To George Washington from John Pierce, Jr., 21 January 1779
From John Pierce, Jr.
Camp Middlebrook Jan. 21. 1779
Sir
I would inform your Excellency that there is now in the Military Chest about 380,000 Dollars—which after the whole Army is paid for October, and the Money taken in of the two Emission’s which I see by resolve of Congress we are to Exchange,1 will not be sufficient for November—I imagine five or six hundred Thousand Dollars more will pay November & December and what exigences may arise in the course of the business.
Your Excellency being present at Congress I thought it not improper to inform of the above that you might make such requisition for Money as you shall think proper.2 I am Your Excellency’s most Obt Servant
Jno. Pierce Junr
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. For Congress’s resolution of 2 Jan. 1779 regarding the exchange of the Continental currency emissions of 20 May 1777 and 11 April 1778, which were being withdrawn from circulation, see General Orders, 18 Jan. 1779.
2. GW conveyed Pierce’s information about the state of the army’s military chest to the Board of Treasury in his letter to the board of 30 January.