From George Washington to Brigadier General William Maxwell, 15 March 1779
To Brigadier General William Maxwell
Head Quarters Middle Brook 15 March 1779
Sir
I recd yours of the 10th informing me of Admiral Gambiers intent to leave the port of New York; if that event hath taken place be pleased to endeavour to ascertain with what number of ships—their force and destination—We have heard nothing of a long time from Z. Has he dropped the correspondence? or what is become of him. If we are to depend no further upon him,1 you should endeavour to open some other channel for intelligence—The Season advances when the enemy will begin to stir, and we should if possible be acquainted with their motions. I am &.
Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. “Z” was Lewis Johnston Costigin, an American prisoner on parole who had supplied intelligence from New York but apparently left the city by March (see GW to John Beatty, 21 Aug. 1778; Costigin to GW, 7 Dec. 1778; and Maxwell to GW, 17 March 1779).