The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745-1799. John C. Fitzpatrick, Editor.--vol. 08
Sir: I was this day favoured with your Letter of the 28th. It was never my intention that the two Regiments, you allude to, Should remain longer where they are, than till the destination of the Enemy is certainly known; as that is not the case, at present they are to continue where they are and will do so till I give further orders. I apprized the Governor, that I should call away those Regiments and recommended him to have a Sufficient Number of the Militia to take their place. I would wish to give protection to every Inhabitant, and as far as I can I will; But how can it be expected or with what propriety, that the Army is to be detached and broken to peices? Rhode Island, Connecticut and every other State might upon the same principles demand a part of the Army to remain amongst them, and it might be divided and subdivided till it became too weak to act at any point. I am, etc. (57)
[Note 57: The draft is in the writing of John Fitzgerald.]
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/mgw:@field(DOCID+@lit(gw080443))