To George Washington from George Measam, 2 November 1778
From George Measam
Springfield [Mass.] Novr 2d 1778.
Sr
I take this first opportunity to represent to your Excellency the Number of Men each Regiment in General Gates’s Division has been returned for Cloathing, and which the General has been pleased to Order me to Deliver Cloathing to, agreeable to the proportion Cited in Your Excellencys Letter of the 27 Ulto, this may serve to prevent any part of them drawing again in Your Camp and is as follows (Viz.)
| Col. Baily’s Reigt Massechts. | Men | Col. Cilly’s 1st Reigt | |||||||
| 358 | of New Hampshir | 451 | |||||||
| Col. Wessens Do | Do | 332 | Col. Scammell |
|
316 | ||||
| Col. Michl Jacksons | Do | 276 | Col. Hales. | 338 | |||||
| Col. Bradfords. | Do | 256 | Col. Hazens. | 507 | |||||
| Col. Marshall | Do | 255 | 1612 | ||||||
| Col. Tupper, Late Francis | Do | 334 | Massachust. | 2089 | |||||
| Col. Brewer | Do | 278 | Men | 3701 | |||||
| 2089 | |||||||||
No part of them are yet Delivered, and I wish they may not until I shall Have Your Excellancy’s approbation, but if they Come for them (as one already is) I don’t See how I Can avoid it as each Return has the General’s Order on the Back of it. I have no Blankets Shoes or Hats to Deliver them; I represented to the Generals and Officers Your Excellancies peremptory Orders to have the Men’s old Clothes returned into the Store, but they all Strongly Oppose it, and say they have remonstrated that Matter to your Excellancy and will not Deliver them up Until they know your Excellancy’s answer to their Remonstrance,1 I hope for your Excellancy’s further Instructions on this Head and have the Honor to be, Your Excellancy’s Most Obedt, and Most Humble Sert
Geo. Measam
P.S. The Cloathing for your Camp from this Store is and will be (I hope) all on the road this Week. I Mean all that is in this Store: And their Colours shall be forwarded as Soon as Can be assertaind.
I inclose to your Excellency, Invoice and Rect of three Hhds Cloathg for General Nox’s Artillery, which he is to take for your Excellency’s further orders. amount as pr Invoice and Rect £3121.16 Lawful Money.2
G.M.
LS, DLC:GW. The final paragraph is in Measam’s hand.
GW’s aide Tench Tilghman replied for him on 8 Nov. from Fredericksburg: “His Excellency having gone to Fish Kill—commands me to acknowledge your favr of the 30th Uto & 2d Inst. If any shirts are come to Springfeild be pleased to forward them immediately as they are much wanted. When you have sent forward a sufficiency of Uniforms for the troops in this quarter you shall be informed, as it will be needless to bring more here than are necessary. Be pleased to make a return of the Shoes and the proportion of hats and Blanketts Wanting for the three Brigades at Hartford and they shall be sent back by the returning teams.
“Order is given respecting the mode of returning the Old Cloathing. . . .P.S. If shirts have not come foreward be pleased to inform—Otis & Andrews how much they are wanted” (DLC:GW).
Measam replied to Tilghman on 16 Nov.: “Your favour of the 8th Instant I received on the 15th and take this first opportunity to send you a Return of the Cloathing Issued, and wanting to complete the Regiments Severally at Hartford. Also by desire of his Excellency, and for to facilitate the distribution of the Cloathing at Head Quarters I send herewith a Return of what has been forwarded to the order of his Excellency at Fredericksburg from this Store since I have had the Direction of it: and have to inform you that I have but about twenty Loads now in Store consisting of the remainder of the Uniforms sent onto Head Quarters, the particulars of which will be complete and sent on in a day or two, unless I receive orders from you to the Contrary, but cannot get it complete to send by this opportunity, as I wish to do. . . . what Coats remain in Store are chiefly Blue. I expect shirts in a few days from Boston” (DLC:GW). GW replied to Measam on 25 November.
2. The enclosed invoice has not been identified.