Letterbook Copy

Lost convoy and military defeats in Europe

Forwards requested money to the Quartermast General. Mentions loss of a convoy laden with whiskey. In Europe reports on retreat at Dunkirk by British and Germans with disgrace; grand combined armies forced over the Rhine with losses of ordnance.

1793

11

22

Philadelphia

James O'Hara

Samuel Hodgdon

Germans

British

Philadelphia

Dunkirk

Rhine River

Germany

Britain

Europe

drafts

money

whiskey

waggons

1793112228001

1

1

to say any thing to the Contractors about Transport

Col O'Hara Phil^a 22^nd November 1793

Sir

I have now the pleasure to inform you that on application I have received the 10,000 Dollars you requested and on monday next they will go forward in charge of an officer who has also with him a large sum for the pay of the Army.

The bills you advis'd me you had drawn have generally been presented I paid others of which I had no notice have also met due honor The remainder of your requestion is under consideration, & altho' it is as excess on the years appropriation for your Department I doubt not will you in which case I shall as you direct hold it subject to yourself. I shall keep you advised of every essential particular that [undecipherable] you or your Department. We have a fully well authenticated account of your losing a Convoy. we hope Victory will compensate the loss. The story says you have lost a guard of 70 men & 22 waggons laden with [undecipherable] and whiskey. Accounts from France place the affairs in a flattering situation. The British + German auxiliaries have been oblig'd to retreat from before dunkirk with disgrace + great loss + to day by a late arrival we are told that the grand Combined armies have been forced Over the Rhine leaving 180 pieces of Ordnance [undecipherable] them, the particulars I will endeavor to send you in my next

I'am Sir yours
Sam^l Hodgdon