To George Washington from Ephraim Blaine, 16 January 1780
From Ephraim Blaine
Philada 16th Jany 1780
Please your Excelly Sir
Last Wedensday I accepted the Appointment of Commissa[r]y Genl of purchases and previous thereto had every assurence from Congress of their utmost exertions in furnishing Money and recommending such Measures to the Executive Authorities of the United States as will not fail in enabling me to procure Ample supplies for the army1—I am Promised Instructions and money the 21st Instant at which time shall set out for Head Quarters on my way to the Eastward—my flour is coming on fast from Maryland and the Deleware State. and Your Excellency may be assur’d that I shall use every Possible exertion to lay in a Small Magazine to remedy against the breaking up of the frost—particular returns of the supplies in the middle department shall be furnished your Excellency when I come up, the Governor and Council of Maryland deserve great Credit for their Spirited exertions to enable the Commissary’s to procure supply upon receipt of your letter and believe it will not be in the Power of Engrocers or Speculators to hide or procure a Single barrel of flour.2 this will add Considerably to our Magazines—I am trying to engage A Gentleman to take Mr Flints station at Head quarters, and hope to relieve him in a very few days3—am with much due reguard, your Excellencies Most Obdt and Most Hble Servant
Eph: Blaine C.G.P.
ALS, DLC:GW. A note on the cover reads: “favd by Col. [Jeremiah] Wadsworth.”
1. For Blaine’s appointment on 2 Dec. 1779, see 15:1343. Blaine’s letter accepting his appointment, addressed to Samuel Huntington and dated 12 Jan., is in DNA:PCC, item 165.
On 11 and 14 Dec. 1779, Congress had passed resolutions calling on the states to provide quotas of provisions for the army (see 15:1371–72, 1377–78; see also 14:261–63, 267–69).
2. See GW’s circular to the states of 16 Dec. 1779. For the act of the Maryland assembly, see Thomas Sim Lee to GW, 26 Dec., n.2; see also GW to Lee, 24 Jan. 1780.
3. On 7 Jan., Congress had authorized Blaine to appoint an assistant commissary general of purchases “whose duty it shall be to remain at headquarters and receive the directions of the Commander in Chief and the commissary general” ( 16:20).
Royal Flint did not resign his post as assistant commissary general until 6 Feb. (see Flint to GW, that date; see also GW to Flint, 7 Feb.). Thereafter, the post appears to have gone unfilled. Azariah Dunham temporarily performed the duties of the post (see Dunham’s letter to GW’s aide Alexander Hamilton of 3 March, found in the source note to the general orders of that date).