To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 20 June 1780
From Major General Steuben
Springfield June 20. 1780
Dear Genl
The more I reflect on the situation of our Affairs, the more I think my presence necessary at the No. River, where many Arrangements are necessary previous to the Troops taking an Active part in the Campaign. This induces me to request your Excellency to consider the propriety of relieving me at this Post.1
I cannot but confess. I am the more induced to wish this, from the disagreable situation in which I find myself. On the Militia I can reckon nothing—this morning I am inform’d that two of my advanced Post are entirely abandond without any notice given me & the Men gone home the Relief which was to have come is not arrived and I do not think I have 500 Militia here.
To these disagreable Circumstances I might further Urge the bad State of my Health which I should not mention was there no other cause for my wishing Your Excellency to appoint some other Officer to the Command I am now honord with2—I have the honor to be with great respect Your Excellencys most Obedt Servt
steuben
LS, DLC:GW.
GW replied to Steuben on this date from headquarters: “For the consideration’s mentioned in your Letter of this day, I will releive you in the Morning—In the meanwhile, I beg of you to exert yourself in remedying the defects occasioned by the departure of those Militia who are gone from their posts, lest we be unguarded & sustain some consequent disaster” (ADfS, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW). GW replaced Steuben with Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene (see General Orders, 21 June, and GW to Greene, same date).
1. For Steuben’s assignment to command the advance corps, see General Orders, 9 June.
2. On this date, Steuben also wrote New Jersey governor William Livingston: “The weakness of the Post to which I have been appointed by the Commander in Chief, thro’ want of regular & sufficient Aid from the Country has given me inexpressible Concern. … With a very inferior Force I have hitherto labor’d to keep at Bay an Army very respectable in their Numbers & prevented their ravaging your Country. I am liable however every moment to be deserted by those few Men who constitute my Command, while they are drawn out on the present Establishment. … By General Dickenson’s Return of this Morning I find myself in Possession of about four hundred Men when perhaps as many Thousands would not be a Man too many for our Purpose” (, 3:437–38).