From George Washington to Brigadier General Casimir Pulaski, 7 December 1778
To Brigadier General Casimir Pulaski
Paramus [N.J.] 7th Decemr 1778
Dear Sir
I had the pleasure of receiving yours by Capt. Le Brun—at this place.1 The spare ammunition of the Army having gone on with the park of Artillery to Pluckemin I have given an order to have a proper supply sent on from thence. I have likewise given an order upon the Cloathier General for one hundred shirts—We have already made a distribution of what Blankets were upon hand. The Board of War are taking measures to procure a further quantity when you shall have a proportion.
The badness of the Roads at this season will render the transportation, of even a very light peice of Cannon, difficult. I have therefore declined sending it up at present; but should any offensive operation be determined upon, and it should be thought practicable to carry a peice or two of light Cannon thro’ the Woods, they can be sent up with more convenience when the Roads are hardened by the Frost.
I have directed the German Battalion to be stationed at Easton with a view of ordering them to the Fronteir should their assistance be needed.2 I have thought it better to let them remain there untill wanted, than send them up to consume your Stores which I imagine are not very ample. I expect by the time this reaches you General Hand will have arrived. I am with great Regard Dear Sir Yr most obt.
P.S. You will be pleased to be as car<eful> as possible of the amunition, deliver<ing> it out only when wanted, and order<ing> frequent examinations of the quan<tity> delivered to see that there is no unneces<sary> waste by the soldiery.
Df, in Tench Tilghman’s and James McHenry’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. McHenry wrote the postscript on the draft. The text in angle brackets is taken from the Varick transcript.
1. Pulaski’s letter has not been identified. Jerome Le Brun de Bellecour came to America in the summer of 1777 as Philippe Du Coudray’s secretary. In April 1778 he was appointed a captain in Pulaski’s Legion, and by 1780 he had transferred to Armand’s Legion.