Docketed by James Clinton the verso: "Letter from Genl. Washington 5 Oct 1776, Montgomery and Conner supplying the Enemy." The letter is in the handwriting of Washington's aide-de-camp, Samuel Blachley Webb Washington writes to General Clinton, who was stationed at Fort Montgomery, concerning Clinton's earlier report of the apprehension of men named Conner and Montgomery who were caught with a large quantity of butter thought to have been destined for the British lines. Because the prisoners claimed the butter was intended for the American army, Washington writes: "I would therefore advise its being immediately sent to Colo. Trumbull Commissary General who will pay the current price, this step cannot but be agreeable to Mr. Conner if he is innocent of the Charge...." He also discusses a similarly suspicious supply of flour. In response to Clinton's request for more entrenching tools, Washington writes: "much time elapses in sending them from here, besides we have not more than are wanted for present use." Published (from letterbook copy) in The Papers of George Washington, Rev. War series, 6:471-472. See also Clinton's letter to Washington, October 1, 1776, in same volume (6:446-448) Gift of George Miller Chester, Jr. (Society of the Cincinnati in the State of Connecticut) in honor of his great-great-great-great-great granduncle, Colonel Mordecai Sheftall, Deputy Commissary General, Georgia Continental Line, the most senior Jewish officer in the American Continental Army, and his son, Lt. Sheftall Sheftall, Assistant Deputy Commissary General, Georgia Continental Line (both of whom are eventually captured, imprisoned and mistreated for many months on British prison ship, Nancy). [Part of the George Miller Chester, Jr. (CT SOC) Collection of Historic General Washington Documents].