From George Washington to the Board of War, 16 August 1779
To the Board of War
Head Quarters West point 16th Augst 1779.
Sir
I am favd with yours of the 6th inclosing the instructions of the Board to the different Commissaries of Hides.1 The directions appear to me to be judiciously drawn and fully adequate to the purpose, and I doubt not, if they are strictly attended to, but that a sufficient quantity of Shoes for the Army, and leather for other uses will be procured—Mr Garanger is exceedingly impatient to know whether he is to be employed—I must therefore beg leave to recall the attention of the Board to my letter of the 27th July in which I pointed out the mode in which this Gentleman may be introduced into the service without giving umbrage to the Officers in the line of the Artillery. I shall be glad to have the determination of the Board upon this point, that I may be enabled to give Mr Garanger a final Answer.2
Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. The draft is addressed to “Peter Scull Esqr Secy Board of War” but is docketed as to the “Board of War.”
1. This letter has not been found.
2. Although no response has been found from the Board of War on the subject of Lewis Garanger’s appointment, Garanger did receive appointment as a captain in the army (but not in the corps of artillery), as GW had requested in his letter of 27 July (see Lewis Garanger to GW, 21 April 1781, and Certificate for Lewis Garanger, 27 April 1781, both in DLC:GW).