From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 19 June 1780
To Joseph Reed
Head Quarters Springfield June 19th 1780
Dr Sir
The arrival of Admiral Arbuthnot at New York with a fleet of from sixty to seventy sail said to contain a part of the Southern army is an additional motive for extraordinary exertions at this juncture.1 West Point is far from being in security. Our stores and baggage in this state are almost at the mercy of the enemy, if they advance in force. A great proportion of the Jersey teams are in service, and they are quite inadequate to the exigency. We are therefore obliged to have recourse to your state and to solicit the aid of two hundred and fifty teams, as expeditious⟨ly⟩ as they can be collected; those obtained in the counties of Philadelphia, Bucks and Chester, to be delivered to Mr More Foreman at Trenton; those procured in the upper counties to take in loads of flour, if ready, and proceed directly by Easton to the North River.
It were much to be wished that the teams now furnished may go to the account of those required by The Committee;2 but if they cannot be drawn out with sufficient expedition in the proper proportion for this purpose they may return after performing the present service, ’till a further arrangement can take place for the demands of the campaign, for supplying which, however, the period is arrived. I have the honor to be With the greatest respect Your Excellency’s Most Obedient servant
Go: Washington
LS, in Alexander Hamilton’s writing, DLC:GW; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. GW signed the cover of the LS, which also contains a note written on this date by assistant deputy quartermaster general Benjamin Brown: “The Express the bearer of this is to ride night and day & should he be in want of a fresh horse all Q[uarter] M[aste]rs & other well wishers to the independence of America are hereby requested to furnish him with fresh horses as will answer the purpose of forwardg this Letter—by order of the Commander in Chief.” The Pennsylvania Supreme Executive Council read this letter on 21 June (see , 12:394).
1. For the arrival of British vice admiral Marriot Arbuthnot at New York, see David Forman to GW, 17 June (second letter).
2. The Committee at Headquarters had specified 250 wagons, each with harness and four horses, among its requisitions on Pennsylvania (see Circular to the States, 2 June, n.1).