From George Washington to George Clinton, 25 May 1780
To George Clinton
Head Qrs Morris Town May 25: 1780
Dr Sir
Since my Letter of the 23d & 24th which accompanies this—I have also directed the Issuing Commissary Colo. Stewart, to forward a Hundred Barrells of flour from hence without delay to New Windsor to be conveyed from thence by Colo. Hay to Albany to Colo. Vanschaick, as a further supply for Fort Schuyler.1 I hope it will not be long before it arrives at Albany, from whence I have requested Colo. Vanschaick to exert himself in concert with the quarter master, to have it sent to the Garrison with the greatest possible expedition.2 perhaps it may be in Your Excellency’s power to facilitate the transportation in some degree—and if it should, I am confident it will be done. I should be happy if we could throw a Hundred or more Barrells of Salt provision into the Garrison; but as I mentioned in my Letter of the 23d & 24th, I do not know from whence it is to come. I have found however on enquiry of Colo. Stewart, that he believes from Letters in his possession, there is a quantity belonging to the Continent in Connecticut.3 He does not know the places of deposit, but imagines these can be ascertained either by Mr Nathaniel Stevens, an Assistant Issuing Commissary at Fish Kill4 or by Mr Peter Colt, who was in the purchasing department at Hartford. I enclose Your Excellency an Order for a Hundred Barrells, wherever it may be found—and from the unhappy—thrice unhappy state of our finance and Quarter Masters department, must leave it with You to devise the means of getting it to Albany and to have it forwarded from thence to the Garrison.5 I confide in Your Excellency’s goodness to excuse the trouble I give You on this occasion, which nothing but the cause I have mentioned6 should have induced me to have offered. I have the Honor to be with the Most sincere respect & esteem Dr sir Yr Most Obedt st
Go: Washington
LS, in Robert Hanson Harrison’s writing, NRom; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. GW probably communicated verbally with Charles Stewart, commissary general of issues resident with the main army. For the provision shortages at Fort Schuyler, N.Y., see Goose Van Schaick to GW, 19 May, and GW to Van Schaick, 24 May, found at GW to Clinton, 23–24 May, n.7.
2. GW wrote Col. Goose Van Schaick from headquarters at Morristown on this date: “Besides the Corn mentioned in my Letter of yesterday under the direction of Colo. Lewis—which I desired You to have sent up to Fort Schuyler as soon as possible, I have directed the Issuing Commissary Colo. Stewart, to forward a Hundred Barrels of flour from hence without delay to New Windsor—to be conveyed from thence by Colo. Hay to Albany to your care. This is intended as a farther supply for Fort Schuyler, and I request that You will apply to the Quarter Master and exert every practicable means in concert with him, to have it thrown into the Garrison without a Moment’s loss of time. From the unhappy state of our provision Magazines, it is essential that great economy should be used at that post—to lengthen out the Supplies; and the Troops, to save the Salt provision which should be kept for a case of emergency, should draw as far and as long as circumstances will possibly permit, support from the Country. This I should hope & suppose may be done while the Country is open & it certainly ought, as in case of an investiture of the post there will be nothing to rely on but the Salt provision. I will if possible, have a small supply of this sent to Your care to be forwarded also to the Garrison with every practicable degree of expedition” (LS, in Robert Hanson Harrison’s writing, Bibliotheque Publique et Universitaire, Geneva, Switzerland; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW). Van Schaick replied to GW on 1 June.
GW wrote Lt. Col. Udny Hay from headquarters at Morristown on 26 May: “I have requested Colo. Stewart, the Issuing Commissary, to forward without delay a Hundred Barrels of flour from hence to New Windsor. This is intended as a supply for Fort Schuyler, where it is of infinite importance it should arrive as soon [as] possible. I request that You will use your best exertions to have it conveyed to Albany to Colo. Van schaick with the greatest expedition. I have written to him upon the subject—and hope that he and Colo. Lewis in concert, will find means of getting it to the Garrison immediately after it arrives” (Df, in Robert Hanson Harrison’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW; the draft is addressed to Hay at Fishkill, N.Y.).
3. The letters in Stewart’s possession have not been identified, but see Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., to GW, 6 June.
4. Nathaniel Stevens (1753–1831), a farmer from Canaan, Conn., served as an assistant commissary at Fishkill, N.Y., before his appointment as deputy commissary of issues at that post (see Stewart to Robert Howe, 4 April 1780, in , 5:587–88). He remained deputy commissary of issues until 1782, when he became contractor for West Point.
5. The undated draft of the order reads: “One Hundred Barrells of Salt provision (beef or pork) are to be delivered to the Order of His Excellency Govr Clinton whenever demanded, for the use of the Garrison at Fort Schuyler, by Any Commissary or Commissaries or other public agent of the United States having the same in the state of Connecticut” (DLC:GW). The draft of a second undated order reads: “His Excellency Governor Clinton having received my Order on any Commissary or Commissaries or public agent of the United States having provision in their hands in the State of Connecticut, for one Hundred Barrels of Beef or pork, to be furnished for the use of the Garrison at Fort Schuyler—I request that the several quarter masters will exert themselves as far as possible, in forwarding the transportation of the same” (DLC:GW).