1. See Heath to GW, 15 May, and notes 2 and 5 to that document.

2. See Heath to GW, 15 May, n.6. Oliver Phelps, superintendent of purchases in Massachusetts, again wrote Heath from Granville, Mass., on Thursday, 24 May: “When I last had the honor to write you, I promised that I would direct a line to you at Boston, upon the subject of supplies—Nothing can give me more happiness than the prospect of establishing a regular supply, and this prospect I flatter myself is not ideal, since the plan is committed to your honor.

“Yesterday I was at Hartford and I am happy to find that Connecticut has adopted a measure which while persisted in cannot fail of enuring to good purpose, They have furnished their Commissary with a quantity of hard money and he in his purchases makes his payments partly in silver and partly in paper—In the present very fluctuating state of our Currency I am persuaded that without a proportion of Specie it will be impossible to Command the market while we have only paper to pay with and that Depreciating, the graziers will command us and will hesitate to sell, add to this that while the French purchasers are among us and while this mode of payment is adopted by Connecticut there will be danger that our farmers will drive their Cattle to so promising a market while my agents will find it impossible to purchase an ox.

“Were it in the power of the State to supply me with such a sum of hard money as that I could pay one third or even a fourth part of the purchase in specie, I am convinced that the supplies may be procured and forwarded regularly.

“I have now two large droves of beef Cattle on the road between this & the Camp. I shall start fifty head on saturday and by the middle of next week I shall forward one hundred more—Connecticut will do something, and I believe that if a mode of supplying could be fixed in the Course of a Month there will be no danger of a want of Cattle” (MHi: Heath Papers).

Heath replied to Phelps from Roxbury on 29 May: “Your favor of the 15th reached me at Hartford the Day I left that place but did not allow me time to write you an answer, I am made very happy by your exertions to forward Supplies, for the relief of the Army, I returned from New Hampshire the Day before yesterday, The Hon. Mr [Caleb] Davis the late Speaker of the House of Representatives informed me this morning that he had a few days Since forwarded you a Sum of money, which I hope will enable you to Continue and even encrease your Supplies Six Thousand rations pr Day is the requisition upon this State for the month of June and Seven Thousand pr Day for the month of July and the remainder of the Campaign In a Letter I received from Colonel Stewart C. General jus[t] yesterday, he informs me that it is the pleasure of His Excellency the Commander in Chief that a Tenth part of the whole Supplies which is for June, should be Sent to Albany, this will be Fifteen Hundred rations pr Day Ten Thousand five hundred pr Week for the Month of June, and 2000 pr Day Fourteen Thousand pr Week for July and the remainder of the Campaign from your Situation it may be most Convenient to Supply that department, I request you will Send that Quantity weekly to Albany untill further orders and the remainder to the Army, all the Executives promise me their Utmost attention and exertions when their respective assemb⟨lies⟩ Convene—I shall remain in this Quarter Untill a regular System of Supply is established, and shall be glad to hear from You, when opportunity offers. … P.S. in order to ensure a regular Supply, please endeavour to Send on your Cattle on a fixed Day in every week, without the loss of a Single Day” (MHi: Heath Papers). For the letter from Charles Stewart, commissary general of issues, and Heath’s reply, see GW to Heath, 9 May, n.7.

3. The Rhode Island legislature began a session on 28 May (see Bartlett, R.I. Records description begins John Russell Bartlett, ed. Records of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in New England. 10 vols. Providence, 1856–65. description ends , 9:396).

Heath had written Rhode Island governor William Greene from East Greenwich, R.I., on 18 May: “The Object of my Commission to the Eastern States at this Time is to present the address of his Excellency General Washington representing the alarming Situation of the Army on account of the Want of Provisions to intreat immediate Temporary relief and endeavour the Establishment of Some more permanent and effectual mode of Supply in future. … I earnestly request that the foregoing may have the earliest attention and that your Excellency will be pleased to inform me by Letter at Boston of the final determination that I may make a General report to the Commander in Chief Conformable to my Instructions. … P.S. the Commissarys Estimate of Rum is one Hundred and Twenty Hogsheds pr Month, I request that the proportion of the State of Rhode Island may be held in readiness” (MHi: Heath Papers; see also GW to Heath, 9 May, and n.10 to that document, and Circular to the New England States, 10 May). For a similar letter that Heath wrote Connecticut governor Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., see Heath to GW, 15 May, n.1; see also notes 4 and 6 below.

4. The Massachusetts legislature began a session on 30 May (see “Mass. Senate Journal, 1780–81” description begins “Journal of [Massachusetts] Senate, 1780–81.” (Microfilm Collection of Early State Records). description ends ). On 2 June, the Massachusetts Senate read letters and accompanying papers from “Genl Washington & Genl Heath,” sent them “down to the Honble House,” and “order’d that the purport of those Letters &c., be Kept a profound Secret.” The legislature formed a bicameral committee on the same date to “report what is proper to be done.” The committee report “to enquire into and ascertain the Quantity of Beef, Salt, Rum, &c. already provided” and “to determine whether the present resources are Sufficient, or if necessary to point out new ones,” was read in the senate on 12 June “& Sent down” (“Mass. Senate Journal, 1780–81” description begins “Journal of [Massachusetts] Senate, 1780–81.” (Microfilm Collection of Early State Records). description ends ; see also GW’s circular letters to the New England States, 10 and 24 May, the latter being Document IV with The Wethersfield Conference and Aftermath, 14 May–16 June, editorial note). Heath had written two letters to Massachusetts governor John Hancock. From the surviving last page of his draft, the first apparently mirrored the letter he wrote Greene on 18 May (see MHi: Heath Papers; see also n.3 above). Heath again wrote Hancock from Roxbury, Mass., on 21 May: “Next to my importuneing an Immediate Supply of Beef Cattle for the relief of the Army, my Instructions direct me to urge the forwarding the Salted Provisions from the western parts of Massachusetts, and Connecticut I recollect that altho I had the Honor of Shewing your Excellency my Instructions, yet this particular is not mentioned in my request which contains the Spirit of the Instructions, and therefore it may escape your memory which induces me to add this and to request that all the Salted meat designed for Public use which is deposited in the County of Berkshire, may be ordered on with all Possible expedition to Claverack, from whence it can be transported by water either to West point or to Albany, for the relief of Fort Schuyler, as may be most eligible this with the Beef Cattle which I hope will be immediately ordered on will, afford relief untill the great plan of Supply can be Compleated, I would also request that a Quantity of Rum may be immediately put in motion.

“As Soon as I return from New Hampshire I shall have the Honor of again paying my respects, to your Excellency and must remain a humble Supplicant untill the Honble the Assembly put it in my Power to inform my General, that his requisitions are granted” (MHi: Heath Papers). For the legislature’s subsequent initiatives to supply the Continental army, see Heath to GW, 18 June, and notes 4–7 to that document.

5. Political turmoil over Vermont jurisdiction and statehood caused complications for officials in New Hampshire.

6. The New Hampshire legislature resumed on 13 June. Heath had written New Hampshire council president Meshech Weare from Roxbury on 22 May: “The objects of my Commission to the Eastern States at this time are to present the address of his Excellency General Washington representing the alarming Situation of the Army on account of the want of Provisions. …

“as it may be Impracticable at present to Transport the Salted meat from the State of New Hampshire, I request to be informed by an Official return what Quantities have been procured, where and under whose Charge it actually is, if any part of the salted provisions have not yet been collected, that it may without loss of time be ordered to the place, or places pointed out for its deposit, repacked, and safely Stored.

“A Supply of Rum is also essentially necessary for the Troops … as the Completion of this important Business will require my return to Boston before your arrangments may be fully made, I request your Honor will be pleased to inform me by Letter of the final determination of your Sta⟨te⟩ and of each particular, that I may make a report to the Commander in Chief conformable to my Instructions. … P.S. The Commissary’s estimate of Rum is one Hundred and twenty Hogsheds pr month, the D.Q.M. at Boston informs me no person is yet appointed to receive the store at N. 4. [Number Four, N.H.] and request you will be pleased to appoint one” (MHi: Heath Papers; see also “Heath Papers,” description begins “The Heath Papers.” Parts 1–3. Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society, 5th ser., 4:1–285; 7th ser., vols. 4–5. Boston, 1878–1905. description ends 5:199–201, and Weare to GW, 4 June, and n.2 to that document). For similar letters from Heath to New England governors, see notes 3 and 4 above.

Heath also wrote Weare from a tavern in Exeter, N.H., on 24 May: “I have this moment arrived in Town from the army, am Charged with dispatches of Importance, from his Excellency General Washington, request to be informed at what time and place I shall have the Honor of delivering them” (MHi: Heath Papers). For Heath’s travels, see GW to Heath, 9 May, n.9.

Weare subsequently wrote Heath from Hampton Falls, N.H., on 4 June: “Upon your Representation of the Situation of the Army, the Committee of Safety immediately issued Orders to the Purchasers of Beef Cattle to use their utmost Endeavors to Collect, and forward to the Army, as Speedily As possible, as many Cattle as they can procure. The Collector for the lower District informs me, that he has procurd between 30, and 40, which will go forward to morrow or next day, That he has used his Utmost diligence, (of which I have no doubt) but that he finds it exceeding difficult to get Any that are fit for to drive. The Cattle in this part of the State are in general At this Season of the year, very bare of flesh. The Collector for the Upper district being at a great distance, I have not yet heard from.

“Our General Assembly will Convene On the 13th Instant, when the Representation given of the Situation of the Army will be laid before them, and I shall by the earliest Opportunity give you Information of the Result of their Deliberations” (MHi: Heath Papers).

Heath replied to Weare from Roxbury on 13 June: “I have been honored with yours of the 4th Instant, am happy in the early measures taken by the Honorable Committee of Safety to have Beef Cattle immediately purchassed and forwarded for the relief of the Army and hope the purchasers have been able to procure a Quantity equal to what was requested, and as your Honorable General Assembly convenes this day I assure myself that they will take effectual measures to ensure the permanent Supplys for the Campaign and have them Seasonably forwarded. …

“The General Assembly here have proposed a Convention of Committees to meet in the Course of this month to establish a regular System of Supplys of which you will probably be informed by His Excellency Governor Hancock pr this post but I pray that in the interim, the Supplies requested may be punctually Sent on.” Heath also reminded Weare to send to the army his state’s “porportion of Rum which is Indispensibly necessary for the health as well as comfort of the Troops” (MHi: Heath Papers; see also “Heath Papers,” description begins “The Heath Papers.” Parts 1–3. Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society, 5th ser., 4:1–285; 7th ser., vols. 4–5. Boston, 1878–1905. description ends 5:207–8, and Heath to GW, 27 June, and n.3 to that document). For the convention, see Heath to GW, 4 July, and n.1 to that document.

7. GW replied to Heath on 8 June.

8. The Boston Gazette, and the Country Journal for 28 May printed an item under the heading “BOSTON,” same date: “A Vessel is arrived at Cape-Ann from Cadiz, which brings an Account of Gibraltar’s being relieved by the British” (see also Jedediah Huntington to GW, 15 May, and n.2 to that document). Heath later wrote in his memoirs for 29 June: “A vessel arrived at Boston from Cadiz with a quantity of clothing for the United States. This vessel brought an account that the British had again succoured the garrison of Gibraltar, but that the Spaniards continued the siege” (Wilson, Heath’s Memoirs description begins Rufus Rockwell Wilson, ed. Heath’s Memoirs of the American War. 1798. Reprint. New York, 1904. description ends , 307; see also Heath to GW, 4 July, n.7).

9. Heath probably refers to the French frigates Astrée and La Concorde (see Rochambeau to GW, 27 Feb., postscript, and 8 May).

10. The Massachusetts legislature had adopted an act on 18 May to impress teams. Those who disobeyed any of the provisions would be subject to fines (see Mass. Acts and Laws, 1780–81 description begins Acts and Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 1781. Reprint. [Boston] 1890. description ends , pp. 105–6).