From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel William Washington, 9 February 1779
To Lieutenant Colonel William Washington
Head Quarters Middle Brook 9th Feby 1779
Dear Sir
I have recd yours of the 23d and 30th ulto.1 If a vacancy should happen in the Regiment I would not have you permit Mr Baylor to succeed to it untill he has cleared up his Character.2 The Cloathing for the Regiment which Capt. Smith procured at Boston has not yet come on to Camp;3 when it arrives it shall be forwarded, if the Men should be in absolute want before spring. But if they can make a shift with their old Cloaths while in Winter quarters they will find more benefit from the new next Campaign. I see no prospect at present of any other troops going to south Carolina besides Pulaski’s Legion which is ordered thither.4 I am Dear Sir Yr most obt Servt.
Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
William Washington commanded the 3d Light Dragoons with the rank of lieutenant colonel after Col. George Baylor received disabling wounds in the surprise attack on the regiment that had occurred on 28 Sept. 1778.
1. Neither of these letters has been found.
2. For the previous arrest of John Baylor on the charge of gaming, see George Baylor to GW, 13 July and 20 Sept. 1778; William Washington to GW, 30 Nov. 1778; and GW to William Washington, 1 Dec. 1778.
3. For Capt. Robert Smith’s trip to Boston during the fall of 1778 to obtain clothing for the 3d Continental Light Dragoon Regiment, see George Baylor to GW, 20 and 22 Sept. 1778; GW to Otis & Andrews, 27 Sept. 1778; and Robert Smith to GW, 4 Oct. 1778.