From George Washington to Major General John Sullivan, 6 March 1779
To Major General John Sullivan
Head Quarters Middle Brook 6th March 1779
Dear Sir
Congress having determined upon an Expedition of an extensive nature agt the hostile tribes of the Indians of the six Nations,1 the command is offered to Majr General Gates as senior Officer, but should he decline, it is my wish it should devolve upon you—That no time may be lost by General Gates’s non-acceptance, I have put this letter under cover to him,2 and have desired him to forward it to you, should that be his determination.3 Should it therefore be sent to you, I must request you to set out as speedily as possible after the Rect of it to Head Quarters, as the Season is already far advanced. Upon your arrival the whole plan of the Expedition shall be communicated to you and measures concerted for carrying it into execution.4
Nothing will contribute more to our success in the quarter where we really intend to strike, than alarming the enemy in a contrary one, and drawing their attention that way. To do this you may drop hints of an expedition to Canada5 by the way of Coos. This will be the more readily beleived as a thing of that kind was really once in agitation, and some Magazines formed in consequence, which the enemy are acquainted with.6 You may also speak of the probability of a French Fleet making its appearance, in the Spring, in the ⟨River⟩ St Lawrence to cooperate with us. It will be a great point gained if we can, by false alarms, keep the force already in Canada from affording any timely assistance to the Savages, Refugees and those people against whom the blow is levelled. I would wish you to keep the motives of your journey to Head Quarters a secret, because if it is known that an Officer of your Rank is to take a command to the Westward, it will be immediately concluded that the object must be considerable. I am with great Regard Dear Sir Your most obt Servt
Go: Washington
LS, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, NhHi: Sullivan Papers; Df, DLC:GW; copy (extract), enclosed in GW to John Jay, 15 Aug. 1779, DNA:PCC, item 166; copy (extract), DNA:PCC, item 169; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. The extracts both consist of the entire letter except for the closing and signature. Mutilated text is supplied in angle brackets from the draft manuscript.
1. GW is referring to an act of 25 Feb. (see John Jay to GW, 26 Feb., and n.1 to that document; , 13:251–52).
2. This letter to Sullivan was enclosed in GW’s letter of this date to Horatio Gates.
3. At this place on the draft, Tilghman wrote and then struck out seven words: “Your presence here will be immediately necessary.”
4. For Major General Gates’s decision to decline GW’s offer and turn command of the proposed expedition over to Sullivan, see Gates to GW, 16 and 24 March.
5. Immediately before “Canada” on the draft, Tilghman wrote and then struck out “penetrate.”
6. Never enthusiastic about the proposal, GW reluctantly prepared for this expedition into Canada from summer 1778 until Congress resolved on 1 Jan. 1779 to cease preparations (see GW to Henry Laurens, 11 Nov. 1778, and , 13:11–14; see also GW to Jacob Bayley, 26 Sept. and 3 Oct. 1778, and Bayley to GW, 5 Nov. 1778).