Head Quarters, Valley Forge, March 5, 1778.
Dear Sir: I am favoured with yours of the 18th. Feby. inclosing your remarks upon Colo. Drake's 33 representation of your Conduct. As I did not chuse to give any determination upon the matter exparte, I sent the representation back to Genl. Putnam, that you might see it, and vindicate yourself, if any of the
[Note:Col. Samuel Drake. New York commissioner to remove stock from reach of enemy and member of New York committee of sequestration. ]
I am exceedingly glad to hear of your determination to remain in the Army at this time, when too many are withdrawing themselves from the Service, and I am not less pleased at the account you give me of the progress of the obstructions and Fortifications in and upon the River. I can only recommend your strictest attention to a work of so much consequence. I must also desire that you will have all the Arms at the different posts in your Neighbourhood collected and have those that want repair put into the hands of the Armourers at Fishkill, for I am certain when we come to draw our force together in the Spring, that we shall want Arms, notwithstanding the considerable importations.
Colo. Hay, 34 of Haverstraw informs me, that there is a large quantity of Forage collected at that place which he fears will fall into the Enemy's hands if it is not removed or a proper guard sent over to protect it. As your Force may not probably allow you to do the latter with convenience, I wish you would do all in your power to effect the former. The Enemy, I should suppose must be distressed for want of it, and when our Stores come forward in the Spring our Horses will stand in equal need of it. As Colo. Hay complains of Genl. Putnam's inattention to this matter when he represented it to him, I must beg you to see to it.
[Note:Lieut. Col. Udny Hay, Deputy Quartermaster General, and, later, agent for the State of New York. ]
The Committee of Congress who are now here have desired that no Commissions may be filled up till some new general arrangements of the Army are completed. The Gentlemen will not lose any of their pretensions to Rank, by waiting a little time longer for their Commissions, which shall be forwarded as soon as the Business above mentioned is finished. Colo. Webb's 35 Officers will take Rank from the time he really appointed them. As I do not know when that was, he or Lieutt. Colo. Livingston 36 must make an exact Return of their Ranks and time of appointment. Inclosed you have a letter for Genl. Knox who is expected from the Eastward. If he has not arrived with you, be pleased to forward it to Springfield with orders if he has not been there to send it on to Boston. I am, etc. 37
[Note:Col. Samuel Blatchley Webb. ]
[Note:Lieut. Col. William Smith Livingston, of Webb's Additional Continental regiment. ]
[Note:The draft is in the writing of Tench Tilghman. ]