The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. By Jared Sparks.

120 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS. [AET. 45.
duct in the militia. The northern army, before the surrender of General Burgoyne, was reinforced by upwards
of twelve hundred militia, who shut the only door by
which Burgoyne could retreat, and cut off all his supplies. How different our case! The disaffection of a
great part of the inhabitants of this State, the languor
of others, and the internal distraction of the whole,
have been among the great and insuperable difficulties,
which I have met with, and have contributed not a little
to my embarrassments this campaign. But enough; I
do not mean to complain. I flatter myself, that a superintending Providence is ordering every thing for the
best, and that, in due time, all will end well. That it
may do so, and soon, is the most fervent wish of yours.
TO LIEUTEAJANT-COLONEL SAMUEL SMITH.
I-ead-Quarters, 28 October, 1777.
As there seems to be a doubt of the priority of the
date of your and Lieutenant-Colonel Green's commissions,* I have in a letter of this date desired him. to
wave the matter in dispute for the present, and act
under your command, as you have been in the fort from
the beginning, and must be better acquainted with the
nature of the defences than a stranger. I have ordered
a very handsome detachment for the reinforcement of
Forts Mifflin and Mercer, and the galleys. They have
been ready since yesterday, but the weather has been
such, that they could not march. When they arrive,
the duty will not be so severe; and, if the men that: Lieutenant-Colonel John Green, of the first Virginia regiment, who
had been sent to Fort Mifflin with a reinforcement of two hundred men.
Colonel Christopher Greene, of Rhode Island, commanded at Red Bank.