From George Washington to the Board of War, 6 July 1780
To the Board of War
Head qrs [Preakness, N.J.] July the 6th 1780
Gentn
As we may now expect that Levies will be coming in from the States in a little time1—and we shall have many occasional demands for Arms, I request that the Board will be pleased to order Three thousand Stand compleat,2 to be forwarded immediately to the North River. For fear of accidents in case the lower communication should be exposed by the removal of the Army—I think it will be prudent that one half of the Arms & Accoutements should be sent on the back route To New Windsor. The other half may be risked on the lower one leading to Kings ferry, from which the person having the care of them may be directed to depart, and to gain the upper Country should any movements on the part of the Enemy make it necessary. Our demands for Cartouch Boxes it is probable will be considerable; and in this view I wish the Board to forward a large number over and above those which will be material for the Arms required. I have the Honor To be with great respect & esteem Gentn Yr Most Obedt st
Go: Washington
P.S. The Arms now requested, are to be exclusive of those which will be delivered the Pennsylva. Levies—and which I desired Colo. Johnson to obtain for them.3
P.S. Altho’ I have recommended half the Arms to be sent on the back Route to New Windsor, yet, upon second thoughts, I am [of] opinion that they may all safely proceed by the Road to Kings ferry if upon their arrival at Trenton, the Conductors hear that all matters are quiet upon that communica⟨tion⟩.4
Df, in Robert Hanson Harrison’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. The Committee at Headquarters, at the behest of GW, had requested the states to fill their regiments to their full complement of 504 rank and file for the coming campaign (see GW to the Committee at Headquarters, 25 May, and n.5 to that document; see also Circular to the States, 30 June).
2. A stand of arms is a “complete set for one soldier, as a rifle and bayonet, cartridge-box and belt, frequently the rifle and bayonet alone” (, 30).
3. See GW to Francis Johnston, 29 June, found at Joseph Reed to GW, 20 June, n.2.
4. Writing “By order” of the board, William Grayson replied to GW on 17 July from Philadelphia: “The Board have recieved your Excellency’s letter of the 6th of July, respecting the sending forward three thousand stand of arms, and a quantity of Cartouch boxes; They beg leave to inform you they have only two thousand five hundred Stand and two thousand & sixteen cartouch boxes at this Post; out of which one thousand stand are promised to the State of Maryland; the scarcity of these articles at this place is owing to the quantity which have lately been sent to the Southward.
“The Board will order on all the Cartouch boxes and fifteen hundred Stand of Arms from this place: the remaining fifteen hundred, may be had at Albany where by Mr [Philip Van] Ransalaer’s return it appears there are three thousand & eighty one: As in that return he has mentioned his having on hand only about seven hundred bayonets, the Board have directed him to turn his attention particularly, to that object, and they expect he will in a short time, be able to remedy that inconvenience; The Board will make a report to Congress, for money to be employed in making cartridge boxes: Should it be furnished they will do every thing in their power to fulfill yr Excellency’s expectations” (LS, DLC:GW).