April 13, 1776

This notice, printed in Philadelphia’s newspapers by order of George Gray, David Rittenhouse, and Michael Hillegas, called for provisions “to supply the troops of this province.” The rations included different amounts of meats (beef, pork, and mutton), a pound of flour or bread per man per day, and other foodstuffs like beans and rice. Each man also needed a pint of milk and a quart of beer per day. In addition to food rations, the troops needed “Three pounds of candles for one hundred men per week” for the guards who would be keeping watch at night, as well as “Twenty-four pounds of soft or eight pounds of hard soap for one hundred men per week.” Gray, Rittenhouse, and Hillegas hoped that this advertisement would bring in proposals from merchants who would be able to keep up with the wartime demands.

The Pennsylvania Ledger: Or the Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, & New-Jersey Weekly Advertiser
Printed by James Humphreys, Jr.

⁂ All persons who are willing to supply the troops of this province, now raising, with the following rations, viz.—one pound of beef or three quarters of a pound of pork, or one pound of mutton per man per day—One pound of flower or bread per man per day—Three pints of peas or beans, at 6s. per bushel, per man per week, or vegetables equivalent thereto—Half a pint of rice or one pound of Indian meal per man per week—One pint of milk per man per day—One quart of small beer per man per day, or nine gallons of melasses for one hundred men per week—One gill of vinegar per man per week—Three pounds of candles for one hundred men per week for guards—Twenty-four pounds of soft or eight pounds of hard soap for one hundred men per week—are desired to bring or send their proposals on or before the 15th inst. to George Gray, David Rittenhouse and Michael Hillegas, appointed by the Assembly to contract with them.