George Washington Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-27-02-0517

From George Washington to Major General Benedict Arnold, 19 August 1780

To Major General Benedict Arnold

Head Quarters Orange town 19th Augt 1780

Dear Sir

I yesterday recd your favr of the 16th with a Return of your provision Magazine inclosed. I approve of your refraining from the use of the Salt provision to the last extremity. The Commissary generally directs a proportion of Cattle to be left on the other side the River for the troops at West point, and he, has lately had orders to that effect1—Should Colo. Livingston find that none of the next droves are apportioned to that post, he must undoubtedly stop some—You very well know the derangement of the Commissary as well as all the other departments, and you must not therefore be surprized at living from hand to mouth. Mr Foot appears to me to have gone off with intent to procure Cattle to the Eastward, seeing no prospect of receiving any at the post where he usually resided. I do not know by what authority he is appointed, or what are the Rules prescribed for his conduct, and I cannot therefore determine how far he is liable to an arrest for removing at this time from Crompond.

You will be pleased to have Moody kept carefully confined (without Irons except he should make any attempt towards an escape) untill the latter end of the month and then send him down under the care of an Officer and party. I shall fix the 1st Septemr for his trial and give notice to the Evidences against him to attend.2 If what is alledged against him be true, he has departed from the proper line of conduct of an Officer and must expect to be treated accordingly. I know nothing of Burtis and therefore conclude he was left under sentence by General Howe.

You must do the best you can with the very few Waggons you have. We have in fact no Quarter Master General now, and I have not heard from neither do I know when to expect Colo. Pickering.3 I am Dear Sir Yr most obt and humble Servt

Go: Washington

LS, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. GW signed the cover of the LS. Arnold acknowledged this letter when he wrote GW on 20 Aug. (see GW to Arnold, 21 Aug., n.1).

1. These orders likely were verbal; no letter from GW to commissary general of purchases Ephraim Blaine on this subject has been found.

2. For Loyalist ensign James Moody’s relation of the severity of his confinement at West Point, N.Y., see Moody’s Narrative description begins Lieut. James Moody’s Narrative of His Exertions and Sufferings in the Cause of Government, Since the Year 1776. 2d edition. London, 1783. Reprint. New York, 1968. description ends , 23–29. Moody credited GW with improving the conditions of his imprisonment. Moody was transferred to the camp of the main army on 1 Sept. and confined in the provost. He escaped on 17 Sept., shortly before his scheduled trial, and fled to the British outpost at Paulus Hook, N.J. (see Moody’s Narrative description begins Lieut. James Moody’s Narrative of His Exertions and Sufferings in the Cause of Government, Since the Year 1776. 2d edition. London, 1783. Reprint. New York, 1968. description ends , 29–34).

3. Newly appointed quartermaster general Timothy Pickering did not arrive in camp until 22 Sept. (see Nathanael Greene to GW, 23 Sept., DLC:GW).

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    Washington Papers
    Title
    From George Washington to Major General Benedict Arnold, 19 August 1780
    Author
    Washington, George
    Recipient
    Arnold, Benedict
    Date
    19 August 1780

    Reference

    Cite as
    “From George Washington to Major General Benedict Arnold, 19 August 1780,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-27-02-0517. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 27, 5 July–27 August 1780, ed. Benjamin L. Huggins. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2019, pp. 559–560.]

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