The Board of War have favd me with a Copy of their letter to you of the 20th Augt by which I find that they had directed you to forward all the ready made cloathing to Springfeild and Harford there to be opened, aired and Assorted, and the Blankets, Shoes Stockings and shirts to Camp.1

The intent of the Board is to put the whole Army in compleat new uniform as early as possible in October, and to call in the old cloathing to be appropriated to other purposes. As their orders to you were pressing, I hope that considerable progress has been already made in forwarding the Goods to the places directed, but lest you should have met with difficulties in procuring Waggons, I have wrote to Genl Heath and the Quarter Master General to afford you all the assistance in their power.2 I expect you will derive considerable advantage from the returning Teams which have carried provision to the Fleet and Army at Boston.

I observe that the Board had directed you to deliver all the unmade Cloths and linens to Mess[r]s Otis and Andrews, to be by them made up into proper Cloathing for the Army. When finished and packed up, they will put them under your care to be forwarded after the others.

Vast quantities of cloathing have been lost during the course of last winter, in the passage from Boston to Valley forge, for want of proper persons to attend and conduct the Waggons, and see the delivery of the goods at the place of destination: to remedy this evil, I have likewise desired General Heath and the Qr Mr to appoint active persons, whose Business it shall be to attend every detachment of Waggons, and see that they neither loiter upon the way or lose any part of their loading. It is of the greatest consequence to the Healths of the Troops that the Blankets should reach them as quick as possible, and I therefore desire that they and the shoes may be first forwarded, with orders to come immediately to the Army. The season also requires that the Men should be in their new Cloathing as early as possible in next month. I therefore hope that no exertion on your part will be wanting to have it lodged at the places directed, and properly assorted for delivery to the Deputy Cloathiers. I am &.