Washington, George, as Continental Commander

Letter signed ("G° Washington") with autograph postscript signed ("GW"), the letter in the hand of Richard Kidder Meade, 1 page (11 5/8 x 7 3/8 in.; 295 x 187 mm), Head Quarters, Col[onel] Deys [Passaic County NJ], 24 July 1780, [to Colonel Elias Dayton], docketing on verso; formerly folded, four small stains, side margins somewhat short without loss, remains of mounting at four corners of verso.

GW, Writings 19:245 (with mistaken transcription of postscript)

formerly folded, four small stains, side margins somewhat short without loss, remains of mounting at four corners of verso.
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Third New Jersey Regiment ordered to West Farms.

Writing from the Dey Mansion, his sometime headquarters in New Jersey, General Washington is concerned about the exposure of Elias Dayton's (1737-1807) Third New Jersey Regiment: "I have been for some days past under apprehensions for the safety of your Regiment — it is certainly too much exposed in its present position — I therefore desire that you will remove it some distance into the country where it may be less exposed and yet answer the purposes for which it was sent into the neighbourhood of Elizabeth Town — It appears to me that West Farms [now Farmingdale] would be a good position as I observed in my letter of the 10th."

Dayton was accompanied in the regiment by his young son Jonathan (1760-1824) who at the age of 19 had been promoted to the rank of captain only 4 months earlier: "When you have given the necessary orders for this purpose, you will proceed to Head Quarters — but before you set off, I wish you to leave such directions with your Son as will enable him to carry on the train of intelligence you are now engaged in."

The postscript in Washington's hand: "The Business of Flags should also be well attended to — to prevent abuses. GW" refers to the abuse of passes into and out of occupied New York City, where, in some cases, flags of truce were used to carry on commerce or visit relatives.