George Washington Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-19-02-0688

From George Washington to the Board of War, 4 April 1779

To the Board of War

Head Quarters Middle Brook 4th April 1779.

Gentlemen

Capt. Schott waits upon you with a Return of Arms and Cloathing wanting for the several Corps therein mentioned which are ordered over to Wyoming. The Cloathing could have been furnished from hence, but it will be so much more convenient to send it from Philada to Esterton upon the Susquehannah and from thence to Wyoming by Water, where it will meet the Troops, that I have directed Capt. Schott to proceed to Philada.1

I imagine the Arms and Accoutrements had better be ordered from the Magazine at Carlisle, as the distance from thence to Susquehannah is so much shorter than from Philada or should there be a sufficiency in the hands of the Armourer at Lancaster it will be more convenient still—Capt. Schott will take the order and see that the Articles are safely conveyed to Susquehannah.2 I am &.

Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; copy (extract), enclosed in GW to John Jay, 21 Aug. 1779, DNA:PCC, item 152; copy (extract), DNA:PCC, item 169; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. Both extracts consist of the first paragraph of the letter. Quotation marks appear at the beginning and the end of that paragraph on both the draft manuscript and the Varick transcript. Those marks apparently were added to the draft manuscript at a later time to indicate that the paragraph was to be copied for the extract that was sent to Jay. The Board of War replied to this letter on 9 April (DLC:GW).

1GW’s instructions to Capt. John Paul Schott of this date read: “You are to proceed immediately to Philada and upon your arrival there make application to the Board of War for the Arms, Accoutrements and Cloathing for which you are sent—After having recd them you are to use the utmost diligence in having them transported to Estherton upon Susquehannah and from thence up to Wyoming by Water—The Quarter Masters at Philada or at whatever other places you procure the Arms and Cloathing will furnish Waggons to Esterton and the Quarter Master there will furnish you with Boats” (Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW).

2For the issuance of these items at Philadelphia and Lancaster, Pa., see the Board of War to GW, 9 April (DLC:GW).

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