As spring advanced and roads became more passable, the new Continental
levies finally began to come in. “The thin trickle became a rivulet,
then a clear stream, though never a flood.” By May 20, Washington had in
New Jersey 38 regiments with a total of 8,188 men. Five additional
regiments were listed, but showed no returns at that time. Moreover,
this new army was on a fairly substantial footing, the enlistments being
either for 3 years, or for the duration of the war. There was also an
abundance of arms and ammunition, including 1,000 barrels of powder,
11,000 gunflints, and 22,000 muskets sent over from France. “From the
present information,” wrote Maj. Gen. Henry Knox to his wife, “it
appears that America will have much more reason to hope for a successful
campaign the ensuing summer than she had the last.”
Now, with the prospects thus brightening, there might be something of a
brief social season to relieve the strain of hard work. Martha
Washington had arrived at headquarters on March 15, and other American
officers looked forward to being joined by their wives. An intimate word
picture of the Commander in Chief in his lighter moods was drawn by one
such camp visitor, Mrs. Martha Daingerfield Bland, in a letter written
to her sister-in-law from Morristown on May 12: “Now let me speak of
_our_ Noble & Agreeable Commander (for he Commands both sexes....) We
visit them [the Washingtons] twice or three times a week by particular
invitation—Ev’ry day frequently from Inclination, he is Generally busy
in the fore noon—but from dinner til night he is free for all Company
his Worthy Lady seemes to be in perfect felicity while she is by the
side of her _old Man_ as she Calls him, We often make partys on Horse
backe the Genl his Lady, Miss Livingstons & his aid de Camps ... at
Which time General Washington throws of[f] the Hero—& takes up the
chatty agreeable Companion—he can be down right impudent some times—such
impudence, Fanny, as you & I like....”