To Alexander Hamilton from Ephraim Blaine, 21 October 1794
From Ephraim Blaine1
Bedford [Pennsylvania] 21st. Octr. 1794
Sir
As they army are to March in two Collums, and the Quarter Master Genl2 takes the Immediate charge of the right wing I conclude my Services will be no longer Necessary, and the Quarter Master Genl can have the Assistance of the Quartermaster General of the State3 with his Deputies who are Numerous and I presume if well managed will be Sufficient therefore I beg leave to inform you that I shall have nothing further to do with this business after this day and too-morrow. I shall use every Exertion to lay in Sufficient Supplies at the first Encampment from this place, also take charge of the Magazines of Forrage at Ryans4 upon the Penna. road to Carlisle which I presume will be the route the right Collum of they army will retun. There is three thousand Bushls. of Oats purchased by One of my Deputies in the Glades5 which will be Colected at the most Convenient places where the troops are to Encamp.
Was I disposed to serve as a Deputy in any of Staff department of the army, no One Sooner than Genl. Miller—but I think my Exertions and Knowledge of the County Merrited more, I [am] at Ryans thirteen Miles west of Bedford upon the Penna. Road to Carlisle.
ADf, Ephraim Blaine Papers, Library of Congress.
1. For background to this letter, see H to Blaine, September 12, 1794.
2. Henry Miller, acting quartermaster general of the militia army.
3. Clement Biddle, quartermaster general of Pennsylvania during the insurrection.
4. Timothy Ryan owned more than eight hundred acres of land in the township of Bedford in Bedford County, Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania Archives, 3d ser., XXII [Harrisburg, 1897], 275).
5. The Glades was an open space in the woods about seven miles northeast of York, Pennsylvania, on the public road to the Susquehanna River.