WASHINGTON, George (1732-1799), President . Letter signed ("G: o Washington"), as Commander-in-Chief, Continental Army, to [Col. Elias Dayton], Head Quarters, New Windsor, 7 February 1781. 2 pages, folio edges chipped (catching portions of a few letters), creases worn and repaired, recto soiled . Text in the hand of David Humphreys.
WASHINGTON, George (1732-1799), President . Letter signed ("G: o Washington"), as Commander-in-Chief, Continental Army, to [Col. Elias Dayton], Head Quarters, New Windsor, 7 February 1781. 2 pages, folio edges chipped (catching portions of a few letters), creases worn and repaired, recto soiled . Text in the hand of David Humphreys. "VERY GREAT VIGILANCE WILL BE NECESSARY TO PREVENT THE POSSIBILITY OF A SURPRIZE" Three weeks after a mutiny among the New Jersey regiments, and with a dangerous vacancy in the command post, Washington orders the movement of the troops to Morristown. "After posting a captain's Command at the entrance of Smith's Clove, and another at Pompton or Ringwood, as you shall judge most expedient, to protect the country, secure the stores, and cover the communication, you will march the remainder of the Jersey Troops to Morris Town, and dispose of them in the huts lately occupied by the Pennsylvanians. The garrison of the Block House at Dobbs Ferry will be relieved by the Troops under Major Gen. Heath and join their respective regiments. I should think it advisable for the two commands, which are to be left in the vicinity of your present cantonment, to be entire companies about 40 men each under their own officers to be relieved once a fortnight, or as often as you think proper. I prefer this, on several accounts, to detachment. Notwithstanding your troops at Morristown, and these commands will be so far distant from the enemy, very great vigilance will be necessary to prevent the possibility of a surprize; and to detect and apprehend such emissaries from the enemy, or disaffected persons, as may be induced from the situation to lurk about the posts, or attempt any thing inimical in these parts of the country." Things were dangerously unsteady in the Jersey regiments. On 20 January a group of some 200 men decided to follow the recent example of their Pennsylvania Line comrades and mutiny. They marched from Pompton towards Catham, where Washington acted quickly to stop them, summarily executing two of the ringleaders. Shortly afterwards, Col. Israel Shreve ("fat, loyal but incompetent" -- Boatner) tendered his resignation as commander of the N.J. regiments. A dispute arose among his two lt. cols., Barber and De Hart, over which one was senior. Washington wrote this same day to Col. Elias Dayton (who outranked both of them), urging him to get to Morristown and put things in order since the situation "may produce parties and cabals to the great detriment of the service" (GW to Dayton, 7 Feb. 1781). Published in Fitzpatrick 21:196-197.
WASHINGTON, George (1732-1799), President . Letter signed ("G: o Washington"), as Commander-in-Chief, Continental Army, to [Col. Elias Dayton], Head Quarters, New Windsor, 7 February 1781. 2 pages, folio edges chipped (catching portions of a few letters), creases worn and repaired, recto soiled . Text in the hand of David Humphreys.
WASHINGTON, George (1732-1799), President . Letter signed ("G: o Washington"), as Commander-in-Chief, Continental Army, to [Col. Elias Dayton], Head Quarters, New Windsor, 7 February 1781. 2 pages, folio edges chipped (catching portions of a few letters), creases worn and repaired, recto soiled . Text in the hand of David Humphreys. "VERY GREAT VIGILANCE WILL BE NECESSARY TO PREVENT THE POSSIBILITY OF A SURPRIZE" Three weeks after a mutiny among the New Jersey regiments, and with a dangerous vacancy in the command post, Washington orders the movement of the troops to Morristown. "After posting a captain's Command at the entrance of Smith's Clove, and another at Pompton or Ringwood, as you shall judge most expedient, to protect the country, secure the stores, and cover the communication, you will march the remainder of the Jersey Troops to Morris Town, and dispose of them in the huts lately occupied by the Pennsylvanians. The garrison of the Block House at Dobbs Ferry will be relieved by the Troops under Major Gen. Heath and join their respective regiments. I should think it advisable for the two commands, which are to be left in the vicinity of your present cantonment, to be entire companies about 40 men each under their own officers to be relieved once a fortnight, or as often as you think proper. I prefer this, on several accounts, to detachment. Notwithstanding your troops at Morristown, and these commands will be so far distant from the enemy, very great vigilance will be necessary to prevent the possibility of a surprize; and to detect and apprehend such emissaries from the enemy, or disaffected persons, as may be induced from the situation to lurk about the posts, or attempt any thing inimical in these parts of the country." Things were dangerously unsteady in the Jersey regiments. On 20 January a group of some 200 men decided to follow the recent example of their Pennsylvania Line comrades and mutiny. They marched from Pompton towards Catham, where Washington acted quickly to stop them, summarily executing two of the ringleaders. Shortly afterwards, Col. Israel Shreve ("fat, loyal but incompetent" -- Boatner) tendered his resignation as commander of the N.J. regiments. A dispute arose among his two lt. cols., Barber and De Hart, over which one was senior. Washington wrote this same day to Col. Elias Dayton (who outranked both of them), urging him to get to Morristown and put things in order since the situation "may produce parties and cabals to the great detriment of the service" (GW to Dayton, 7 Feb. 1781). Published in Fitzpatrick 21:196-197.
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