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.

154 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS. [.ET. 49.
General Gist. It announces the safe arrival in the
Chesapeake of Admiral de Grasse with twenty-eight
ships of the line. On this happy event I beg your
Excellency to accept my warmest congratulations. I
shall proceed, with all possible despatch, forwarding
as I go the troops and stores, with all the expedition
in my power. On my arrival at the Head of Elk, if
I do not find water-craft sufficient to embark the
whole of the stores and troops, I shall forward on the
former by water, with as many troops as can go by that
conveyance, and march the others by land.
I have the honor to be, &c.*
"whom have you got here? " Five British soldiers, who have deserted
with me, and a Hessian whom we captured at the out-post," was his reply. He went on to say, that, as the French fleet had arrived, and he
presumed his services could no longer be of any use to his general in
the British camp, he had returned, and these deserters and this prisoner
were the fruits of his expedition.
The general sent for Morgan the next day, and told him that his conduct had been in the highest degree meritorious, and that he proposed to
make him a sergeant. Morgan listened to the proposal, and said he was
highly gratified to have pleased his commander, but declined the promotion. He added, that he believed himself a good soldier, but that
he was by no means certain he should make a good sergeant; that
he joined the army from a principle of duty and patriotism, because he
believed his country needed his services, and the same motives induced
him to prefer a station where he was satisfied he should be the most
useful. The general then offered him money, but this he refused also,
saying his circumstances were such at home, that he did not need money.
"What then can I do for you?" inquired the general. "I have one
favor to ask," replied Morgan; "during my absence some person has
taken my gun; I set a great value upon it, and, if it can be restored, it
will give me particular pleasure." The gun was described, and the
general issued an order requiring it to be returned. This was all the
reward, that Morgan could ever be prevailed on to accept.
The above anecdote was related to me by General Lafayette himself,
nearly fifty years after the event, with much warmth of feeling and admiration of the soldier's magnanimity.
* An animated account of the effect, which this intelligence produced
on the French officers, is given by the Abbe Robin. The French army
had entered Philadelphia in the morning of that day, amidst the accla