From George Washington to the Committee at Headquarters, 19 June 1780
To the Committee at Headquarters
Head Quarters Springfeild June 19th 1780
Gentlemen
From the vast importance of the thing, I hoped that I should have been informed before this, of the measures which the several states meant to adopt, in consequence of your late requisitions;1 but as I have not, I am certain you are unadvised yourselves, and have only to lament with you the delay. This is a point of primary consequence. We are now arrived at the period, when we may momently expect the Fleet from France. For want of inform⟨a⟩tion, it has been impossible for me to digest a System of cooperation. I have no data on which to proceed—and, of course, were the Armament to come, I should find myself in the most delicate—embarrassing and cruel situation. The French Commanders, from the relation in which I stand, the instant they reach our Coast, will look to me for a plan of the measures to be pursued2—and I ought, of right, to have one prepared: But I cannot even give them conjectures—The interest of the States—the reputation of their Councils—the justice and gratitude due our Allies—a regard for my own Character, all demand that I should, without delay, be enabled to ascertain and inform them what we can or cannot undertake. Besides, there is a point now to be determined, on which the success of all our future operations may turn, which for want of knowing our prospects I am altogether at a loss what to do in.
To avoid involving the Fleet and Army of our Allies in circumstances, which if not seconded by us, would expose them to material inconvenience and hazard, I shall be obliged to suspend a step, the delay of which may be fatal to our hopes—I therefore beg leave to suggest to the Committee, the indispensable necessity of writing again to the different States, urging them to give immediate and precise information of the measures they have taken—the success they have had—and the probable result of them.3 I have the honor to be with great Respect and Esteem Gentlemen Your most obt and humble Servt
Go: Washington
LS, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DNA:PCC, item 152; Df, DLC:GW; copy, DNA:PCC, item 11; copy, DNA:PCC, item 39; copy, M-Ar; copy (partially burned), N-Ar: George Clinton Papers; copy, Nh-Ar: Weare Papers; copy, Nj; copy, PHarH-Ar: RG 27; copy, R-Ar; copy, ViU: Virginia Revolutionary War Correspondence, 1778–79 (microfilm); Varick transcript, DLC:GW. The Committee at Headquarters enclosed a copy of this letter with their letter to Congress of this date (see , 15:346–47).
1. For the committee’s requisitions contained in their circulars to the states of 25 May and 2 June, see GW to the Committee at Headquarters, 25 May, notes 1 and 5; and Circular to the States, 2 June, n.1.
2. For GW’s direction of the combined operations of the Continental and French expeditionary armies, see William Gordon to GW, 12 June, n.6.
3. The committee addressed the desired circular letter to the states on this date. The copy of this letter sent to GW on 30 June reads: “We inclose you a Copy of General Washingtons letter to us of this day.
“We have in our former letters dwelt so forcibly on the several matters contain’d in the Generals letter that it is now become almost unnecessary for us to say any thing more on them. But when we consider the season for operation wears fast away, the small force we now have in the field, being still fed in a scanty and uncertain manner; The hourly expectation of the fleet and Army of our ally on our Coast, and that the Commander in Chief, as well as ourselves, are as yet totally uninformed what are to be our expectations on the subject of our former Letters—Be assured Sir, we feel an Anxiety congenial with his; You will therefore, we are persuaded pardon us for being thus solicitous, when we again intreat you in the most earnest, in the most urgent manner to use every exertion in your power to engage your State, to a speedy and decisive complyance with our former requisitions. The two points we would wish to impress most forcibly on your’s, and the minds of the Legislature of your State, are, immediately, forwarding your quota of troops necessary to compleat your Battallions in the Continental Army, and of supplies of provision agreable to the estimates inclosed you in our letter of the 2d Instant, at the same time we would not wish you to consider any part of our former requisitions, as become in the least degree un-necessary. On the contrary we are more strongly convinced, That they are already as small as the important objects in view, can possibly admit of—We only mention the two first as the most immediately and indespensibly necessary for, reinforced as the Enemy now are, by the return of their Troops from the reduction of Charles Town, we momently expect an attack will be made on our weak and almost resistless Army. Should this event happen whilst in this state, we seriously dread the result.
“From the well Known indefategable attention of your State to the welfare of the United states, we cannot entertain a doubt of its exertions at this interesting conjuncture, and we most earnestly intreat you to give us the earliest information of the final determination of your State on the subjects of this and our former Letters.” A note on the copy indicates that the committee intended to add the following paragraph to their letter to the executive of Pennsylvania: “We take the liberty of again calling your attention to the urgent necessity of forwarding the flour to West Point. The reasons for this pressing call, are fully contained in our letter of the 2d Instant to which we beg leave to refer you” (DLC:GW).