Washington, George (1732-1799) to Anthony Wayne re: perseverance in the "arduous but glorious struggle...."
High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.
Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02872 Author/Creator: Washington, George (1732-1799) Place Written: Head Qrs. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 1780/09/06 Pagination: 2 p. + addr 32.2 x 20.2 cm Order a Copy
Washington, responding to Wayne's letter of September 3 concerning someone's attempts to attack him before Washington, thanks him for his professions of friendship and reassures him of his own regard. Washington assures him that the "person to whom you allude" has "never mentioned a syllable to me in his life injurious to you..., nor... to any Gentn. of my family." Washington asks Wayne to "let all differences subside" and to "[l]et all be as a band of Brothers & rise superior to every injury whether real or imaginary and persevere in the arduous but glorious struggle in which we are engaged, til peace & Independence are secured to our Country."
Signer of the U.S. Constitution.
Head Qrs. Sep: 6th. 1780.
Dear Sir
I have received your letter of the 3d. and return you my warmest thanks for your professions of friendship. These are the more pleasing as I am convinced they are founded in the strictest sincerity, and I hope it is needless for me to tell you at this time, that an equal regard for you, prevails on my part. I am concerned however, that you should have given yourself the trouble of writing me on the subject of your Letter. I did not want any assurance or any proofs upon the point, because I entertain no idea, that you encouraged the unhappy measure, to which you allude, and which I wish to be buried in oblivion. Your former assurances, your anxiety to which I was a witness - the interesting part you took to compromise & settle the matter were sufficient to remove every belief of the sort.
I do not know with certainty the person to whom you allude, as having attempted to injure you; but from what I have heard and not without much pain, it is probable I could conjecture who it is. If I am not mistaken with respect to the person [2] I mean, I can with the greatest truth assure you, that he never mentioned a syllable to me in his life injurious to you in the least possible degree, nor have I any reason to believe that he ever did to any Gentn. of my Family.
The bare report of a coolness which is said to subsist between you & the Gentn. I have in view, has given me great concern, because I have a warm friendship for both & consider harmony essential to our interest. There is nothing if he is the person, which would give me more pleasure than to hear that you were in perfect amity again.
Let it be the case - let all differences subside - the situation of our affairs never required it more - and in the emphatical terms of your and General Irvine's letter of which you inclosed a copy - Let all be as a band of Brothers & rise superior to every injury whether real or imaginary and persevere in the arduous but glorious struggle in which we are engaged till peace & Independence are secured to our Country. I am certain you will do it - and I will only add that
I am with the most perfect
Yr. Friend & Obedt. Servt.
Go: Washington
General Wayne
[Address leaf]
Citation Guidelines for Online Resources
The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.