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ST. CLAIR'S CAMPAIGN
139
found the lack of axes a serious handicap, there being but one ax to three workmen.[1] Yet these discouragements were not as disheartening as the continual dearth of provisions. This undermined discipline, perseverance, loyalty, and honor. Desertions became more alarmingly frequent, but men who were not fed could not work and would not march. As half-rations, and those exceedingly poor, became the necessary order of the day, the army slowly melted from under the discouraged St. Clair. Every night found the army smaller and yet more discouraged.[2] In vain St. Clair beseeched Hodgdon to hurry on provisions.[3] But the contractor's horses were
- ↑ St. Clair's Narrative, p. 210.
- ↑ The St. Clair Papers, pp. 254, 255.
- ↑ St. Clair wrote Hodgdon regarding supplies as follows: "Forty-five thousand rations of provisions should move with the army; . . twice in every ten days forty-five thousand rations should move from Fort Washington to the next post, until three hundred and sixty thousand rations were sent forward; . . forty-five thousand rations should again move with the army from the first post to a second, and an equal number twice in every ten days until the residue of the three hundred and sixty thousand were carried forward, and so on from post to post, still moving with forty-five thousand rations. They have failed entirely in enabling me
