1. The enclosure was a congressional resolution passed on 24 Nov. that identified William Shippen, Jr., as “director of the hospitals” (DLC:GW; see also JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 18:1090–91). Allegations against Shippen had led to a controversial court-martial that ultimately resulted in his acquittal (see General Orders, 13 March, and n.1).

2. The enclosed congressional resolution of this date, signed by Charles Thomson, secretary of Congress, ordered “all the Artificers in the department of military stores in pensylvania” to Carlisle, Pa., and directed GW to “detach a field Officer of Artillery to take command.” It also required the commissary general of purchases “to form a sufficient Magazine of provisions at Carlisle for the supply of the post” and the Board of Treasury to furnish “such sums of Money as shall be necessary for supplying the department of Military stores agreeably to an estimate approved by the board of War” (DLC:GW; see also JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 18:1093).

GW subsequently wrote Brig. Gen. Henry Knox from headquarters at New Windsor on 9 Dec.: “Congress have ordered all the Artillery Artificers in Pennsylvania to be removed to Carlisle, and have directed a Feild Officer of Artillery to be detached to that place to take the command, and superintend the Elaboratory there—You will be pleased to detach an Officer upon this service, and give him the necessary instructions upon the occasion” (LS, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, PPAmP: David Library; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW).

Board of War secretary Benjamin Stoddert wrote GW from Philadelphia on the same topic on 16 Dec.: “The Board have the honor to inclose resolutions of Congress of the 25th Ulto” (ALS, DLC:GW). Stoddert enclosed a copy of the resolution regarding artificers (DLC:GW).

GW replied to the Board of War from headquarters at New Windsor on 24 Dec.: “I have been honored with yours of the 16th: The Resolve which you inclosed, had been forwarded to me by His Excellency the president of Congress and General Knox was, in consequence, directed to appoint a Feild Officer of Artillery to the duty recommended. Lt Colo. Forrest is the Officer” (Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW).

A lack of money from not having received “any pay for a long time past” delayed Lt. Col. Thomas Forrest’s arrival at his new command (JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 19:74). Congress never provided sufficient provisions and funds to support the post at Carlisle, and the Board of War disbanded its operations (see Board of War to GW, 3 March 1781, and Forrest to GW, 2 April 1781, both DLC:GW).