George Washington to Brigadier General Henry Knox, 8 June 1781
To Brigadier General Henry Knox
Head Quarters New Windsor June 8th 1781
Dear Sir
I enclose to you the application of the State of New Jersey for Ammunition, also General Cornell’s Letter informing what quantity may be expected from the Eastward;1 and request your opinion of the expediency of granting any to that State, and in that case how much?
I wish also to be advised, what has been done respecting Plank for Platforms, and whether it will be ne⟨cessary⟩ to have arrangements made with the Quarter Master Genl for procuring that Article. With great esteem & regard I am Dear Sir Your Most Hble Servant
Go: Washington
P.S. Be pleased to return the papers after perusal.2
LS, in David Humphreys’s writing, NNGL: Henry Knox Papers; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
2. Knox replied to GW from New Windsor on this date: “I received your Excellen[c]ys favor of this day enclosing Genl Cornells letter of the 24th ultimo informing of the quantity of Lead & Cartridges which may be expected from Boston and Providence, and of the request of the State of New Jersey for Ammunition. It appears from General Cornells letter that the prospects of addition to our stock are moderate, and the demands from the southward and northward so great as to claim the utmost oeconomy of the quanty in our posession. If your Excelleny should think proper the state of New Jersey might receive at succasunna 15 or 20,000 at most. There are at that place under the charge of the conductor Eayres about 60,000 which were the spare Cartr. of the Pennsylvania line and which I have directed to be brought to this place as soon as teams can be procurd for that purpose.
“In consulti[n]g with General Duportail on the subject of the operations in contemplation he conceived the platforms to be within the line of his Duty, and he informed he should apply to the Q.M. General for to procure them but I am not able to say how far he has succeeded—We are saving timber for the Carriages at Belknaps mills and hope to be able to procure a sufficiency soon” (ADf, NNGL: Henry Knox Papers). Abel Belknap’s sawmill near Newburgh, N.Y., apparently prepared timber for artillery carriages. Major General Duportail sought wooden platforms for siege artillery.