Sir: General McDougall's frequent Complaints of the mismanagement in your Department, that fall within his notice, have induced me to address this to you on the Subject. As consequences of the last importance, are involved in the fate of our Provisions, I hope that the following Extracts of his Letters, will immediately produce the desired and indispensably necessary reformation.

    Peeks Kill 27th April.

    The Ships being so near me, and the want of Meat, for many of the Troops for two days, prevent my moving on Conjecture. The former is the fault of those, who furnish Provisions, and who have been wrote to many days, to supply this Post. Some however is expected hourly.

    Peeks Kill 5th May.

    Before the receipt of your favour of the 1st. Instt., I directed the Deputy Commissary, to procure me without delay, a return of all the Provisions purchased on, and near the River, as well as what was Stored in the Neighbourhood; But I have not yet obtained it, nor do I expect it, before the Enemy moves up the River, if they come soon. There is such derangement in this Department, that before the destruction of the Stores at Danbury, I could not get three day's Provisions of Meat, in reserve, for the Army; And Fort Montgomery has not a Weeks provision of Meat before hand, for its present Garrison, notwithstanding I ordered Six Months to be laid in for 1,000 Men, before the Enemy came here. Onions, sent to Danbury, have laid there and perished, while the Troops here have been destitute of every kind of Vegetables, for the greatest part of the time since I took the Command. In short, I am morally certain, the necessary quantity of Provisions for the Army will not be got into Ulster County in the course of a Month, if in that time. Flour there will be plenty, if secured.

    By these you will discover, how necessary to the general good, your immediate attention, redressing these abuses, is, I am necessitated to insist that, if you cant possibly leave Philadelphia immediately, you take effectual Measures to have them removed without loss of time. This Army may probably move towards the North River soon, If that should be the Case, a Man of Abilities, Activity, and general Acquaintance with the Inhabitants and Country must be constantly attending us in the Character of a Commissary, otherwise we shall be reduced to great Inconvenience, and perhaps distress. You had better lookout for such an one immediately, that he may be making proper preparations. I am etc.⁹³

[Note:The text is from the Varick Transcripts in the Library of Congress. The letter sent, in the writing of George Johnston, is in the Connecticut State Library and varies from the transcript in capitalization only. ]