From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 12 January 1780
To Major General William Heath
Head Quarters Morristown 12th January 1780
Dr Sir
I herewith transmit you an extract of a letter from the Board of war, on the supposed delinquency of Mr Hatfield Commissary of hides, and an extract of a letter on the same subject from Mr Henry commissary of hides at Lancaster to the Board of war.1 In compliance with the Boards request, you will be pleased to direct an inquiry into Mr Hatfields conduct in the discharge of the duties of his department. The principal charge appears to be, that of the2 number of hides delivered to Mr Hatfield to dress and prepare for shoes, so very small a proportion should be returned by him fit for this purpose. To this the Court will particularly extend their enquiry, and to the causes which occasioned it.3 I am Dr Sir, your obt & hble servt
Go: Washington
LS, in James McHenry’s writing, MHi: Heath Papers; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. The enclosed extract of the Board of War’s letter to GW of 5 Jan. consists of the first paragraph with the exception of the first forty-eight words. For the extract of the letter from commissary William Henry, see the Board of War to GW, 5 Jan., n.1.
2. On the draft, which is in the writing of McHenry and GW’s secretary Robert Hanson Harrison, the word “large” appears after this word.
3. The Board of War suspended Moses Hatfield and his assistants before Heath could complete his investigation (see Heath to GW, 19 Feb., and n.6, and Richard Peters to George Clinton, 23 Feb., in 5:511–12).