From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Walton White, 1 February 1779
To Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Walton White
Hd Qrs Philadelphia Feby 1st 79
Sir,
A quantity of forage having been provided at Baltimore for the reception of a small body of cavalry; You will, on receipt of this, detach two troops of the Regiment under your command to that place, one of which for particular reasons, I desire to be Capt. Hopkin’s1—This will contribute to the more easy accommodation and subsistence of the Regiment. I am Sir Your most Obedt. ser.
Go: Washington
LS, in Alexander Hamilton’s writing, owned (1970) by Dr. Robert N. Cross, Ann Arbor, Mich.; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. The cover of the LS is addressed to: “Lt Col: White of the light Dragoons Lancaster.”
1. On this date GW wrote Capt. David Hopkins of the 4th Continental Light Dragoon Regiment: “I have received your memorial of the 21st of January. The opinion I have of your merit and services, would make me willing to comply with your request, if I thought it could be done with propriety; but I should not think myself justified in granting a furlough of such length to any officer, except in a case of absolute necessity—I propose however to have two troops of the regiment to which you belong stationed at Baltimore; and I have directed Col. White to let yours be one—I shall be glad, if this arrangement may answer your purpose, instead of a furlough” (Df, in Alexander Hamilton’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW; Tench Tilghman wrote the dateline on the draft manuscript). Hopkins’s memorial has not been found.