Official letters to the Honorable American Congress, Written, During the War Between the United Colonies and Great-Britain

Washington’s Official Letters reveals his efforts to comply with the wishes of Congress while constantly at pains to secure adequate provisions and pay for his poorly trained and often disaffected troops. This scarce volume contains the General’s warm acknowledgement of the signing of the Declaration of Independence ("I caused ‘The Declaration’ to be proclaimed before all the army under my immediate command"), correspondence from the grueling winter bivouac at Valley Forge, and a report of his Christmas victory at the Battle of Trenton. "Washington was consulted by Jefferson as to the publication of these papers, and the latter was in constant correspondence with Carey during their preparation. On July 3, 1792, Jefferson gave Carey formal permission to use the State Papers." Carey was adamant that as much as possible should be revealed to the public, and on this subject, Jefferson wrote in 1796, "The whole of the M.S.S. examined I passed by myself, and the doubtful passages referred to the President & passed by him, were proper for publication [for although] there were passages which might on publication create uneasiness in the minds of some, & were therefore referred by me to the President, yet I concurred fully in the opinion he pronounced that as these things were true they ought to be known. [T]o render history what it ought to be the whole truth should be known. I am no friend to mystery & state secrets. [T]hey serve generally only to conceal the errors & rogueries of those who govern" (Library of Thomas Jefferson 492).