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on the Mohawk River, renders it absolutely necessary that they should some times be supplied with a little Spirits. I must therefore desire you, without delay, to procure for them two or three Hogsheads of Rum or other Spirits, subject to the orders of Colonel Willet.

If in doing this any additional expence is incurred which is not warranted by the Contract, it must be paid rather than the Troops should Suffer. It has some how been omitted to make provision for the Subsistence of the Officers of Colonel Willet's Regiment 'till the Secy at War's directions can be had, they must be supplied with Provisions to the Amount of the subsistence allowed their respective ranks. I am &c.25

GENERAL ORDERS

Saturday, February 1, 1783.

Parole, Kingston. Countersigns Lancaster, Manchester.

For the day tomorrow Major Gibbs.

For duty the 2d. Jersey regiment.

GENERAL ORDERS

Sunday, February 2, 1783.

Parole Northcastle. Countersigns Onondago, Pompton. For the day tomorrow Major Knap.

For duty the 2d. York regiment.

A sub, sergt, corpl, and 15 privates from the regimt. which gives the details for duty to march tomorrow morning to Westpoint, to receive the prisoners belonging to the corps in this

"The draft is in the writing of Benjamin Walker. The words in brackets are in the writing of Washington.

On February 1 Washington wrote to Brig. Gen. Moses Hazen that he would be notified of the time of proceedings in the trial of the Judge Advocate, with permission to attend. This draft is in the Washington Papers.

Cantonment confined there, and conduct them to the New provost. The officer commanding the party will apply to the Fort major at Westpoint for the prisoners, and report to the Adjutant Genl. on his return that a relief may be ordered for him. Commanding officers of brigades are requested to send to Westpoint on tuesday next for their proportions of Blank cartridges agreably to the returns given in yesterday an abstract of which will be sent to General Knox.

TO BRIGADIER GENERAL RUFUS PUTNAM

Head Quarters, February 2, 1783. Sir: Mr. Hobby having claimed as his property a Negro Man now serving as a soldier in the 3d Masstts Regt. you will be pleased to order a Court of Enquiry, consisting of five as respectable Officers as can be appointed in your Brigade, to examine into the validity of the claim, the manner in which the person in question came into service, and the propriety of his being discharged or retained in service, having inquired into the matter with all the attending circumstances, they will report to you their opinion thereon, which you will communicate to me as soon as conveniently may be. I am etc.

P. S. All concerned should be notified to attend.26

*To LIEUTENANT COLONEL MARINUS WILLETT

Newburgh, February 2, 1783. Dear Sir: Your letters of the 28th ulto From Fort Renselaer, and 30th from Albany both came to my hands last Night.

One hundred and fifty Blankets (all that are in the Clothiers Store at this place) and twenty five Axes are now packing to

20In the writing of David Humphreys. From the original in Marietta College, Ohio.

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A PROJECTED EXPEDITION

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be sent to you; and the Qr Master Genl will endeavor, if possible, to have them at Albany on the 4th.; from whence you must take measures to get them to Fort Herkimer in time. If any of Olneys Men (on the Enterprise you are going) should be in greater need than yours, they must be supplied out of this parcel, that the whole may be as comfortable as it is in my power to make them.

I do not send Medicines, Bandages and Instruments because it would take some time to procure them, and not a moment is to be lost in dispatching the Sleighs with the Blankets, that they may arrive in time; and because (tho' I wish you not to be unprovided) it is to be remembered, and I wish to impress it upon you, that, if you do not succeed by Surprise the attempt will be unwarrantable. The Wounds received in the former, more than probable, will be trifling.

Every plausible deception should be used to mask the object of your Expedition to the latest moment. Your movements afterwards should be quick, and pains must be taken to discover, by tracts or otherwise, whether intelligence has out gone you. If you should be fully convinced of this, the further prosecution of the Enterprise would not only be fruitless, but might prove injurious.

To an Officer of your care, attention and foresight, I shall not dwell upon circumspection and caution. The consequence of a Surprize (not only to the party you command, but to your own reputation) is too serious and self evident, to stand in need of illustration. A Vast deal depends upon having good Guides to Oswego; and every thing, in a manner, upon persons who can carry you without hesitation or difficulty, to the points of Attack when you arrive there. How far a few Indians would be useful to you for the first purpose; and how far they are to be confided in, you, from a better knowledge of them than I possess, must judge and act accordingly.

Guides who are pressed into the Service must be well secured, lest they desert from you in a critical moment.

From having recourse to the Almanack I am led to Wish that the Night for the Attack may not be delayed beyond the 12th Instt.; as I find that the sitting of the Moon (even at that time) approaches so near day light, that the intervening space is short; and consequently must be very critical; as accidents unforseen, and consequently unprovided for, may embarrass your movements towards the Works and retard the Attack of them beyond the hour designed, to the entire disappointment of the plan. Let me caution you therefore against being too exact in your allowance of time for your last Movement; reflect that you can always waste time, but never recover it. Halts, or slow Marching will accomplish the first, but nothing can effect the latter, consequently in such an Enterprise as yours want of time will be a certain defeat.

Let your disposition be such, that in any circumstances your retreat to your Sleigh, and afterwards with them, may be

secure.

If success should crown your endeavors, let your first object be to secure your Prisoners, whom you will treat with lenity and kindness; suffering no Insult or abuse to be offered to them with impunity. Your next object must be to destroy the Works, Vessels (if any should be found there), and every thing else that cannot be brought away. Such Works as cannot be consumed by Fire, nor easily razed by the labor of the Soldiers, must be, if practicable, blown up. In a Word they are to be effectually demolished, if it is within the Compass of your power to do it.

Whatever is found in, or about the Works belonging to the Enemy, and is agreeable to the Rules and Customs of War, humanity and generosity; shall be given to the Party as the

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MUSTERS OF THE ARMY

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reward of their Gallantry and fatigue; to be distributed in proportion to their pay; the drivers of Sleighs, if Countrymen, should receive a part as an extra encouragement for their Services.

Make me the earliest report (if successful from the Scene of Action, at any rate on your return) of your progress, and the Issue of the Expedition. The Inclosed Letter will shew you what I have done respecting Spirits and Subsistence for your Officers. Seal it before delivery, and make your own arrangements with the Contractor. I begin to doubt the practicability of my being up. My sentiments however you are possessed of, as well as all the Aid I can give. Your own judgment must govern where my Instructions are deficient. I heartily wish you honor and success, and am etc."

GENERAL ORDERS

[M.L.]

Monday, February 3, 1783.

Parole Quintal. Countersigns Richmond, Salem.

For the day tomorrow Colonel H. Jackson.

For duty the 1st Hampshire regiment.

TO MAJOR WILLIAM BARBER

Head Quarters, February 3, 1783.

Sir: The Commander in Chief will have occasion immediately for duplicate abstracts of the Musters of the Whole Army, made out from the last Rolls in your possession, exhibiting accurately, the total numbers borne thereon, and the different

27

"An impress warrant, dated February 2, empowering Willett to impress from the inhabitants such a number of sleighs and horses as may be requisite was inclosed by Washington in a brief note dated February 13. The originals of both the warrant and note are in the Morgan Library.