To George Washington from James Gray, 18 January 1780
From James Gray
Albany Jan’y 18th 1780
Honored Sir
With this I forward my Monthly Return for Augst,1 it is at so late a day I blush, Alth’o its not owing to any Neglect of mine, or my Clerks, but one of my Commissaries at the remotest distance, whose Return I was Oblig’d to send back for correction, I have not seen Mr Lyne yet, or heard any thing from Co’os.2
As the Commissaries Department is now by Resolve of Congress, put wholly under the direction of the Board of War,3 I shall not Trouble your Excellency with any more of my Returns, unless it would be some satisfaction to your Excellenc[y] to receive them, In which case I wish I knew your mind, as I would with great pleasure conduct Accordingly. I am with the greatest Respect, and Esteem, your Excellencys, Most Obedt, and Verry Hble Servt
James Gray,
Dep’y Commis’y Genl Issues,
Northern Department.
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. This enclosure was Gray’s return of provisions and stores received and issued at the various army posts in the northern department for the month of August 1779 (see GW to Gray, 28 Jan.). The return, docketed in Tench Tilghman’s writing, is in DNA: RG 93, manuscript file no. 22009.
2. For GW’s orders to Gray directing him to have Matthew Lyne report to Morristown for a court of inquiry, see GW to Gray, 11 Dec. 1779, in GW to Jeremiah Wadsworth, 7 Dec., n.2; see also Gray to GW, 10 Jan. 1780.
3. For this resolution of 25 Nov. 1779, see 15:1312.