George Washington Papers
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Bartholomew Dandridge, Jr., to Henry Knox, 9 October 1794

Bartholomew Dandridge, Jr., to Henry Knox

Carlisle [Pa.] 9th Octor ’94.

Sir,

Before the Presidents departure from Philada he requested Mr Hodgdon to prepare & hold in readiness for his use sundry articles such as tents, &c. &c. which wou’d be necessary for him in case he should find it expedient to go into the western counties with the troops. These things were to be got ready by Mr Hodgdon & the President was to let him know from this place whether they should be sent on or not, as should be determin’d upon a nearer view of things.

Tomorrow the President goes on from this to Wms Port & Fort Cumberland in the potomac—thence to Bedford and he directs me to request you to cause the waggon, tents &c. &c. which Mr Hodgdon has no doubt kept in readiness to be sent on to this place with all possible dispatch, & that you will add to the articles which Mr Hodgdon was desired to prepare such others as you conceive will be absolutely necessary for the Presidents accommodation—more than which he does not wish; & leaves to your judgment what they ought to be—he wishes, however, three single matrasses with Blankets to be among them.1

The President has not yet finally decided whether he will return to Philada to meet Congress, or whether he will proceed with the troops over the Mountains—from every information, however, which he is possess of at present, it does not appear necessary that he shou’d cross the mountain; but shou’d the event prove otherwise it wou’d then be too late for the Articles herein requested to over take him in time, & it is this consideration which induces him to desire you to urge the forwarding them on without delay. The person who is charged with these things must be directed to call on the Qr Master at this place (Colo. Blaine) who will direct him how to proceed from hence. As the Prest will be going, if he proceeds, into the Country of Whiskey he proposes to make use of that liquor for his drink, & presuming that Beef & Bread will be furnished by the Contractors he requires no supply of these articles from you.2 With due respect, I have the honr to be Sir, &c.

B. Dandridge

ALS, DNA: RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB, DLC:GW.

1Samuel Hodgdon had just been appointed to the new position of superintendent of military stores. In addition to foodstuffs, cooking equipment, and tableware, his invoice of the articles sent for GW’s use, dated 11 Oct., included blankets, a “Hair Mattrass & Feather Pillow,” two other mattresses with pillows, “1 Marquee Complete,” and “2 Horsemens Tents” (DLC: Ephraim Blaine Papers).

2Knox replied to Dandridge on 11 Oct., “this morning the Waggon for the President of the United States will set off and reach Carlile on the 14th. It contains the articles of which the enclosed is the list—They are in charge of Mr [ John] Davis who will apply to Colonel Blaine for orders—I hope the stores will not be considered as too abundant, or too scanty—No wine agreably to orders.” A postscript noted that the list would follow by the next express, it being “not yet perfect” (DLC:GW).

Knox sent that list with a letter to Dandridge of 13 Oct.: “I send you a list of the articles forwarded on Saturday. The Waggoner promised to reach Carlile in four days. Every thing is upon a republican scale the table cloths excepted. I did not intend them to be damask. If the President should not use these things Colo. Hamilton would be glad of them, probably and in that case he would stand charged with them by the public” (DLC:GW). The list, dated 11 Oct., largely agrees with the invoice sent by Samuel Hodgdon to Ephraim Blaine (see n.1), but omits the tents. Nineteen damask tablecloths and five breakfast tablecloths were sent, and the foodstuffs included 99 pounds of coffee and 24 pounds of hyson and souchong tea, 10 kegs of crackers, 22 pounds of pearl-barley, 25 pounds of “Superfine chocolate,” 2 barrels of sugar (loaf and muscovado), 10 gallons of vinegar, 8 pounds of ground pepper and 4 bottles of cayenne pepper, 24 bottles of mustard, 12 bottles of olives, 6 bottles of capers, 3 bottles of pickles, a jar of raisins, and 100 lemons (DLC:GW).

Also on 11 Oct., Knox wrote Ephraim Blaine in part, “I have also forwarded a Waggon containing articles for the President of the United States. Besides the driver this Waggon is under charge of Mr. Davis a careful conductor. You will please to give him such further directions for his government as shall have been given to you by Mr Dandridge the President secretary” (DLC: Ephraim Blaine Papers). According to Blaine family tradition, GW lodged in one of Blaine’s houses while at Carlisle (John Ewing Blaine, The Blaine Family: James Blaine, Emigrant and His Children Ephraim, Alexander, William, Eleanor [Cincinnati, 1920], 48).

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