Copy, in Robert Hanson Harrison’s writing, DLC:GW. Harrison noted at the bottom of the copy: “Origl transmitted Govr Livingston—19 April 1780.”

Harrison wrote New Jersey governor William Livingston from Morristown on 19 April: “The Letter I have the honor to inclose Your Excellency, was received by the General just as he was setting out to meet the Minister of France, who is expected at Head Quarters to day. The General desired me to inform You that he thought the further service of the Militia Horse under Captain Craigs absolutely essential, and that he would be obliged by your Excellency’s requesting them to continue a Month longer unless their place should be supplied sooner by an equal number of Others. He did not recollect the terms on which they had been engaged by the Baron de Kalb, but said he was willing they should be retained on the same. The Light Horseman that brought the Letter from Brigadr Genl Huntington will return to day & will be the Bearer of any commands Your Excellency may think proper to send to Capn Craigs” (NN: William Livingston Papers; see also Kalb to GW, 14 March, and notes 3 and 5).

Livingston responded to Harrison from Morristown that same date: “I have your Letter of this day’s date inclosing a Copy of a Letter from Brigadier General Huntington to his Excellency General Washington, informing him that ‘a Company of Militia horse who have done duty under Capt. Craig at Raway & Woodbridge in concert with the continental Guards are engaged for no longer than yesterday—That they are as necessary as ever, if not more so. And that he supposes on Application from his Excellency, or the Governor of the State, they would engage again.’

“In answer to this you will be pleased to inform his Excellency that I find myself very unhappy in not being authorized to give any directions for calling out the Militia light horse as guards, as I should with par⟨ticular⟩ pleasure exert that power on the present occasion—If they will voluntarily engage I have no objection: and this I suppose was the way in which they were obtain’d by the Baron de Kalb, which I collect from a passage of my Letter to him of the 14th of March, a Copy of which I inclose you” (DLC:GW).

Harrison also replied to Huntington from headquarters at Morristown on 19 April: “Your Letter of the 18th was received this morning by His Excellency when just setting out to meet the Minister of France. I wrote by the General’s directions to Governor Livingston on the subject of it—and find by his Answer that the Militia Horse under Captain Craig served by their own consent and that their continuing to do it must depend upon themselves. The General is not yet returned—but he told me before he left Head Qrs, that he thought with You their service would be essential and that he was willing to have them retained on the terms on which they had been engaged by the Baron de Kalb. You will therefore be pleased to write to Capn Craig on the subject & endeavour to prevail on him & the Men to continue a Month longer or for a shorter time if they should think that would be inconvenient” (DLC:GW).