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.

298 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS. [CAiET. 46.
TO COLONEL AR IMAND.
Valley Forge, 25 March, 1778.
SIR,
I yesteiday received your letter from Yorktown.
You must have misunderstood me, if you thought I
gave you permission to raise a new and separate corps.
I told you I had no power to grant such a request, but
that, if you could obtain such a permission from Congress, or the committee of Congress in camp, I should
have no objection to the measure and to your enlisting prisoners. I am certain I never gave you any encouragement to enlist deserters, because I have ever
found them of the greatest injury to the service, by
debauching our own men, and I had therefore given
positive orders to all recruiting officers not to enlist
them upon any terms. The Congress have since made
an express resolve against it, and also against enlisting
prisoners.
As you say your two lieutenants were promised the
rank of captains by the Marquis de Lafayette, I cannot
do any thing in that matter until I have seen the Marquis, who is expected from Albany shortly. When the
committee of Congress found that the corps formerly
commanded by you was diminished below fifty men,
they determined to reduce it and to throw the men into
some regiment. I hope you will understand me clearly, when I again assure you, that I have no powers to
authorize the raising of new corps; and, as you are
upon the spot, you will have a good opportunity of
making application to the Congress for such a command as you seem desirous of having.
I am, Sir, yours, &c.