Washington, George

General Washington's Letter, Declaring his Acceptance of the Command of the Armies of the United States. In Senate, July 18, 1798. Gentlemen of the Senate, Believing that the Letter received this morning, from General Washington, will give high satisfaction to the Senate, I transmit them a copy of it, and congratulate them and the public on this great event, the General's acceptance of his appointment, as Lieutenant-General and Commander in Chief of the Army. John Adams. ... [Philadelphia:] Published for General Information, [1798]



Broadside (18 1/8 x 11 1/4 in.; 462 x 285 mm, uncut) on paper. Text of Washington's letter in two columns; some neat restoration to fold separations and edges. Hinged to a linen mat, framed, and glazed.

Evans 34829

As the XYZ Affair threatened to destroy the Franco-American alliance, Washington answers President Adams's call to return to duty. When reports of Talleyrand's insulting treatment of American ministers Charles Pinckney, John Marshall, and Elbridge Gerry inflamed the American public and congress alike, President Adams recommended raising a provisional army to strengthen the nation's defenses. On 22 June 1798 Adams had written to Washington and admitted that should he have to form an army, he would be "at an immense Loss whether to call out all the old Generals, or to appoint a young sett" (Papers of George Washington, Retirement Series, ed. Abbot, 2: 352). Washington replied, 4 July, that he while had not anticipated having again to "turn my eyes from the shades of Mount Vernon ... In case of actual Invasion by a formidable force, I certainly should not Intrench myself under the cover of Age & retirement, if my services should be required by my Country, to assist in repelling it" (Papers, Retirement 2:369).  

Having received this encouragement, Adams dispatched Secretary of War James McHenry to Mount Vernon with Washington's appointment as "Lieutenant General and Commander in Chief of all the Armies raised or to be raised for the service of the United States." On 13 July, McHenry was on the way back to Philadelphia with Washington's letter of acceptance. Adams immediately transmitted a copy of the letter to the Congress and very shortly afterwards it was "Published for General Information." Apart from some typographical flourishes and a few variations in spelling and other incidentals, the text of the broadside follows exactly that of Washington's wholly characteristic autograph letter (see Papers, Retirement 2: 402–04).

"I cannot express how greatly affected I am at this new proof of public confidence, ... at the same time, I must not conceal from you my earnest wish, that the choice had fallen upon a man less declined in years, and better qualified to encounter the usual vicissitudes of war. ... [Y]ou will therefore be at no loss to conceive and appreciate the sensations I must have experienced, to bring my mind to any conclusion that would pledge me, at so late a period of life, to leave scenes I sincerely love, to enter upon the boundless field of public action, incessant trouble, and high responsibility."

Washington then rehearses the transgressions of the Directory of France against the United States: "their insidious hostility towards its government; their various practice to withdraw the affections of the people from it; the evident tendency of their acts, and those of their agents to countenance and invigorate opposition; their disregard of solemn treaties and the laws of nations; their war upon our defenceless commerce; their treatment of our ministers of peace; and their demands amounting to tribute. ..." Satisfied that Adams has done all in his power to avoid war and believing that every citizen must support his country's welfare, Washington announces "I have finally determined to accept the Commission of Commander in Chief of the Armies of the United States; with the reserve only, that I shall not be called into the field until the army is in a situation to require my presence, or it becomes indispensable by the urgency of circumstances." Washington further stipulates that he declines to receive any payment for his new position unless he incurs expenses.

"Before Washington accepted the commission on 13 July, Congress as was expected also had voted to add twelve regiments and six troops of dragoons to the four exisiting regiments of the regular army. Although Washington never had to take the field, remaining at Mount Vernon except for a trip to Philadelphia in November and December 1798, much of his time and a large part of his correspondence for the remainder of his life were taken up with efforts to form this 'new army,' as it came to be called" (Papers, Retirement, ed. Abbot, 2:368, note).