From George Washington to John Hancock, 2 April 1777

To John Hancock

Head Quarters Morris Town 2d April 1777

Sir

Since I had the honor of writing to you last, I have recd the inclosed from Genl Mcdougal which contains a full account of the late affair at peekskill. Every prudential step appears to have been taken by the General, and as good a disposition made as his small Number of men would admit of.1

I have heard nothing further respecting the embarkation of Troops which I mentioned in my last, I am in hopes the Connecticut Militia will arrive at peekskill before another expedition is made up the North River, I have wrote to hasten them as much as possible, lest such another design should be really in agitation.2

In my opinion Delaware Bay is their object, and Chesapeak only thrown out, by way of blind; their late attempt to procure Delaware Pilots seems to confirm it.

I observe by your late promotions that a Foreign Gentleman is appointed to the command of the German Battalion, I could wish that he was ordered to join immediately, as that Regt much wants an Officer of experience at the Head of it.3 I have the honor to be Sir Yr very humble Servt

Go: Washington

P.S. I have ordered the Deputy Qr Mr General to establish proper Relays of Expresses between this and Philada that intelligence may be occasionally conveyed in the most expeditious Manner. If there should be any appearance of a Fleet in Delaware Bay, it will be known in a very few Hours in Philada by hoisting the Signals, and I beg I may have the earliest Notice of it. The Qr Master will inform you, who his Rider, in Philada, is, that you may know where to apply.

G. W——n

LS, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DNA:PCC, item 152; Df, DLC:GW; copy, DNA:PCC, item 169; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. Congress read this letter on 5 April (see JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 7:226).

1. See Alexander McDougall to GW, 29 March.

2. See GW to Hancock, 31 Mar., and GW to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 29, 31 March.

3. Henry Leonard Philip, baron d’Arendt, a veteran of the Prussian army who had arrived in America with his wife during the past winter seeking a Continental commission, was appointed colonel of the German Battalion by Congress on 19 Mar. (see the Executive Committee to Hancock, 25 Feb. 1777, in Smith, Letters of Delegates description begins Paul H. Smith et al., eds. Letters of Delegates to Congress, 1774–1789. 26 vols. Washington, D.C., 1976–2000. description ends , 6:363–64, and JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 7:185). In response to this letter, Congress on 5 April ordered Arendt to go immediately to GW’s headquarters and advanced him two months’ pay (see JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 7:226). Arendt’s request to Congress on 15 April for a six months’ advance fell on deaf ears, and he apparently joined the German Battalion at Quibbletown (now New Market), N.J., later this month (see JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 7:267; d’Arendt to Hancock, 15 April, DNA:PCC, item 78; and Alexander Hamilton to the Commanding Officer of the German Battalion, 25 April, DLC:GW). During the next fifteen months Arendt frequently was absent from duty because of bitter disputes with the officers of his battalion and injuries sustained in two accidents, a “fall of his horse in a skirmish at Quibbleton and Rariton bridge” and a fall from a parapet at Fort Mifflin on the Delaware River, where Arendt briefly commanded in October 1777 (JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 11:808–9; see also GW to Arendt, 25 June 1777, DNA:PCC, item 152; Arendt to GW, 7 Aug. 1777, GW to Arendt, 18 Oct. 1777, 5 June 1778, and GW to John Green, 28 Oct. 1777, all in DLC:GW; and GW to Henry Laurens, 22 July 1778, ScU). On 18 Aug. 1778 Congress granted Arendt a twelve-month leave of absence to go to Europe to recover his health (see JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 11:809 and d’Arendt to Henry Laurens, 18 Aug. 1778, DNA:PCC, item 78). Arendt returned to America in late 1780, claiming that he had been delayed by a request from American commissioner William Lee to persuade the Prussian government to send clothing and arms to Virginia. Although Arendt failed in that effort, he asked Congress to pay his military salary for the entire time of his absence and to reinstate him in the Continental army. Congress on 11 July agreed to pay Arendt to 1 Jan. 1781, but it did not continue him in Continental service beyond that date (see Smith, Letters of Delegates description begins Paul H. Smith et al., eds. Letters of Delegates to Congress, 1774–1789. 26 vols. Washington, D.C., 1976–2000. description ends , 16:529, n.3, and JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 19:29–30, 143–44, 201, 20:589, 740–42, 21:1020).

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Source Project: Washington Papers
Title: From George Washington to John Hancock, 2 April 1777
Author: Washington, George
Recipient: Hancock, John
Date: 2 April 1777

Reference

Cite as: “From George Washington to John Hancock, 2 April 1777,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-09-02-0046. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 9, 28 March 1777 – 10 June 1777, ed. Philander D. Chase. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1999, pp. 47–48.]

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