To George Washington from James Wilkinson, 3 July 1780
From James Wilkinson
Phila. July 3rd 1780
sir
I had the honor to receive your Excellencys Letter of the 27th Ultmo Yesterday, and I doubt not you will be as much surprized to hear from me, as I am distressed in being obliged to Answer your Excellency from this place; but I trust you will pardon my abrupt departure from Camp when I assure you that Measure was compeled by a Most extraordinary demand of the Treasury Board, which reached my Hand on the 25th Ult. & I found immediately involved my Honor & reputation:1 previous to my departure from Morris Town I addressed the Committee of Congress on the Subject of the Clothing at springfield. I requested their influence with the Legislature of Connecticut to furnish a specific Number of Teams for the immediate Transport of the Summer Clothing &c:2 and recd a Verbal Answer from Mr Matthews that the requisition should be considered as soon as the Committee heard from the State in Answer to their Circular Letter:3 I have apprized my Depy of this & directed to stand prepared for the occasion, but ordered him to embrace every Means which he could in the mean time effect to bring forward the Sumer Overalls & few Shirts which he has on Hand4—We have not a rag in Store at this place & I understand that the Clothing respecting which I wrote your Excellency on the 24th Ult: was halted at Trenton by Genl Knox. I shall go to that place Tomorrow & if it is not already in Motion shall use my Endeavour to forward it with dispatch.
I rely confidently that the address & Industry of Mr Moylan who for the present remains with the Army will fully Answer every claim on the Department And I have the honor to be most truly Your Excellencys Obliged & ready Servant
J. Wilkinson C. Gen.
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. For this Board of Treasury action, see Clement Biddle to GW, 16 May, and n.3 to that document.
2. In his letter of 24 June to the Committee at Headquarters, Wilkinson stated that he had “about thirty five Waggons load of summer Cloathing” stored in Springfield ready for transportation to the main army (DNA:PCC, item 11).
3. Wilkinson is referring to a circular letter dated 2 June from the Committee at Headquarters to the states requisitioning specific supplies. The requisition from Connecticut included 100 ox carts, 400 oxen, and 1,000 draft horses (see Circular to the States, 2 June, n.1).
4. Wilkinson’s letter to deputy clothier general John Moylan has not been identified.