George Washington Papers

To George Washington from Samuel Huntington, 21 February 1781

From Samuel Huntington

Philadelphia February 21. 1781

Sir,

Since my Letters of yesterday addressed to your Excellency were forwarded by Express, Despatches from Genl Greene are come to hand, Copies of which are enclosed No. 1 & 2.1

The Intelligence they contain is of such a Nature that it is deemed expedient to give your Excellency the earliest Information of it.

From the Tenor of General Greene’s Letter I am lead to believe, that the Troops landed at Wilmington N. Carolina mentioned in Governor Nash’s Letter and Governor Jeffersons enclosed in mine of yesterday, are a Detachment from Charlestown;2 That Lord Cornwallis, enraged with Disappointment at the Defeat of Tarleton, is pushing an Enterprize at all Hazards.3

No farther Intelligence from the Enemy in Virginia is come to hand since my Letter of the 14th Instant.4 I have the Honor to be with every Sentiment of Esteem & regard your Excellency’s most obedient & most humble Servant

Sam. Huntington President

LS, DLC:GW; LB, DNA:PCC, item 15. GW replied to Huntington on 27 February.

1The first enclosure was a copy of Greene’s letter to Huntington of 31 Jan. (DLC:GW; see also Greene Papers description begins Richard K. Showman et al., eds. The Papers of General Nathanael Greene. 13 vols. Chapel Hill, N.C., 1976–2005. description ends , 7:225–26). The second enclosure was a copy of Lt. Col. Henry Lee, Jr.’s letter to Greene of 25 Jan. reporting his legion’s attack on the British post at Georgetown, S.C. (DLC:GW; see also Greene Papers description begins Richard K. Showman et al., eds. The Papers of General Nathanael Greene. 13 vols. Chapel Hill, N.C., 1976–2005. description ends , 7:197–99).

2In his letter to Huntington of 31 Jan., Greene reported intelligence that 400 troops had sailed from Charleston for Wilmington, North Carolina. For this expedition, see Thomas Jefferson to GW, 8 Feb., n.1; see also Huntington to GW, 20 Feb. (second letter), and n.1 to that document.

3Huntington alludes to the Battle of Cowpens (see Greene’s first letter to GW, 24 Jan., n.3).

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