To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Udny Hay, 18 July 1779
From Lieutenant Colonel Udny Hay
Fish Kill [N.Y.] 18th July 1779 4 P.M.
Sir
About two hours ago I was informed by the Qr Master at West Point that Your Excellency had ordered to be sent to Kings ferry without delay Harness sufficient for eighty Horses to go singly, he made application to me, and in about an hour I shall send away to the Fort a sufficiency to compleat about fifty, I do not believe that the Remainder can be gott nearer than the Park,1 and therefore take as early an opportunity as in my power to acquaint you thereof. I am with the utmost respect, Your Excellencies, Most obedient & very humble Sevt
Udny Hay
ALS, DLC:GW.
GW’s aide-de-camp Richard Kidder Meade replied to Hay on 19 July: “His Excy desires me to acknowledge the receipt of yr favor of the 16th & 18th—In the former you request the use of some arms, in case the enemy should make fishkill an object, to this I am directed to answer that the Genl is sorry our supplies will not enable him to furnish you—He returns his thanks for your zeal.
“There is now no necessity for the Harness called for, you will in consequence give yourself no further trouble in forwarding the remaining quantity” (DLC: GW). The need for harness probably ended when Maj. Gen. Robert Howe’s command abandoned its attempt to capture Verplanck Point, N.Y. (see Alexander McDougall to GW, 17 July, and n.3 to that document).
1. Hay probably is referring to the artillery park at Chester, New York.