an has given
orders to the Division on the left to bring their Chests first, and
we propose going through the whole Army in the order in which they
lay.... The best method I can think of is to act immediately about
preparing new Chests upon the Northern Plan at some convenient
place for all such Battallions as did not get chests from Dr.
Craigie [in the] last campaign. When these new parcels are ready,
let us call all the large chests into the Stores ... which are too
compleat & capacious for Field Service, & in lieu of them give out
our smaller ones. By this exchange, the Genl. Hospital will be
well supplied with standing Chests & acquire a great variety of
useful articles which are not essential in Camp.

Apothecary Cutting was concerned, however, over supplies and

... very apprehensive that the several Hospitals in this vicinity
will render a further reinforcement necessary before we shall be
able to compleat the whole.... To give only a few of the Capitals
to each will be a work of Time, & a much more intensive piece of
business than I at first imagined.

Meanwhile, Potts had sent Apothecary Craigie to Baltimore to obtain a
fresh stock of drugs, and probably to prevent further friction between
Craigie and Cutting. This feud started early in 1777 when Apothecary
Cutting, serving with Shippen in Philadelphia, was named, over his
preceptor Craigie, to head the newly organized "Apothecary department"
of the army.[136] On March 27 Craigie wrote from Annapolis advising
Potts that he had been in Baltimore

... not long since and waited on Messrs. Lux & Bowly. The medicines
were not come to hand but were expected.... I have engaged the
whole invoice which contains several important medicines not
mentioned in your list. I think the prices are full high, tho'
somewhat less than Dr. Shippen affixed, and it was not in my power
to procure them at a cheaper rate. They were offered L20 per lb.
for all the Cantharides and much higher price for the Bark. They
are not yet arrived from some place in Virginia where they were
first landed. I shall examine them immediately on their arrival,
and if good forward them on to Manheim, if they prove not good
shall reject them, as the engagement is conditional.[137]

Then on April 4, Craigie wrote from Chester Town:[138]

I this day received a letter