rence of all the principal officers of the army, who were particularly consulted on the subject, cannot be receded from. Justice to the army and the public, my own honor, and, I think I may venture to say, universal benevolence, require them to be carried into full execution. It rests, therefore, with the British commander-in-chief to prevent this unhappy measure taking effect. An application is gone to Sir Guy Carleton from Captain Asgill, begging his interposition to avert his fate. The matter is now in agitation; and I am told that a strict inquiry is making into the conduct of Lippincott, who is charged as being the principal perpetrator of the cruel murder of Captain Huddy. Should this inquiry lead to giving satisfaction, by a compliance with my original demand to Sir Henry Clinton, my feelings will be greatly relieved, and I need not assure you, that I shall receive the highest pleasure from such an event. I am, &c.

TO LIEUTENANT-COLONEL TENCH TILGHMAN.

MY DEAR SIR,

HEAD QRS., NEWBURGH, 9 July, 1782.

'Till your letter of the 28th ulto. arrived (which is the first from you, & the only direct acct. of you, since we parted at Philadelphia, we have had various conjectures about you-some thought you were dead-others that you were married-and all that you had forgot us.-Your letter is not a more evident contradiction of the first and last of these suppositions than it is a tacit confirmation of the second;

and as none can wish you greater success in the prosecution of the Plan you are upon than I do, so believe me sincere, when I request you to take your own time to accomplish it, or any other business you may have on hand-at the same time I must be allowed to add, that you have no friend that wishes more to see you than I do.—

I have been in constant expectation ever since my arrival at this place, of a summons to meet Count Rochambeau at Philadelphia to settle a plan for the ensuing Campaign The non arrival of the dispatches from his Court has hitherto prevented it— but the absolute necessity (to avoid delay after they do arrive) has induced me to propose a meeting at all events, that we may settle such hypothetical plans as will facilitate our operations, without waiting an interview after the dispatches shall arrive. I shall know the result of this proposition in the course of a few days, as my dispatches left on the 24th ulto.

We have nothing New in this Quarter-Sir Guy, gives strong assurances of the pacific disposition of His most gracious Majesty-by Land-Sir (that is to be) Digby, gives proofs, if he is deficient in assurances, of His said Excellent Majesty's kind intention of Capturing every thing that swims on the face of the Waters; and of his humane design of suffocating all those who are found thereon, in Prison Ships, if they will not engage in his service-This, to an American, whose genious is not susceptable of refined ideas, would appear somewhat inconsistent; but to the expanded mind of a Briton they are perfectly

reconcilable. Whether they are right or wrong, time must determine.

I am just returned from a Visit to our Northern Posts, in which Albany, Schenectady, Saratoga, the and the Fields of Burgoyne were visited1Mrs. Washington who sets out this day for Mount Vernon thanks you for your kind remembrance of her -she wishes you, as I do, as much happiness as you can do yourself.

TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

NEWBURG, 9th July, 1782.

SIR,

Having found a moment's leisure to examine, myself, into the situation of affairs on the frontiers of this State, I have lately made a journey up the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers as far as Saratoga and Schenectady. Just before my arrival there, a party of three or four hundred of the enemy, consisting of British, refugees, and savages, had made an incursion down the Mohawk, attacked and captured (after a gallant defence) a small guard of Continental troops, who were stationed at the only remaining mill in the upper settlements, which they also destroyed.

By a deserter from this party we are informed, that the enemy are taking post at Oswego, and are either rebuilding the old, or erecting new fortifications there.

1 He set out on the 24th June.

Haldimand thought this visit was caused by a suspected movement on the part of Vermont.

Whatever the design of the enemy may be by thus occupying a new post, and extending themselves on the frontier, I consider it my duty to inform Congress thereof, and have for that purpose taken the liberty to forward this by the earliest safe conveyance since my return from the northward.

I have the honor to enclose to your Excellency copies and extracts of sundry letters, which have lately passed between the British commander-in-chief and myself. The subjects contained in them being principally of a civil nature, I must beg leave to submit them to the consideration and direction of Congress. I think it only necessary to remark, that, notwithstanding the plausibility of the terms on which Sir Guy Carleton proposes the exchange of American seamen for British soldiers, in his letter of the 7th instant, it must still be obvious, that it would amount to nearly the same thing to have the prisoners so exchanged employed against our allies in the West Indies, as it would to have them acting against ourselves on the continent.1

I have the honor to be, &c.

TO MAJOR-GENERAL GREENE.

NEWBURG, 9 July, 1782.

MY DEAR SIR, Your letter of the 22d of April, also your two favors of the 19th of May with the returns of the army under your command, have been duly received;

1 The refusal of General Washington to correspond with Sir Guy Carleton on civil affairs met with the full approbation of Congress.-Journals, August 12th. 2 Read in Congress July 15th, referred to Witherspoon, Madison, and Rutledge.

but, having been in momently expectation, that intelligence would arrive from Europe, or some other event turn up, which might disclose the intentions of the enemy, and give a clue for the final determination of the operations of the campaign, I have delayed for a few days giving you my answer. Notwithstanding I am at this hour as much in the dark as ever, I can defer no longer the pleasure I always experience from indulging myself in a free communication and interchange of sentiments with you. To participate and divide our feelings, hopes, fears, and expectations with a friend, is almost the only source of pleasure and consolation left us, in the present languid and and unpromising state of our affairs.

It gives me infinite satisfaction to find, that, by your prudence and decision, you have put a period to the progress of a dangerous mutiny, and, by your example of patience and firmness, reclaimed the army amidst all their agravated sufferings to that good disposition, which it has been your great merit to preserve in your command through the worst times. Their distresses are truly deplorable; and, while the almost insurmountable difficulty of transporting clothing and the smaller supplies (which, General St. Clair reports, are still detained on the road for want of the means of conveyance) gives me the most sensible pain and anxiety, it but too clearly proves the impracticability of removing by land, under our present prospects of finance, the artillery of siege and immense quantity of stores necessary for a serious operation against Charleston.