MARCH, 1777 General Washington to General John Sullivan. The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745-1799.

Morris Town, March 15, 1777.

Do not, my dear General Sullivan, torment yourself any longer with imaginary Slights, and involve others in the perplexities you feel on that Score. No other officer of rank, in the whole army, has so often conceived himself neglected, Slighted, and ill treated, as you have done, and none I am sure has had less cause than yourself to entertain such Ideas. Mere accidents, things which have occurred in the common course of Service, have been considered by you as designed affronts. But pray Sir, in what respect did General Greene's late command at Fort Lee, differ from his present command at Baskenridge? or from yours at Chatham? And what kind of separate command had General Putnam at New York? I never heard of any, except his commanding there ten days before my arrival from Boston, and one day after I had left it for Harlemheights, as senior Officer. In like manner at Philadelphia, how did his command there differ from the one he has at Princeton, and wherein does either vary from yours at Chatham? Are there any peculiar emoluments or honours to be reaped in the one case and not in the other? No, why then these unreasonable, these unjustiafiable Suspicions? Suspicions which can answer no other end, than to poison your own happiness, and add vexation to that of others.

General Heath, it is true, was ordered to Peeks Kill. So was General Spencer, by the mere chapter of accidents (being almost in the Country) to Providence to watch the motions of the fleet, then hovering in the Sound. What followed after to either or both, was more the effect of chance than design.

Your ideas and mine, respecting separate commands, have but little analogy. I know of but one seperate command properly so called, and that is in the Northern Department, and General Sullivan, General St. Clair or any other General Officer at Ticonderoga, will be considered in no other light, whilst there is a Superior Officer in the Department, than if they were placed at Chatham, Baskenridge, or Princeton.

But I have not time to dwell upon Subjects of this kind; in quitting it, I shall do it with an earnest exhortation, that you will not suffer Yourself to be teized with evils that only exist in the imagination, and with Slights that have no existence at all; keeping in mind at the same time, that if distant armies are to be formed there are several Gentlemen before you, in point of rank, who have a right to claim a preference. I am etc.