Richard Henry Lee to Patrick Henry

I am favored with yours by Majr. Johnston and I should certainly have served him to the utmost of my power in Congress if the appointment you proposed for Mr. Johnston had not now been in another channel. You know Sir that by a late resolve of Congress the General is to fill up all vacancies in the Continental troops that shall happen for six months from the date of the resolve. I have recommended it to the Major to get a letter from you and the council, with one from Colonel Harrison, to the General in his favor, and if he is very intent on success, to carry them himself.¹ I think this will not fail to procure him the commission he desires, and in the meantime the Lieutenants and Ensign may be recruiting the company. We have not heared from General Washington since the 5th instant when he was at Morris Town in West Jersey, about 20 miles from Brunswick where the enemy keep their head quarters. But a Gentleman who arrived here yesterday, and who passed thro our army at Morris Town on the 8th says the men were in high spirits, that he thinks they were 12,000 strong, that they were under marching orders and they were supposed to be going towards Elizabeth Town, which is between the main body of the enemy & New York. That Gen. Heath was to join them on the 9th with between 2 and 5 thousand men. That the Jersey militia had many skirmishes with the British troops and always beat them. That he met large bodies of militia on march to the Jersies, whence he concluded that the enemy must either quit that State soon or be exposed to great danger by remaining there. Unluckily our army consists almost entirely of Militia whose say is very uncertain, and renders the speedy coming up of regular troops absolutely necessary.

I am, with very particular regard and esteem dear Sir your most obedient and most humble Servant,

Richard Henry Lee