From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 28 March 1780
To Major General William Heath
Head Quarters Morristown 28th March 1780
Dr Sir
I received your letter of the 2d informing me of your arrival at Roxbury.1
It is very essential that every thing in our power, not inconsistent with the establishments of Congress, or the States, should be done that can in any ways facilitate the recruiting service. I am of your opinion, that if clothing could be procured on the spot for such of the State quota as inlist, it would be a circumstance very much in favor of the business. But I would not wish to give any directions on this subject, as I presume every thing proper on the occasion will be done by the State in consequence of the requisition of Congress.2
I have been induced to direct the clothier general to make out an order on Otis & Henley, in favor of Col. Crane, for clothing for such soldiers as he may inlist.3 But this cannot be extended further, and was only taken up, because the artillery are dependent solely on the Continent for their supplies. I am Dr Sir Your obt & hble sert
Go: Washington
LS, in James McHenry’s writing, MHi: Heath Papers; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. In his letter to GW written from Roxbury, Mass., on 2 March, Heath reported finding “discharged Soldiers … that are inclined to inlist again” if there were an “expectation of being immediately cloathed.”
2. On the draft manuscript, also in McHenry’s writing, GW wrote the previous seven words.
For the congressional recruiting requisitions on the states, see , 16:149–51, and Samuel Huntington to GW, 10 Feb., and n.1 to that document; see also Circular to the States, 20 February.
3. GW likely is referring to a letter from his assistant secretary James McHenry to John Moylan, assistant clothier general, written at Morristown on 19 March: “His Excellency desires that you will be pleased to make an order on Messr: Otis & Henley of Boston, in favor of Col. Crane of the 3rd Rgt of artillery, directing clothing for such a number of soldiers as he may inlist, and that an account may be transmitted you, that it may be known what to enter against the regiment” (DLC:GW).