From George Washington to Colonel Thomas Clark, 29 September 1779
To Colonel Thomas Clark
Hd Qrs [West Point] Sepr 29th 1779
Sir
Congress have directed that the two Carolina Regiments should march to the Southward1—You will therefore immediately put yourself in readiness to move—The Qr Master will have directions to supply you with waggons and The Commissary to make an arrangement of provisions on the route.2 When you are ready you will receive further directions for your march.3 The sooner this is the case the better, and you will give notice at Head Qrs. I am Sir Your most obed. servant
G.W.
You will be pleased to conceal the object of your destination.
Df, in Alexander Hamilton’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
2. On 30 Sept., Q.M. Gen. Nathanael Greene wrote to Jeremiah Wadsworth, commissary general of purchases. That letter reads, in part: “The North Carolina Troops are under marching orders for the Southard. The General has directed me to consult with you upon the state of the Magazines in order to form the proper route. The Troops are to march tomorrow if nothing happens. I wish to see you therefore this morning at the Point that we may determin the route” ( 4:426).
3. See GW to Clark, 1 Oct.; see also GW to James Hogun, that date. For the subsequent countermanding of these orders due to the arrival of French vice admiral d’Estaing’s fleet on the American coast, see GW to Samuel Huntington, 30 Sept.; GW to Clark, 3 Oct.; GW to Huntington, 4 Oct; and Huntington to GW, 5 and 8 October.