To George Washington from Patrick Henry, 28 January 1778
From Patrick Henry
Wmsburgh [Va.] Jan. 28th 1778
Sir
By the second Clause of the Act of Assembly, which I have the Honor to inclose to your Excellency, a Bounty of Twenty Dollars is directed to be paid to the soldiers composing the Virginia Corps under your Command, reinlisted.1
I beg the Favor of your Excellency to inform me of the most effectual Method of managing this Business, which I wish to conduct in the Manner most acceptable to you. With the highest Regard & Esteem, I have the Honor to be Sir your most obedient & very humble Servant
P. Henry
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. The second clause of “An Act for speedily recruiting the Virginia Regiments on the continental establishment, and for raising additional troops of Volunteers,” passed in amended form on 9 Jan., stipulates that officers of the Virginia Continental regiments “shall use their best endeavours to re-enlist all the men therein whose times of service are near expiring, to serve for three years, or during the present war; and each of the men so re-enlisting, as well as those who have already reenlisted, shall be entitled to a bounty from this commonwealth of twenty dollars, over and above the continental bounty” (, 9:338; see also GW to James Innes, 2 Jan., n.1).