Mail Delivery in the 18th Century
When Post Masters received letters, they listed the names in the newspapers of those to whom the letters were addressed. If the letters were not picked up by a specified date, they went to the Dead Letter Office.
Letters between George Washington and John Armstrong of Carlisle
John Armstrong was born in County Fermanagh, Ireland about the year 1717 or 1720. A surveyor, he settles in Pennsylvania, first in York County and then in the recently created county of Cumberland. During the French and Indian War he storms the Indian village of Kittanning, is hailed a hero and is given a medal. He begins a friendship and correspondence with a young Virginian he met in the wilds of western Pennsylvania. Twenty years later Armstrong becomes a General in the War of Revolution against the King to whom he once owed allegiance. He serves his new country as a member of Congress and serves his community as a trustee of its new college. His friendship and correspondence with his friend from Virginia continues, only his friend is no longer a surveyor and soldier, his friend is the first President of the United States.
George Washington and John Armstrong corresponded for more than 25 years. The following are excerpts from some of the letters that Armstrong wrote to Washington and letters that Washington wrote to Armstrong from Mount Vernon, from his various headquarters during the Revolution, and from Philadelphia while he served as President.
George Washington to Armstrong
Mount Vernon, September 21, 1767
Since I had the pleasure of seeing you at Warm Springs …I heartily wish that Mrs. Armstrong and yourself may find all the good effects from the waters of the Frederick Springs that you could desire. Mrs. Washington makes a tender of her compliments to your Lady and self—to which please add those of Dr. Sir, etc. 1
George Washington
John Armstrong to Washington
Carlisle, November 3, 1767
"…here permit a single remark flowing from old friendship, and it shall be on the infatuating game of card playing, of which on thirty years observation I am not able to say so much good, as a witty person once did of what he censur'd as a culpable & extravagant piece of dress that it cover'd a multitude of sins; but that game always unfriendly to Society, turns conversation out of doors, and curtails our opportunities to mutual good. I can easily presume on your good nature to forgive this piece of unfashionable freedom, and believe me to be with great respect
Dear Sir, Your most obed't. and most humble. Servt. John Armstrong"
P.S. Mrs. Armstrong and myself beg you'll please to present our best respects to your Lady & also to yr. worthy neighbours, Col. Fairfax & Lady. We have both I hope been better'd by the Warm Springs, except some returns of the Rheumatism that attend Mrs. Armstrong, which I apprehend is so constitutional yet we can scarcely expect a perfect cure. J.A. 2
John Armstrong to Washington
Carlisle, 24th December 1773
If weather & the River Potomack admit, I hope my Son, now returning from a visit here, to his present station near the Rappahanock will have the pleasure of delivering you this scrawl at Mount Vernon. He has some thoughts of moving from that place, and some intimation of another vacancy perhaps more agreeable at a place of which I imagine you have some acquaintance—but this intention to remove for prudential reasons he does not chuse to be known where he now lives, until he can be better determin'd, and on this point I know I need not ask you to render him any assistance you may think of service to him. As to his character, altho' I believe you would forgive me, I rather leave that to other people, and so far as it may be a necessary foundation of your letter or advice, I beg leave to refer you to Doctor Mercer or some of the gentlemen where he lives, one of whom being a member of yr. General Assembly for the County of Lancaster you undoubtedly know…
I am Dear Coll: with great truth & esteem, Your most obedt. Humble servt: John Armstrong 3
George Washington to Armstrong
Head Quarters, Morris Town, March 5, 1777
I expected you would have appointed your Younger son Dr. James Armstrong to the command of one of the four Companies that are at your disposal, and if you have not already filled up all the Commissions, it will give me pleasure to see it yet done. The Doctor will undoubtedly find a place in the new hospital…As Dr. Shippen will probably be the Head of the Medical Department, your Son had better apply to him in time.4
I am dear Sir Yours etc. G. Washington
George Washington to Armstrong
Head Quarters, Morris Town, July 4, 1777
I am pleased at the honorable mark of distinction which the State of Pennsylvania have conferred upon you by appointing you to the command of their Colonial Troops, and am convinced that by your acceptance of it you will be enabled to render the State and your Country very essential service should she herself be attacked or her assistance demanded by any of her sister colonies.
P.S. I am glad to know whether your eldest son is provided for in a way suitable to his wishes. If he is not I have a vacancy on One of the 16 Regiments that I think will be worth his acceptance. 5
I am with great regard Dear Sir, Yours etc. G. Washington
George Washington to Armstrong
Newburgh, January 10, 1783
We have been, and now are, in a disagreeable state of suspense respecting peace or war…Upon the whole, I am of the opinion that the terms of Peace were agreed on before the adjournments for the Christmas Holidays, or that we shall have at least another campaign…The Army, as usual are without pay and a great part of the soldiery without shirts and tho’ the patience of them is equally thread bare, the States seems perfectly indifferent to their cries. In a word, if one was to hazard for them an opinion, upon this subject, it would be that the Army had contracted such a habit of encountering distress and difficulties, and of living without money, that it would be impolitic and injurious to introduce other customs in it. We have however, but this depended upon ourselves, built the most comfortable Barracks in the vicinity of this place that the troops have ever yet been in…
I offer you the compliments of the Season and wish you may possess health and spirits to enjoy after we have seated ourselves under our own Vine and Figtrees, if it is the gracious will of providence to permit it, the return of many happy years.
With great truth and sincerity, I am Dear Sir Yr. Most Obedt. & Affectionate Servt.
G. Washington
P.S. Your Son was well a day or two ago, and is now so I believe. 6
John Armstrong to Washington
Carlisle, January 25, 1785
My eldest son Dr. Armstrong has for upward of a year past laboured under a threatening disorder of the pulmonary kind—has for the benefit of the sea spent most of the last summer in England chiefly in London which he much dislikes, but is returned with no more apparent advantage than that his cough only appears to have ceased. He is trying the utmost that a weak regimen may do—riding as the weather will permit. Intends to meet an early spring on the Rappahanock and thence proceed to what is called the Sweet Springs in Augusta, of which his friends in Berkley give…a very favorable account.
I am Dear General, with the highest esteem, Your invariable friend And most obedt. Humble servant John Armstrong 7
George Washington to Armstrong
Mount Vernon, April 25, 1788
I well remember the observation you made in your letter to me of last year, “that my domestic retirement must suffer an interruption.” This took place, notwithstanding it was utterly repugnant to my feelings, my interests and my wishes. I sacrificed every private consideration and personal enjoyment to the earnest and pressing solicitations of those who saw and knew the alarming situation of our public concerns, and had no other end in view but to promote their interests in their Country; and conceiving, that under those circumstances, and at so critical a moment an absolute refusal to act, might, on my part, be construed as a total dereliction of my Country, if imputed to no worse motives. Altho’ you say the same motives induce you to think that another tour of duty of this kind will fall to my lot, I cannot but hope that you will be disappointed, for I am so wedded to a state of retirement and find the occupations of rural life so congenial with my feelings, that to be drawn into public life at my advanced age could be a sacrifice that would admit of no compensation. 8
I am Dr. Sir etc. G Washington
In January 1789, Armstrong wrote to Washington urging him to accept the Presidency.
John Armstrong to Washington
Carlisle, January 27, 1789
I hope before this time sir, you have determined to yield your services to the providential voice of God expressed in the voice of your country which I think appears to be an event morally certain. And whatever embarrassments you may apprehend to attend your acceptance, if a refusal involves still greater (as you will doubtless see) the consequent duty—duty is thereby apparent. To this I shall add nothing, but as your day is, so may your strength be. 9
President George Washington to General John Armstrong
Philadelphia, February 6, 1791
Acknowledging the receipt of your letter of the 29th December and offering you my best interest it expresses in my behalf, I beg you to be persuaded that neither my late silence nor my present brevity are in any degree the consequence of diminished regard. Your friendship receives from me the same grateful and affectionate return which I have ever made to it; but the multiplied duties of my public station allow me little or no leisure for the cultivation of private regards; and the necessity of a prior attention to those duties cannot fail, my dear Sir, to excuse me to you…10
With affectionate regard and esteem, I am etc. dear General
G. Washington
John Armstrong to President George Washington
Carlisle, November 25, 1793
Honored Dear Sir
Please to accept my sincere Congratulations on the reputed State of your good health & safe return to our Afflicted Capitol, or the inviorns thereof…
Public prayers have been offered in these parts for the success of our little Army—the preservation of our country, the Capitol of this State from wasting contagious diseases and the Governor I see has recommended another day of the like which may be more generally attended to. This to be sure is both laudible and highly expectant but piety it is where the Holy Bible may be so easily consulted that this devout description should appear to be wanting in a Capital article—as of the merits and intercession of Jesus Christ, the proclamation sayeth nothing! Without a special respect there to (if revelations be true) the other good things mentioned therein can avail nothing—but the people we hope will make this necessary supplement.
The late affective visitation of God to the inhabitants of Philadelphia11 is truly alarming and ought to awaken not only the reflexion of Pennsylvania but of every State in the Union nor is the limitation of the infection to that spot (as is generally reported) less extraordinary from which we are not unnaturally led to auger some good to this . Happy however at the present in hearing not only of a gradual abatement of the malignant disease for more than a month past, but now of its total abolition.
I should but improperly offer to touch the public difficulties of the present moment and can only express my earnest wishes that together with the country where you preside you may be safely carried through the political intricacies that either now or hereafter may fall in the way. You were, Sir, I firmly believe providentially called to this elective task and in a diligent attention not only to your official but Christian duty have cause to be of good courage not because of an imperfect discharge of these duties, but because the Lord reigns and will do all his pleasure, who can carry you through this maze of things with honor and dignity to the end.
And this dear Sir in the simplicity of truth is the habitual desire of your frail but invariable friend, John Armstrong 12
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References (Sources Available at CCHS in bold)
[1] The George Washington Papers at the Library of Congress, 1741-1799, Account Book 2.
[2] George Washington Papers at the Library of Congress, 1741-1799: Series 4. General Correspondence 1697-1799, 348.
[3] George Washington Papers at the Library of Congress, 1741-1799.
[4] Washington, George, 1732-1799, David Maydole Matteson, John Clement Fitzpatrick, and United States George Washington Bicentennial Commission. The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745-1799. Washington: U.S. Govt. Print. Off. 193144, Vol. 7, 250.
[5] Washington, George, 1732-1799, David Maydole Matteson, John Clement Fitzpatrick, and United States George Washington Bicentennial Commission. The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745-1799. Washington: U.S. Govt. Print. Off. 193144, Vol. 8, 342.
[6] Ibid, Vol. 26, 26-27.
[7] George Washington Papers at the Library of Congress, 1741-1799: Series 4. General Correspondence, 1697-1799, 1078.
[8] Washington, George, 1732-1799, David Maydole Matteson, John Clement Fitzpatrick, and United States George Washington Bicentennial Commission. The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745-1799. Washington: U.S. Govt. Print. Off. 193144, Vol. 29, 464-465.
[9] George Washington Papers at the Library of Congress, 1741-1799: Series 4. General Correspondence, 1697-1799, 270.
[10] Washington, George, 1732-1799, David Maydole Matteson, John Clement Fitzpatrick, and United States George Washington Bicentennial Commission. The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745-1799. Washington: U.S. Govt. Print. Off. 193144, Vol. 31, 210.
[11] Yellow Fever.
[12] “To George Washington from John Armstrong, 25 November 1793,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/05-14-02-0282. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Presidential Series, vol. 14, 1 September31 December 1793, ed. David R. Hoth. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2008, pp. 430–433.]