Camp at White plains [N.Y.] July 23rd 1778
Dr Sr
I red ye several letters—thank You for the news they contained and congratulate you on the very prosperous appearance of our affairs—There is to be at providence 5 thousand Troops which will occasn a great demand for flour—it will therefore be necessary to ship a quantity from Virginia—Apply to Congress for their directions in this matter—no time should be lost as the french fleet will protect our Vessels on their passage—& it would be necessary to have a Magazine of Flour in New England were there no immediate demand.1 In case of any expedition Eastward we should be distressed for Bread. I wish you to pay immediate attention to this matter—as soon as I can see this Army in a way to be fed, I will come to Philadelphia—I hope this will be soon as I have a plenty of fat Bullocks & they are falling in price. I am Sir [&c.]
Jereh. Wadsworth CGP
Copy, MdHi, Carroll Papers, vol. 6, p. 1 (493). Addressed at bottom: “Coll. E. Blaine DCGP–.” Notation: "Copy."
1. On 31 July Blaine submitted this letter to Congress, which appointed a three-man committee to consider it. JCC 11: 734. That committee reported on 24 August that the "transportation of flour to the eastern states by sea, is wise and necessary" and, as a result, Congress ordered: that 20,000 barrels of flour be obtained in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia; that Wadsworth procure vessels to carry that flour to New England; and that Wadsworth confer with the Continental Marine Committee, which would provide "convoy" for those vessels. JCC, 11: 831. On the day Congress issued this order, Wadsworth wrote the president of Congress to remind him, that owing to the scarcity of flour in New England, there was need of a congressional resolution authorizing the shipment of flour to New England from Virginia if the army was to be supplied. Jeremiah Wadsworth to Henry Laurens, 24 Aug. 1778, MdHi, Carroll Papers, vol. 6, p. 1. Despite Congress's order, however, the convoy was not assembled. On 14 September the Continental Marine Committee advised Wadsworth that the British controlled the seas between the Capes of Virginia and Boston and it would therefore be unwise to ship the flour by water. Continental Marine Committee to Jeremiah Wadsworth, 14 Sept. 1778, DNA, PCC, Marine Committee Letter Book, fol. 196 (M332, reel 6).
