George Washington on Taking Command of the Army, 1775
George Washington, based on painting by John Trumbull, 1783 (The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History)
This letter was discovered tucked away in a desk drawer by one of Martha Washington’s granddaughters. It is one of two surviving letters by George Washington to his wife, written just after he accepted the command of the Continental forces in June 1775. He expresses his deep concern about whether he is worthy of the task ahead and shows his worry over her situation while he is away from home.
A Letter from George Washington to Martha Washington, June 18, 1775
Philadelphia June 18, 1775
My Dearest,
I am now set down to write you on a subject which fills me with inexpressible concern — and this concern is greatly aggravated and Increased, when I reflect upon the uneasiness I know it will give you — It has been determined in Congress that the whole Army raised for the defence of the American Cause shall be put under my care, and that it is necessary for me to proceed immediately to Boston to take upon me the command of it. —You may believe me my dear Patcy, when I assure you, in the most solemn manner, that, so far from seeking this appointment I have used every endeavor in my power to avoid it, not only from my unwillingness to part with you and the Family, but from a consciousness of its being a trust too great for my Capacity and that I should enjoy more real happiness and felicity in one month with you, at home, than I have the most distant prospect of reaping abroad, if my stay were to be Seven times Seven years. — But, as it has been a kind of destiny that has thrown me upon this Service, I shall hope that my undertaking of it, is designed to answer some good purpose — You might, & I suppose did perceive, from the Tenor of my letters, that I was apprehensive I could not avoid this appointment, as I did not even pretend to intimate when I should return — that was the case — it was utterly out of my power to refuse this appointment without exposing my Character to such censures as would have reflected dishonour upon myself, and given pain to my friends — this, I am sure could not, and ought not be pleasing to you, & must have lessened me considerably in my own esteem. — I shall rely therefore, confidently, on that Providence which has heretofore preservd, & been bountiful to me, not doubting but that I shall return safe to you in the fall — I shall feel no pain from the Toil, or the danger of the Campaign — My unhapiness will flow, from the uneasiness I know you will feel at being left alone — I therefore beg of you to summon your whole fortitude & Resolution, and pass your time as agreeably as possible nothing will give me so much sincere satisfaction as to hear this, and to hear it from your own Pen.
If it should be your desire to remove into Alexandria (as you once mentioned upon an occasion of this sort) I am quite pleased that you should put it in practice, & Lund Washington may be directed, by you, to build a Kitchen and other Houses there proper for your reception – if on the other hand you should rather Incline to spend good part of your time among your Friends below, I wish you to do so — In short, my earnest, & ardent desire is, that you would pursue any Plan that is most likely to produce content, and a tolerable degree of Tranquility as it must add greatly to my uneasy feelings to hear that you are dissatisfied, & complaining at what I really could not avoid.—
As life is always uncertain, and common prudence dictates to every Man the necessity of settling his temporal Concerns whilst it is in his power – and while the Mind is calm and undisturbed, I have, since I came to this place (for I had not time to do it before I left home) got Colo Pendleton to Draft a Will for me by the directions which I gave him which will I now Inclose – The Provision made for you, in case of my death, will, I hope, be agreeable; I Included the money for which I sold my own land (to Doctr Mercer) in the Sum Given you, as also all other Debts. — What I owe myself is very trifling – Cary’s Debt excepted, and that would not have been much if the Bank stock had been applied without such difficulties as he made in the Transference.
I shall add nothing more at present as I have several Letters to write, but to desire you will remember me to Milly & all Friends, and to assure you that I am with most unfeigned regard, My dear Patcy Yr Affecte
Go Washington
P.S. Since writing the above I have receivd your Letter of the 15th and have got two suits of what I was told was the prettiest Muslin.— I wish it may please you – it cost 50/ a suit that is 20/. a yard.
Source: George Washington to Martha Washington, June 18, 1775, Founders Online, National Archives. Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 1, 16 June 1775 – 15 September 1775, ed. Philander D. Chase. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1985, pp. 3–6.
A Letter from George Washington to Martha Washington, June 18, 1775
Philadelphia June 18, 1775
My Dearest,
I am now set down to write you on a subject which fills me with inexpressible concern — and this concern is greatly aggravated and Increased, when I reflect upon the uneasiness I know it will give you — It has been determined in Congress that the whole Army raised for the defence of the American Cause shall be put under my care, and that it is necessary for me to proceed immediately to Boston to take upon me the command of it. —You may believe me my dear Patcy, when I assure you, in the most solemn manner, that, so far from seeking this appointment I have used every endeavor in my power to avoid it, not only from my unwillingness to part with you and the Family, but from a consciousness of its being a trust too great for my Capacity and that I should enjoy more real happiness and felicity in one month with you, at home, than I have the most distant prospect of reaping abroad, if my stay were to be Seven times Seven years. — But, as it has been a kind of destiny that has thrown me upon this Service, I shall hope that my undertaking of it, is designed to answer some good purpose — You might, & I suppose did perceive, from the Tenor of my letters, that I was apprehensive I could not avoid this appointment, as I did not even pretend to intimate when I should return — that was the case — it was utterly out of my power to refuse this appointment without exposing my Character to such censures as would have reflected dishonour upon myself, and given pain to my friends — this, I am sure could not, and ought not be pleasing to you, & must have lessened me considerably in my own esteem. — I shall rely therefore, confidently, on that Providence which has heretofore preservd, & been bountiful to me, not doubting but that I shall return safe to you in the fall — I shall feel no pain from the Toil, or the danger of the Campaign — My unhapiness will flow, from the uneasiness I know you will feel at being left alone — I therefore beg of you to summon your whole fortitude & Resolution, and pass your time as agreeably as possible nothing will give me so much sincere satisfaction as to hear this, and to hear it from your own Pen. . . .
As life is always uncertain, and common prudence dictates to every Man the necessity of settling his temporal Concerns whilst it is in his power – and while the Mind is calm and undisturbed, I have, since I came to this place (for I had not time to do it before I left home) got Colo Pendleton to Draft a Will for me by the directions which I gave him which will I now Inclose . . .
I shall add nothing more at present as I have several Letters to write, but to desire you will remember me to Milly & all Friends, and to assure you that I am with most unfeigned regard, My dear Patcy Yr Affecte
Go Washington
Source: George Washington to Martha Washington, June 18, 1775, Founders Online, National Archives. Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 1, 16 June 1775 – 15 September 1775, ed. Philander D. Chase. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1985, pp. 3–6.
endeavor - to try hard to achieve something
tenor - the general meaning of something
intimate - imply or hint
censures - expressing severe disapproval
fortitude - courage in adversity
temporal - relating to worldly affairs
A Letter from George Washington to Martha Washington, June 18, 1775
Philadelphia June 18, 1775
My Dearest,
. . . It has been determined in Congress that the whole Army raised for the defence of the American Cause shall be put under my care, and that it is necessary for me to proceed immediately to Boston to take upon me the command of it. —You may believe me my dear Patcy, when I assure you, in the most solemn manner, that, so far from seeking this appointment I have used every endeavor in my power to avoid it . . . it was utterly out of my power to refuse this appointment without exposing my Character to such censures as would have reflected dishonour upon myself, and given pain to my friends —
. . .My dear Patcy Yr Affecte
Go Washington
Source: George Washington to Martha Washington, June 18, 1775, Founders Online, National Archives. Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 1, 16 June 1775 – 15 September 1775, ed. Philander D. Chase. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1985, pp. 3–6.
endeavor - to try hard to achieve something
censures - expressing severe disapproval
Background
This letter was discovered tucked away in a desk drawer by one of Martha Washington’s granddaughters. It is one of two surviving letters by George Washington to his wife, written just after he accepted the command of the Continental forces in June 1775. He expresses his deep concern about whether he is worthy of the task ahead and shows his worry over her situation while he is away from home.
Transcript
A Letter from George Washington to Martha Washington, June 18, 1775
Philadelphia June 18, 1775
My Dearest,
I am now set down to write you on a subject which fills me with inexpressible concern — and this concern is greatly aggravated and Increased, when I reflect upon the uneasiness I know it will give you — It has been determined in Congress that the whole Army raised for the defence of the American Cause shall be put under my care, and that it is necessary for me to proceed immediately to Boston to take upon me the command of it. —You may believe me my dear Patcy, when I assure you, in the most solemn manner, that, so far from seeking this appointment I have used every endeavor in my power to avoid it, not only from my unwillingness to part with you and the Family, but from a consciousness of its being a trust too great for my Capacity and that I should enjoy more real happiness and felicity in one month with you, at home, than I have the most distant prospect of reaping abroad, if my stay were to be Seven times Seven years. — But, as it has been a kind of destiny that has thrown me upon this Service, I shall hope that my undertaking of it, is designed to answer some good purpose — You might, & I suppose did perceive, from the Tenor of my letters, that I was apprehensive I could not avoid this appointment, as I did not even pretend to intimate when I should return — that was the case — it was utterly out of my power to refuse this appointment without exposing my Character to such censures as would have reflected dishonour upon myself, and given pain to my friends — this, I am sure could not, and ought not be pleasing to you, & must have lessened me considerably in my own esteem. — I shall rely therefore, confidently, on that Providence which has heretofore preservd, & been bountiful to me, not doubting but that I shall return safe to you in the fall — I shall feel no pain from the Toil, or the danger of the Campaign — My unhapiness will flow, from the uneasiness I know you will feel at being left alone — I therefore beg of you to summon your whole fortitude & Resolution, and pass your time as agreeably as possible nothing will give me so much sincere satisfaction as to hear this, and to hear it from your own Pen.
If it should be your desire to remove into Alexandria (as you once mentioned upon an occasion of this sort) I am quite pleased that you should put it in practice, & Lund Washington may be directed, by you, to build a Kitchen and other Houses there proper for your reception – if on the other hand you should rather Incline to spend good part of your time among your Friends below, I wish you to do so — In short, my earnest, & ardent desire is, that you would pursue any Plan that is most likely to produce content, and a tolerable degree of Tranquility as it must add greatly to my uneasy feelings to hear that you are dissatisfied, & complaining at what I really could not avoid.—
As life is always uncertain, and common prudence dictates to every Man the necessity of settling his temporal Concerns whilst it is in his power – and while the Mind is calm and undisturbed, I have, since I came to this place (for I had not time to do it before I left home) got Colo Pendleton to Draft a Will for me by the directions which I gave him which will I now Inclose – The Provision made for you, in case of my death, will, I hope, be agreeable; I Included the money for which I sold my own land (to Doctr Mercer) in the Sum Given you, as also all other Debts. — What I owe myself is very trifling – Cary’s Debt excepted, and that would not have been much if the Bank stock had been applied without such difficulties as he made in the Transference.
I shall add nothing more at present as I have several Letters to write, but to desire you will remember me to Milly & all Friends, and to assure you that I am with most unfeigned regard, My dear Patcy Yr Affecte
Go Washington
P.S. Since writing the above I have receivd your Letter of the 15th and have got two suits of what I was told was the prettiest Muslin.— I wish it may please you – it cost 50/ a suit that is 20/. a yard.
Source: George Washington to Martha Washington, June 18, 1775, Founders Online, National Archives. Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 1, 16 June 1775 – 15 September 1775, ed. Philander D. Chase. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1985, pp. 3–6.
Excerpt
A Letter from George Washington to Martha Washington, June 18, 1775
Philadelphia June 18, 1775
My Dearest,
I am now set down to write you on a subject which fills me with inexpressible concern — and this concern is greatly aggravated and Increased, when I reflect upon the uneasiness I know it will give you — It has been determined in Congress that the whole Army raised for the defence of the American Cause shall be put under my care, and that it is necessary for me to proceed immediately to Boston to take upon me the command of it. —You may believe me my dear Patcy, when I assure you, in the most solemn manner, that, so far from seeking this appointment I have used every endeavor in my power to avoid it, not only from my unwillingness to part with you and the Family, but from a consciousness of its being a trust too great for my Capacity and that I should enjoy more real happiness and felicity in one month with you, at home, than I have the most distant prospect of reaping abroad, if my stay were to be Seven times Seven years. — But, as it has been a kind of destiny that has thrown me upon this Service, I shall hope that my undertaking of it, is designed to answer some good purpose — You might, & I suppose did perceive, from the Tenor of my letters, that I was apprehensive I could not avoid this appointment, as I did not even pretend to intimate when I should return — that was the case — it was utterly out of my power to refuse this appointment without exposing my Character to such censures as would have reflected dishonour upon myself, and given pain to my friends — this, I am sure could not, and ought not be pleasing to you, & must have lessened me considerably in my own esteem. — I shall rely therefore, confidently, on that Providence which has heretofore preservd, & been bountiful to me, not doubting but that I shall return safe to you in the fall — I shall feel no pain from the Toil, or the danger of the Campaign — My unhapiness will flow, from the uneasiness I know you will feel at being left alone — I therefore beg of you to summon your whole fortitude & Resolution, and pass your time as agreeably as possible nothing will give me so much sincere satisfaction as to hear this, and to hear it from your own Pen. . . .
As life is always uncertain, and common prudence dictates to every Man the necessity of settling his temporal Concerns whilst it is in his power – and while the Mind is calm and undisturbed, I have, since I came to this place (for I had not time to do it before I left home) got Colo Pendleton to Draft a Will for me by the directions which I gave him which will I now Inclose . . .
I shall add nothing more at present as I have several Letters to write, but to desire you will remember me to Milly & all Friends, and to assure you that I am with most unfeigned regard, My dear Patcy Yr Affecte
Go Washington
Source: George Washington to Martha Washington, June 18, 1775, Founders Online, National Archives. Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 1, 16 June 1775 – 15 September 1775, ed. Philander D. Chase. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1985, pp. 3–6.
endeavor - to try hard to achieve something
tenor - the general meaning of something
intimate - imply or hint
censures - expressing severe disapproval
fortitude - courage in adversity
temporal - relating to worldly affairs
Excerpt 100
A Letter from George Washington to Martha Washington, June 18, 1775
Philadelphia June 18, 1775
My Dearest,
. . . It has been determined in Congress that the whole Army raised for the defence of the American Cause shall be put under my care, and that it is necessary for me to proceed immediately to Boston to take upon me the command of it. —You may believe me my dear Patcy, when I assure you, in the most solemn manner, that, so far from seeking this appointment I have used every endeavor in my power to avoid it . . . it was utterly out of my power to refuse this appointment without exposing my Character to such censures as would have reflected dishonour upon myself, and given pain to my friends —
. . .My dear Patcy Yr Affecte
Go Washington
Source: George Washington to Martha Washington, June 18, 1775, Founders Online, National Archives. Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 1, 16 June 1775 – 15 September 1775, ed. Philander D. Chase. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1985, pp. 3–6.
endeavor - to try hard to achieve something
censures - expressing severe disapproval
