To George Washington from Caesar Rodney, 22 June 1780
From Caesar Rodney
Dover [Del.] June 22d 1780.
Sir,
In Consequence of the Requisitions of Congress, the Committee of Co-operation, and your Excellency, transmitted to me and laid before the General Assembly of this State,1 I beg Leave to inform your Excellency, that they have passed the following Acts—An Act for furnishing the Continental Treasury with One Hundred and Thirty Two Thousand Eight Hundred Dollars by Loan on the Credit of the State2—An Act for immediately embodying three hundred and fifteen of the Militia of this State for the Purpose of reinforcing the Army of the United States, to continue in Service until the first Day of November next, unless sooner discharged3—An Act for procuring an immediate Supply of Provisions, Waggons, Horses &c. within this State for the Army of the United States.4 The above are the only Acts passed during their Sitting that I think necessary to make your Excellency acquainted with. At the Request of the General Assembly, I have inclosed you a Copy of a Resolution entered into by them.5 I am, with the highest Esteem and Respect, Your Excellency’s most Obedt humble Servt
Cæsar Rodney
P.S. The General Assembly of this State adjourned Yesterday to the Twentieth of October next.
LS, DLC:GW. A purported ADfS was offered for sale by Stan V. Henkels in June 1919.
1. For these requisitions involving money, militia, and provisions, see Samuel Huntington to Certain States, 19 May, in , 15:154–56, and Circular to the States, 2 June, n.1.
2. The Delaware general assembly passed this measure on 16 June “for the special Purpose of bringing the Army into the Field, and forwarding their Supplies in such Manner as the Exigency and Nature of the Service may require” (, 53–55).
3. “An ACT for embodying a Number of the Militia of this State for the Purpose of reinforcing the Army of the United States” passed the Delaware general assembly on 21 June. The measure called for a regiment of 315 rank and file to be “properly officered, and marched to join the Army under the Command of General Washington” (, 37–41).
4. “An ACT for procuring an immediate Supply of Provisions within this State for the Army of the United States of America, and for other Purposes therein mentioned” passed the Delaware general assembly on 21 June (, 42–47).
5. Rodney enclosed an “Extract from the Minutes” of the Delaware general assembly, dated 21 June and “concurred in” by the state’s council, that called for Rodney to write Congress, the Committee at Headquarters, and GW regarding fulfillment of requisition requirements. The minutes included a statement that the assembly “have made Provision to procure the Supplies … stated in the said Requisitions, and that they are disposed to do every Thing in their Power to procure and forward the same; and altho’ this House consider the Demands on this State as large, yet, that Congress may rely on this State to do every Thing within their Power to support them in the Prosecution of the Operations intended to be carried on against the Enemy during the present Campaign” (DLC:GW; see also n.1 above).