Only the day before yesterday I heard of your being here, and
then but by accident, or I should have addressed you upon the
subject of this communication. For several months there has
been a rumor industriously circulated in this city, that
during the last summer, you stated while in "South Carolina,"
in the presence of General Greene and other officers, that my
conduct at the battles of Brandywine and Monmouth had
subjected me to the imputation of timidity. It is added that
you referred disparagingly to circumstances which occurred at
_Valley Forge_, and revived the exploded calumny, for the
truth of which you personally vouched, that I had signified my
acceptance of the terms then offered me by the Commissioners,
which you know that I spurned with scorn.
Of course you will understand me to be satisfied that you
never did use any language of the kind, but, as these remarks
have been propogated by persons who, I have every reason to
believe, are no less your enemies than mine. I am anxious to
afford you an opportunity for their contradiction, and this I
have to request you will promptly give me.
I should be sorry that malicious and designing persons should
have it in their power to disturb the harmony of the relations
which I have so long enjoyed with one upon whose friendship I
set so high a value, and for whom I entertain a peculiar
esteem.
With great respect and cordiality,
I am my Dear General, yours, &c.,
JOS. REED
Dec'r 26th, 1783.
No. 2.
_Philadelphia, December 27th, 1783._
Sir--The cool effrontery of your note yesterday surprised me.
By what right you presume to refer to any harmony of relations
between us, and to speak of the value of my "friendship" I am
at a loss to comprehend. That harmony was first disturbed by
the pecuniary difficulties in which you so dishonestly
involved me, and from which I am only now beginning to
extricate myself, apart from which I could entertain no
feelings of "friendship" for an officer for whom I have such
abundance of reasons for entertaining sentiments of a very
different description. I have no doubt that my remarks to
General Greene and others have been correctly reported to you,
not only in South Carolina and Georgia, but years ago in
Pennsylvania, and within the immediate reach of your personal
demand. I have never hesitated, on all proper occasions to
express myself in similar terms. I never merely intimated that
your conduct at the battles of Brandywine and Monmouth had
subjected you "to the imputations of timidity," but I have
always said that your behaviour at those battles, particularly
that of Chad's Ford, should have secured your dismissal from
the army.
What you refer to as "the exploded calumny" of your
negotiations with the enemy at Valley Forge, I in common with
every officer in the army, with whom I have ever conversed
upon the subject, including the Commander-in-chief, believe to
be strictly well-founded.
I am Sir, yours,
ANTHONY WAYNE.
To Joseph Reed.