General George Washington’s Goal: Protect American Patriots and Prevent All Cooperation and Contact Between the Tories and Their British Allies

This letter has never before been offered for sale. De Hart himself gave it to a friend with whom he was then living, and it has remained in that family for over 200 years. We obtained it directly from the family descendants. This was for years on loan to Princeton Library.

 

“The Objects of it are…to give protection to the well affected Inhabitants & restrain the others by preventing all kind of intercourse with the Enemy & to obtain the best intelligence of their movements & designs. The many disaffected people in that neighbourhood renders your caution against surprises peculiarly necessary…”

 

Washington adds, “You are not to permit the passing of Flags or private persons on their own business on any pretense whatever.”

 

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For much of the Revolution, New Jersey found itself the battleground between the British in New York and the Americans in Philadelphia. It witnessed significant military activity and experienced more battles, and troop movements than any other state. New Jersey locations served as crucial, strategic outposts for George Washington’s Continental Army. The area around Paramus was a key one, and Washington utilized it to gather intelligence, monitor British troop movements, and for supply. He also made the city his headquarters on multiple occasions. Paramus, and other strategically situated locations in northern New Jersey, experienced British raids because of their critical positions, some of which emanated from nearby Staten Island. To guard against such raids and others, Washington kept two brigades of his main army stationed west of Elizabethtown, which is near Staten Island. He also kept a detachment of about 200 infantrymen at Paramus to the north to provide defense and surveillance.

Like many states, New Jersey experienced intense neighbor-against-neighbor violence, as perhaps a quarter of the population were Tories. These “New Jersey Loyalists” heavily supported British, Hessian, and Tory raiding parties. For example, in January 1780, 400 British and Loyalist troops (including Queen’s Rangers and Tories called NJ Volunteers) crossed frozen waters to raid Elizabeth and Newark. It was George Washington’s plan to protect American Patriots from damaging British and Tory raids and other violence, while standing in the way of Tories being able to cooperate with or provide information to the British. He also sought intelligence that his forces might gather on British plans and movements.

William De Hart was a New Jersey lawyer who practiced there before the Revolution. He was appointed Major of the 1st New Jersey Regiment of the Continental Army on November 7, 1775, and promoted to Lt. Colonel on January 1, 1777. He served with Washington at Valley Forge, and when the army was in Morristown, he was commissioned to obtain and store a sufficient amount of ammunitions in his residence there. In December 1779, he was ordered to Paramus. In September 1780 De Hart was named Lt. Colonel in the 2nd New Jersey Regiment. He resigned from service in November 1781, after the victory at Yorktown. The Society of the Cincinnati records state that during the war, he was also an Aide to General Washington. One of De Hart’s brothers was engaged in the service as aide to General Anthony Wayne, and fell at Fort Lee in 1780.

Letter signed by Washington, text in the hand of his Aide Richard Kidder Meade, Head Quarters at Morristown, December 22, 1779, to Lt. Col. William De Hart, issuing orders assigning De Hart to the command of a detachment to patrol the area around Paramus. Pursuant to his goal, he intended to protect American Patriots, monitor British and Tory activities, and hinder their contact with each other. He also classified Tories’ schemes as destructive.

“Sir, You will proceed with the detachment under your command to Paramus—The Objects of it are to cover the communication between this & Kings Ferry—to give protection to the well affected Inhabitants & restrain the others by preventing all kind of intercourse with the Enemy & to obtain the best intelligence of their movements & designs. The many disaffected people in that neighbourhood renders your caution against surprises peculiarly necessary to prevent which you will constantly advance proper Guards & Patrols. You are not to permit the passing of Flags or private persons on their own business on any pretense whatever. The detestable & pernicious traffic carried on with the Enemy will demand your greatest vigilance & attention—I intreat you to pursue the most decisive measures to put a stop to it. You will be pleased punctually to advise me of every occurrence of importance that comes within your knowledge. Go: Washington.” Remnants of old tape on verso.

Just three weeks later, Washington again wrote De Hart, informing him that Lord Stirling was commencing a raid on Staten Island, and ordering him to Newark to provide surveillance of the British, and to report to Stirling if the British send reinforcements to disrupt the raid. “Sir, I desire that you will immediately on the receipt of this, collect your detachment and march to Newark [New Jersey]. If you can move your men in sleds, it will be much more expeditious…An attempt is to be made by a detachment of the army under the command of Lord Stirling against the enemy upon Staten Island. The object of your taking post at Newark is to observe the motions of the enemy…You will keep parties of observation over towards Bergen, and should they discover any motion in that quarter, you will instantly communicate it by way of Elizabeth Town to Lord Stirling.”

This is our first letter of Washington specifically discussing protecting Patriots, classifying Tories as “detestable & pernicious”, and seeking to prevent cooperation and contact between them and the British. Remnants of old tape on verso.

This letter has never before been offered for sale. De Hart himself gave it to a friend with whom he was then living, and it has remained in that family for over 200 years. We obtained it directly from the family descendants.