George Washington Papers

From George Washington to John Hancock, 9 July 1777

To John Hancock

Head Qrs Morris Town July 9th 1777.

Sir

The inclosed Copy of a Letter from the Commissary General of provisions & the information you will receive from Majr Hoops will convince Congress of the distress & confusion prevailing in that Department.1 Without something is done in aid of Mr Trumbull immediately, this Army must be disbanded—If the present difficulties continue, it is impossible it can exist. I entreat Congress to take the matter under their most early consideration and to make such provision as the exigency & importance of the case demands. I know not but we shall be obliged to move in the course of a few Hours, when from the situation of things in this line, we shall have more to dread than from the Enemy. I have the Honor to be with great respect Sir Yr Most Obedt servant

Go: Washington

LS, in Robert Hanson Harrison’s writing, DNA:PCC, item 152; Df, DLC:GW; copy, DNA:PCC, item 169; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.

Congress read this letter on 11 July and resolved to appoint a committee consisting of Philip Livingston, Elbridge Gerry, and George Clymer to travel to Morristown and inquire into the state of the army, and the committee arrived at GW’s headquarters on 16 July (see the Continental Congress Committee to Inquire into the State of the Army to GW, 16 July, and GW to the committee, 19 July 1777; see also JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 8:546).

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