1. The enclosure titled “Invoice of Soldiers Cloathing purchased by Richard Harrison ⅌ order of his Excellency John Jay Esqr: for acct & use of the United States of North America,” along with a “Recapitulation of the Soldiers Cloathing in 123 Bales & 66 Casks, and one Trunk with paterns,” are in DLC:GW. The invoice carefully categorizes coats, waistcoats, breeches, shoes, shirts, caps, and other clothing articles meant primarily for sergeants and privates.

A similar letter from Harrison to Samuel Huntington, president of Congress, also written at Cadiz on this date, reported half the clothing “already on board the Ship Thomas, Capt. Francis Boardman & Brigt. Expedition Capt. Henry Atkins, both good risques and bound for Boston, as your Excellency will be pleased to observe by Copies of the Bills Lading, also under Cover. I hope to procure Freight for the remainder in two other Vessells now here, and which will be ready to sail for the same port by the last of this Month—I most cordially wish that the whole may arived safe, and that my Conduct on this Occasion may merit in some degree the Approbation of Congress. Every Endeavour has been used which the Honor of so flattering a reward could inspire” (DNA:PCC, item 92; the enclosures have not been identified).

This clothing had been taken from British merchantmen and military store ships captured in August 1780 (see John Jay to GW, 29 March 1781, and n.5). According to John Jay, U.S. minister to Spain, Spanish foreign minister Floridablanca “proposed to the French Ambassador to send to Congress for the use of their Army, Clothing for Ten Regiments lately taken in the Convoy bound from Britain to Jamaica.” Floridablanca promised to arrange to send the clothing “on to America as soon as possible” (Notes on John Jay’s Conference with Floridablanca, 23 Sept. 1780, in Selected Papers of John Jay description begins Elizabeth M. Nuxoll et al., eds. The Selected Papers of John Jay. 6 vols. to date. Charlottesville, Va., 2010–. description ends , 2:265–75, quotes on 265 and 267).

On 5 Oct. 1780, Jay wrote Harrison from Madrid with directions to purchase “all the suits of clothes, including coats, waistcoats, and breeches, taken in the prizes captured by Admiral Cordova, and sent to Cadiz. The admiral will give you the necessary aid and advice on the subject. You may engage for the payment of the money at Madrid, immediately on the arrival of the account of sales. As these uniforms will be improper for European troops, it is expected you may buy them very cheap. Take them, when bought, into your custody.” Jay gave Harrison similar directives on 8 Dec. 1780 and 1 Feb. 1781; the latter letter also ordered Harrison to ship the clothing. Jay then wrote Harrison on 23 March: “I once heard General Washington say that, at a time when supplies of clothing, &c., were greatly wanted, considerable parcels were afterwards discovered which had been neglected, because unknown. I therefore think it best that he should be furnished with an account of every parcel shipped; he will then have it in his power to prevent their being misapplied or lost” (all in House Report No. 265, 22d Cong., 2d sess., 22–25).

Jay wrote Floridablanca from Madrid on 22 March: “Mr. Harrison has generously offered to do this Business gratis. The Expences of Shipping cannot be precisely ascertained till the accounts on that Head are closed and Mr. Harrison informs me he is not permitted to ship the Remainder of the goods till the Ballance of the purchase money shall be paid” (Selected Papers of John Jay description begins Elizabeth M. Nuxoll et al., eds. The Selected Papers of John Jay. 6 vols. to date. Charlottesville, Va., 2010–. description ends , 2:401–3, quote on 402; for more on the shipment, see Jay to Huntington, 25 April, in Selected Papers of John Jay description begins Elizabeth M. Nuxoll et al., eds. The Selected Papers of John Jay. 6 vols. to date. Charlottesville, Va., 2010–. description ends , 2:438–43).

Harrison again wrote GW on 3 April: “The foregoing is Triplicate of what I had the Honor of writing your Excellency on the 12th ulto. This is only meant to advise you more particularly whither & on what Vessells the Cloathing was shipped, for which I beg ref⟨e⟩rence to the annexed note—The remaining ¼th I hope soon to procure freight for” (ALS, DLC:GW). Beneath his signature, Harrison named three ships, each carrying thirty-one bales and fourteen casks of clothing. Two ships, Thomas and Gloucester Packet, were bound for Salem, Mass., and one, Expedition, for Boston. Harrison noted: “The whole consigned to the Cloathier General in the department of Boston.”

Harrison next wrote GW from Cadiz on 30 April: “I had the Honor of writing your Excellency on the 12th ulto & 3d Inst. advising of my purchase of a Quantity of Soldiers Cloathing for Accot of the United States, & enclosing Invoice for the same—The whole are now shipped, and this is only intended to convey you a Note of the Vessells in which they went, that your Excellency may know where to apply in Case of delay, or want of proper Information—The Note is on the other side” (ALS, DLC:GW; LS [triplicate], DLC:GW; Harrison wrote “⅌ Brigt: Thomas Capt: Tyler” on cover of the ALS). On the verso of the ALS, Harrison recorded the names of four ships, their captains, destinations, departure dates from Cadiz, and the bales and casks of clothing aboard each. Three ships carried thirty-one bales and fourteen casks. The fourth vessel, the brigantine Thomas, Capt. Edward Tyler, transported thirty bales, fourteen casks, and one trunk. The brigantines Thomas and Expedition were bound for Boston; another ship named Thomas, Capt. Francis Boardman, for Salem; and Gloucester Packet for Cape Ann, Massachusetts. Harrison added a note: “The whole consigned to the Cloathier General, Department of Boston” (see also John Mathews to GW, 2 May, n.4).

Maryland delegate Daniel Carroll wrote Maryland governor Thomas Sim Lee from Philadelphia on 8 May that “I have now the pleasure of informing you that two Vessels are arrivd to the Eastward with cloathing from Cadiz. A great part of this Supply will probably be applied to yr. Troops Under Genl. Washington” (Smith, Letters of Delegates description begins Paul H. Smith et al., eds. Letters of Delegates to Congress, 1774–1789. 26 vols. Washington, D.C., 1976–2000. description ends , 17:215–16; see also Ezekiel Cornell to GW, 24 May, DLC:GW). Other members of Congress reported the arrival of between 2,000 and 3,000 “Suits of cloaths” at Boston “from Mr. Jay” (William Sharpe to Thomas Burke, 21–22 May, in Smith, Letters of Delegates description begins Paul H. Smith et al., eds. Letters of Delegates to Congress, 1774–1789. 26 vols. Washington, D.C., 1976–2000. description ends , 17:255–57, quotes on 256; see also Theodorick Bland to St. George Tucker, 11 May, in Smith, Letters of Delegates description begins Paul H. Smith et al., eds. Letters of Delegates to Congress, 1774–1789. 26 vols. Washington, D.C., 1976–2000. description ends , 17:229–32).