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Title
Brig. General Lachlan McIntosh
Subject
State of the Troops
Description
In this one-page document addressed from "Camp Valley Forge 20th March 1778", General McIntosh writes North Carolina Governor on the conditions and privations of state forces at Valley Forge. McIntosh writes, "I am sorry I have to inform you the Men of my Brigade here have suffered severely this Winter...Fifty of them died in and about camp...a most distressing Situation!"
Creator
Brig. General Lachlan McIntosh
Date
20 March 1778
Rights
John F. Reed Collection Valley Forge NHP
Identifier
Box 3, Folder 42, 19-08
Text
Sir,
I had the honor of writing to your Excellency the 9th of January & Lt. Colonel Dawson of your State, which I hope you received.
I am sorry I have to inform you the men of my brigade here have sufferd severely this winter for want of clothing & other necessarys. – Fifty of them died in & about camp since the beginning of January last. & eve have near two hundred sick have now besides as many more reported sick absent in different hospitals of this state & Jersey. – a most distressing situation! ---- & only Doctor McClure of the second Regiment to attend the whole of them until a few days ago. I fortunately got another young man to assist him, but cannot tell how he will turn out yet.
I cannot with propriety or Justice on this occasion avoid complaining of doctor Canby of the 5th Regiment to his Fate, which I think he has been ingratefull to, & cannot help charging him with inhumanity also in leaving so many of his brave country men to perish without assistance. --- when I was first informed of him, I ordered him in the most positive terms to stay with the brigade. – he attempted to make a plea, that in consequence of a former order, for the staff of the six vacant Regiments to go home with the other officers. he had sent off his Baggage, therefore could not Stay, and at last went without Leave,-- for which I stopped his pay for January, February & an Extra Bounty a Month given by Congress to the army with General Washington’s approbation. And dare say your Excellency will think with me, he deserves still further marks of Resentment from his Country. ---
This Season produces nothing worth mentioning to you save little skirmishes between Foraging Partys of no account.
I hear Col. Shepherd 10th Regiment is under [illeg]culation at Georgetown Maryland but have no Accot. from himself. ---
I have the honor to be respectfully
Yr Excellency’s most obt. Servt.
Lachn. McIntosh
Camp Valley Forge 20th March 1778
REVERSE:
A leter from B. General McIntosh
Dated 20 March 1778
On public Service
His Excellency
Richard Caswell Esqr.
Governor &c.
State of No. Carolina
P Lt. Langford
I had the honor of writing to your Excellency the 9th of January & Lt. Colonel Dawson of your State, which I hope you received.
I am sorry I have to inform you the men of my brigade here have sufferd severely this winter for want of clothing & other necessarys. – Fifty of them died in & about camp since the beginning of January last. & eve have near two hundred sick have now besides as many more reported sick absent in different hospitals of this state & Jersey. – a most distressing situation! ---- & only Doctor McClure of the second Regiment to attend the whole of them until a few days ago. I fortunately got another young man to assist him, but cannot tell how he will turn out yet.
I cannot with propriety or Justice on this occasion avoid complaining of doctor Canby of the 5th Regiment to his Fate, which I think he has been ingratefull to, & cannot help charging him with inhumanity also in leaving so many of his brave country men to perish without assistance. --- when I was first informed of him, I ordered him in the most positive terms to stay with the brigade. – he attempted to make a plea, that in consequence of a former order, for the staff of the six vacant Regiments to go home with the other officers. he had sent off his Baggage, therefore could not Stay, and at last went without Leave,-- for which I stopped his pay for January, February & an Extra Bounty a Month given by Congress to the army with General Washington’s approbation. And dare say your Excellency will think with me, he deserves still further marks of Resentment from his Country. ---
This Season produces nothing worth mentioning to you save little skirmishes between Foraging Partys of no account.
I hear Col. Shepherd 10th Regiment is under [illeg]culation at Georgetown Maryland but have no Accot. from himself. ---
I have the honor to be respectfully
Yr Excellency’s most obt. Servt.
Lachn. McIntosh
Camp Valley Forge 20th March 1778
REVERSE:
A leter from B. General McIntosh
Dated 20 March 1778
On public Service
His Excellency
Richard Caswell Esqr.
Governor &c.
State of No. Carolina
P Lt. Langford