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Revolutionary War-dated LS as commander in chief, signed “Go: Washington,” four pages on two adjoining sheets, 7 x 11.75, July 30, 1782. Addressed from “Head Quarters, Newburgh [New York],” a letter to New York Governor George Clinton concerning the defense of the Mohawk Valley, in full: “Sir, I have been honored with your Excellency’s favor of the 24th inclosing the Copy of a Letter From Col. Willet: From which I have learnt with great concern the repeated depredations that have been committed on your Western frontier, and should be extremely happy (were it in my power consistent with the general state of affairs) to afford a sufficient Detachment from this Army to cover the whole country; but I dare say you must be sensible this is not the case. How far it may therefore be expedient to call forth an additional aid of Militia, I shall submit to your Excellencys judgment, as you are better acquainted with the circumstances of the frontier, the strength of Willets command, and probably the state of the Enemy at Oswego, than I am. In the mean time, I wish to be informed as far as may be in your power, of the force of Willet’s Corps now assembled on the Mohawk, also of the strength of the Enemy at Oswego, of which I have as yet had only vague and unsatisfactory accounts.
Since the date of Col. Willet’s Letter, he has, I suppose, received four hundred cartridge Boxes, in which Article his most essential deficiency consisted. In consequence of which I cannot but hope, that corps in conjunction with the Continental regiment stationed in that quarter will be able to give a better protection to the Country than has lately been the case, and to chastise the insolence of the enemy in any future incursion, especially since they are now likely to be supplied with hard bread and salted meat—Of which articles, however, I apprehend there will not at present be such quantities accumulated, but that they may be preserved from spoiling by temporary sheds, or cellars covered with good thatch, or substantial well-wrought shade of boughs, which may be constructed by a little care and attention of the officers and labour of the soldiers. This is upon a supposition that the public will not be enabled to erect stores for the purpose; for notwithstanding the order I have sometime since given to the Quarter Master to furnish materials for the buildings necessary at the posts on the Mohawk, I fear he will not have it in his power to do it for want of money.” Signed prominently at the conclusion by George Washington. Professionally cleaned and restored to near fine condition, with an area of dampstaining to the lower right corner of the first page touching several words of text. Accompanied by a full letter of authenticity from JSA.
The surrender at Yorktown had not ended the war: Washington maintained his headquarters at Newburgh to watch the British forces still occupying New York and preserve his army's readiness while peace remained uncertain. Writing from Poughkeepsie on July 24, Clinton attributed the renewed frontier raids to the British post at Oswego, reestablished that spring. He enclosed Colonel Marinus Willett's July 17 letter from Fort Rensselaer, which relayed reports that an enemy force numbering 500 to 600 had struck the German Flatts, burned uninhabited properties between the foot of Fall Hill and Fort Herkimer, and carried off 150 cattle and 50 horses. Clinton feared that the Mohawk settlements would be destroyed or abandoned unless their defenses were reinforced and offered to call additional militia into service at Washington's request. He also reported that William Duer was preparing to forward hard bread and salted meat to the troops in Tryon County, but that none of the posts there had a building suitable for storing those provisions.
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