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GREENE, NATHANIEL

18. NATHANIEL GREENE His endorsement "From Thos. Durie, 31st. Jany. 1780" on the docket of a fine content A.L.S. of THOMAS DURIE (? -?) Assistant Commissary General, 2pp., legal folio, Westfield, Jan. 31, 1780 to Nathaniel Greene. Durie reports the latest news from the front and writes in part: "I just now arrived here from New Ark & Elizabeth Town... The quantities of Hay belonging to the public in the district under Mr. Banks does not exceed Twenty six Tonns [sic] Six of which is deposited in one Barrack near the mountain meeting house, and the remainder at different farms - the former have order'd to be removed first - I cannot think that the public Forage would[?] draw the enemys attention so much as the private[?] ... There is a great deal of hay in New Ark & the vicinity thereof which I think ought to be procured , if possible for the Army - But I am of the want of money... one Brigade load of Hay sent of to Morris Town, and expect that two more will start to morrow morning... between 30 & 40 of the Enemy came over last evening to Rahway piloted by a Cornelius Hatfield, and took off about then of the inhabitants, with a number of Horses & 6 or 9 Yolk of Oxen ... I cannot learn of any of the damage they have done..." The main army, encamped in Morristown, was enduring the worst winter of the 18th century. That, combined with high inflation and a general lack of funds made it exceedingly difficult for commissaries and quartermaster to procure any supplies from the countryside, especially when the British could offer specie for their supplies. The raid on Rahway was one of many incidients which plagued this region which formed a virtual no-man's land between Loyalist New York and the rebels from 1776 to the end of the war. Margins heavily worn and chipped resulting in the loss of several words, folds weak and split in places, overall good condition.$1,000-1,500

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