George Washington Papers

To George Washington from Major General Nathanael Greene, 24 February 1780

From Major General Nathanael Greene

Morristown Feb. 24th 1780

Sir

We are much in want of a number of raw hides, to exchange for leather, to repair the Harness of the Army, and for many other uses in the Department. Will your Excellency favor me with an order on the Commisary of Hides for a couple of hundred for these purposes? We have neither Money to buy with, nor leather to go on with the business. Had we money to purchase with, we could exchange the Hides to better advantage than we can purchase with money. I am with great respect Your Excellencys Most Obedient humble Serv.

Nath. Greene Q.M.G.

ALS, DLC:GW.

On this date, GW’s aide-de-camp Tench Tilghman wrote to Greene: “Inclosed you have an order on the Commissary of Hides for the number requested in yours of this date” (PPAmP: Nathanael Greene Papers). The enclosed order has not been identified.

For the likely genesis of Greene’s request, see James Abeel to Greene, this date, in Greene Papers, description begins Richard K. Showman et al., eds. The Papers of General Nathanael Greene. 13 vols. Chapel Hill, N.C., 1976–2005. description ends 5:411.

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