To George Washington from Major General Nathanael Greene, 29 December 1777
From Major General Nathanael Greene
Monday [29 December 1777]1
Dr Sir
Col. Gibson of the Virgina State regiment sais there are a great number of his men left behind in Virgina and on the road—he wishes to send Lt Col. Brent and two Captains to collect the Straglers deserters and recruits that may be recruited for the Regiment.2 There will remain a sufficient number of Officers to command the men belonging to the Regiment after these Officers are gone. Col. Gibson thinks it necessary for the publick good and recommends the measure upon no other principles. I am with the greatest respect your Excellencies Obed. Servt
N. Greene
ALS, DLC:GW; LB, CSmH: Greene Papers.
1. Tench Tilghman docketed the letter “29th Decemr 1777.”
2. William Brent (d. 1785), of Stafford County, Va., who was at this time a lieutenant colonel of the 1st Virginia State Regiment, was promoted to colonel of the 2d Virginia State Regiment by May 1779. For GW’s instructions concerning the apprehension of deserters and the recovery of sick soldiers from Col. George Gibson’s 1st Virginia State Regiment, see GW to Brent, 2 Jan. 1778.