To George Washington from Patrick Henry, 8 April 1778
From Patrick Henry
Wmsburgh [Va.] Apl 8th 1778
Dear Sir.
I beg the Favor of you to accept from the Governor & Council, the Articles contain’d in the inclosed Memorandum.1 They go by a Galley to the Head of Elk addressed to Colo. Hollingsworths Care. I wish they were more worthy your Acceptance. With Sincere Regard I am Dear sir your most obedient & very humble Servant
P. Henry
ALS, DLC:GW. A note on the cover reads “with Sundry Packages.” Tench Tilghman’s docket for the letter, on a separate sheet, reads in part, “Ansd 16 May.”
1. The enclosed memorandum has not been identified, but the nature of this shipment is suggested by the journal of the Virginia council of state for 7 April. “The Board being credibly informed that his Excellency General Washington has been unsupplied for some time past with many articles of Living which Custom & the great fatigues to which he is constantly exposed must make necessary to the preservation of his health; and considering that it may be impossible to provide these Articles in the exhausted part of America where the Army is at present fixed, do advise the Governor to direct the Commissary of Stores to procure a Stock of good rum, wine, Sugar & such other Articles as his Excellency may think needful & send them on to head Quarters to be charged either to the Continent, or to be considered as a present from this State, to the General, as the assembly may hereafter direct” (, 2:117–18).