1. The enclosed congressional resolution, adopted on 30 Nov., set forth the duties of the “Commissary general of purchases” in great detail. The measure also authorized “a deputy Commissary of purchases for the southern Army, appointed by the Commissary Genl,” other support personnel, and their compensation. This administrative overhaul repealed “all the resolutions of Congress heretofore made respecting the department of the Comy General of purchases” (DLC:GW; see also JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 18:1109–11).

2. Congress on 4 Dec. read a letter “of 26 November” from Virginia governor Thomas Jefferson, but Jefferson’s letter has not been identified (JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 18:1120). For the departure from Chesapeake Bay of Maj. Gen. Alexander Leslie’s British expedition, see Nathanael Greene to GW, 31 Oct., n.4.

3. Huntington evidently delayed sending this letter so he could enclose the 6 Dec. issue of John Dunlap’s Pennsylvania Packet or the General Advertiser (Philadelphia) with an “Extract of a letter from an officer of distinction in the southern army,” written at Salisbury, N.C., on 13 Nov.: “I have been informed this morning, that 200 British cavalry, under the command of major Wemys, with British infantry and some tories, attempted to surprize general Sumpter with a party of South-Carolina militia, posted at [Big] Sandy Creek.” Brig. Gen. Thomas Sumter “made his escape through a back door” and conducted “his men” in a manner that “totally routed” the attackers, killing twelve and taking twenty-two “prisoners, among the latter is major Wemys, whose thigh is broke. Major Wemys was the most active officer in burning the houses of our unfortunate countrymen on Santee river, &c. It is said a list of the houses he burnt, was found upon him” (see also Lafayette’s first letter to GW, 5 Dec., n.10).

James Wemyss (1748–1833) served as ensign in the 40th Regiment of Foot from April 1766 until his promotion to captain in March 1771. He commanded a Loyalist unit at the battle of Brandywine on 11 Sept. 1777 and became major in the 63d Regiment of Foot in August 1778. Wemyss earned notoriety for his actions with the British army in the southern states, but his capture at Fishdam Ford, S.C., on 9 Nov. 1780 curtailed his career. He eventually returned to the British army and gained promotion to lieutenant colonel in September 1787. Resigning his commission before the end of that decade, Wemyss returned to Scotland but later emigrated to Long Island, N.Y., where he died.

4. Huntington apparently acknowledged GW’s letter to him dated 28 Nov. that included an enclosure from Maj. Benjamin Tallmadge to GW dated 25 Nov. (see JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 18:1116).