Draft of a letter signed : "War Office" [Philadelphia], to Thomas Wharton, 1777 Dec. 30.

Reporting on the "unexpected & distressing Accounts from the General relative to the Situation of the Army that they have appointed a Committee to fall upon immediate Methods for Supplying them with Provisions. They are so much in Want of an instant Supply owing to Delays & Embarassments in the Commissary's Department & other unexpected Causes that however plenty we shall have them in future, at present at least a Removal out of this State must be the immediate Consequence of even a short Continuance of their present Circumstances. An instant Supply must be procured from this State for the Support of the Army until the Supplies expected from the neighbouring States arrive. As it may give Umbrage to the Inhabitants the Comittee deplore the Necessity they are under of sending Officers with Parties to collect such Cattle, Flour & Grain as the Army wants without the least Delay as the Crisis is too alarming to admit of the Business being postponed on any Consideration. It will be improper to communicate the real Situation of the Army but with the Utmost Prudence & Caution;" asking that he "give Orders for the taking, conveying & driving all Cattle, hogs, Pork, Four & grain fit for their Consumption to the Army....giving Certificates to the Owners expressing as nearly as possible the Weight & Quality of them & agreeing to pay for them at such Prices as shell be settled by the Convention of Comittees from the several States...;" asking in a postscript whether a Proclamation "ordering the Inhabitants of York & Cumberland Counties to thresh out their Grain has been issued.".