To Governor George Clinton
Head Quarters, Valley Forge, February 16, 1778
Dear Sir: It is with great reluctance, I trouble you on a subject,
which does not fall within your province; but it is a subject that
occasions me more distress, than I have felt, since the commencement
of the war; and which loudly demands the most zealous exertions
of every person of weight and authority, who is interested in the
success of our affairs. I mean the present dreadful situation of
the army for want of provisions, and the miserable prospects before
us, with respect to futurity. It is more alarming than you will
probably conceive, for, to form a just idea, it were necessary to
be on the spot. For some days past, there has been little less,
than a famine in camp. A part of the army has been a week, without
any kind of flesh, and the rest for three or four days. Naked and
starving as they are, we cannot enough admire the incomparable patience
and fidelity of the soldiery, that they have not been ere this excited
by their sufferings, to a general mutiny or dispersion. Strong symptoms,
however, discontent have appeared in particular instances; and nothing
but the most acitive efforts every where can long avert so shocking
a catastrophe.
Our present sufferings are not all. There is no foundation laid
for any adequate relief hereafter. All the magazines provided in
the States of New Jersey, Pensylvania, Delaware and Maryland, and
all the immediate additional supplies they seem capable of affording,
will not be sufficient to support the army more than a month longer,
if so long. Very little has been done to the Eastward, and as little
to the Southward; and whatever we have a right to expect from those
quarters, must necessarily be very remote; and is indeed more precarious,
than could be wished. When the forementioned supplies are exhausted,
what a terrible crisis must ensue, unless all the energy of the
Continent is exerted to provide a timely remedy?
Impressed with this idea, I am, on my part, putting every engine
to work, that I can possibly think of, to prevent the fatal consequences,
we have so great a reason to apprehend. I am calling upon all those,
whose stations and influence enable them to contribute their aid
upons so important an occasion; and from your well known zeal, I
expect every thing within the compass of your power, and that the
abilities and resources of the state over which you preside, will
admit. I am sensible of the disadvantages it labours under, from
having been so long the scene of war, and that it must be exceedingly
drained by the great demands to which it has been subject. But,
tho' you may not be able to contribute materially to our relief,
you can perhaps do something towards it; and any assistance, however
trifling in itself, will be of great moment at so critical a juncture,
and will conduce to keeping the army together till the Commissary's
department can be put upon a better footing, and effectual measures
concerted to secure a permanent and competent supply. What methods
you can take, you will be the best judge of; but, if you can devise
any means to procure a quantity of cattle, or other kind of flesh,
for the use of this army, to be at camp in the course of a month,
you will render a most essential service to the common cause. I
have the honor etc. |
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