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.

18 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS. [LET. 49.
detachment from hence, and political considerations, as
it was to be a combined operation depending upon
critical circumstances with a French land and sea
force, pointed to the Marquis de Lafayette. These
are the facts, the knowledge of which must, I am persuaded, satisfy the Baron.
I am truly sensible of the merit and fortitude of the
veteran bands under your command, and wish the
sentiments I entertain of their worth could be communicated with the warmth I feel them. It was my
full intention to request you to thank Morgan and the
gallant troops under his command for their brilliant
victory; but the hurry, in which my letters are too
often written, occasioned the omission at the time I
acknowledged the official account of that action.
Your conjecture respecting the cause of the mutiny
in the Pennsylvania line has more substantial ground
for its support, than the letter of the member of Congress; and I am mistaken if the licentious conduct of
that line was not more the effect of an overcharge
of spirits, on the 1st of January, than of premeditated
design.
I have the pleasure to tell you, that, as far as I am
acquainted with the opinion of Congress with respect
to your conduct, it is much in your favor. That this
is the sentiment of all the southern delegates I have
great reason to believe, because I have it declared to
me in explicit terms by some of them. I have received a letter from Mr. Custis, dated the 29th ultimo, in which are these words. "General Greene has
by his conduct gained universal esteem, and possesses in the fullest degree the confidence of all ranks
of people." He had then just returned from the Assembly at Richmond. I hope the disorder, of which
you complained, was no other than the effect of over