George Washington Papers

To George Washington from Oliver Phelps, 2 May 1781

Boston May 2d 1781

Sir

I had the honor to receive the day before yesterday your Excellency’s favour of the 16th Ulto I am sorry that Mr Blaine should have made any possitive assurances, that the State of Massachusetts would furnish a regular supply of beef Cattle, which have turned out so greatly to your disappointment.

On my appointment I informed the Commissary-General, that I could not engage him more than sixty head by the week, and at the same time informed him, that as I had no fund for supplies but the specific tax laid on the several towns, I could make him no possitive assurances—The beef required, and money in lieu thereof, has been paid in but very slowly by the towns, the weight of other taxes, almost intolerable, and the raising the new Recruits, who have on an average recived two hundred dollars in specie as a bounty, rendered it impossible for them to raise the beef—However, knowing that the army must suffer, were the supplies to stop, I exerted myself as much as possible, for their support, and involved myself in debt untill I could move no further—I therefore made a representation of my embarrassments to his Excellency the Governor of this State near seven weeks ago, and on the meeting of the General Court did the same to them. a Committee was appointed to examine the state of my department, and provide a remedy if possible; fortunately for me your Excellencys letter reached me at the time they were considering the matter, and I laid the same before them—a temporary supply has been afforded me I expect to forward fifty head of Cattle by the 5th Instant, and am not without hopes, that the number required of us will be sent forward in future.

All the beef which I have received, since my appointment would not be sufficient to fill 2500 Barrels out of this I have been obliged to supply the several Issuing stores within the Common[   ] I have salted at Springfield 800 Barrels, four or five hundred of which has been delivered over to Mr Tuckerman the assistant of Colo. Hatch—the residue delivered to the Issuing Commisy there.

The greatest part of the beef salted at Barrington has been I am informed, sent to the Northward, by whose order I know not[.] I have also been obliged to send a drove or two of live Cattle to Albany, for the relief of the western Garrisons—I have had [no] orders from Mr Blaine in the matter, yet could wish to know how to conduct myself in future in this Respect.

Your Excellency may depend on that as far as the utmost exertions can be extended, nothing on my part shall be wanting to forward the supplies required; If Cash can be procured these will be no difficulty; provisions of every kind being plentier & cheaper than at the opening of the last Campaign. I have the honor to be your Excellencys most Obedient and very humble servant

Oliver Phelps

DLC: Papers of George Washington.

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