Head Quarters, Morristown, January 30, 1780
Dear Sir:
I have received your favor of the 26th. inclosing one from Capn. McLane to you of the 15th.1
However Capn. McLanes services may entitle him to consideration, yet he is neither singular in his sacrifices nor situation. There are numbers in the line, who have been as long Captains and without promotion as himself. This is one of those circumstances incidental to all services. But with regard to his request the formation of new corps rests by no means with me, nor if it did I could not recommend the proposal to Congress at a time when the seperate corps now in service experience so many inconveniencies, and are supposed too numerous. Capn. McLane however may be assured that my opinion of his military merits would induce me to do every thing in his favor consistent with propriety.
I wish you an agreeable winter and am Dr Sir &c.2
1 These letters are in the Washington Papers.
2 The draft is in the writing of James McHenry.
On January 31 Robert Hanson Harrison, by Washington’s direction, ordered Abraham Skinner, Commissary General of Prisoners of the Continental Army, to send in a quantity of wood to New York for the use of the American prisoners there. Harrison’s letter is in the Washington Papers.