1. The troops at Morristown had endured provision shortages and severely reduced rations for months (see Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., to GW, 10 March [first letter]; Nathanael Greene to GW, 2 April; and Ephraim Blaine to GW, 10 April).

2. Congress had requisitioned 2,240 hundredweight of beef from Rhode Island for the coming campaign (see Samuel Huntington to GW, 29 Feb., n.2; see also Circular to the States, 26 March). For the state legislature’s recent actions to meet provision quotas, see Bartlett, R.I. Records description begins John Russell Bartlett, ed. Records of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in New England. 10 vols. Providence, 1856–65. description ends , 9:45–46.

3. GW replied to Southwick from Morristown on 28 May: “I have recd your favr of the 17th—You have been very truly informed as to the extremity to which this Army has been reduced for want of Meat—they are now upon half and sometimes have been upon quarter allowance—The Quantity of salt Beef in your hands would be a most seasonable supply if it could be got here, but such is the difficulty of transportation, that I fear, if it was to be removed from providence, it would be left at a variety of places along the Road, and perhaps none of it reach us in time to give releif. I would therefore, under present circumstances and appearances, wish you to have the whole repacked—and kept in good order for removal at the shortest notice—I flatter myself we have prospects of bringing it by Water to the Army without danger” (Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW). GW alluded to the expected French naval squadron.

Southwick again wrote GW from Providence on 13 June: “I have receiv’d your Excellency’s Favor of the 28th ulto. A very few Days after I wrote your Excellency respecting the Provision in my Possession, Two Vessels arrived here from Connecticut, sent by Peter Colt, Esqr., with Orders to the Purchasing Commissary here to get in a Quantity of Beef from Westborough, in the State of Massachusetts Bay, 34 Miles from hence: But the Season of the Year not permitting it’s being brought forward timely, and Mr Colt’s Orders being very pressing for a Supply for the main Army; I told the purchasing Commissary, Captn Asa Waterman, if he wou’d give me something under his Hand, setting forth the Necessity of the Case, &c., I wou’d ship 3 or 400 Barrels of Beef; and if it shou’d be wanted here, he shou’d get in some from Westborough for me, which he agreed to; and I accordingly shipp’d 350 Barrels & Tierces of Beef, and also Eight Casks of Codfish (as we had a larger Quantity of that Article on Hand, than we were likely to want very soon) to be deliver’d at Fairfield, Derby, or Hartford, according to the Appearances of Danger up the Sound, agreeable to Mr Colt’s Directions to the Purchasing Commissary. I consulted Two or Three of the Council of War for this State on the Propriety of my shipping Articles, who were fully of Opinion the Step was highly expedient and necessary, and which, as I acted purely for the Good of the Army, I hope will meet with your Excellency’s Approbation. I think there is not the least Doubt but the Vessels have arrived safe at some Western Part of Connecticut before this Time” (LS, DLC:GW). GW’s aide-de-camp Tench Tilghman wrote on the docket: “no answer necessary.”