From George Washington to James Craik, 24 May 1780
To James Craik
[Morristown 24 May 1780]
A French fleet and army may possibly arrive in a short time at Rhode Island.1 At the request of Mr De Corni, Commissary of War to His Most Christian Majesty, (wishing to make previous to their arrival the necessary provision of hospitals and refreshments for the sick) I am to desire you will without delay proceed to Providence in the State of Rhode Island and undertake the care of this business.2
The objects that demand your attention are these—to provide one or more convenient buildings for the reception of the sick belonging to the fleet and army which you will estimate at about twelve to fifteen hundred—They must have appartments sufficient to contain these without crouding them, and so as to admit a separate distribution and treatment of each particular disease. They must have an airy and salubrious situation—be contiguous to each other, if possible, have yards and gardens—admitting easy communications from one to the other, so as to unite and facilitate the service.3
Independent of the apartments for the sick—there must be one or more kitchens—an apothecary’s shop—a magazine for drugs and remedies an oven—a bakery—a deposit for the provisions—lodgings for the director surgeons Phusicians and others employed with them—a Magazine near for the effects of the Hospital and in short all the conveniences that may promote this interesting service.
You will have provided such a number of oxen sheep poultry and vegetables as you deem necessary for the first demands of the Hospital; I give you a letter for Governor Greene to furnish you with whatever aid you may want;4 you will make him an estimate and inform him to what extent his assistance will be requisite.
I rely on your judgment prudence and activity that all these arrangements will be made in the best manner circumstances will permit5—and in a manner satisfactory to those for whose benefit they are intended. You know how much we owe to our allies & what claims they have upon our gratitude and affection for a reciprocity of good offices. Given at Head Quarters Morris Town May 24th 1780.
Df, in Alexander Hamilton’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. For the anticipated arrival of the French expeditionary force, see GW to James Duane, 13 May, and n.8.
2. In a letter of this date written at Morristown, Major General Lafayette advised French minister La Luzerne of a “long conversation” involving himself, French war commissary Corny, GW, and Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene: “As for the hospital at Providence, General Washington is sending Dr. Craik to look for a suitable place, and according to a letter he has been given for the governor, he will be able to work on ways to obtain the fresh meat, poultry, milk, and vegetables that the sick will need. He is also instructed to find houses appropriate to serve as storehouses for the various articles of which the French army will want to rid itself.
“Dr. Craik will not make any decision, however, unless the French squadron should arrive unexpectedly. Otherwise, he is to wait for M. d’Annemours and merely give him information about the ways to execute his mission. General Washington’s aim in sending him to Providence is not only to help M. d’Annemours, but more particularly to prevent the unexpected circumstance in which the squadron would enter the port before the consul had arrived.” Lafayette added that Corny wished to “make a personal inspection of the establishments at Providence” (, 3:29–31; see also La Luzerne to Lafayette, 28 May, in , 3:39–40; Lafayette to GW, 27 April, n.2; and , 17:467). GW’s directives concerning the hospital establishment were prompted by the instructions of 5 March from French foreign minister Vergennes calling for the preparation of suitable places to receive the French sick (see Lafayette to GW, 27 April, n.2).
3. For the eventual establishment of the hospital, see Craik to GW, 11 June, and William Heath to GW, 25 June, and n.6.
5. Corny wrote GW on 6 July that “too much applause cannot be given to the Zeal and attention of Doctor Craig” (DLC:GW; see also Heath to GW, 20 June).