From George Washington to Colonel Charles Stewart, 29 July 1779
To Charles Stewart
Head Quarters West Point July 29th 1779
Sir
I am to desire you will exert yourself to lay up in the vicinity of this post (at New Windsor &ca) at least a fortnights supply of provision before hand for the whole Army to be constantly kept up exclusive of the quantity in store for the garrison1—I hope you will lose no time in making your arrangements to this purpose. I am Sir Yr Most Obet servt
Go: Washington
LS, in Richard Kidder Meade’s writing, MH: Stewart Papers; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. GW signed the cover of the LS, which also includes a message by GW’s aide-de-camp Alexander Hamilton that reads: “This to be opened by Mr. Fitch.”
John Fitch, deputy commissary general of issues for western Connecticut and eastern New York, wrote Stewart on this date with an estimate that 1,400 barrels of flour would be necessary to feed the army for two weeks (see 4:285).
1. GW had prescribed an allowance of at least thirty days’ provision for the garrison at West Point in the general orders for 23 July.