From George Washington to Colonel Silvanus Seely, 24 October 1779
To Colonel Silvanus Seely
West Point Oct. 24th 1779
Sir,
I have received your Letter of the 20th and thank you much for the intelligence you were so obliging as to communicate—and for the return and disposition of your Regiment.1 You will be pleased to continue your indeavours to obtain information with respect to the Enemy—and to transmit me from time to time, such as you may deem material, and, in a particular manner, You will extend your inquiries to their movements and embarkations and to any changes that may take place in their Shipping either by fresh arrivals or their sailing. I am Sir Your most Obedient sert
Go: Washington
P.S. I am exceedingly sorry to find your Regiment so sickly.
LS, in George Augustine Washington’s writing, probably enclosed in GW to William Woodford, 26 Oct. 1779, in private hands, sold by Sotheby’s, Sale 5837, 25 april 1989, no. 147; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. GW signed the cover of the LS, which is addressed to Seely at Elizabeth, New Jersey. A notation on the same cover indicates receipt of the letter on 27 October.
1. Seely’s letter to GW of 20 Oct. has not been found, and its enclosures have not been identified. Seely commanded a regiment of Morris County, N.J., militia.