From George Washington to Major General Benedict Arnold, 6 August 1780
To Major General Benedict Arnold
Head Quarters peekskill 6th Augt 1780
Sir
Colo. Kosciusko having permission to join the southern Army1—Major Villefranche has directions to repair to West point and take upon him the superintendance of the Works.2 You will, I am persuaded, find this Gentleman fully acquainted with his Business, and I doubt not but he will give general satisfaction to those with whom he will be immediately concerned in the execution of the Works. I am Sir Yr most obt Servt
Go: Washington
P.S. If Genl Howe has not left you a plan of the Works—Maj. Villefranche will be able to furnish you with one.3
LS, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW.
2. These instructions probably were verbal; no letter has been found from GW to Major Villefranche on this subject.
3. In 1780, Villefranche prepared a detailed map of the fortifications at West Point, N.Y., titled “Plan of West Point.” The original from GW’s papers was presented to the U.S. Military Academy in 1852, but has since disappeared (see , 36). A facsimile taken from the original map is in NWM.