From George Washington to Major General John Sullivan, 4 October 1778
To Major General John Sullivan
Head Quarters Fish Kill Octobr [4] 17781
Dr Sir
This will accompany a letter from the Board of War to you and two others to the Clothiers at Boston and Providence.2 You will perceive there is one point in particular, which is referred to my decision—whether the Continental troops with you shall be cloathed in the articles of Coats Jackets and breeches out of the imported ready made cloathing which has been ordered on to Springfield and Hartford, or out of the purchases in the hands of Mr Reynolds, and the materials in possession of Messrs Otis and Andrews. The latter mode appears to me preferable on several accounts—In the first place, It would save to the public the3 trouble and expence which would attend transporting the other cloathing to Springfield and Hartford and back again to Providence; for by the information I have received I am led to conclude the whole is by this time either arrived at those places or on its way. And In the next place, it would give the troops in this quarter a chance of being clothed equally soon with those under you, and, I believe not sooner—By the time the cloathing at Springfield and Hartford can be sorted repacked and forwarded to the army, there will be full leisure to provide a sufficiency in the other way for the troops with you—To expedite this,4 it might be adviseable, to have the materials drawn from Messrs Otis and Andrews to supply the deficiency in the quantity already procured by Mr Reynolds, and to have the whole made up, in the state of Rhode Island, where I should imagine Taylors enough are to be found to dispatch the business in a very short time; while Messrs Otis and Andrews may be employed in preparing further supplies for the army in general. But this as you judge best and as shall be most consistent with the instructions of the board of war. The distance the troops here are from Boston, the source of our supplies, makes it equitable and for the good of the service that the cloathing first ready should come on for their use—The greater part of the men with you are I apprehend better clad than those here; and will5 be sooner and better accommodated with quarters to shelter them from the approaching cold season; which are additional reasons for adopting the mode I have mentioned—I believe the Board of war have greatly overrated the quantity of ready made cloathing on the way. With respect to other articles, I have no alterations to propose in the directions given by the Board.
Our stock of cloathing is not yet so ample, but that great care and œconomy are still requisite—I dare say you will take every method in your power to procure exact returns of the men intitled to the new cloathing and will not suffer more to be drawn than is really necessary—I have been informed that General Glovers brigade has lately been completely clad, in uniform procured by the immediate applications of the commanders of regiments, to the clothiers at Boston—If so I should not conceive it to be within the spirit of the Board’s arrangements, to furnish them anew out of the present stock—They can only mean, that the troops in general should be put into uniform and comfortable cloathing; and that the old cloaths delivered at different periods and of different kinds should be returned into the hands of the public; if any brigade has been recently provided with cloaths of the former description, it can hardly be their intention, after being worn a month or six weeks that these should be exchanged for others. I am also informed, that General Varnum had stopped6 some articles on the way to camp for the use of his Brigade. This should be inquired into and if found true, allowance made in the general distribution, which is about to take place.
The enemy remain much in the same situation—They have not yet left the Jerseys. A packet has lately arrived from England. I am, with great regard Dr Sir Your most Obedt servt.
Df, in Alexander Hamilton’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. The copy of this letter that was enclosed in GW’s letter to the Board of War of 5 Oct. has not been found.
1. On the draft manuscript, Hamilton initially wrote: “Head Quarters Fredericksburg Sepr 4th 1778.” James McHenry subsequently struck out “Fredericksburg” and inserted “Fish Kill.” McHenry also changed the date, striking out “Sepr 4” and inserting “Octobr 5.” McHenry docketed the draft: “5 Octr 1778 To Gen. Sullivan.” However, Sullivan’s reference to this letter in his reply to GW of 11 Oct. as “your Excellency<s> Favor of the 4th Instant” indicates that the unfound recipient’s copy was dated the 4th. Further, GW’s reference to this letter in his letter to Otis & Andrews of 4 Oct. suggests that both of those letters were written on that date.
2. GW forwarded the letter that Richard Peters had written to Sullivan on behalf of the Board of War on 29 Sept. (see , 2:374–76), and apparently the Board of War’s letters to Otis & Andrews at Boston and to John Reynolds at Providence, neither of which has been identified, but both of which probably were also dated 29 Sept. (see GW to Otis & Andrews, this date, and GW to the Board of War, 5 Oct.).
3. At this place on the draft manuscript, Hamilton first wrote and then struck out the word: “unnecessary.”
4. At this place on the draft manuscript, Hamilton first wrote and then struck out the phrase: “I should think.”
5. At this place on the draft manuscript, Hamilton first wrote “may.” He then struck out that word and wrote “will” above it.
6. Hamilton inadvertently wrote “spopped” on the draft manuscript.
7. See Lafayette to GW, 28 Sept., and GW to Lafayette, this date. Unknown to GW, Lafayette was already on his way to see him and would arrive at Fishkill either later on this date or sometime the next day (see Lafayette to Lord Carlisle, 4 Oct., in , 2:187–89).