1. Silas Condict (1738–1801), who held extensive property in Morris County, N.J., served on the state privy council (1776–80) and then in Congress (1781–83). He later won several terms in the New Jersey General Assembly. Defending his recommendation of Condict for quartermaster general, Livingston wrote New Jersey delegate John Fell from Trenton on 9 March 1780, describing Condict as “a man of Sense” with “Intellectual Powers superior to the Generality of Mankind” (Prince, Livingston Papers description begins Carl E. Prince et al., eds. The Papers of William Livingston. 5 vols. Trenton and New Brunswick, N.J., 1979–88. description ends , 3:321–22).

2. The enclosed copy of Livingston’s letter to the magistrates of Middlesex and Somerset counties, N.J., composed at Morristown on this date, reads: “There are about four hundred Barrels of Flour belonging to the United States in the City of New Brunswick, which are conceived to be so greatly exposed to be destroyed by the Enemy, as to render it necessary to have them immediately removed to a place of greater Security. Besides the precarious Situation of that Flour, the Necessity the Army is in for a speedy Supply of that Article renders it the more indispensable to have it transported to Morris Town with all possible Dispatch.

“This County has lately so vigorously exerted itself in the public Service, has this moment so great a number of Waggons employed in conveying provisions from Trenton to this place, & their Teams are generally so exceedingly weak from the Scarcity of Fodder occasioned by the Army’s being quartered in it, that no assistance in the present Emergency, can reasonably be expected from them.

“The Commissaries have found it difficult to procure Waggons any where arising from the continental Agents then not being supplied with money, but there is not the least room to doubt that the Expences incurred by this Service will be punctually paid, as Mr Furman the Quarter master for this State, is furnished with Cash for this purpose.

“From the former patriotic Exertions of the Counties of Middlesex & Sommerset, & that laudable zeal for the common Cause which they have hitherto exhibited whenever the public Exigency requires it, abstracted from the important Consideration of the devastation to which great part of those Counties will be exposed should the Enemy make the Stores at Brunswick an Object, (which it is highly probable they will do) I flatter myself with the pleasing hopes of the Magistrates of those Counties exerting their utmost Influence with the Inhabitants on this pressing Occasion, & that they will for that purpose meet without loss of time to concert the most proper measures for inducing them to render this essential Service to their Country” (DLC:GW; see also GW’s circulars to New Jersey Magistrates, 7 Jan. and 2 Feb.).

3. GW wrote Maj. John Burrowes from Morristown on 22 April: “You will march the detachment under your command to Brunswick—The object of it is to guard a quantity of flour deposited there until it can be brought away—When the Waggons begin to move it you will be pleased to give me notice—& also when the whole is nearly taken away—As a detachment of the Army at that place (which is by no means safe) will be an additional motive for the Enemy to make some attempt there, I must entreat you to use every precaution that may be necessary to guard against a surprise” (Df, in Richard Kidder Meade’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW).

Burrowes wrote GW from New Brunswick, N.J., on 26 April: “Your orders, directed me to let your Excellencey know, when the waggons began to move the stores—I have been here these three days and none of the stores yet moved, but have some hopes of begining to morrow—as I have had persons out these two days pressing waggons—There was sent of[f] from here two days before my arrival Seventy Seven barrels flour and seventy barrels of Indian meal.

“Now in store one hundred & fifty barrels Corn two hundred and fifty barrels of Indian meal and Seventy barrels flour, with a few Boxes candles—which your Excellencey may depend on my utmost exertions to get them forward—I also shall pay particular attention to guard against being Surprised” (ALS, DLC:GW).

GW replied to Burrowes from Morristown on 27 April: “I have received Your Letter of Yesterday and wish You may be supplied with Waggons to day as You expected for moving the Stores. They cannot as I observed before be got away too soon, and I doubt not of your exertions to effect it. When matters appear to be in good train for it and You are on the point or have a good prospect of putting the whole in motion—You will advise me and I will then give You further Orders with respect to your Detachment” (Df, in Robert Hanson Harrison’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW).

GW again wrote Burrowes on 10 May: “If the Stores are removed from Brunswick or but an inconsiderable quantity remains there now—You will march with the Detachment under your command to Connecticut Farms; sending an Officer on before You to Colo. Dayton to advise him of your moving and from whom You will receive Orde⟨rs.⟩ Colo. Dayton is at his own Camp or in that Neighbourhood” (Df, in Robert Hanson Harrison’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW; obscured material on the draft is supplied in angle brackets from the Varick transcript).

GW had written Capt. Jeremiah Ballard from Morristown on 1 May: “I have received your favo⟨ur⟩ inclosing a return of the flour &ca at Brunswick. I have only to desire that you will use every exertion to have it brought away as expeditiously as possible, & make its security while there the object of your attention, & also to guard your party from surprise by every necessary precaution, as it is not improbable but the enemy may attempt some enterprise against it—When the flour is all nearly brought away, I wish you to give me information of it” (Df, in Richard Kidder Meade’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW; mutilated material on the draft manuscript is supplied in angle brackets from the Varick transcript). The enclosed return has not been identified, and no reply from Ballard to GW has been found.

Jeremiah Ballard (1748–1823) entered the 3d New Jersey Regiment as a lieutenant in November 1776 and advanced to captain in October 1777. He transferred to the 2d New Jersey Regiment in January 1781 and remained in the army until April 1783. Ballard was mayor of Elizabeth, N.J., at the time of his death (see Clayton, Union and Middlesex description begins W. Woodford Clayton, ed. History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey, with Biographical Sketches of Many of Their Pioneers and Prominent Men. Philadelphia, 1882. description ends , 97).