Beschreibung:

WASHINGTON, George. Letter signed ("G: o Washington") as Commander-in-Chief, Continental Army, with autograph closing ("Y r most Obed t. Serv t.") text in the hand of aide-de-camp Tench Tilghman, a circular letter to the states, Head Quarters, Morristown, 2 June 1780. 3 1/3 pages, folio, neat tissue reinforcement along several folds, a 1 1/8 x 8 in. strip trimmed from lower blank margin of second leaf, neatly docketed on page 4. URGENT CALLS FOR MILITIA, IN PREPARATION FOR THE 1780 CAMPAIGNS. NEW TROOPS ARE "ESSENTIAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THE MEASURES...AGAINST THE ENEMY" Washington takes the bold and critical step of summoning from the states a total of 17,000 urgently needed militia in order to be able to defend the Hudson Highlands, repel likely British attacks, and, if possible, mount new offensive atacks. He forwards a letter from the Committee of Congress and certain other dispatches, and observes that "these Gentlemen and Myself, after maturely considering the matter, deem it essential to the success of the measures in contemplation to be carried on against the Enemy, to call on the States for certain Aids of Militia," who are summoned to report by June 15. The numbers of militia requested from each state, he is quick to point out, are "founded on a principle of apportionment common to all States, from New Hampshire to Maryland inclusive," while the southern states were omitted "on account of their distance." These militia, "well armed," "under proper Officers," and grouped in Regiments for purposes of discipline, are to report at Claverack on the Hudson, "from whence they will proceed on my Orders, as Occasion may require." The additional militia desired, Washington adds, "will not...impede in the smallest degree the filling up the Regiments of the State by Drafts to their full complement. This is a point of such great importance, so absolutely essential to give the least prospect of success to our operations...that I could not forbear mentioning it. If the Regiments are completed by Drafts, it is possible our demand for Militia may be a good deal diminished; but this must be governed by events and therefore, for Objects so very interesting, so important to those to which we at present look, we should provide whatever may be possibly requisite...." The winter encampment at Morristown (November 1779-June 1780) had proved "an ordeal of almost unbelievable suffering because of the record-breaking cold" (Boatner). Supply shortages were legion (partly due to the precipitous depreciation of Continental currency), and mutiny was threatened in certain quarters. Morale plummeted, while sickness and desertion severely depleted Washington's modest army. In May, with the winter ordeal ended, Washington received the disheartening news of the fall of Charlestown and the surrender of the American garrison. Even before the state militia reported for duty--just four days after this letter, the British launched a probing attack in the direction of Morristown, but in fighting at Springfield, New Jersey they were skillfully repulsed. The ill-starred 1780 campaigns had begun, and the British had opened hostilities. Fitzpatrick 18: 468-470.