From George Washington to General William Howe, 14 December 1777
To General William Howe
Head Qrs [Gulph Mills, Pa.] Decr 14th 1777.
Sir
The difficulty of supplying the Troops of General Burgoyn’s Army with Wood and provisions from the Country in the Neighbourhood of Boston, induces me to request, that you will grant passports for Vessels to be employed to bring them from places on the Coast. I cannot ascertain the number of Vessels that may be necessary for this business, or the names of the persons who may be entrusted with the command of them; The passports therefore should be blank. In such case they can be occasionally filled up, and to prevent any doubts of their being improperly used they may be countersigned by Genl Burgoyne. This I shall direct. The Letters from Genl Burgoyne, which accompany this, I transmit you by his request.1 I am Sir with due respect Yr Most Obedt servt
Go: Washington
Df, in Robert Hanson Harrison’s writing, DLC:GW; two copies, P.R.O., 30/55, Carleton Papers; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. British general John Burgoyne’s packet of letters has not been identified, but for brief descriptions of its general contents, see Burgoyne to GW, 25 Nov., and GW to Burgoyne, 17 December.