From George Washington to Brigadier General Peter Muhlenberg, 18 June 1778
To Brigadier General Peter Muhlenberg
Head Quarters Valley Forge 18th June 1778
Dear Sir
Colo. Harrison communicated yours of this date to me with the temporary arrangement of the 1st 5th and 9th Virginia Regiments.1 The plan is agreeable to me,2 And if the same mode can be pursued in General Weedons Brigade I shall be exceedingly glad to have it adopted. Nothing will conduce more to filling the Regiments, than having a number of Officers to receive the draughts as they are made, and forwarding them immediately to Camp. Orders will be made out for Colo. Ballard whenever he calls for them. I am Yr most obt Servt.
Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. Muhlenberg wrote to Robert Hanson Harrison on this date: “I have enclosd the Arangement of the Officers of the 1st 5th & 9th Virga Regts. if it meets with His Excellencys Approbation I would wish to put it into Execution imediately, as it would be needless to take the Supernumery Officers with us on the March, while they may be better employd in the Recruiting Business in Virginia—If His Excellency approves the Arrangement, Lt Colo. Ballard will wait on Him for Orders, for the whole of those Officers going into Virga—as Lt Colo. Ballard will Superintend the Recruiting Business for my Brigade.
“I should likewise wish to know whether it is His Excellencys desire I should make the Arangement in Genl Weedons Brigade” (DLC:GW). Muhlenberg’s enclosed return of “Officers of the 1st 5th and 9th Virginia Regiments who are to go on command to Virginia June 18th 1778” lists Lt. Col. Robert Ballard, Maj. Thomas Gaskins, Capt. William Cunningham, Capt. Christopher Pelham, Lt. Ballard Smith, Lt. Thomas Holt, and Lt. John Drewry of the 1st Virginia Regiment; and Capt. James “Muehlehainy,” Lt. John McAdams, Lt. Obediah Smith, and Lt. David Miller of the 5th Virginia Regiment. He appended a note that “There are some Office[r]s belonging to the Regts now in Virga who may remain on the Recruiting Business” (DLC:GW).
2. Tilghman crossed out the following: “if it is so to the Officers themselves who are not included.”