To George Washington from Brigadier General Thomas Nelson, Jr., 11 August 1778
From Brigadier General Thomas Nelson, Jr.
Philada Aug: 11 1778
My Dear sir
Will you pardon a liberty I am about to take with you. I have been inform’d that you have had the misfortune to lose your favorite Horse & that you are not mounted at present as you ought to be. The Liberty I am about to take with you, is that of sending you a Horse that will suit you better than any one in Am[e]rica. But then I must insist that he be accepted as a present, for his value cannot be ascertain’d. He is now nine years old and of most excellent qualities. He is not quite reconcild to the beat of Drums, but that he will soon be familiariz’d.1 I must again apologize for this liberty and beg that you will believe me with the greatest sincerity Your Obedt Servt
Thos Nelson Jr
ALS, DLC:GW. The cover indicates the letter was sent “By favor of Mr Randolph.”
1. The horse was probably the chestnut with white face and legs called Nelson that, according to George Washington Parke Custis, GW rode when receiving the surrender at Yorktown (, 166).