George Washington Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-17-02-0592

To George Washington from Colonel Timothy Pickering, 25 October 1778

From Colonel Timothy Pickering

Hartford Octr 25. 1778.

Sir

This morning it occurred to me that very little if any of the cloathing at Springfield had been sent forward to the main army; and that as six brigades will perhaps remain here or in the neighbourhood for some time; or at least may not return soon to the westward, it may be best to order a sufficiency of the cloathing for them to be stopped, which will save an expensive carriage of a hundred miles.1 As the adopting this measure will depend on events at present uncertain, I only hint it for your Excellency’s consideration; that in case circumstances should admit of it, an expedient attended with such apparent advantages may not be overlooked. I deld your letter to Govr Trumbull last evening as soon as I arrived.2 I have the honor to be your Excellency’s most obedient servant

Tim. Pickering

ALS, DLC:GW; copy, MHi: Pickering Papers.

1Pickering is referring to the three brigades of Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates’s division and the three brigades of Maj. Gen. Alexander McDougall’s division, which had been ordered to march toward Hartford to be in a better position to go to the aid of the French fleet at Boston in case of need (see GW to d’Estaing, 16 Oct., and note 2 to that document. Only Gates’s division reached Hartford before GW suspended the march of these troops (see GW to McDougall, this date).

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