From George Washington to William Shippen, Jr., 9 September 1778
To William Shippen, Jr.
Head Quarters [White Plains] 9th Sepr 1778
Sir
It is more than probable, from some late maneuvres of the Enemy, that the Army will have occasion to move from its present position to the Eastward. I therefore desire that the most immediate measures may be fallen upon to remove the sick of the Army at least as far as Danbury.1 The Hospital established at Bedford will for the above Reasons be too much exposed and should therefore be immediately removed also as far as Danbury. The Quarter Master General will, upon application, afford all the assistance in his power, towards procuring Waggons for the removal of the patients and Hospital Stores. I am.
Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. A return of the sick in the army at White Plains for 7 Sept. gives a total of 1,458 men. A return of the sick and wounded in eastern department military hospitals for September and October shows 107 admitted at Bedford, N.Y., and 938 admitted at Danbury, Conn., with a note that seems to indicate that 435 of the Danbury admissions came from Bedford. The same return records 294 soldiers remaining at Danbury, none at Bedford (DNA: RG 93, Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775–1783).