From George Washington to George Clinton, 6 September 1779
To George Clinton
Head Quarters West Point 6th Sepr 1779.
Dear Sir
I have recd your Excellency’s favr of the 1st Inst. by Lt Colo. Pawling. Before the Rect of your letter I had heard of his return, but never entertained a doubt of his having exerted himself to reach Anaquaga at the appointed time1—I hope as the junction between Generals Sullivan and Clinton has taken place without any difficulty or loss,2 that this small diminution of force will have no effect upon their operations. I shall leave the disposition of Colo. Pawling, for the present, entirely to your Excellency—only wishing that his position may be such, if circumstances will admit, that he may join the main Army, on short notice, should the movements of the enemy make it necessary to collect our whole force.3 I am to return your Excellency my sincere thanks for your ready attention to my requisitions on the subject of provision and Cloathing. I am with the greatest Respect and Esteem Yr Excellency’s Most obt and humble Servt.
Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. For GW’s receipt of information on the return of Lt. Col. Albert Pawling, see GW to John Sullivan, 3 Sept.; see also Clinton to GW, 31 August. For Pawling’s expedition, which GW and Clinton had designed to support Maj. Gen. John Sullivan’s expedition against the Six Nations, see GW to Clinton, 3 Aug., n.3.
2. See Sullivan to GW, 20 Aug., and n.3 to that document.
3. Clinton stationed Pawling’s troops on the frontiers of Ulster and Orange Counties, N.Y. (see 5:278, 321).