To George Washington from Christopher Leffingwell, 11 February 1776
From Christopher Leffingwell
Norwich [Conn.] 11th Febry 1776
Sir
The above is Copy of Colo. McDougal’s Letter to the Commte of this Town1—The Sloop has ariv’d at N. London—Our River being Froze She Could Come No farther—and has Landed the Stores there—The Committee here having never Taken Charge of any Stores to forward (they being principally forwarded by me) desir’d I would undertake forwarding these—Should be Glad of your Excellencys Orders Where to have them delivered—& to Who—The Earlier I have those orders the Better have mentiond this Matter to Colo. Trumbull in My Letter to him—he will Accquaint your Excellency with the Expence that will probably Attend the Transportation & That I am Obligd to Advance the Carters about half before they Go from hence Shall be forwarding the Stores by way of Providence if orders were Left at Doctr Ames Tavern at Dedham where they Shall be Carried2—a few Load, which will Go forward Tomorrow—I will order the Carriers to Call there for instructions as Going to Cambridge or Roxbury from thence will Make but Little Difference in distance—but if they Go to Roxbury first & then have to Go to Cambridge it will Make a Material difference—Your Excellencys Instructions as above Shall be punctually obey’d by Your Excellencys Most Obedt Hble sert3
Christr Leffingwell
ALS, DLC:GW. The addressed cover is inscribed “Fav. Cap. Cochran” (see Leffingwell to GW, 17 Feb. 1776).
1. Alexander McDougall’s letter to the Norwich committee of correspondence, dated 4 Feb. 1776 at New York, reads: “By order of General Washington a Sloop was dispatcht yesterday—Jacob Proby Master with Shells & Shott for the Continental Army at Cambridge—upon the Arival of this Sloop—dispatch the Shells & Shott to the General without delay—and whenever the Accounts of the Expences are made up and Sent to him they will be paid.” In a postscript McDougall added: “The Capt. is to have £35 N.Y. Currency for the Voyage paid here on Rect from you” (DLC:GW). For GW’s orders regarding the artillery ammunition from New York, see McDougall to GW, 2, 20 Jan., and GW to McDougall, 13 Jan. 1776.
2. Nathaniel Ames (1741–1822) was a prominent physician in Dedham, Massachusetts.
3. Stephen Moylan replied to Leffingwell from Cambridge on 14 Feb. 1776: “I have it in Command from his Excellency . . . to tell you, that the half of each Sort of the Shells be immediately Sent to this place the other halfe to Roxbury—you will receive herewith £400 L[awful] M[one]y to pay the Cost of transportation &c. His Excelly returns you thanks for your attention & desires you will forward these Shells with all possible expedition” (DLC:GW).