From George Washington to Colonel George Gibson, 7 March 1778
To Colonel George Gibson
Head Quarters [Valley Forge] 7th March 1778
Sir
I am favd with yours of the 2d instant, inclosing Copy of your requisition to the Deputy Qr Masr General for Waggons with his answer thereon. I have had so many complaints of the difficulty of procuring Waggons under the late law, either thro’ the deficiency of it, or the inactivity of the officers in the execution of it, that I have wrote fully to the president upon the occasion and have inclosed him a copy of your letter so far as it respects the subject.1
I recd yours of the 22d Feby with proceedings of the Court Martial upon Marsen, Myer and Harvey which are under consideration. I have also a letter from Lt Colo. Hubley of the 26th Feby inclosing depositions respecting the conduct of the British Serjeants who left the Flag lately near Lancaster.2 You shall have my determination upon that matter and upon the sentences of the Court in a short time.
I am exceedingly obliged to the Gentlemen of the Virginia line for their offer of part of the Cloth provided for them by the State, but as I am well assured that their own wants must be fully if not more than adequate to the supply, I cannot think of depriving them of any part of it at this time. I am Sir Yr most obt Servt.
Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. See GW to Thomas Wharton, Jr., 7 March. The Pennsylvania “Act for the regulation of Waggons, Carriages and Pack-Horses for the Public Service,” enacted on 2 Jan. 1778 to remedy the “great inconveniences” and unequal burdens arising from previous methods of procurement, created a wagon master general for the state and one deputy wagon master general for each county to keep a registry of wagons and supervise their use. The act also set forth procedures for compelling owners to supply wagons and provided penalties for quartermasters or others who impressed wagons without following the procedures, “excepting only in case of sudden or unexpected emergencies, by express warrant from the Commander in Chief of the Continental army, or of the forces in this State” (DLC:GW).
2. Neither the letter from Adam Hubley, Jr., nor the depositions have been identified. For a summary of the proceedings against Henry Mansin and Wendle Meyer, see Hubley to GW, 9 Feb., and note 1 to that document. For the affair of the British sergeants, see William Stephens Smith to GW, 25 Jan., and note 1 to that document, and William Howe to GW, 21 Feb., and note 9.