Autograph Letter Signed

Washington is unable to satisfy St.Clair's request for official exoneration

Washington informs St.Clair that a dearth of high ranking officers prohibits the establishment of a court of inquiry. Washington asks St.Clair to cooperate fully with his successor.

1792

03

28

Cited in St. Clair to Washington, 03/31/1792.

Cited document addressed to the War Office

Arthur St. Clair

George Washington

1792032860001

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United States, March 28th, 1792



Sir,



Your knowledge of the country northwest
of the Ohio, and of the resources for an Army in its
vicinity, added to a full confidence in your
military character, founded on mature experience,
induced my nomination of you to the command
of the troops on the frontier.



Your desire of rectifying any errors of
the public opinion, relatively to your conduct,
by an investigation of a Court of Inquiry, is highly
laudable, and would be readily complied with,
were the measure practicable.___ But a total
deficiency of Officers, in actual service, of compe
tent rank to form a legal Court, for that pur-
pose, precludes the power of gratifying your
wishes on the occasion.



The intimation of your readiness to
afford your successor all the information of
which
which you are capable, although unnecessary for
my personal conviction, must be regarded as an
additional evidence of the goodness of you heart,
and of your attachment to your Country.



I am Sir,

with esteem and regard

Your most Obedt. Servt.

G. Washington


Major General Arthur St. Clair