George Washington to Lewis Nicola
Camp Pennybeckers Mill, September 29, 1777.
Sir: Sir: I am favoured with yours of the 25th. instant from Fort Mifflin. Before this reaches you, Lt. Colo. Smith1 will have thrown himself into the Fort with two hundred Continental Troops, which are all that I could possibly spare. I very much approve of your calling upon Govr. Livingston for a Reinforcement of Jersey Militia, and I think you had better call in the few Men that are at Billingsport and if there are any Stores there, remove them to Fort Mifflin.
By this opportunity I transmit Commodore Hazlewood and Captn. Alexander.2 Letters from Congress, desiring them to give every assistance towards the defence of the Fort and obstructions in the River; and I inclose you Copy of the General Orders of this day, by which you will see how successful our Arms have been to the Northward. I hope we shall not in the end fall short of them.
Captn. Treat3 mentions that there is no quantity of Musket Cartridges in the Garrison, you should therefore immediately procure loose powder from the Ships, if you have none in the Magazine, and set the Men to making up. I put great dependance upon you and all your Officers exerting yourselves in the defence of a post of so much consequence. You must be sensible that Genl. Howe can neither support his Army in Philadelphia, if he is cut off from a communication with his Ships, neither can he make good a retreat should any accident befall him. I am etc.4
- 1. Lieut. Col. Samuel Smith, of the Fourth Maryland Regiment. He was wounded at Fort Mifflin on October 23 and received a vote of thanks and a sword from Congress on November 4 for his gallant defense of that fort; resigned in May, 1779.
- 2. Capt. Charles Alexander, of the Continental Navy.
- 3. Capt.-Lieut. Samuel Treat, of the Second Continental Artillery. He was killed at Fort Mifflin Nov. 15, 1777.
- 4. The draft is in the writing of Tench Tilghman.