To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 2 June 1778
From Major General Horatio Gates
Robinson House [N.Y.] 2d June 1778
Sir
The inclosed from Major Taylor, will Satisfy your Excellency that the Arms mention’d in your Letter to me of the 26th Instant, were, by some mistake of the Quartermasters, detain’d a few hours upon the road to Easton.1 and then, without further interruption forwarded according to your Order—I never gave any countermand concerning them; so the Asperity which is so remarkable in your Excellencys Letter, was unnecessay upon that account—The Arms which have come from the Eastward, since the first 1900 were sent from Newborough are now upon the road from thence to Warwick & sussex Court House—my Orders to the Quartermasters are Stricktly to Obey the Directions they either have, or may receive from Your Excellency—I wish what is so much wanted here, may with equal readyness be forwarded to me—I am Sir Your Excellency[’s] most Obedient Humble Servant
Horatio Gates
ALS, DLC:GW; ADf, NHi: Gates Papers; copy, DNA:PCC, item 154; copy, DNA:PCC, item 171. The draft and copies are dated 1 June.
1. The enclosed copy of Andrew Taylor’s statement, dated 1 June, reads: “On the 17th of May, I forwarded 1900 Stand of Arms from Newborough, under the direction of Mr Abraham Lansing.
“On the 19th following, I received a verbal Order from Colonel Hay, Depy Qr Mr General, to Order back, or Store, said Arms; this Order I sent on by Express, and immediately went to General Gates, & informed him thereof.
“I received positive Orders from General Gates, to dispatch another Express to Countermand Colonel Hay’s Order, and to direct Mr Lansing to proceed to Head Quarters with the Arms: this Express followed the first within three Hours.
“The Teams impressed in this State, are not allowed to go farther than sussex: at that post, Colo. Hooper furnishes Jersey Teams” (DLC:GW).