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.

126 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS. [LET. 45.
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Head-Quarters, near Whitemarsh, 1 November, 1777.
SIR,
After the action of the 4th ultimo at Germantown,
I hoped we should have been in a situation to attack
the enemy again on those grounds, and with more success than in the former instance; but this I was not
able to effect. The severe rain on the 16th of September, the action on the 4th, the removal of our stores,
and having to form a new laboratory, added to the
small number of hands engaged in the business of it,
laid us under difficulties in the capital and essential
article of ammunition, that could not be surmounted.
Every exertion was directed to obtain supplies; but,
notwithstanding, they were inadequate, too scanty, and
insufficient to attempt any thing on a large and general
scale, before the enemy withdrew themselves. With
what we had, in case an experiment had been made,
fortune might have decided in our favor for the present;
but —we should not have been afterwards in a situation
to maintain the advantage we might have gained; and,
if a repulse had taken place, and the enemy been pursued, we might for want of a reserve have been exposed to the most imminent danger of being ruined.
The distress of- the soldiers for want of shoes was also
a powerful obstacle to the measure.
I could wish that our circumstances were now such
as to authorize a general attack for dislodging them from
the city; but I think they are not. This also is the
opinion of my general officers, upon a full and comprehensive view of matters, as Congress will perceive by
the enclosed copy of the minutes of council on the 29th
ultimo, which I have taken the liberty to transmit and
lay before them. The superiority of numbers on the