To George Washington from Brigadier General Enoch Poor, 29 January 1780
From Brigadier General Enoch Poor
Danbury [Conn.] January 29 1780
Dear Sir,
The Ten thousand doll. I received for recruiting1 I find very inadequate to the purpose, must therefore request another grant of the like sum—upwards of 70 men have already inlisted and many others are inclining—Capt. Leigh the bearer of this will wait on you by whom I wish the money might be forwarded.2
The Difficulties that have arisen from a scarcity of flour in this quarter have called for my utmost exertions together with the assistance of my officers, but I have now the satisfaction to find that no further distress will probably arise from that cause, and general contentment amongst my Troops—in this situation I must once more beg indulgence to retire for a time to my family and pay some attention to domestic matters which at this juncture demand it—the Command of my Brigade will devolve on Colo. Cilley whose capacity and attention render him worthy of the command.
Major Norris of the 3d Regimt3 has applied to me for a furlough which I am unable to grant consistent with Genl Orders,4 at his earnest request I represent his case to your Excellency believing his necessity to be pressing (viz.) the Division of an estate which requires the present time—the Regt being small and the next in command a good Officer I wish his request might be granted.
The situation of my Officers and soldiers in point of cloathing being very bad, if there be any in store it would at no time be more acceptable than the Present—of this Capt. Leigh our Sub-clothier can inform. I am with much esteem your very h’ble Servt
Enoch Poor
LS, DLC:GW.
1. On 26 Dec. 1779, GW issued a warrant for $10,000 to “Lt Blake 1st New Hampshire regt for the purpose of re[en]listing for the war the men of that line to be accounted for by Genl Poor” (Revolutionary War Warrant Book 4, 1779–1780, DLC:GW, ser. 5; see also GW to Poor, 26 Dec. 1779).
2. Joseph Leigh (c.1741–c.1811) of Portsmouth, N.H., had been appointed commissary of issues for the New Hampshire troops in June 1778. When in March 1779 Congress called on the states to appoint state, or sub, clothiers to reside near the army (see 13:353–57), Leigh acted in that office for the New Hampshire regiments. In December 1779, the New Hampshire legislature accepted Leigh’s resignation of both offices ( 844).
3. James Norris (1739–1816) of Epping, N.H., joined the 2d New Hampshire Regiment as a captain in May 1775 and served in the regiment until it disbanded in December 1775. He became a captain in the 8th Continental Regiment in January 1776, and in November of that year he transferred to the newly formed 2d New Hampshire Regiment. Norris was wounded and taken prisoner during the fighting at Hubbardton, Vt., in July 1777. After his release, Norris became major of the 3d New Hampshire Regiment in September 1777. He left the army in July 1780.
4. See General Orders, 8 Dec. 1779.