From George Washington to the Board of War, 14 March 1780
To the Board of War
Head Qrs Morris Town March 14th 1780
Gentlemn
In answer to Your Letter of the 4th Instant which I had the Honor of receiving the 12th—I beg leave to inform You, that from the diminution of our force at Fort pitt by the expiration of the Men’s inlistments and the impracticability of replacing them from hence1 there is no prospect of our undertaking shortly any offensive operations in that Quarter. I would not wish this however to delay the sending on the Articles requested by my Letter of the 8th Ulto which the Board have been pleased to have provided, after the Roads will admit of it.2 I have the Honor to be with great respect & esteem Gentn Yr Most Obedt st
Go: Washington
P.S. In a letter from Colo. Brodhead of the 11th Feby he mentions the want of a few Armourers at Fort pitt. the Board will be pleased to order them from the most convenient place, which will be from Carlisle.
Df, in Robert Hanson Harrison’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. The postscript on the draft manuscript is in the writing of GW’s aide-de-camp Tench Tilghman.
1. At this place on the draft, Harrison wrote and then struck out “owing to the like cause.”
2. In his letter to the Board of War dated 8 Feb., GW had requested that artillery and related stores be sent to Pittsburgh as soon as possible given weather and road conditions.