To George Washington from Ephraim Blaine, 27 May 1780
From Ephraim Blaine
Philada 27th May 1780
Please your Excellency
Sir
I have used every Endeavour since I left Camp to procure and forward Provisions, and have met with some success1—the Merchants of this City have lent me two hundred Barrels of Beef and Pork, I have purchased one hundred barrels, and taken Sixty Head of Cattle from the Graziers below this City, hope to make up two hundd more in this and Lancaster County—two hundred Barrels of Pork came from below yesterday, & with what Major Forsyth can spare from Virginia, expect to make up One thousand Barrels, exclusive of my Return to your Excellency at Camp—be assured of my utmost Exertions in adoptg Ways and Means to procure Supplies, tho’ I am loaded with debt and have not had a Shilling this two months—Inclosed you have an Extract of a Letter receiv’d from Major Forsyth yesterday.2 I remain with all due respect Your Excellency’s Most Obedt & Most Hble Servant
Eph. Blaine C.G.P.
LS, DLC:GW; LB, DLC: Ephraim Blaine Letterbook. The letter-book copy is dated 26 May.
1. See Blaine to GW, 21 May.
2. The enclosed extract from commissary Robert Forsyth’s letter to Blaine dated 13 May at Richmond reads: “I have order’d all the Provisions from Dumfries and Alexandria to Head of Elk some time ago—I have at Smithfeild and other places exclusive of what I have to Supply the Convention Troops, twelve hundred some odd barrels of New Pork, & woud forward it agreeable to your Orders by the returning Craft which brought down the Maryland and Delaware Troops, but this State have agreed to raise some Militia to guard the Sea Coast & if this Provisions is forwarded they cannot be fed[.] I spoke to the Governor and he has appointed me to attend him and Council upon that Business next monday, when I shall lay your Sundry Letters, & pressing demands for Supplies before them, also my Order from the Honorable Board [of] War” (DLC:GW).