Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Washington, George (1732-1799) to Caesar Rodney

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC06483 Author/Creator: Washington, George (1732-1799) Place Written: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Type: Letter signed Date: 19 January 1779 Pagination: 1 p. : address : docket : free frank ; 39.9 x 24 cm. Order a Copy

Discusses moving the cavalry of Count Pulaski's legion to where it will interfere less with supply with Rodney, then President of Delaware. Suggests Kent and Sussex counties in Delaware as a possible location and seeks the proper authority to quarter them there. Docketed twice, on the second page and on the address leaf.

Signer of the U.S. Constitution.

Head Quarters Philadelphia 19th Jany
1779.
Sir.
The Quarter Master General has represented to me, that our resources in point of forage will not with the greatest œconomy and management satisfy the demands of the Army - unless the Cava[text loss] of Pulaskis Legion is removed to some position whe[text loss] it will interfere less with the general Supply -
The Counties of Kent and Sussex in your State, he thinks will be able to maintain this Corps, with less inconvenience to the Country than any other place within a reasonable distance.
I am therefore to request that Your Excellency will give Mr Quarter Master Wade, who is charged with this business, proper authority to canton these troops in the most advantageous manner -
At the same time that I would have them so disposed as to be secure of a sufficient supply, and not too much scattered for the preservation of discipline; I would wish them to be as little burthensome to the Inhabitants as possible -
Your Excellencys Countenance and support to Mr Wade will conciliate these desirable ends - and in full assurance of your granting them -
I remain
with great respect - Sir
Your most obed Servt
His Excellency Governor Rodney - Go: Washington

[docket]
Letter from his Excellency. General Washington to the
Governor [inserted: Rodney] Jany. the 19th 1779.-
Requesting his influence & exertions to make provisions for Pulaski's
Regiment & c.

[address leaf]
(Public service)
His Excellency Governor Rodney
Go: Washington Dover.

[docket on address leaf]
Rec'd from his Excelly Genl Washington, & forwarded
by --- Sir Your most Obedt. & hble Servt.
Frans. Wades Drelly

Washington, George, 1732-1799
Rodney, C. A. (Caesar Augustus), 1772-1824

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