From George Washington to Brigadier General James Clinton, 19 December 1780
To Brigadier General James Clinton
Head Quarters New Windsor Decr 19th 1780
Dear Sir
I have received Yours of the 5th. I hope by this time matters of supply are in better train in your quarter, and that they will continue with some regularity thro’ the Winter.1 A comfortable supply of Cloathing will be sent up to the Line in a few days. Wiesenfeld’s Regt drew their full proportion before they marched.
Upon a representation made to me by Mr Shephard the Armourer at Albany, I have applyed to the Governor for an exemption from Military duty, for those Citizens who are employed in the Works, and I do not doubt he will grant it, if it can be done with propriety.2 Mr Shephard mentions that the Works want many repairs to render them convenient to carry on the business during the Winter. You will be pleased to direct the Quarter Master to give him every assistance in his power; and I shall be obliged to you, for paying your attention to a Matter of so much consequence as having the damaged Arms repaired.
You will also enquire every now and then into the State of the Provision at Fort Schuyler, and take every opportunity of keeping the supply two or three Months at least beforehand.3 I am Dear Sir With great regard Your Most Obedt Servant
Go: Washington
LS, in David Humphreys’s writing, NNPM; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. GW’s aide-de-camp Tench Tilghman wrote the draft, which presented as a postscript what became the final paragraph of the LS. The Varick transcript follows the draft.
1. See Clinton to GW, 5 December.
2. GW also wrote New York governor George Clinton from New Windsor on this date: “We have an Armoury at Albany at which all the Arms in this quarter have been constantly repaired, to a very large amount. Several of the Workmen are Citizens, and as they are liable to be called out into the Militia service, they are every now and then taken off, and the public work thereby impeded. As they are so usefully employed, I would request your Excellency, if it can be done consistently, to grant those who are with Mr Shephard the principal Armourer an exemption from military duty while in his service” (LS, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, NNMM; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW). For an earlier appeal to support William Shepherd, see William Malcom to GW, 18 Nov., and n.3 to that document; see also Alexander Hamilton to GW, this date.
3. James Clinton replied to GW on 15 Jan. 1781 that supplying provisions for both Albany and Fort Schuyler, N.Y., remained problematic (DLC:GW).