To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 21 December 1779
From Brigadier General Anthony Wayne
Light Infantry Camp Second River [N.J.]
21st Decr 1779
Dear General
Last Saturday a Considerable Number of transports fell down to red hook—& on Sunday Morning about 10. OClock they weighed anchor & fell lower1—but whether there were any troops on board, or whether they went farther than the Narrows, the Informant can’t tell as he could not possibly pass to New York on acct of the Ice in by Bergen point.
he is since gone over & an Other to Staten Island, from whence I expect to hear either to night or tomorrow I am just setting off for Bergen the Rivers are all fast as far as Paulus Hook—if an attempt again[s]t that port should be deemed Practicable—we can’t stir for want of Clothing—but in particular shoe’s2—of which article two thirds of our people are totally Destitu[t]e which renders us almost Inca[pa]ble either of Offence or Defence in this Inclement season the Brigade Quarter Master is now & has been absent some days in order to procure a supply—but I have not heard what Success he has met with, Indeed unless he is fortunate we shan’t be able to move from this ground if Ordered.3
I am sorry to say that our prospect of a sufficient supply of Provisions is but very gloomy which together with our other wants renders the situation of the troops very Irksome.
however it’s our duty to cast a veil over the worst, & only shew the best side of the picture—and shou’d matters become more Desperate we can at all events feed ourselves. Interim I am your Excellencys most Obt Hume Sert
Anty Wayne
Just as I was sending off this I was honored with yours of yesterday—since my Writing last Lieut. Colo. Hay4 has joined us I understand that, Major Hull & Major Stewar[d] are on their Return—there will then be Wanting one Lieut. Colo. from the Massachusets Line for Colo. Putnams Regt one Lie[u]t. Colo. from the Conne[c]ticut Line for Colo. Meigs—& one field Officer from the Pennsa. Line for the two Companies that were with Febiger.5
ADfS, PHi: Wayne Papers.
1. New York City printer Hugh Gaine wrote in his journal entry for Saturday, 18 Dec.: “The British Fleet to sail tomorrow. Preparations making for that purpose” ( 2:73). Gaine’s entry for Sunday, 19 Dec., reads: “Very cold indeed, and every one Preparing to depart for the different Places, that is, those that are going” ( 2:73). William Smith, royal chief justice of New York, wrote in his memoirs under that date: “The Weather is very severe. Several Regiments in Town have imbarked for the Expedition. The Light Infantry and Grenadiers come to Breucklin, but the Wind is too high at SW to admit of their going off into the Boats” ( [1971], 194).
2. At this place on his draft, Wayne wrote and then struck out: “we have not as many shoes in the Whole Corps as will furnish one Guard & Reliefs—so that several of the men go on duty with a bundle of wrags bound round their feet with ropes of St[r]aw, but by approaching near the fire from which they experience some Inconveniency they freque[ent]ly burn their new found shoes & scorch their toes.”
3. A letter from GW’s aide-de-camp Tench Tilghman to Q.M. Gen. Nathanael Greene, written at headquarters on 23 Dec., addressed Wayne’s concern: “Eight hundred pair of Shoes are to be sent to the Light Infantry—Be pleased to order a Conductor with a Waggon or Sled to call upon the Cloathier General at Mr Buchannans for them—As they are extremely wanted be pleased to give orders immediately” (PPAmP: Nathanael Greene Papers). For Wayne’s request for shoes and an indication of their reaching his command, see his first letter to GW of 9 Dec.; and Rufus Putnam to GW, 27 Dec., found at GW to Putnam, 20 Dec., n.4. See also Wayne to GW, 18 December.
4. Wayne is referring to Lt. Col. Samuel Hay.
5. For the appointment of Maj. Thomas Lloyd Moore to fill this vacancy, see General Orders, 24 December.