On This Day: Washington has no answers for monies needed to fund the war as Congress delays

The following is an installment of “On This Day,” a series celebrating America’s 250th anniversary by following the actions of Gen. George Washington, the Continental Congress, and the men and women whose bravery and sacrifice led up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Feb. 3, 1776

In his daily General Orders, Gen. George Washington emphasizes control over arms: “Officers who have purchased weapons are ordered to deliver them first to the commissary for inspection, ensuring that only serviceable arms reach the ranks.”

Robert Carter Nicholas, the treasurer of Virginia, writes to Washington about the dire funding for this effort. Nicholas’s name has been obscured by the passage of time, but he was very influential in pre-revolutionary Virginia.

Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, and Washington all

Continue reading