George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Ménonville, 6 May 1781
To Lieutenant Colonel Ménonville
New Windsor 6th May 1781.
1st General Washington presumes that Congress have taken measure for the Completion of the Contract entered into by Doctor Franklin, but having received no particular information on the subject, he cannot speak with certainty upon the mode which will be adopted to procure the provision—He would therefore advise Colo. Menonville to proceed to Philada and make his application to Congress thro’ His Excellency the president to whom General Washington will give him letters of introduction.1
2d Colonel Menonville may be assured that it is the earnest wish of General Washington to see the French Army supplied with every necessary which this Country affords, and that all the means in his power shall be exerted towards that end—but he begs Colo. Menonville to understand that no more of the Resources of the Country are at his disposal than what have been demanded of the several States for the support of the American Army, and that as the provisions thus put under his direction are not more than sufficient for the purpose here mentioned it would be imprudent in him to2 promise Colo. Menonville any part of such Magazines on account of Doctor Franklin’s Contract.3 There is no doubt however4 but the Country can afford an ample supply both for the American and French Troops—even should the latter be increased to the height of our expectations5—The only difficulty lies in finding means of drawing it out of the hands of the people—But as the Intendant of the French Army is furnished with the means there can be little doubt of his finding a sufficient quantity of Meat in the Eastern States and of Flour in the Middle and southern (except North and south Carolina which have been much ravaged by the War) to support any force which will probably be employed in America.6 And with respect to Corn There is no scarcety, I believe of this article in any State North of Carolina—Virginia and Maryland abound in it, and have no market for it—there ports being shut up by the Enemys cruisers.7
The plan of Campaign being contigent8 it is impossible for General Washington in the prest momt9 to advise with precision10 any particular place for the establishment of the Grand Magazines11—Thus much he can say in general—That the Flour, which must be principally drawn from Pennsylvania, Delaware—Maryland and Virginia should be collected as near to Navigable Water as will be consistent with its safety from the attacks of the small Vessels and parties of the enemy which very much infest Chesapeak and Delaware Bays. What Flour can be procured in the State of New York and in the Western parts of Connecticut and Massachusetts may be safely deposited at any place upon the North River above West point.12
The Meat which will be consumed during the Campaign will be chiefly fresh and as the Cattle will be driven on foot to the Army, they will be sent in Weekly in numbers equal to the consumption.13
Go: Washington
DfS, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW. Tilghman wrote on the docket: “Colo. Menonville to General Washington on subject of supplies for French Army, with the Generals answers.” For an overview of the financial and supply difficulties faced by the French in this period, see , 64–84.
This draft evidently was written in response to Lieutenant General Rochambeau’s instructions to Ménonville for his visit to GW’s headquarters. Ménonville had presented GW an extract of the instructions, which read: “Mr Menonville must take notice of a letter from Docr Franklin to the president of Congress, to enable himself to pay draughts on him by a supply of subsistence made by the United States for the French Forces serving in America.
“He shall likewise take notice of one Resolve of the Congress who approving the proposition made by Dr Franklin promise to supply the French Troops with Flour—Corn—Meat &ca to the amount of 400,000 dollars payable on the orders of the Congress in France.
“He will set out directly for New Windsor, where he is to confer with His Excellency General Washington on this Business and the ingenuity of his Character is too well known to entertain the least doubt of his intention of supplying the french Forces with every thing they can want, when the subsistence of his own Army is secured, and it is hoped he will let Mr Menonville know what can be depended upon without making the subsistence of the Continental Army doubtful and precarious, and in the various stages the Affairs can run in, in the course of the ensuing Campaign, when all the Forces sent to the West Indies must be looked on as lastly directed this way, when supplies of Men can come in on a sudden—so it looks very important to know before hand what sort of supplies can be expected and afforded on both sides, in some variety of probable cases and events.
“this being the object of sending Mr Menonville to General Washington, he shall let it [be] know[n] to His Excellency and take his orders to act accordingly with the Congress and he will continue his jou[r]ney to Philada with the Instruction he shall receive from His Excell⟨ency⟩” (DLC:GW, filed under 6 May; see also n.13 below).
1. For the letter of introduction, see GW to Samuel Huntington, 10 May. Rochambeau had dispatched Ménonville on a mission to GW’s headquarters to obtain supplies promised to the French army (see Rochambeau to GW, 28 April, and the source note to that document). Benjamin Franklin, U.S. minister to France, had made an agreement with the French court that Congress would supply the French army in America with provisions valued up to $400,000 (see Franklin to Huntington, 2 Dec. 1780, in , 34:97–99). Congress then resolved on 11 April to “take every measure in their power” to fulfill Franklin’s engagements and give “immediate orders for forming magazines of flour, biscuit, Indian corn, and flesh provisions to be in readiness for the officers of his Most Christian Majesty” (, 19:373).
Ménonville had arrived at headquarters on 5 May (see GW to Chastellux, 7 May). In his diary entry for 6 May, GW observed that the “demand, tho’ the immediate compliance with it, was not insisted upon, comports illy with our circumstances; & is exceedingly embarrassing” (, 3:359). For GW’s report to Congress on his conversations with Ménonville, see his letter to Huntington, 8 May; see also GW to Ménonville, 9 May.
2. GW wrote the preceding ten words.
3. For these requisitions on the states, see Huntington to GW, 12 Nov. 1780, n.1; see also Circular to State Executives, 10 December.
4. GW inserted this word above the line.
5. GW expected the arrival of a second division of French troops to reinforce Rochambeau’s army. For its cancellation, see Rochambeau to GW, 11 May, and n.2 to that document.
6. The French government had furnished senior commissary de Tarlé, the intendant of the French army, with a considerable quantity of specie and a substantial letter of credit. He also had authorization to issue bills of exchange (see , 66).
7. GW wrote the preceding sentence in the left margin. British cruisers were raiding plantations bordering the Chesapeake Bay (see Lafayette to GW, 15 March, and GW to Lund Washington, 30 April; see also George Weedon to Thomas Jefferson, 21 April, in , 5:529–30).
8. GW wrote this word.
9. GW wrote the preceding four words above the line.
10. GW wrote the preceding two words above the line.
11. The campaign involved either laying siege to New York City or sending additional troops to Virginia, depending on the quantity of reinforcements from France (see Rochambeau to GW, 31 March, and GW to Rochambeau, 7 April).
12. GW wrote the preceding two words.
13. During his visit, Ménonville submitted a series of questions to GW. In a document dated 7 May at New Windsor, GW wrote Ménonville’s queries and then his replies: “The very obliging kindness his Excellency hath heard with, yesterday evening my observations on some parts of his answer to the extract of my instructions I had the honor to deliver him, has emboldened me to take the liberty of asking from him some few questions more, in hopes I shall be excused in case some of them may appear somewhat indiscreet, as his Excellency can answer to them so far only as to put me in right, in my ensuing conduct by the Congress, without letting me in the secret of his plan for the ensuing Campaign, more than he must think fit.
“1st General Rochambeau is perswaded he will, in any case that may happen, of large or small supplies of reinforcement from France, want Magazines in the Jersey States; Must I insist in my application to Congress, for their forming.
“2d If the Congress is able to provide for the supply of the French forces, some considerable quantity of subsistances in the Jersey, it could be useful to spare as much as possible the Stores laid on North River, as well for the American, as the french Army. If the latter cannot conveniently make use of what could be stored in the Jersey cannot then his Excellency make use of some part of such supplies intended for our use, & in lieu thereof give over to the disposition of the French General some part of the supplies provided for the use of his own Army, on North & Connecticut river. I think I must insist the most, on the fulfilling this view, as it seems to me by his Excellencys Answer, that it shall be more easy for the Congress to draw supplies, specially of flour & Corn, from the middle & Southern States, than from the Northern ones, and as the Stores laid on the North, who can be at hand for enterprizes, if we are enabled to make some, & to supply for winter quarters, if the Campaign cannot be active enough, as to drive the enemy from these parts, must by all means be spared with the utmost care. And as some difficulties may arise from our own Commissaries in the execution of this plan, if his Excellency approves it, and if the Congress can enable us to follow it, I can in proper time furnish him with means to prevent such difficulties, chiefly feared from selfish & interested view.
“3d Some Salt meat can be wanted. does his Excellency thinks it would be convenient to insist on some supplies of this kind from the middle & Southern States, as it looks very proper to preserve ⟨le⟩ Eastern States for the furniture of live Cattle, we must endeavour to have in some plenty, for the preservation of the health of our Soldiers.
“4th In the variety of events that can happen to take place, it could perhaps become very convenient for the french Army, as well as to the possibility of means in the hands of the Congress, to be supplied with teams, whom the Congress can pay in Continental currency, and as much as I know, can be procured in some quantity from Pensylvania; Can I then, without obstructing the measures agreed on, for the Service of the American Army ask some from the Congress.”
“Answers” indicates GW’s replies: “As nothing can be more consonant to General Washington’s wishes than to give all the satisfaction in his power to Colo. Menonville, he will answer the foregoing questions with willingness and Candor. to the first he begs leave to observe:
“1st That he thinks it unsafe (in our circumstances) to form large Magazines in the State of New Jersey on acct of its proximity to the enemys principal force at New York, & our want of Troops to cover & secure them—Because a Naval superiority on our side, would render them in a very great degree unnecessary in that State as water transportation wou’d, in that event, be more convenient & less expensive than that by land—and because Philadelphia, supposing this superiority should not be obtained, wd be much safer, & almost as convenient as any place in Jersey for Magazines. Trenton might do for a small Magazine—a large one would be too great a temptation of the enemy for the convenience of it to be a counterpoize to the risk.
“2d Genl Washington understands this article to mean nothing more, than an exchange of provisions when the conveniency of the two Armies can be promoted by a reciprocal saving of transportation (because whatever the American Commissary may have upon the North River, is at all times convenient if not essential for the Garrison at West point)—In this view of the matter, there can be no possible objection on the part of General Washington to the exchange of provn—& it will ever be his wish to make things as agreeable as possible to his Excellency Genl Rochambeau & the French Army under his orders.
“3d The Fall of the year being the usual Season for Salting Meat the proposition contained in this Article cannot, it is apprehended, be complied with; especially as there is a scarcity of Beef Cattle in the Middle States.
“4th This article Genl Washington can only speak in part. Teams, no doubt, may be had from Pensylvania & other States without inconvenience, or derangement of the plan of the American Q: Master Genl; but how far the mode proposed by Colo. Menonville to pay for them, can be adopted by Congress, they alone can determine” (ADS, DLC:GW).
A document that GW dated 8 May at New Windsor contains the only known renderings of a letter from Ménonville and GW’s reply: “Having received the answer his Excellency honored me with for the second time, I think I have no more now to do, but to continue my Journey to Philadelphia, when furnished with the letter his Excellency has offered me, to introduce me to his Excellency the President of the Congress.
“I think when arrived there, I’ll follow closely the intentions of his Excellency, (which is a special part of my orders) if I can obtain from the Congress, to assemble together at Philadela; as much of Supplies of flour & Corn, as they can conveniently provide for, & a small part of these articles at Trenton.
“2ly If they are able, to assemble somewhat of the same kind on Connecticut river, above what is destined, & must now be deposited in these parts for the use of the American Army.
“3dly To provide the french Army with live Cattle, from the Eastern States in genl.
“4thly To get for the use of the French forces the supply of the Salt Meat they can find, in every part of the United States.
“5thly To supply the French Army, if possible, with some Teams, chiefly from Pensylvania.
“I am moreover waiting for further Orders from his Excellency, if [he] has some to give me, in my Journey.”
“Answer” indicates GW’s reply: “In remarking upon the 1st head General Washington would wish Colo. Menonville to observe that he does not think Philadelphia ought to be made the immediate general deposit of the Flour &ca of Virginia & Maryland but of Pensylvania & Delaware only—He mentioned that place as being ultimately preferable supposing an operation in this quarter, to any in Jersey as the provision can be brought from thence to Trenton by an easy & Cheap water transportation In the meantime he repeats his first recommendation of permitting the flour & Corn of Virginia & Maryland particularly to remain within those States untill the plan of Campaign is more fully determined upon.
“General Washington approves of the intentions of Colo. Menonville contained in the 2d 3d 4th & 5th heads—and he will be happy in furnishing him with Letters for the President of Congress whenever the weather & his own inclination will permit him to prosecute his Journey to Philadelphia” (ADS, DLC:GW; copy, FrPMAE).
After he arrived in Philadelphia, Ménonville met Robert Morris, the new superintendent of finance. When he wrote Franklin on 21 July, Morris reported that soon after his appointment he had spoken to Ménonville and “told him truly that I had but little Prospect of complying with your Promise. It is not easy to convey to your Mind an Idea of the Pain I suffered from being obliged to make this Declaration. I felt for you, for Congress, for America. There is no Man in the World more deeply impressed than myself with the Importance of fulfilling every Compact made by a proper Authority. All my Reasonings, my Feelings and my Experience have concurred in producing a thorough Conviction that it is essential according to the Principles of Justice from regard to our national Honor and for the Sake of our general Interests. I shall therefore notwithstanding what has passed between Colo Menonville and myself assiduously endeavor to perform your Promise and I am happy to add that I am not without Hopes of Success” (, 1:363–66, quote on 365). While in Philadelphia, Ménonville sent reports to Rochambeau dated 14 and 16 May and 4 June (CtY-BR:R; see also , 1:316).