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George Washington Letter Signed...
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Description
Washington Chastises His Army for Plundering Long Island and Reins in His Spies
George Washington Letter Signed ("G. Washington").
One page, 8 1/4 x 13 1/2 inches; "Head Quarters"
Fredericksburg; October 31, 1778. Written in the hand of
Washington's aide-de-camp, Caleb Gibbs (1748-1818).Washington writes to Major Ebenezer Grey of the 6th Connecticut Infantry Regiment, which took part in the Battles of Brandywine and Germantown the previous year. He orders an end to the unauthorized excursions to Long Island and rebukes reports of plundering, carried out under the guise of intelligence gathering, stating that only trusted individuals be employed as spies. He writes, in full:
"Sir.
It has been intimated to me that several persons, have gone over to Long Island, under the pretext of gaining intelligence, and indiscriminately distressed and plundered the inhabitants - As such a conduct is totally incompatible with obtaining information or making discoveries I do not imagine you have given any sanction to such proceedings. But that so pernicious a practice may be more effectually prevented - you will prevent any persons whatever from making excursions to the Island - and only employ those as spies or observers, in whom you can place a proper confidence.
I am Sir. Your most obedt. Servt.
G. Washington."
After the British secured Long Island and New York City in 1776, nearly destroying Washington's army in the process, the region remained a critical center of British operations and a tempting target for American intelligence efforts. Its proximity to Continental lines encouraged frequent attempts to gather information, but such missions occupied a gray space (part military, part irregular) where discipline could easily erode.
This letter finds Washington confronting that problem directly. Reports had reached him that men sent under the pretense of intelligence work had instead "indiscriminately distressed and plundered the inhabitants." His response was swift: such conduct not only violated order but undermined the very purpose of intelligence itself. Unauthorized excursions were to cease, and only those "in whom you can place a proper confidence" were to be employed.
In a war where information could rival force in value, Washington emphasized not boldness, but control. The letter reveals a commander intent on imposing structure over an inherently shadowed form of warfare, insisting that even in the realm of spies and reconnaissance, discipline must prevail.
Correspondence on intelligence operations was handled with particular caution, and relatively little survives due to most being destroyed after it had served its purpose.
Condition: Overall fine. Flattened folds and light toning, with some minor staining and edgewear. Several small separations, only just touching text, most reinforced with archival tissue on the verso; two small areas of loss along the upper left margin, now repaired. Pencil notation on the verso.
References: "George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Ebenezer Gray, 31 October 1778," Founders Online, National Archives, [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 17, 15 September-31 October 1778, ed. Philander D. Chase. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2008, p. 655.]
Auction Info
2026 June 19 The John H. Freund Americana Collection Signature® Auction #6331 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
June, 2026
19th
Friday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 13
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