420 Journal and Correspondence

Original

requested General Gist to repair to Maryland as soon as he
can, tho his service with the army is now material, and from
the train of Intelligence I have received from New York for
some days past, it may become still more essential. I am
sorry that I cannot spare any officers besides him. And as to
a detachment of troops, I have to lament with you, that the
circumstances of the Army will not admit of any; and what is
yet more painful, they would not, even if events of a more
pressing nature than any that have arisen, were to take place,
if the enemy should continue their present force at New York
and its dependencies. We have not a very large detachment,
compared with our whole strength, employed in the expedition
under General Sullivan and besides this the operations of the
enemy in Georgia and South Carolina have prevented us
from receiving any aid here from the Virginia Levies and
Recruits. It is my first wish and it shall be my first care to
render the States collectively and individually every service in
my power; but unfortunately, the present means in our hands
are far, very far from being proportioned to the exigency of
the times. We are now almostarrived at the end of May and as
yet the army, although it has suffered a severe diminution in
the course of the last fall & spring, by the expiration of the
inlistments and time of service of many of the Troops and
drafts, has received no accession of force, except the Virginia
levies and some from New York. The state of it before was
not over respectable and would justify but little more in
general cases than defensive measures; but at present the
most we can hope for after the detachments already made is
to preserve the remainder, by keeping it tolerably well united
at one or two important points. To divide it more would be
to expose it to eminent risk.
I have the honor to be
with sentiments of great respect
& regard
Gentlemen
Y^r most obet Servant
G^o Washington

P. S. It will conduce much to dispatch, in assembling the
militia if proper signals could be placed throughout the State
to convey an alarm with rapidity on any emergency.

C. B.

Wednesday 26^th May 1779

Present as on Yesterday
M^r John Lynn of Montgomery County was recommended
to the Board of War for an Appointment as Ensign in the
6^th Maryland Regim^t