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Estimate: $ 10,000 - $ 20,000
"BE EXCEEDINGLY WATCHFULL UPON THE MOTIONS OF THE ENEMY" WASHINGTON, GEORGE. Letter Signed, "G°:Washington," to Brigadier General George Weedon, asking that Weedon greet the Duc de Lauzun with respect, and hoping he can prevent the enemy from foraging in the countryside. With Franking Signature on address leaf. Body of letter in the hand of Jonathan Trumbull, Jr. 2 pages, 8vo, with integral address leaf; small seal hole in address leaf, folds. Williamsburg [VA], 23 September 1781
General Washington begins with an apology: 'I am very sensible of your attention, & am sorry for the embarrassments you meet with. I hope they will soon be removed.' He then reiterates that Lauzun's Legion is en route to reinforce Weedon, asks that Weedon 'shew him all the respect & attention that his character demands,' and orders: 'I wish you to be exceedingly watchfull upon the motions of the enemy on your side, & to prevent, as much as possible, without risquing too much, the enemy's gaining provisions or supplies from the country, and you will be so good to give me the earliest information of any important circumstance that may take place.' Weedon tended toward caution in his sector of the siege. Lauzun later complained that Weedon was 'more than 15 miles from the enemy's posts, frightened to death, and did not dare to send a patrol half a mile from his army.' Here we see, though, that Weedon was under orders to avoid 'risquing too much.' Published in Fitzpatrick, Writings of Washington, 23:127.
