Letter from General Howe to the Earl of Dartmouth, enclosing copies of Returns and Estimates, with occasional Remarks

v4:160

By the return herewith enclosed , it appears that there are not provisions for the army, in store, to serve longer than the beginning of March, 1776.

Six months biscuit, for twenty thousand men, of a quality to keep twelve months, may prove of essential service in the course of the ensuing campaign, as the conveniences; for baking bread cannot be always had in this country; and if the biscuits be made of about six to the pound, they will pack the better.

It is requested that one-fifth part of the meat designed for the army may be beef.

An additional quantity of the small species, especially oat-meal, rice, suet, and vinegar, will be requisite for the use of the hospitals.

One-third of the whole to be packed up in small casks, which should not exceed one hundred pound gross, for the convenience of carrying two of them upon a horse.

W˙ HOWE.