To George Washington from Colonel William Finnie, 8 April 1778
From Colonel William Finnie
Williamsburg
April 8th 1778.
May it please your Excellency,
By a resolution of the Governor and Council of this State, I have shipped on board the Protector and Safeguard Gallies, commanded by Messrs Thomas and Elliott, sundry Cloathing and Military Stores, addressed to the Care of Col. John Hollingsworth, at the Head of Elk, to be forwarded without Delay to the Army under your Excellency’s Command, by the safest and quickest Rout. I have inclosed Copies of the Invoices for your Excellency’s Information.1
The Governor desires me to acquaint your Excellency, that all the Cloathing furnished by this State, and seized by Commissioners under our Act of Assembly is particularly intended for the Use of the Virginia Troops.2 All the Cloathing contained in these Invoices belonging to the United States is described by the Words Edenton Cargo. I am May it please your Excellency Your Excellency’s most obedient humble Servant.
William Finnie D.Q.M.G.
LS, DLC:GW. The letter is docketed in part, “Ansd 16 May”; the reply has not been identified.
1. The Protector and the Safeguard were Virginia navy galleys, each mounting one 18–pound cannon and assigned a crew of forty-five men. John Thomas was commissioned in December 1776 as first lieutenant and commander of the Protector. George Elliott, Jr., had been commissioned as captain and placed in command of the Safeguard by October 1776. Finnie probably meant to write that the goods were consigned to Henry Hollingsworth, commissary general at Head of Elk, Md. The enclosed invoices have not been identified.
2. Finnie is referring to “An act for speedily clothing the troops raised by this commonwealth now in continental service,” approved by the Virginia general assembly on 28 Nov. 1777 ( 9:375–77).