From George Washington to William Greene, 25 December 1779
To William Greene
Head Quarters Morristown 25th Decr 1779.
Sir
The enemy having asked permission for an unarmed vessel to proceed to New-Port with clothing and necessaries for the prisoners at Rutland, I have granted a pass-port for the same, to proceed from the port of New-York. I thought it necessary to give your Excellency this notice; and that the Quarter Master may have time to make preparation for their transport to Rutland. Two sergeants have also permission to pass from Taunton river to Rutland to superintend the delivery of the articles, and to return again.1
On the 19th I was honored with your Excellencys letter of the 3d. It is certainly right and necessary that troops should be paid with punctuality or as much so as circumstances will admit. I do not however conceive myself authorised to make the appointment your Excellency requests, and shall take occasion to submit the matter to Congress—who it is probable will make some arrangement in consequence, not only to comprehend the present but other cases.2 I have the honor to be with the greatest regard Your Excellency’s most obt servt
Go: Washington
LS, in James McHenry’s writing, R-Ar; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. For this request, presumably from Joshua Loring, British commissary general of prisoners, see GW to John Beatty, 26 December.
2. GW brought the matter of authorizing an officer to sign Continental pay warrants to the attention of Congress when he wrote Samuel Huntington on 5 Jan. 1780 (DNA:PCC, item 152; see also 16:41).