To George Washington from Nathaniel Stevens, 3 May 1781
Fish Kill 3rd May 1781
Colonel Humphreys letter (by your Excellency’s direction) of the 2nd instant I have received.
As the season for procuring shad is far advanced, and the instructions given Judge Wynkoop and Mr Monnell (which I inclose your Excelency a copy of) extend to all the Fishing places on the river. I don’t expect it would be of service to have more [per]sons employed, as contractors, in that business, Should your Excellency think to the contrary I could wish to be informed.
Sixty barrels of meat has gone to the Landing, for New Windsor and West Point, since yesterday morning, and forty remains to be sent, soon as teams can be had for that purpose. I have the honor to be, with due respect, Your Excellency’s most Obedient Servant
N. Stevens D.C.G.I.
DLC: Papers of George Washington.
Enclosure
Fish Kill 28th April 1781
Sir
His Excellency General Washington being desirous of having a quantity of shad fish procured for the Army, by Exchangeing salt for the same, I have to request that you will immediately proceed to the several fishing places up the North River & procure to the amount of three hundred Barrels, or more if they can be had for three pecks of salt for two hundred and twenty pound of Cleaned fish, you will apply three pecks of salt for the cure of every Barrel of the fish, or to every 220 pound.
You will call on Mr McCullen for Barrels and the Commissary at Clavarack for salt.
His Excellency is very anxious to have careful and trusty persons employed to see to the putting them in the casks, and the application of the salt, which I wish you to look well to.
N.B. Morrel was not to fish at Esopus, The instructions were given to them seperately, and each to procure three hundred barrels, or more, of fish.