Charles Stewart to George Washington, 3 July 1781
From Charles Stewart
Peeks Kill 3d July 1781.
Sir
Although the Troops were served with provisions for thursday next, Yet it may happen, by accident on the march and otherwise, that some of them may be wanting by to morrow evening;1 and to prevent any scarcity, I intend to send off this day by land, what hard bread is here, & now coming from West point, the whole will be about a days allowance,2 with it will be forwarded pork for One day, so that the Troops will not have much trouble in Cooking this supply, I hope it will reach the Army to morrow afternoon at farthest.
To morrow (if Teams can be had) I purpose to send by land also, flour for another day, and Salted provisions, the most of which will likewise be pork.
There is besides the above, on hand in this Magazine, And on board Boats at the Landings here, flour for four or five days, and Salt Beef for about three days.3 But I think it improper, to direct the Boats to proceed downwards, before I receive Your Excellencys orders on this head, least the Stores should be exposed to a Stroke from the Enemy on the River.
We have now on hand in the pasture Sixty seven head of Cattle, which will remain there untill I receive Your Excellencys farther orders respecting them; And what flour is now on hand, or may arrive, will be kept on Board the Boats likewise, to proceed by Water if safe or landed and sent to the Army, by such rout as you please to Order.
I hope the measures I am about to pursue, will meet your approbation, should Your Excellency think any Alteration needfull, or have any farther commands for Me at present, The Bearer Mr Weed One of my Assistants will bring them safe.4 With the greatest respect I am Your Excellencys most Obedient Servant
Chas Stewart Commy Genl Issues
ALS, DLC:GW; ADf, MH: Stewart Papers. The dateline on the draft appears as “Haw[e]s Landing at Peeks Kill.” GW’s secretary Jonathan Trumbull, Jr., wrote “an[s]wered” on the docket of the LS.
1. GW had called for a four-day supply of provisions for a march that began on Monday, 2 July (see General Orders, 30 June and n.7; see also GW to Stewart, 1 July).
2. A “Return of Provisions and Stores on hand … for the preceeding Week at W. Point, Posts & Brigades in its Vicinity,” prepared on 1 July, showed twenty-three barrels of bread at West Point and none at Peekskill (DNA: RG 93, manuscript file no. 22068).
3. A return prepared on 1 July showed that the magazine at Peekskill contained 216 barrels of flour and 112 barrels of beef. Additionally, there were 42 barrels of pork, 9 barrels of salt, and 3 hogsheads of rum (see n.2 above).
4. Stewart wrote GW’s aide-de-camp Tench Tilghman from “Peeks Kill Hawes Landing” on 4 July: “I did my self the honor to write The General yesterday, and informed him that I had sent on a small supply of Bread pork & flour & that if Teams could be spared I would send by land this day another days supply of flour & the same kind. But Majr Darby coming up with Boats quite as soon as the Bread was got from West point, & Teams being very scarce, Majr Darby carys the pork & bread (intended to be sent by land) with him by Water, He will be at Tarry Town soon as possible when no doubt Col. Pickering will have Teams ready to carry the provisions to Camp exclusive of the pork & hard Bread[.] M. Darby carrys a Quantity of Flour & salt Beef to form a little Magazine at Tarry Town If there be any immediate Occasion for this bread & pork You will Order it sent for. But if plenty prevails I could wish it saved for the advanced Troops who have least time to Cook their food I expect to get all Under Way from hence & shall after settling some affairs at King’s ferry proceed to Tarry Town and to Camp.
“The Bullock Drove is now Equal to seven days supply and will move on to Morrow morning I hope by that time the stores will all be removed from hence” (MH: Stewart Papers; the docket reads “By Express”).