The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. By Jared Sparks.

198 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS. [ET. 45.
enemy, whilst other parties were instantly detached
different ways to collect, if possible, as much provision
as would satisfy the present pressing wants of the soldiery. But will this answer? No, Sir; three or four
days of bad weather would prove our destruction.
What then is to become of the army this winter? And
if we are so often without provisions now, what is to
become of us in the spring, when our force will be
collected, with the aid perhaps of militia to take advantage of an early campaign, before the enemy can be
reinforced? These are considerations of great magnitude, meriting the closest attention; and they will, when
my own reputation is so intimately connected with the
event and to be affected by it, justify my saying, that
the present commissaries are by no means equal to the
execution of the office, or that the disaffection of the
people is past all belief. The misfortune, however, does
in my opinion proceed from both causes; and, though
I have been tender heretofore of giving any opinion,
or lodging complaints, as the change in that department
took place contrary to my judgment, and the consequences thereof were predicted; yet, finding that the
inactivity of the army, whether for want of provisions,
clothes, or other essentials, is charged to my account,
not only by the common vulgar but by those in power,
it is time to speak plain in exculpation of myself. With
truth, then, I can declare, that no man in my opinion
ever had his measures more impeded than I have, by
every department of the army.
Since the month of July we have had no assistance
from the quartermaster-general, and to want of assistance from this department the commissary-general
charges great part of his deficiency. To this I am to
add, that, notwithstanding it is a standing order,' and
often repeated, that the troops shall always have two