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.

200 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS. [,ET. 49.
are committed. A few axes, and strict attention of the
officers, will infallibly prevent this, and I trust it will
be done. You will be able, after informing yourself
of the extent of the water transportation, to determine
on the number of men, who must march by land,
and make your arrangements with the quartermastergeneral accordingly. If there are any men upon detachment, they are to be called in and marched with
their regiments. A sufficient number of officers must
be left to take forward the sick and invalids, as fast
as they recover. Some good field-officer should remain
to superintend this business. Given at Head-Quarters,
this 29th day of October, 1781.*
TO GOVERNOR RUTLEDGE, SOUTH CAROLINA.
Head-Quarters, near York, 31 October, 1781.
DEAR SIR,
I have to acknowledge your Excellency's two favors, and am not surprised at the urgency with which
you express your sentiments on a subject of so much
importance to yourself in particular, and to the general interest of the United States.t I have only to la* The troops were transported by water to the HIead of Elk, and they
marched thence by land. The New Jersey troops were stationed for the
winter near Morristown, and the two New York regiments, under General James Clinton, at Pompton. All the others proceeded to the North
River,. where the light companies joined their respective regiments.
Hazen's regiment was ordered to Lancaster in Pennsylvania.
The British prisoners were marched to Winchester in Virginia, and
to Fort Frederic and Fredericktown in Maryland. The barracks at
Fort Frederic were found to be in such a state of decay, that the division
of the prisoners intended for that place was stationed at Fredericktown.
As these prisoners were guarded only by militia, many differences occurred, and occasionally serious quarrels, between them and the inhabitants; and they were subsequently removed to Lancaster, in Pennsylvania, and guarded by Continental troops.
t The aid of the French fleet in an enterprise against the enemy at
Charleston.