1. See Hay to GW, 12 and 23 November.

2. GW wrote Ephraim Blaine, commissary general of purchases, from headquarters on 23 Nov.: “I enclose you an extract of a letter which I have received from Col. Hay—the case of Major Hale appears peculiar, and as far as public considerations will permit, to merit particular attention. I can however do nothing but refer him to you. I doubt not you will do every thing in your power to render him justice” (Df, in Alexander Hamilton’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW; the extract from Hay’s letter to GW dated 12 Nov. has not been found).

Daniel Hale wrote Samuel Huntington, president of Congress, from Philadelphia on 14 Feb. 1781 seeking “money of the New Emission” on a warrant given him to cover the cost of rum seized from him in an irregular manner. To facilitate congressional action, Hale was willing “to relinquish all depreciation and Interest which would Increase [his] Just demand near one hundred per Cent” (DNA:PCC, item 78; see also JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 18:1129). Congress read Hale’s letter on 15 Feb. and referred it to the Board of Treasury (JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 19:148). The docket of Hale’s letter to Huntington indicates that a report was issued on 17 Feb., and that the warrant that Hale inclosed was returned to him on 19 February.

When Reyer Schermerhorn wrote Congress from Philadelphia on 5 Dec. 1782 to obtain settlement for rum that Hay had taken from him, he claimed that Hale “and several others who had rum seized by Colonel Hay at the same time have received full payment by orders on the Treasury at Boston” (DNA:PCC, item 41; see also JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 23:783, 791, 819).

3. See GW to George Clinton, this date.

4. Hay wrote Maj. Gen. William Heath from Poughkeepsie, N.Y., on 3 Dec.: “His Excellency the Governour [Clinton] has determind to pay a visit to the General as soon as he arrives, I shall do myself the honour to accompany him if possible, as his principal business will be on the subject of supplies, and wish therefore I could gett the earliest information of his arrival; nothing in the mean time within my power shall be neglected.” Hay concluded: “I shall use every endeavour to pay proper attention to every post and part of the Army, where supplies depend upon me, and hope in case of neglect it will be admitted as some mitigation of the event that I am yett only a novice in the business which accident has lately committed to my charge” (MHi: Heath Papers).

Heath replied to Hay from headquarters at West Point on 5 Dec. that GW “has not yet arrived at New Windsor.” He informed Hay that “here yesterday the troops received ¾ of a Pound of Bread only this day but ½ a pound, we have none for to morrow unless Some arrives before morning so that our Thanksgiving will be a Fast, If you have any at Command, pray let it be forwarded instantly, and if it be possibl⟨e⟩ let us have regular Supplies, It is also absolute⟨ly⟩ necessary that a large Quantity of Barreled Beef Should be Sent down the moment it is ready. … The Officers Guard is ordered to poughkeepsie” (MHi: Heath Papers). Congress had designated 7 Dec. “as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer” (JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 18:950–51).

Hay also wrote Heath from Poughkeepsie on 4 Dec.: “By the best Information I can obtain, there is still a probability that a large quantity both of Hay & Grain may be obtain’d if the Purchasers can be supported at such Periods as shall appear proper for the purpose by a Body of three or four Hundred Men; I need not mention to you, Sir, the advantages that will arise to the Army by collecting as much of both those Articles as possible, but particularly the former, which rely on it is not to be procured otherwise within this State, but in a Very Small proportion to what wou’d be adequate to a proper Supply. … P.S. Pray send the Butchers I wrote about Yesterday those I have hired here, finding, or at least thinking I cannot do without them, have threatned to leave me” (MHi: Heath Papers).

Heath replied to Hay from West Point on 7 Dec.: “Colo. Hazen will Send you Two Butchers tomorrow, Two or three more shall be Sent from the Garrison if we can find so many.

“dependance must not be placed on any forage that can be obtained from below the Lines, it is a matter of much uncertainty. …

“we are in a most distressed condition on account of the want of Bread, pray let me know what your expectations are and how far we may Safely depend on your State for Supplies” (MHi: Heath Papers).