At Valley Forge he complained to Congress of the mortifications they (even the general officers) must suffer, when they cannot invite a French officer, a visiting friend, or a traveling acquaintance, to a better repast than stinking whiskey (and not always that) and a bit of beef without vegetables.
In the New York State Library at Albany is a statement in Washington's handwriting of his household expenses for three months at the beginning of his first term as President, from May 24 to August 24, 1789; the total expense for that time was £741 and 9 shillings, of which the following items were for liquor:
| Pounds | Shillings | Pence | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madeira | 43 | 18 | |
| Claret | 21 | 11 | |
| Champaign | 18 | ||
| Van de Graves | |||
| Cherry | 2 | 5 | |
| Arack | 2 | 16 | |
| Spirits | 12 | ||
| Brandy | 6 | 6 | |
| Cordials | 5 | 6 | |
| Porter | 16 | 8 | |
| Beer | 34 | 14 | 6 |
| Cider | 4 | 10 |
In the same library is a memorandum of Washington's opinion of his general officers, prepared in the winter of 1791-2. From this it seems that he considered the drinking habit of his subordinates, even at that time, in appointing a successor to General Arthur St. Clair, who had just then been defeated by the Indians:
"Majr General (By Brevet) Wayne.
"More active and enterprising than judicious no economist it is feared—open to flattery—vain—easily imposed upon and liable to be drawn into scrapes. Too indulgent [the effect perhaps of some of the causes just mentioned] to his officers and men. Whether sober—or a little addicted to the bottle, I know not.
"Majr General (By Brevet) Weedon.
"Not supposed to be an officer of much resource, though not deficient of a competent share of understanding—rather addicted to ease and pleasure, and no enemy it is said to the bottle—never has had his name brot forward on this account.
"Major General (By Brevet) Hand.
"A sensible and judicious man, his integrity unimpeached, and was esteemed a pretty good officer. But if I recollect rightly not a very active one. He has never been charged with intemperance to my knowledge. His name has rarely been mentioned under the present difficulty of choosing an officer to command, but this may, in a great measure be owing to his being at a distance.