From George Washington to Samuel Meredith and Thomas Barclay, 27 June 1780
To Samuel Meredith and Thomas Barclay
Head Quarters Ramapaugh [N.J.] 27th June 1780
Gentlemen.
I have been favored with your letter of the 24th. The spirit and exertions of the citizens of Philadelphia while they relieve us from the most pressing embarrassments cannot fail to produce a happy effect on our affairs in general. They claim and deserve the thanks of their country.
With respect to the supplies which you have been appointed by them to forward, at this juncture or while the Jersey is free from the operations of the enemy they may be ordered by the common route to New-Windsor.1 As this route however is subject to interruption you will be pleased from time to time to consult with Mr Forman Q.M. who will be informed on this head. He will also point out to you the stages for the teams. I would beg leave to recommend that there be no accumulation of the supplies made at Trenton or any intermediate place between that and the North river. It would be establishing an object for the enemy which will be prevented by your having them transported from Philada in such quantities as shall be proportioned to the means which can be provided for forwarding them to N: Windsor.2 I am Gentln.
Df, in James McHenry’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. The “common route” refers to the road leading from Trenton to Morristown and from there to Ringwood, N.J., then through Smiths Clove in New York to New Windsor in the same state. In contrast to this route, GW often referred to the more westerly “back-route,” which he considered a safer line of communication in times of British army activity (see GW to Henry Knox, 21 June).
2. Meredith and Barclay replied to GW from Trenton on 1 July: “We had yesterday the pleasure of receiving your Excellencies letter of the 27th of last Month, and agreeable to your directions have forwarded a few waggon load of Flour to New Windsor—The agreement which we have made with the waggoners is to deliver the Flour to your order, we therefore beg you will give the necessary instructions to the person at New Windsor who is to receive it we do not expect to ⟨mutilated,⟩ able to procure many waggons for ⟨mutilated⟩ time, as most of those in this part ⟨mutilated⟩ Country are already engaged in ⟨mutilated⟩ portation of Public Stores—we shall ⟨mutilated⟩ attend to your directions relative to ⟨mutilated⟩ warding those under our Care, and ⟨mutilated⟩nty add that the waggoners whom we ⟨mutilated⟩ are not to draw either Rations or ⟨mutilated⟩” (LS, DLC:GW).