To George Washington from Major Benjamin Tallmadge, January 1780
From Major Benjamin Tallmadge
Wethersfield [Conn., January 1780]1
Sir
I am informed by the Gentleman who has heretofore been charged with C——’s Dispatches to deliver to me,2 that one of his Boat’s Crew will soon leave him, his Term of Enlistment having expired—If your Excellency thinks proper, Genl Poor can order a Man from his Brigade on this Service—Let him be sent to Lieut. Brewster, at Fairfield, who is notified of my having wrote to your Excellency on the Subject. I have the Honour to be with great Regard Your Excellency’s most Hble Servt
Benja. Tallmadge
P.S. The Man, if any is sent, must be an Oarsman & a trusty fellow.
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. In his reply of 5 Feb., GW acknowledged receipt of this letter and Tallmadge’s letter of 15 Jan., both carried by Ephraim Blaine. Though this letter is undated, Tallmadge presumably wrote it in January in time for Blaine to carry it to GW.
2. Tallmadge is referring to Lt. Caleb Brewster and the dispatches of the Culper-ring spies. For the operations of the Culper spy ring, see Culper Spy Ring Intelligence, 6–17 Aug. 1779, editorial note, and GW to Tallmadge, 21 March 1779, n.2.