DOCUMENTS & MAPS - 1779

Washington to Erskine, February 10^th, 1779

Head Quarters, 10th Feby. 1779

Sir: As I think you are much exposed in your present situa­tion, to the enterprises of Refugees acquainted with the Coun­try, and the work in which you are employed unquestionably makes you an object with the enemy; I desire that as soon as possible after receipt of this letter, you will remove to quarters more safe by the vicinity of the Army. You will of course dismiss your guard, and direct the Serjeant to march it immediately and join Col. Clarke.

P. S.-It will naturally occur to you to remove with you all your surveys that might be of any use to the enemy.

George Washington to Robert Erskine, March 3, 1779

Head Quarters, Middle Brook, March 3, 1779.

Sir: I am favd. with yours of the 26th. ulto. by Colo. Malcom. Notwithstanding the many conveniences that would result from carrying on your work at your own House, I am still of opinion, that convenience is overballanced by the danger you are in, should the enemy think the draughts in which you are engaged worth their attention. I can assure you, your Work is no secret to them. Some of the Convention officers who were at your House, saw the Maps and mentioned the accuracy and great Value of them. Altho' a small guard assisted by your own people may be sufficient to keep off the small parties of Villains who infest your quarter merely for plunder, it would probably be otherwise with a party sent expressly to take your papers, which from the desultory kind of War they now seem inclined to carry on would be infinitely valuable to them.

I must therefore repeat my desire of your removing as near to the Camp as a convenient situation will admit. You will be as perfectly safe any where in the Rear of the Army as if you were in the midst of it, the people being to a Man well affected and a chain of Guards so posted that no parties can penetrate undiscovered. I cannot think your family will be in danger after the objects that would probably tempt an enemy are removed, but of this you are the best judge. Colo. Malcom delivered the two Maps safe. I am etc.²⁹

[Note 29: The draft is in the writing of Tench Tilghman.]

Erskine to Washington , March 20^th 1779

Ringwood, March 20th 1779

May it please your Excellency:

As the Supreme Court is now sitting near Pompton, for the trial of Criminals, some of whom were concerned in the robbery of my house, I have no doubt of your excuse for not com­ing along with the papers and drawings of my Department. t provide Quarters; I have however, sent them all by Capt. ^­Scull, who will look out for accommodations as convenient and agreeable to your Excellency's directions as possible. They should have been sent sooner, had I not been delayed a greater while at Albany than I expected, where I was under the necesity of going to receive interest, and to deposit some Called-in Currency at the Loan Office. Col. Malcom therefore returned about a week before I got back.

Meanwhile, while at Albany , I enquired after maps and surveys which might be of service. ---One surveyor has en­gaged to compile a Plan of Albany County, from his own and other surveys in his possession; besides which I expect to pro­cure several other useful plans, particularly copies of the North and West Branches of Hudson's River, surveyed to their sources; a survey of the same river taken on the Ice, from some miles above Albany to about 4⁰ miles below it; a map which belonged to Sir William Johnson, along the Mohawk River to Oswego, compiled from actual surveys, etc. All of which I took the liberty to say would prove acceptable to your Excellency, as from them perhaps a better Plan of the northern parts may be formed, than any hitherto extant.

With respect to some Convention Officers seeing the Maps, I beg leave to observe that should it have been so represented to your Excellency as if I had made a public Exhibition of them, my prudence, at least, might well be called in question. The fact, however, was far otherwise, and is simply this. The Only Convention officer I ever saw was a Majr. Noble, aid-de-Camp to Genl. Phillips, who last winter was recommended to the civilities of my house in his rout to your Excy's. Quarters: he enquired for me, and was shown into the room where I was drawing, without his being known for a British officer, till he introduced himself. I happened then to be laying down the road from Chester to this place, which he had just traveled over, and speaking of the distance he had come this morning, he cast his eyes over my drawing, (which was the contraction of two miles to an inch) and observed it was the only plan he had seen which bore any resemblance to the face of the Coun­try. The only map of mine, therefore, he saw was that before me; for on his inquiring further into his rout, and the distance he had to go, I produced him Montresor's and Holland's Maps, which he had often seen before: he staid dinner, and went as far as Pompton that evening.

Head Quarters, Smith's Tavern, Wednesday, June 9, 1779.

Parole Bilboa. Countersigns Baltimore, Bender.

A detachment of five hundred men from the Virginia and Maryland divisions, with three days provision and their blankets unincumbered with any other baggage, to march tomorrow morning at four o'clock to relieve the detachment under Colonel Stewart; Colonel Williams⁶ to take the command and call this afternoon at Head Quarters for instructions.

[Note 6: Col. Otho Holland Williams, of the Sixth Maryland Regiment.]

Major Webb⁷ to be joined to this detachment.

[Note 7: Maj. John Webb, of the Fifth Virginia Regiment. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in July, 1779, and retired in February, 1781.]

The Virginia division will furnish a Picket of fifty men on the clove road four miles advanced on the right of their encampment and the Maryland division will do the same on the road or path leading from June's tavern towards Haverstraw. Patroles to be constantly going from these Pickets as far down as may be safe.

Lord Stirling will please to order a party of thirty men to open the road from June's and General St. Clair a like party to open that from the Widow Van Ambras's to the Furnace so as if possible to admit a march in sections.

The Chief Engineer will furnish the General with a draft of West Point and its environs, including the communications with this Camp. The roads leading from June's and the Widow VanAmbra's to the Furnace of Deane are in the first instance to be ascertained. The Geographers will assist in this business.⁸

[Note 8: A resultant map is, probably, the one now (1931) in the possession of Erskine Hewitt, of New York City , which is inscribed "Copied from Surveys laid down by R. Erskine F. R. S. 1778 & 1779"]

Captain Lt. Pryor of Colonel Harrison's regiment of Artillery is appointed Aide De Camp to Major General Lord Stirling and is to be accordingly respected.

Washington to Erskine, August 7, 1779

West-point, August 7, 1779

Sir,

Are the cross roads between the Sussex and Morristown Roads Surveyed? If they are I wish to have them laid down on my pocket Map as soon as possible; if they are not, no time should be lost in the completion of this necessary work.

If you have any Assistant with you, unimployed, he may Survey the Road from Stamford to Hartford by the way of Norwalk Fairfield & New Haven, & come back the most direct Public Road from Newhaven to Bedford .

G°. Washington

Robt Erskine, Geographer

Washington to Erskine, August 16, 1779

HeadQrs. West Point, 16 Augt--1779

Sir:

Lord Stirling writes me that a very good road might be opened from Ringwood into the clove, about a mile below Galloway's, along the east side of Tucksets Pond. This will be a shorter route from Morris Town to New Windsor. You will therefore be pleased to mark out the road, and make the proper communication to Lord Stirling that it may be carried into execution.

George Washington to William Alexander, Lord Stirling, August 16, 1779

Head Quarters, West point, August 16, 1779.

My Lord: I have to acknowlege the favor of your Lordships two letters of the 13th and 15th inst.

Mr. Erskine will receive his orders today, to mark out the road, which it has been proposed should be opened and to make you the proper communication, when you will be pleased to enter upon the necessary measures to have it completed. I am, &c.¹⁵

[Note 15: The draft is in the writing of James McHenry.]

George Washington to William Alexander, Lord Stirling, August 21, 1779

August 21, 1779.

My Lord: I have been duly favored with your letter of the 19th written at 9 o'clock A.M. and that of the same date of one o'clock. P.M. containing the agreeable information of Major Lees having succeeded against Powles Hook. I join my congratulations with your Lordships on this occasion and thank you for the effectual assistance afforded Major Lee in completing the enterprise. The increase of confidence which the army will derive from this affair and that of Stoney point, I flatter myself tho great will be among the least of the advantages resulting from these events.

As the enemy must feel himself disgraced by these losses, he may endeavour to lessen it by a retaliation in kind. It is natural to expect his attempts on such parts of the army as lye most exposed. This sentiment I make no doubt has occurred to your Lordship, and will of course proportion your vigilance to the nature of your situation, and the danger which may be apprehended. I have this moment received your letter of the 20th. Your Lordship will be pleased to give my thanks to the officers and troops concerned in the capture of the garrison at Powles Hook for their good conduct and gallant behaviour on the occasion. The commissary of prisoners is directed to attend to receive the British prisoners.

Mr. Erskine has left this for the purpose of laying out the road mentioned in one of your Lordship's former letters; I wish to have it completed as soon as possible. I am, &cc⁹⁴

[Note 94: The draft is in the writing of James McHenry.]

Tench Tilghman to Robert Erskine, December 9, 1779

Head Quarters, Morris Town, December 9, 1779.

Dear Sir: His Excellency is extremely anxious to have the Roads in front and rear of the Camp accurately surveyed as speedily as possible. He therefore wishes to see you immediately at Head Quarters that he may give you particular directions as to the Business which he wants executed. I am etc.⁷

[Note 7: The draft is in the writing of and is signed "T. Tilghman."]

Head Quarters, Morristown , Friday, December 24, 1779.

Parole Canada . Countersigns Danvets, Enfield .

Major Thomas Moore³⁴ is to join the Light Infantry immediately and take command of that part of it formerly in Colonel Febigers regiment.

[Note 34: Maj. Thomas Lloyd Moore, of the Ninth Pennsylvania Regiment. He was transferred to the Fifth Pennsylvania Regiment in January, 1781, and retired in January, 1783.]

The Honorable the board of War having procured a small supply of shirts and linen and directed the distribution of them among the officers of the line and staff who are not adopted by any state; The Cloathier General is to deliver them upon returns signed by the commanding officers and heads of the following corps and departments at the rates directed by a resolve of Congress of the 25th. of November last. Regiments of Cavalry; of additional Infantry and companies of Artillery; Corps of Engineers including Sappers and Miners; Armand's and Lee's Corps; Aides de Camp not belonging to the line, Surgeons of the General and Flying Hospital; Muster Masters; Judge Advocate; Auditors and Deputy Pay-Master General; Military Surveyors.

Major Church ³⁵ of the 4th. Pennsylvania regiment is ap pointed Brigade Major and Inspector to General Hand's brigade and is to be respected and obeyed as such.

[Note 35: Maj, Thomas Church. He retired in January, 1781.]