From George Washington to Coggeshall Olney, 18 February 1783

The whole of the Official Report of my Lord Stirling respecting the late movement of a Detachment of the Rhode Island Regiment into the district of Vermont having been forwarded by me to Congress the Honorable Mr Arnold conceived his reputation in some degree affected thereby and hath written to me twice on the subject of the report so far as it related to himself personally—It is therefore my particular direction that you will (with due precautions of secresy) cause a speedy and pointed compliance to be made with the request contained in the following extract of a Letter of the 11 instant from Mr Arnold, and inform me of the result by as early an Opportunity as possible.

"I have taken the liberty (says Mr Arnold) to inclose a number of interrogations which I am desirous should be answered in the most explicit manner by Captain McComber under Oath—and am necessitated to give you the trouble to direct that it be done as well that you may be informed of what passes on the occasion to whom the Report was made as because you can direct it to be done in a manner which shall consist with that secresy which the ground of Captain McCombers Mission may require.

"From the personal knowledge I have of that young Gentleman, who I ever esteemed as a person of probity I cannot suppose him capable of designing an injury to me and therefore conclude he has either inadvertently imposed on himself, or has been vilainously imposed upon by others in this affair." I am Sir Your most Obed. Servant

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