George Washington to Charles Stewart, 1 July 1781
To Charles Stewart
Head Quarters Peekskill 1st July 1781.
Sir
You will perceive by the after orders of yesterday, that the Army are to draw four days provision, which I imagine will be sufficient to last them untill their return to Camp again.1 But as that may not be the case, and as it may be found expedient after our junction with the French Army to take a position lower down2—you will keep all your Stores ready to move at a moments warning, by land or water. The Quarter Master General will furnish the means should there be occasion. You will preserve all the live Cattle now upon hand or which may come in, untill further orders, as they can be expeditiously sent down should the Army have occasion for them. You will continue the baking hard Bread3 and will form as large a Magazine of salt provision at this place as you possibly can.4 I am Sir Yr most obt and humble Servt
Go: Washington
LS, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, NNGL; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. See General Orders, 30 June.
2. The French and Continental armies joined near Philipse Manor, N.Y., on 6 July (see the entry for that date in , 3:390).
3. GW’s aide-de-camp David Humphreys had written Stewart from headquarters on 30 June: “The General desires that you will give directions not to have any of the Beef Cattle distributed to Brigades or killed, untill you have been at Head Quarters, reported the number & received instructions—He also desires that no pork may be issued while there is salted Beef” (MH: Stewart Papers).
Stewart replied to Humphreys from “Camp” at Peekskill on the same date: “There are no cattle yet arrived—When they come none shall be distributed before I receive his Excellency’s Instructions—The pork shall be reserved—about 40 barrels are now on hand—I shall expect 20 barrels more from West Point this day, which will be also laid by for special occasions. I wait impatiently for a Messenger from Fishkill, by him expect to hear something about cattle—The hard bread is not yet got to hand from West Point, but expected this day—The ovens at West Point are busy and I hope those at the village can also be set to work” (DLC:GW). For directives regarding bread, see General Orders, 28 June, and GW to Alexander McDougall, same date.