Details
WASHINGTON, GEORGE President. Letter signed ("G:Washington") as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, to Colonel Stephen Moylan, Head Q uarters, Morris Town [New Jersey], 15 February 1780. 1 page, folio, 330 x 210mm. (13 x 8 1/4 in.), dampstains in two places on right-hand edge with loss to paper, neatly repaired but affecting four words of the text and one word in closing, a few spots to paper at end of Washington's signature (which is otherwise large and clear).
WASHINGTON TO HIS CHIEF OF CAVALRY
A letter written during the difficult Morristown winter encampment of 1779-1780, which "became an ordeal of almost unbelievable suffering because of the record-breaking cold" (Boatner, Encyclopedia of the American Revolution, p. 747). General Washington urges Colonel Moylan to report on the regiment under his command: "I am to request that you will transmit me as soon as possible an Exact Return of the number of Non Commissioned Officers and privates of your Regiment; designating in a particular manner how many belong to this or that state -- what proportion of them are inlisted for the War and the different terms of service of the Rest by Monthly Columns. You cannot be too expeditious in forwarding me this Return. The One [return] transmitted will not answer the purposes for which this is wanted. I have also written to Colo[nel Elisha] Sheldon for a similar Return of his Regiment..." Fitzpatrick, 18:14-15.
Stephen Moylan (1737-1811), a Pennsylvanian of Irish Catholic ancestry, was an early advocate of independence for America, served as muster-master general of the Continental Army, was Washington's secretary in 1775-1776, then was appointed Quartermaster General, a role at which he was not successful. After resigning that post, he fought bravely at Trenton and Princeton, took command of a regiment he raised, the 4th Continental Dragoons, wintered in 1778 at Valley Forge, and later, upon the resignation of Pulaski, commanded the four Continental cavalry regiments. A jovial character and flamboyant dresser, he served until the war's end.
WASHINGTON TO HIS CHIEF OF CAVALRY
A letter written during the difficult Morristown winter encampment of 1779-1780, which "became an ordeal of almost unbelievable suffering because of the record-breaking cold" (Boatner, Encyclopedia of the American Revolution, p. 747). General Washington urges Colonel Moylan to report on the regiment under his command: "I am to request that you will transmit me as soon as possible an Exact Return of the number of Non Commissioned Officers and privates of your Regiment; designating in a particular manner how many belong to this or that state -- what proportion of them are inlisted for the War and the different terms of service of the Rest by Monthly Columns. You cannot be too expeditious in forwarding me this Return. The One [return] transmitted will not answer the purposes for which this is wanted. I have also written to Colo[nel Elisha] Sheldon for a similar Return of his Regiment..." Fitzpatrick, 18:14-15.
Stephen Moylan (1737-1811), a Pennsylvanian of Irish Catholic ancestry, was an early advocate of independence for America, served as muster-master general of the Continental Army, was Washington's secretary in 1775-1776, then was appointed Quartermaster General, a role at which he was not successful. After resigning that post, he fought bravely at Trenton and Princeton, took command of a regiment he raised, the 4th Continental Dragoons, wintered in 1778 at Valley Forge, and later, upon the resignation of Pulaski, commanded the four Continental cavalry regiments. A jovial character and flamboyant dresser, he served until the war's end.