To George Washington from Benjamin Lincoln, 28 May 1782
War-Office May 28th 1782
Sir,
By the enclosed letters your Excellency will observe that the thousand stands of arms ordered to this city are detained, and that your orders are plead in justification of the detention.
If there are any orders which, by a forced construction, may be considered as prohibiting the removal of public stores to the Magazines provided for their reception, I wish your Excellency would cause them to be explained, for I am persuaded an use is made of them which your Excellency never intended. I have the honor to be, with the most perfect respect and esteem, Your Excellency’s most obedt very humble servant
B. Lincoln
DLC: Papers of George Washington.
Enclosure
New Windsor May 20th 1782
Sir
Having been informed by Mr Marshall that Mr Ruddock told him that he had an Order from the Commander in Chief that no arms were to be forwarded to Philada without his Orders I therefore requested to know of Mr Ruddock whether his Excellency had given such an Order since the arrival of your’s for 1000 stand, or whether it was previous to His receiving of your Orders, & that in case such an Order had been given by the Commander in Chief previous to your last requisition for the Arms to shew the Order to the Genl & to get his final determination about the matter, but have not learn’d since whether the 1000 stand of Arms are to go on or whether they are to remain. I am Sir your most Obt Servt
Peter Anspach
Enclosure
Philadelphia 28th May 1782
Sir
Inclosed I send a Letter, which I received yesterday from Mr Anspach Asst Q. Master on the subject of the Arms, lately Ordered on from North River, altho’ I am ready to conclude, that Mr Ruddock must have mistaken his Excellencies Order, if any he had on the subject, yet to prevent dissapointment in the supply wanted, agreeable to your arrangement, duty obliges me to submit the matter to your consideration. With respect and esteem I am Sir your Most Obt servant
Sam. Hodgdon C.G.M.S.