Washington, George, as Continental Commander

Autograph document, possibly a draft, titled "Instructions for the Recording Secretary at Head Quarters," 1 page (13 x 8 in.; 331 x 201 mm), [Headquarters, New Windsor], (17 June 1781), with an overslip with 10 words in Washington's hand pasted to the lower margin, docketed on the verso "Instructions to Lieut. Colo. Richd. Varick June 17, 1781"; silked, many fold separations with early repairs on verso occasionally costing a few letters, lightly browned, inlaid to a larger sheet.

See The Writings of George Washington, ed. Fitzpatrick, 22:13–1150, for a variant text of the instructions copied by George Taylor Jr.

Organizing George Washington's Revolutionary War papers. It is estimated that during his tenure as Commander of the Continental Army, George Washington wrote some 12,000 letters, orders, and other documents, while his aides-de-camp issued another 5,000 official documents over their own signatures (see Lefkowitz, George Washington's Indispensable Men: The 32 Aides-de-Camp Who Helped Win American Independence; 2003). By the spring of 1781, Washington's aides were no longer able to record all of his correspondence, as he explained in 4 April 1871 letter to Samuel Huntington, the President of Congress: "The business that has given constant exercise to the Pen of my Secretary; and not only frequently, but always, to those of my Aides deCamp, had rendered it impracticable for the former to register the Copies of my Letters, Instructions &ca. in Books; by which means valuable documents which may be of equal public utility and private satisfaction remain in loose Sheets; and in the rough manner in which they were first drawn. ... Unless a set of Writers are employed for the sole purpose of recording them it will not be in my power to accomplish this necessary Work. ... The business now, must be performed in some quiet retreat and yet not so far from Camp but that I may, without much inconvenience have recourse to the Papers. It must be done under the Inspection of a Man of character in whom entire confidence can be placed, and who is capable of arranging the papers, and methodizing the register. Such an one, with as many Clerks as can be employed to advantage I will enveavor to engage with the permission of Congress" (Writings, ed. Fitzpatrick, 21:411–12).

Richard Varick, who had been Benedict Arnold's secretary at West Point, was the "such an one" selected by Washington to undertake this vital and monumental project. In the present document, Washington meticulously outlines his requirements for the copying, indexing, and filing of four categories of correspondence: "All letters to Congress—Committees of Congress—and to the Board of War"; "All Instructions to Officers of the line—of the Staff—and letters to Military characters of every denomination"; "Letters to Governors—Presidents—& other Executives of States"; and "Letters to Foreign Ministers—Foreign Officers—&c."

Washington further instructs that "Letters to me are to be classed in the same order as those from me." Varick is charged with sorting and registering all of these letters, as well as engaging as his assistants "Clerks who write a fair hand; & correctly ... that there may be similarity & beauty within the whole. ..." Washington also directs that "all the writing is to be upon black lines equi-distant—all the Books to be have the same Margin—and to be indexed in so clear & intelligent a manner as that there may be no difficulty in the references." In his final instruction, Washington impresses upon Varick that his "Clerks must be sworn to be careful of the Papers—to give no copies without permission—nor suffer any to be taken with their privity or knowledge."

Varick and three clerks worked on the Washington papers through August 1783, and Varick delivered to Mount Vernon six volumes of letters to Congress, fourteen of letters and orders to military officers, four of letters to civil officials, two volumes of councils of war, and one each of letters to foreigners and of private correspondence. On 1 January 1784 Washington wrote to Varick, expressing his "entire approbation of the manner in which you have executed the important duties of recording Secretary , and the satisfaction I feel in having my Papers so properly arranged, & so correctly recorded. ... I am fully convinced that neither the present age or posterity will consider the time and labour which have been employed in accomplishing it, unprofitably spent" (Papers, Confederation Series, ed. Abbot, 1:2). Unpublished in this form.