From George Washington to Major General Robert Howe, 3 June 1780
To Major General Robert Howe
Head Quarters Morris Town 3d June 1780
Dear Sir
The Flour began to move from hence last night and will be sent on as quick as the Waggons come in. There will be five or six hundred Barrels.1 You will be pleased to have Boats immediately sent down to Kings ferry to receive it upon its arrival there.
The account of the Fleet mentioned in mine of the 1st instant seems to have been premature: The Officer stationed at Elizabeth town has made enquiry into the matter and can hear nothing of them.2
You will receive herewith some Commissions for the Massachusetts line.3 Be pleased to deliver them to the Officers to whom they belong. I am Dear Sir yr &.
Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. For GW’s intention to forward flour, see his letter to Howe of 1 June.
Commissary James Gamble prepared an “Account of Flour forwarded to Kings Ferry from the Magazine Morristown,” dated 6 June, and sent it to Charles Stewart, commissary general of issues. The docket reads: “For His Excellency General Washington Commander in Chief.” According to the document, Gamble dispatched 4 wagons with 152 barrels of flour to King’s Ferry on 2 June; 10 wagons with 323 barrels of flour on 3 June; and 7 wagons with 70 barrels of flour on 4 June, for a total of 545 barrels. The shipment left 825 barrels of flour at Morristown (DNA: RG 93, manuscript file no. 21847).
2. For this report from Col. Elias Dayton, see GW to Howe, 1 June, n.3.