Bureaucracy, Blockades, and Logistics: Challenges for the Hospital Department

Posted on July 12, 2026

Bureaucracy, Blockades, and Logistics: Challenges for the Hospital Department

250 years ago today, Dr. Jonathan Potts was beginning his time in the army medical department. Potts had a medical degree and several years of experience as a local physician, but no experience in military medicine. The newly appointed physician and surgeon for the Canadian Department was about to get an early lesson in the realities of caring for soldiers in the field.  

On July 12, 1776, Dr. John Morgan, chief physician of the Continental Army, wrote this letter. Potts had written to Morgan asking for medical supplies and more men to serve in the military hospital at Fort George. Morgan’s reply was not all that Potts had hoped. While Morgan had repeatedly asked both Congress and General Washington for instructions, he wrote, “As yet I have not received a single order or Instruction to supply you with Medicines, Surgeons, or Mates.” He was willing to help, but without official orders, he could not act. 

Morgan continued the letter with more bad news. “However desposed I am to send you further medicines,” he shared, “I cannot do it now by Water as two English Men of War are gone up the North [lower Hudson] River, & will intercept every vessel that attempts to pass to or from Albany.” Morgan was in New York City and directed his letter to Albany, where Northern Department commander Philip Schuyler kept his headquarters. The quickest way to travel or ship goods between those cities was via the Hudson River. With the Hudson blockaded by the British, getting medicine and men to northern New York would be much more difficult. 

Morgan closed his letter hopefully, promising, “In a Day or two I shall send a person to Congress expressly on this Bussiness. Wh[en I] have an answer, you shall again hear from [me].” Even with Morgan’s help, bureaucracy, blockades, and numerous other logistical problems would dog Potts throughout his time in the Northern Department. He would have to manage shortages of surgeons and supplies, using the resources he had to give the best care he could to thousands of sick American soldiers.  

Learn more about this letter (object ID MS.1962) on the Ticonderoga Online Collections database: https://fortticonderoga.catalogaccess.com/archives/29816