From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 14 July 1778
To Major General Horatio Gates
Head Quarters Paramus [N.J.] July 14th 1778
Sir,
I am just favord with your Letter of yesterday. The right wing and second line of the army marched this morning from hence and will be at Haverstraw tomorrow, where I also expect to be at the same time. I shall be glad to see you there without delay to confer on the several subjects of your letter, and on some other matters of importance. I wrote to you last night communicating the intelligence I had received from Congress of the arrival of a French fleet on our coast;1 this morning brought me accounts, though not certain,2 of its being arrived off the Hook.3 This is a circumstance of serious import, and may have no small influence on our operations. I am Sir Your mo. Obet Sert
Go: Washington
LS, in Richard Kidder Meade’s writing, NHi: Gates Papers; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. GW was referring to his previous letter to Gates of this date.
2. Meade originally wrote “authentic,” which was the word used in Alexander Hamilton’s draft, but he replaced it with “certain.”
3. GW may have been referring to the report conveyed in Lt. Col. Francis Barber’s letter to him of 13 July.