Washington to Col. John Cadwalader, December 25, 1776

by George Washington

To Colonel John Cadwalader

Head Quarters [Bucks County, Pa.] Decr 25th

1776

Sir

I have yours of Yesterday ^[1] & have no doubt of your doing every thing in your Power to Promote the Enterprize which I wish you may do as far as you see consistent with Propriety. If nothing more is adviseable a Diversion may facilitate the attempt above—The Dover Militia you may keep to assist you^[2]—Genl Putnam will have Instructions how to dispose of the rest, I wish Colo. Reed may see Colo. Griffin before his men are Despers’d ^[3]—should any Occurrence of Moment happen, you’ll please advise me of it immediately. I am Sir Yr very Hble Servt

Go: Washington.

Notes

1. This letter has not been found.
2. This company of thirty-five militiamen from Kent County, Del., militia was commanded by Capt. Thomas Rodney. It left Dover on 15 Dec. and arrived at Bristol on 22 December. For the march of this company and Cadwalader’s request to annex it to his division, see Rodney, Thomas Rodney’s Diary, 11–21.
3. Joseph Reed says that he went to Philadelphia on the night of 24 Dec. “to urge Genl Puttnam if possible to reinforce Col. Griffin & engage the Attention of the Enemy in that Quarter during the Attack now fixed for the 25th but he found Col. Griffin had returned very ill, that the two Companies of Virginians had also returned leaving their two small Pieces of Iron Cannon & a few Militia at Morris Town & Haddonfield. Genl Puttnam tho’ anxious to do something found that the Shortness of the Time & the unprovided State of the Militia would not admit of the Corporation [cooperation] design’d” (“Reed’s Narrative, 1776–77,” 393; see also Robert Morris to John Hancock, 26 Dec., in Smith, Letters of Delegates, 5:673–75, and John Cadwalader’s first letter to GW, 26 Dec., n.3).

References

http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-07-02-0342