From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 23 December 1779

To Clement Biddle

Head Quarters Morris Town Decr 23d 1779

Sir

I have received your favour of this date, inclosing a Copy of Mr Blanes letter requesting you to furnish him, for the Commissaries department with a quantity of the Indian Corn laid in for the use of your own1—Notwithstanding the loss of some horses as you observe may be the consequence of affording him the supply—the present distress of the Army for the want of flour is such, that I cannot hesitate to give you my consent to the measure, & request you to have it effected as soon as possible.2 I am Sir Yr Mo. Obet servt

Go: Washington

LS, in Richard Kidder Meade’s writing, PHi: Washington-Biddle Correspondence; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.

1. Biddle’s letter to GW of this date has not been found, and the enclosed letter from Ephraim Blaine, deputy commissary general of purchases, to Biddle has not been identified.

2. For evidence that GW’s order received prompt attention, see Moore Furman to John I. Schanck, 28 Dec., in Furman Letters, description begins Historical Research Committee of the New Jersey Society of the Colonial Dames of America, ed. The Letters of Moore Furman: Deputy Quarter-Master General of New Jersey in the Revolution. New York, 1912. description ends 48–49.

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Source Project: Washington Papers
Title: From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 23 December 1779
Author: Washington, George
Recipient: Biddle, Clement
Date: 23 December 1779

Reference

Cite as: “From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 23 December 1779,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-23-02-0532. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 23, 22 October–31 December 1779, ed. William M. Ferraro. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2015, p. 693.]

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