To George Washington from Philip Schuyler, 18 June 1780
From Philip Schuyler
Philadelphia June 18th 1780
My Dear Sir
On my way hither I found at Trenton fifteen hundred Barrels of flour and learnt two hundred more were at Borden town, the whole detained for want of Carriages. I requested an audience of both branches of the legislature which they readily Granted, urged the necessity of their Immediate attention to provide the means of transporting the flour to the army, Kings ferry or New windsor, and to procure whatever they could within the State and to forward It without delay: I dwelt on the danger the states were exposed to from the greatly reduced State of the Army, pointed at the Extra-expence Occassioned by the necessity of frequently drawing to and detaining the Militia in the field, Observed how heavy that service must Inevitably fall on the States In the vicinity of the Enemys main post1 unless the Army was Effectually and Speedily reinforced, Remarked that altho we had abundant resources yet If every state would depend that others should take the lead nothing would be done and ruin to all must be the Consequence; and added every argument which occured to Impel them to Instantanous Exertion. I obtained Explicit promises that they would without a moments delay procure Carriages to Convey the flour ⟨illegible⟩ as I had requested. that they would take measures to Collect all that could possibly be spared from the Inhabitants, which they apprehended was not any Considerable quantity. That the Completion of their line would Claim their unremitted Attention—And that they would In every Instance and with great alacrity Comply with the requisitions which had been made of them, as far as they were in condition to furnish the Supplies.2 On my arrival here I waited on Mr President Reed and entered into a full and minute disscussion of our Affairs, and decidedly declared, that unless the States paid Stricter Attention to the requisitions of Congress than had hitherto been done by any of them, and furnished the Supplies allotted to them to provide that the Contest could not be maintained, that disgrace and ruin must Ensue. he appeared Alarmed, promised Every thing should be done that depended on him, but I could not draw forth any Assurances that the requisitions made from this State would be complied with.3 Indeed I fear we shall not receive them, I mean thro the Authority of the State—The Merchants are however roused Mr Robert Morris is at the head of an Association for the purpose of furnishi[n]g the Army with three Millions of rations, for which the public is to reimburse them assoon as their finances will admit.4 They have yesterday sent on five hundred barrels of Flour which is to be transported by Carriages to be hired by Mr Meredith and another Gentlemen from trenton to Kings Ferry or Windsor.5 Reflecting how Exceedingly your Excellency is pressed with business I have taken the liberty to advise the board of war to desire Gen: Howe to keep a number of boats constantly at Kings Ferry to Convey the flour from thence as fast as It arrives, and that the Officer commanding at that post Should turn the Carriages by Ring wood to Windsor If the approach of an Enemy should render the rout to Kings ferry unsafe.6
Congress who are eternally penelopyzing have directed that no Corn Should be sent to this Quarter from Virginia, unless the Governor of that State Judges that It can be spared from the Southern army.7 I have Observed to the Virginia Gentlemen now here that In the present Scarcity of forrage to the Northward, and which will Increase until the Rye harvest It will be Impracticable to put any Considerable army In motion, unless Virginia Sends us Sixty thousand Bushells, they have promised to recommend It to Governor Jefferson.8
Gen: Gates is directed by Congress to take the Command to the Southward9—The Enemy have penetrated Into North Carolina where they fell on Colo: Beaufort with the remainder of the Virginia Line which they have dispersed or cut to pieces, a[d]vices say only Seven have Escaped of which the Colonel is one10 The Militia men collecting in Virginia & North Carolina are moving on to Join Gen: De Kalb.
Permitt me to Intreat the favor of one of the Gentlemen to forward the Inclosed.11 I beg my respects to all of them. I am Dear Sir Most Affectionately and Sincerely Your Excellencys Obedient Servant
Ph: Schuyler
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. Schuyler is referring to New York City.
2. On 17 June, the New Jersey legislature, seeking “to adopt the most vigorous Measures that the Circumstances of this State will admit” for complying with the supply requisitions of the Committee at Headquarters, passed “An ACT to enlarge the Power of the Contractors of the several Counties in this State for a limited Time.” Among several enumerated powers, the act authorized the state’s superintendent of purchases to direct the county contractors to procure 51 wagons (each with four horses and one driver) and 696 draft horses for army use (, 116–20; see also Circular to the States, 2 June, n.1).
For the legislation to raise New Jersey Continental regiments to full strength, see William Livingston to GW, 19 June, n.1.
3. On 1 June, the Pennsylvania general assembly, to comply “to the utmost of its ability” with congressional requisitions, had passed “An ACT for procuring an immediate supply of Provisions for the Federal Army, in its present Exigency.” The act authorized the council to appoint commissioners to obtain beef cattle, sheep, or salted provisions for army use from the state’s inhabitants for payment or certificates of payment (Pa. Laws, May–June 1780, 381–84). The assembly did not meet again until 1 September.
4. Meeting on 17 June, the associators subscribed up to £300,000. This “Pennsylvania Bank” would finance the supply and transport of food to the army. In addition to the three million rations, the association purchased 300 hogsheads of rum (see Samuel Meredith and Thomas Barclay to GW, 24 June). Congress appointed a standing committee to confer with the bank officers and pledged to reimburse the subscribers (see , 17:542, 548–50, and , 17–22; see also , 217).
5. Philadelphia merchant Samuel Meredith served as a militia officer, 1775–78, and was active in politics after the war, eventually becoming U.S. treasurer (see William Thompson to GW, 5 Oct. 1776, n.4). The other gentleman most likely was Thomas Barclay, another Philadelphia merchant who later held political office (see GW to John Hancock, 8 Dec. 1776, n.1).
6. The Board of War’s letter to Maj. Gen. Robert Howe has not been identified, but the board had written GW about the letter on 17 June.
7. Schuyler is referring to the Penelope of ancient Greek legend, who every night unravelled the shroud she had woven during the day. On 17 June, Congress resolved “That no supplies of men, and no provisions except bacon, and so much grain as the executive of the State of Virginia conceive can be spared from the southern army, they bearing in mind that the wants of the grand army are at this time extremely pressing—be removed to the northward of the State of Virginia, until the further order of Congress” (, 17:524).
8. No letter on this subject from the Virginia delegates to Virginia governor Thomas Jefferson has been identified.
10. For the defeat of Col. Abraham Buford’s detachment, see William Galvan to GW, 13 June; see also Johann Kalb to the Board of War, 20 June, n.2, printed as an enclosure with Kalb to GW, 20 June.
11. The enclosed document has not been identified.