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Subject Area: War and Peace
Topic: The American Revolution and Constitution

TO THE SUPERINTENDENT OF FINANCE. - George Washington, The Writings of George Washington, vol. IX (1780-1782) [1891]

Edition used:

The Writings of George Washington, collected and edited by Worthington Chauncey Ford (New York and London: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1890). Vol. IX (1780-1782).

Part of: The Writings of George Washington, 14 vols.

About Liberty Fund:

Liberty Fund, Inc. is a private, educational foundation established to encourage the study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals.


TO THE SUPERINTENDENT OF FINANCE.

Dear Sir,

I have in confidence imparted to you the alteration of our late plan, and made you acquainted with our intended operations. Besides the provisions necessary at the Head of Elk to carry the troops down the bay, a very considerable quantity will be wanted in Virginia. I should suppose three hundred barrels of flour, as many of salt meat, and eight or ten hogsheads of rum would be sufficient at Elk. For what will be consumed in Virginia, I imagine the order must be general, as we can neither ascertain the number of men, which will be drawn together, or the time they will be employed.

I have written to the Count de Grasse, and have requested him to send up his light vessels of every kind to Elk; but I would nevertheless wish to have all that may be at Baltimore and the upper parts of the bay secured. I shall therefore be obliged to you to take measures at a proper time for that purpose. When that time will be, and when you shall give orders for the deposit at Elk, I will hereafter inform you. I shall direct the quartermaster in due season to take up all the small craft in Delaware for the purpose of transporting the troops from Trenton to Christeen. Should he have occasion, for advice or assistance from you upon this occasion, I must request you to give him both. I am confident it will be necessary to give the American troops, destined for southern services, one month’s pay in specie. This will amount to about NA dollars. If it will be possible for you to procure this sum, you will infinitely oblige me and will much benefit the service. I shall also stand in need of a sum of specie for secret services, I suppose about five hundred guineas. I am, dear Sir, &c.1

[1 ]To this request for money Mr. Morris made a very discouraging reply, stating that he had none, but would make every possible exertion. See his answer in the Diplomatic Correspondence, vol. xi., p. 431.

On the 17th Washington mapped out the following line of march for the French army:

  • Sunday, 19th, to North Castle, 14 miles
  • Monday, 20th, to King’s Ferry, 18 miles
  • Allowing for the common chances of winds and weather it may take till
  • Thursday, 22d, to cross the North River
  • Friday, 23d, to Suffrans, 16 miles
  • Saturday, 24th, to Pumpton Meet’g H’se, 14 miles
  • Sunday, 25th, to Whippany, 15
  • Monday, 26th, to Bullion’s Tavern, 15
  • Tuesday, 27th, to Somerset Court House, 14
  • Wednesday, 28th, to Princeton, 14
  • Thursday, 29th, to Trenton, 12.