To George Washington from Brigadier General James Potter, 5 November 1777
From Brigadier General James Potter
Camp [Pa.] Novr 5th 1777
Sir
I am Sorey to Inform your excelancey that the Officer I send to the Brandwine Mills has not obayd my orders Instead of Taking the stone away he has taken the Spinnels Rines and Tronnale heads I was preparing to send a party to move the Runners But as it is Hard to get waggans and as I am Informed that the Taking these Artecals answers the same end as Removing the stone, I wait to Know your Plesure in this matter1—I gave writen orders to the officer I will Trey him for disobedance I am oppresed with Bad Officers I wold Rather be a show boy than what I am if it wold sarve my Cuntrey as well. I am your E. H. S.
Jas. Potter
P.S. Col: Crafords men are uneasey and wanting to go home I will not detain them I think I have men sufficant for all I can do in this place as the enemy has got that new way of carring there provision.
ALS, DLC:GW. The address on the cover reads in part “by Captn Lives.”
1. In a water-powered gristmill the upper moving stone of a set of grinding stones, called a runner, rotates on an iron shaft called a spindle. A rind is an iron fitting that supports and balances the runner on the spindle. A tronnale (trundle) head is a gear assembly from which the spindle rises.