From George Washington to John Hancock, 22 July 1776
To John Hancock
New York July the 22d 1776
Sir
Congress having been pleased to appoint Mr Wilper to the command of a Company in the German Batallion now raising, I have directed him to repair to Philadelphia for their orders.1
From my acquaintance with him, I am persuaded his conduct as an Officer will meet their approbation, and thanking them for their kind attention to my recommendation of him I have the honor to be with Sentiments of the highest respect their Most Obedt Servt
Go: Washington
LS, in Robert Hanson Harrison’s writing, DNA:PCC, item 152; LB, DLC:GW; copy, DNA:PCC, item 169; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. Congress read this letter on 29 July and referred it to the Board of War (, 5:613–14).
1. For a discussion of the circumstances of John David Woelpper’s promotion, see GW to Hancock, 8 July, source note. Col. John Shee, commander of the 3d Pennsylvania Regiment in which Woelpper currently was serving as a first lieutenant, wrote to Gen. Thomas Mifflin on 27 July: “Lieut. Woelpper ... requested me, not to recommend any person in his Room as he was not determin’d to leave the Regiment, of wch he promis’d to advise me on his arrival at Philadelphia” (DNA:PCC, item 78). Woelpper did accept appointment to the German Battalion and soon began recruiting his company.