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.

80 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS. [EIT. 45.
in the least dispirited by it, have gained what all young
troops gain by being in actions. We have had however
several valuable officers killed and wounded, particularly the latter. General Nash is among the wounded,
and his life is despaired of. As soon as it is possible
to obtain a return of our loss, I will transmit it. In
justice to General Sullivan and the whole right wing
of the army, whose conduct I had an opportunity of
observing, as they acted immediately under my eye, I
have the pleasure to inform you, that both officers and
men behaved with a degree of gallantry that did them
the highest honor. I have the honor to be, &co
P. S. As I have observed, I have not received a
return of our loss; but, from what I have just now
learned from General Greene, I fear it is more considerable than I at first apprehended, in men. The cannon, mentioned above, is said to have been brought off
in a wagon.
TO SIR WILLIAM HOWrE,
Head-Quarters, 6 October, 1777.
SIR,
I cannot forbear assuring you, that I am somewhat at
a loss to understand the design of your letter of the
3d instant. I can hardly believe you to be serious in
remonstrating against a procedure fully authorized by
~ The letter from General Howe, to which this is an answer, was in
the following words.
" Head-Quarters, 3 October, 1777,; SIPr,
6" Your parties having destroyed several mills in the adjacent country,
which can only distress the peaceable inhabitants residing in their houses,
I am constrained from a regard to their sufferings, and a sense of the
duty I owe to the public, to forewarn you of the calamities which may