The New York herald., 1878-05-31

A RELIC OF THE FATHER OF HIS CoUNrRY-
HIS THOUGHTS AT VALLEY FORGE IN THE
SPRING OF 1778.
From the Shenandoah Herald, May 29.l
One hunared years ago last Saturday General WASH
ington and his patriot army wero cncampcd a. Valley
Forge awaiting the withdrawal Of tho British from
Philadelphia, Tor when evident preparations wero
making While there and thus waiting Washington
wrote following letter to his friend C@sar A. Rod
ney, Governor OF Delaware. and alter denouncing
some slander among the many thon current against
him, y copy OF which il seems Governor Rodney had
sent him, he discusses tho military situation with
frankness, and then goes to complain the
diatory action oi that most exasperatng of bodies
the Continental Congress Of that day, The progenor
OF the body now vcxing the nation by similar slow
ness procrnstnasion The letter is interesting
one, and is In remarkable state OF preservation:
VALLEY FORGE. May 25, 177S
DEAR SIR-lf any thing ot grea, moment than de-
clarIug that every word contained IN the Pamphlet
you were oDliging enough 10 send me was spurious
had occurred, should not have suffered your favour
OF the 9th INST have remained 50 long unacknow-
ledgsd.-thess letters are written win great dead Of
sian (Which BY tue by wanted foundation In tEuin)
gives piaus bity, which renders the villany
greater as the whole is contrivADce TO answer the
most diMbocai purposes-wh0 tho author of them IS,
know not; iron Information, or acquaintance, he
must had some knowledge oil the compon-
ant par.s OF my family, eyre giousy
taken several instances, tho the uesign Of
his labours is as clear as the sun IN lis meridian
Ine favorable issue OF our negotiations with France
Is o for heart felt joy--big with important
events-and must l shoula lnlnk, chaK out plain
and easy 10 Independence, from winch, nopc,
We shall depart from mistaken opinion on the
hand, that tnc great work ~ already
10 hnsh II, adopt measures Of precipitaton-tuat
Britain would submitted 10 any indignny from
Ffance, III order 10 wreak her vengeance upon Amer.
lca have the smallest doubt but since the de-
clsrxlon the King OF France through The Marquis
| de Noailles they nave choice but war: But now
nd 10 IL.
s easily understood, as all their ways
have been ways usss-thaI tney will Ds under
necessity OF giving the Continent or their Islands
obvious " me. II the accounts we have received
vi the French force in the wcs ludes be rue-Haiiax
aud Canada Will presume DC strengthened, ana II they
can afford garrison sufficient, tney may attempt 10
hold New YORK, unless every idea OF suojugating
America Is gwen up IN that case their whole resent
| ment Will be ieveied Al France
Yns enemy making every preparation for, and
| seem to De upon point OF leaving Philadelphia
i Ia my judgment, ana from many corresponding err
oumstuncos, / am convinced they are bound TO New
York, wDetner by LAND or water, whether AZ pace
OF renaezvous or 10 operate The North rver
yet clearour situation here account oi the SICK
| largely 10 nArass the enemy OF land move
through the Jersey before they nave actually
tance south Amboy will be much less than ours
water 10 obstruct; 10 which may also Ue added
the advantage OF days march, when thsy must gain
on us:-were It not tor the NUMBER OF our SICK tup
wards 900 in campl and security oil stores which
are covered by our present position, and strength
could take such post In Jersey as would make their
passage through State very diicut aud danger
Gus 70 them; but the impracicabhity OF doing TINS
without exposing this camp 10 insult and injury, s
| well known tnem, aud some part OF their conauct
justnes a report that ut ali events they will u
| blow this army before they go on
Congress wore iully Impressed with the disadvan-
tagos Injury which tne service sustains Tor
want oi the regime ationsthe incouvenience
TO- and dissatisfaction Of the officers, account Of
the they are under with respect 10 their
continuing or not wher the reduction VI regiments
and in each regiment are made, think they
delay from day 10 day ior upward OF three
months measure which lev hours, II heartily set
.li.n hnCA Qn nftan unHan
fuiIy represented matter that shall give them
| further trouble this head q body-happy own
would II be II these regulations and our military ar
gements were made; II would be means oil reev
ing from numucr oil perplexing applications and
| the service OF much embarrassment
| l am, ar SIT,
| lr most oped't ser't,
GEO. WASHINGTON
ISL observe what you say respecting the ro-
cruls rather draughts, IN aud from Virginta.-I was
never called upoa ny the state Tor ocers or directed
BY Congress TO aid IN tnis businoss, but
| thinking such a measure might 10 necessary, or
dered the otccrs oil the dsbahdcd Reg and such
as had gonc Virginia furough 10 call upon anu
receive. the Govcrnor's orders with respcct 20
marchi ng OF the camp. That something becn
wrong in conducting the draughts, assembling the
| men, &c. admits of no douOt, ior out oi the nttecn
hu uareu oruered last fall AID the Two thousand tns
spring we have received only 242 which IL nor
ribIe deficiency that made tation thereof
70 tho Stale.-I most sincerely condole with on
| tne loss OF your Brother. am as before,
q. wv.