Beschreibung:

WASHINGTON, GEORGE, President. Letter signed ("G: Washington") as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, to Lt. Col. Ebenezer Gray, the text of the letter in the hand of Colonel David Cobb, Washington's Aide-de-Camp, Head Quarters [Newburgh, New York], ll November l782. One full page, folio, neatly backed with paper, one small hole affecting one letter of text, insignificant stains at left-hand edge, written in Cobb's large, formal hand. LEAVE FOR OFFICERS "FOR THE RECOVERY OF THEIR HEALTH" "In giving permission of absence to Officers for the recovery of their health, I have supposed the experiment of change of air & diet might be made in a few weeks, as well as in any length of time; -- I must therefore consider the indulgence given to you for the purpose, as limited to eight weeks from the date hereof, at the expiration of which time, I shall expect you will return to the Army...." Written during the prolonged lull in hostilities, from the Army's emcampment at New Windsor, near Newburgh, reflecting the continued difficulties in providing good rations (not to mention pay) for Washington's army officers. In October, Washington had written a long letter to Secretary of War Lincoln on the perennial problems with supply and salary arrears and his officers' growing dissatisfactions: asserting that "The patience and long sufferance of this Army are almost exhausted." (See Fitzpatrick, xxv, 226-229). Published (from a draft in the hand of David Humphreys) in Fitzpatrick, xxv, p.327. Interestingly, the draft contains a deleted passage referring to the construction of hospital facilities for the use of "those unfit for duty."