and upon a full view and consideration of matters to take such a position as shall, under all circumstances, appear most eligible.3
I would have you inquire minutely whether any laws of the State, at present in force, provide for the punishment of persons taken for seducing soldiers to desert or conveying them to the enemy4—If there are none such, I think you may safely bring the person you have in Custody, to trial as a spy found near your Camp. I am fully of opinion that much of our desertion is occasioned by Villains of this kind influencing our Soldiery. I am &c.
Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. GW is referring to the Committee at Headquarters (see GW to Samuel Huntington, 3 April, source note).
2. Maxwell was seeking an encampment site for the New Jersey Brigade (see Maxwell to GW, 15 May, and n.3 to that document; see also GW to Maxwell, 28 May, and n.2, and Maxwell to GW, same date).
3. See GW to Stirling, this date. On 22 May, GW wrote to Captain Rochefontaine of the corps of engineers from headquarters at Morristown: “While the Works which you have laid out near Elizabeth Town are constructing, you will be pleased to ride down now and then and give the necessary directions” (Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW).