Revolutionary War-dated LS, signed “Go. Washington” as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, one page both sides, 7.5 x 12, April 9, 1779. Washington writes (via the secretarial hand of his aide and Constitution signer James McHenry) to New York governor George Clinton. In full: “In the close of my letter of the 5th instant, I had the pleasure to acknowledge your favors of the 18th and 21st ultimo. Besides the 80 battalions of infantry, it is the intention of Congress to preserve as many as 16 additional, and other corps, as can be kept up, by means of incorporation, or continued in their present condition, considering at the same time, such of the men composing these extra regiments or corps, as a part of the quota of the troops, of the State in which they may have been respectively raised. Agreeable to the direction of Congress, I have incorporated Colonel Malcom's and Spencer's Regiments. But, Colonel Warner's having been raised for a particular purpose, I imagine it will remain as it is for the present. Such precautions as you have hinted, will be taken for the better security of the frontiers and protection of our magazines.” At the time of writing, Washington was at the Second Winter Encampment at Middlebrook, New Jersey, preparing for impending war against the Indian tribes allied to the British while holding the defenses against the British to the north. In the first of Clinton's letters that Washington alludes to, written from Poughkeepsie on March 18, Clinton had notified Washington that the legislature had authorized Clinton to “embody 1,000 Men for the Defence of the Northern & Western Frontier” and that “the greater Part of them were entered to join the Troops to be imployed in defensive Operations ag't the Savages….” Three days later, on March 21, Clinton raises the issue of incorporation, skillfully extracting Washington's favorable response in regard to the politically volatile issue of state quotas: “I observe by a Resolve of Congress … that the Infantry of the United States for the next Campaign is to consist of 80 Battalions; which I conclude the sixteen additional Regiments are to be reduced. If this is the Case, I beg leave to remind your Excellency that Colo. Warner's & a considerable part of Colo. Malcomb's [sic] were raised in this State, [and] if they are to be annexed to other Regiments, those of this State appear to me to have the most equitable Claim, especially to such of them as were Inhabitants of this State….” (The full texts of both of Clinton's letters are included.) Spencer's and Malcolm's regiments were combined by the end of the month, on April 22, and were unofficially recognized as the 5th New Jersey Regiment. The “particular purpose” Washington mentions in reference to Colonel Seth Warner's regiment undoubtedly relates to the “Green Mountain Boys” of southwestern Vermont. Ignoring the authority over the region that the British crown had earlier granted to New York, the Green Mountain Boys originally comprised a paramilitary infantry that evolved into the de facto government of New Hampshire. Though New Hampshire declared itself an independent nation in 1777, its troops fought alongside those of the American colonies for part of the war. Later, however, Vermont's more neutral position made it an attraction for deserters from both sides. Warner himself, a close associate of Ethan Allen and captain of the Green Mountain Boys, participated in notable battles at Crown Point, Montreal, Hubbardton, and Bennington. The letter is in good condition, with moderate water staining to the bottom portion (resulting in some fading of text, which remains legible), a few pinhole-sized losses, show-through from writing on reverse, intersecting folds, and a discreet professional repair to a complete horizontal separation. Auction LOA John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and R&R COA.
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