To George Washington from John Jay, 24 March 1779
From John Jay
Philadilphia 24th March 1779
Sir,
Inclosed is an Act of Congress of this day authorizing the Commissioners of Indian Affairs in the Northern Department to order Supplies of Provision to the Oneidas & the other friendly Indians whose Necessities may require it, & directing the Commissaries in that Department to obey such Orders.1
Altho’ this Act may not require your immediate Interposition, yet as every circumstance that may have an Influence on military Operations ought (in my Opinion) to be made known to your Excellency, I think it my duty to transmit it, and the more so since all the Departments have been expressly declared to be under your Direction.2 I have the Honor to be With the greatest Respect & Esteem Your Excellency’s Most Obedt & Hble Servant.
LB, DNA:PCC, item 14. GW replied to this letter on 2 April.
1. The enclosed copy of this act is in DLC:GW (see also , 13:363). For background on this act, see Philip Schuyler to GW, 8 March, and n.1 to that document.
2. For the resolution of 23 Jan. in which Congress made this declaration, see GW to Jay, 30 Jan., n.1 (see also , 13:110).