1. Cochran’s enclosed report was written at Morristown on Tuesday, 11 April. Addressed to the “President of the Medical Committee” of Congress at Philadelphia, it reads: “It becomes necessary for me to acquaint the Medical Committee that, as it was probable, I should soon be destitute of Stores for the regimental Sick, I wrote to Doctor Potts the Hospital Purveyor, for a proper supply, in order to prevent the fatal Consequences, which must ensue from the Want of them. I had for Answer that, he neither had Stores, on hand, or Money to purchase any with.

“The whole stock was expended on Monday last, the usual Day of issuing, & then only at half Allowance for the Week & unless a supply should arrive in a few Days, the sick must suffer greatly. I am informed, this Day, that the General Hospitals in the Vicinity of the Camp, are nearly in the same Situation respecting Stores, so that little relief can be expected from that Quarter.

“I hope the above report will induce the Medical Committee to take the most effectual Steps to enable the Purveyor to furnish the Necessary Comforts for the languishing Soldiery who merit the utmost Attention from that Country, which they have been so bravely defending” (DLC:GW; see also Nathanael Greene to GW, 22 March, n.3). Upon the recommendation of the Medical Committee, Congress passed resolutions on 20 May to furnish Jonathan Potts with “two hogsheads of sugar” and “two hogsheads of spirits, for the use of the hospitals in the middle district” (JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 17:442).