From George Washington to Colonel Timothy Pickering, 19 November 1780
To Colonel Timothy Pickering
Head Quarters [Passaic Falls] 19th November 1780.
Sir
I have just received advice from Otis and Henley of Boston that they had, thro’ the interest of the State, procured upwards of forty teams which they had loaded and sent forward with Cloathing. They do not say how far the teams are to proceed, but, in all probability, no farther than Springfeild; at which place there is also a considerable quantity of Cloathing much wanted by the Army.1
The bringing the whole forward to New Burgh as expeditiously as possible is a matter so indispensably necessary in the present naked condition of the troops, that I must request you to send an active person of your department to Springfeild, whose Business it shall be to attend solely to the forwarding the Cloathing from that place.2 If you are not furnished with the means of procuring transportation, I will give the person, who goes, a letter to the Governor of Connecticut, solliciting his aid and assistance.3
You will direct the above and all other public stores to come the upper Route by Litchfeild.
Be pleased to order the working party under Major Bruen to return by Kakeate and Paramus to Camp—He will mend that Road from Paramus to Camp which the Baggage came when we marched last from that place4—It falls in at Ryersons Mill.5 I am Sir Yr most obt Servt
Go: Washingt⟨on⟩
LS, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DNA: RG 93, manuscript file no. 25278; Df, DLC:GW; copy, MHi: Pickering Papers; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. See Otis & Henley to GW, 8 Nov., found at Otis & Henley to GW, 25 Oct., n.4.
2. Col. Benjamin Tupper received the assignment to forward clothing from Springfield, Mass. (see Pickering’s first letter to GW, this date, and n.2).
4. The army had marched from Paramus, N.J., after a brief stay in early October (see General Orders, 7 and 8 Oct.).
5. Several members of the Ryerson family lived in northeastern New Jersey and owned properties.