Major General William Heath to George Washington, 4 July 1781
From Major General William Heath
Roxbury [Mass.] July 4th 1781
Dear General
I have now the honor to enclose your Excellency, coppy of the proceedings of the Convention, who met at Providence the 26th ulto,1 The mode adopted for forwarding the Supplies of Fresh Beef during the Campaign, I hope is reduced to a System which will be effectual in its operation, and such as will meet your approbation, The States are takeing measures to ensure a Seasonable purchase of the Beef, It appearing to the Convention that the quantity of Fresh Beef required of the State of New Hampshire, was greater than there was a probability of their furnishing, a transfer of a part of the quantity to Massachusetts was made by mutual Consent, The State of Rhode Island had previous to the meeting of the Convention, ordered 30,000 wt of fresh Beef to be forwarded for the month of July, which added to the quantity affixed to that State on the inclosed, will make their Quota 60,000 wt and the whole 600,000 for the month of July.2 I have been labouring to Obtain the necessary Supply of Rum, This is not yet so fully ensured as I wish, but is to Day, in a more promising way than heretofore, the delay has been occasioned by the fluctuateing State of the Currency, which has been a bar to the Obtaining the Rum either by purchase, or on loan, in this State, a Resolution of the General Assembly which passed the Day before yesterday, will I believe remove the difficulty, and put it in the power of the Agent to procure a Considerable quantity immediately,3 about Twenty Hhds of very good Grenada Rum of high proof, is now going on, it will go to Clavarack, as this Rum is of a better quality than what has, or will probably go on, I beg leave to Submit to your Excellency the directing the Commissary General to make a distribution of it to the differant parts of the army, otherwise as it will go to Clavarack, and the northern Troops by a Letter I have lately received from Mr Commissary Gamble, are in great want of Rum, the greater part of the above mentioned without Some particular direction, will probably be4 turned to Albany.5
The State agent informed me the last Evening, that the State have about Fifty Pipes of Teneriffe wine of a good quality, it was to have been Sold at vendue, it appears it will fetch but a trifle more than American Rum, The Agent is of Opinion that this Wine will not only be agreable, but beneficial to the army, especially to the Officers, and to the Hospitals, the State will be happy to forward it as Rum, the price to the publick will be but a trifle more than American Rum, and much Cheaper than West India Rum, I do not chuse to determine the matter myself, altho of an Opinion that it will be agreable to the army, render the Supply of Rum more ample, and in the approaching Season contribute to health, The Agent has concluded not to Sell it untill your pleasure is known, and will obtain a resolve of the Assembly before they rise, that in case your Excellency should think proper to have it sent on, it may be done immediately, I request your Excellency would give it a consideration, and if you approve of its being sent on, Signify it to Governor Hancock as Soon as may be convenient, as I shall probably leave this before your answer can be received, The Wine is sold at vendue at about three Shillings and 4d. pr Gallon, in Specie, its quality admits of its being exposed to any kind of weather without danger of receiving injury.6
A vessel arrived a few Days Since from Spain, has brought a Quantity of Cloathing for the United States,7 The mortars, Cannon, Military Stores &c. are all gone on, Colo. Crane followed them yesterday.8 I have the honor to be with the greatest respect your Excellencys most Obedient Servant
W. Heath
ALS, DLC:GW; ADfS, MHi: Heath Papers. GW’s aide-de-camp Tench Tilghman docketed the ALS: “Ansd by letter to Govr Hancock of the 14th July” (see GW to John Hancock, 14 July, M-Ar).
1. Heath enclosed proceedings from “a meeting of Commissioners from the New England States convened at Providence the 26th Day of June 1781 to agree on Some regular method of sending on supplies of Beef to the army during the present year.” Massachusetts sent two commissioners, while New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Connecticut sent one each. The commissioners resolved unanimously “that the most Strenuous exertions ought to be made” by their states “to furnish the necessary Supplies for the Army and that as Heaven has furnished us with the means, we shall be Guilty of unpardonable negligence, if we Omitt a punctual Complyance of our Duty.” Enjoining compliance from all states to avoid “the most fatal consequences to ourselves and posterity, by a continuance or increase of the miseries and distresses of war,” they also felt “a punctual Compliance” gave “great reason to believe Under the Smiles of Heaven, will have the most happy tendency of restoring to us the blessings of Peace.”
Following these preliminaries, the commissioners assigned “quantities of Fresh Beef (exclusive of Hides and Tallow)” for each state to supply in July: Massachusetts, 240,000 pounds; Connecticut, 210,000 pounds; New Hampshire, 90,000 pounds; and Rhode Island, 30,000 pounds. They then designated monthly deliveries for fresh beef from August through December and the dates for delivery in each month: Massachusetts, 120,000 pounds on the 1st and 19th; Connecticut, 105,000 pounds on the 6th and 13th; New Hampshire, 45,000 pounds on the 11th and 25th; and Rhode Island, 60,000 pounds on the 27th.
The proceedings concluded: “And it is further agreed, that the aforesaid States be requested to forward to the Army the Salt Provisions asked for, and the necessary Supplies of Rum and Summer Cloathing as fast as may be” (DLC:GW; see also Heath to GW, 7 June, and n.2 to that document).
2. See Heath to GW, 24 June, n.4.
3. Heath probably refers to a resolution that passed the Massachusetts legislature on 2 July that paid interest to individuals who lent the state government “specific articles” (, p. 684; see also Heath to GW, 18 June, n.11). For Heath’s efforts to procure rum, see his letter to GW, 24 June, n.10.
4. Heath wrote “be” on his draft but “to” on the ALS.
5. James Gamble, deputy commissary general of issues, had written Heath from Granville, Mass., on 17 June: “The distressed situation of the Troops in the Northn Department for the Essential Articles, Beef and Rum, the former they are destitute of, On Account that our issues are much greater than estimated, the latter they have had none for some time, hath occasioned my Journey to this place.” Gamble reported having met Oliver Phelps, superintendent of purchases in Massachusetts, about plans for supplying the northern department from that state. Gamble added that “our numbers are conciderabely augmented, and will at present require double the quantity—Coll Stewart hath laid the affair before his Excellency Genl Washington, who hath agreed that one Sixth part of the supplies should be ordered, to the Northn Department, make no doubt you have been notified of the Alteration, Colls Hazens and Van Scaits Regts are with us, together with New Levies comeing in daily—Four Regts are now raising Two for nine Months and Two for three Years, chiefly intended for the Frontiers—and are now embodying—likewise a party of Indians near Three Hundred that draw the principal part of their Supplies from us, those are my motives for applying to Mr Phelps for an additional supply equal to our consumption, and as the Troops are constantly employed building Forts on the Hudsons and Mohawk Rivers, and large parties out constantly Scouting will require a large supply of Rum, I hope my conduct may meet your approbation and that you will please to write Mr Phelps on the Subject. … P.S. Mr. Phelps is Just now sending off an Express to have the supplies hurryed on” (MHi: Heath Papers).
6. GW encouraged purchase of the wine (see his letter to Hancock, 14 July, M-Ar).
7. The vessel came from Cadiz, Spain (see Heath to GW, 29 May, n.8). The Independent Ledger, and the American Advertiser (Boston) for 2 July printed an item about a ship from Cadiz arriving at Boston on 30 June “after a passage of 48 days.”
8. See GW to John Hancock, 2 June, and to the Eastern Department Navy Board, 15 June.