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.

PARTII.] THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. 281
business, which you now have in hand; but I beg that
your attention may be turned, as much as possible, to
the completion of the works, or at least to putting them
in such a state, that they may be able to resist a sudden attack of the enemy. Governor Clinton has written
his opinion very fully to Congress upon the propriety
of ordering all the troops, except the garrison of Fort
Schuyler, down to the Highlands, as all prospects of
carrying on the northern expedition seem to have vanished. I have backed his opinion forcibly with my
own, and hope, if Congress see matters in the light
we do, that those troops may be instantly brought
down.
There has been a resolve of Congress vesting Governor Clinton with the direction of the works erecting
for the defence of the river, and requiring the commanding officer at Peekskill to aid him in the execution
of the same. Governor Clinton, I understand, from his
civil avocations, does not incline to take the immediate
direction of the business, and the late commanding
officer in that quarter has doubted from that resolve,
whether his command or superintendency extended to
the forts. To remove difficulties of this kind, by which
the public service must suffer, and as I consider it
essential to the nature of the command, that one officer
should have the general control and direction of all the
posts in the Highlands and their dependencies, and be
answerable for them, you are to consider yourself as
possessed of this general control and direction, and to
act accordingly. If the Governor has leisure from his
official duties to undertake the more immediate management of the works, it will afford you a very desirable
assistance.
I have written to Congress to give you every power
necessary to promote the objects of your command:;
VOL. V. 36 x *