Washington's Coat

An article in the Federal Gazette on January 7, 1789, suggested that elected officials should support American manufacturers.  Washington took this to heart and decided to wear an American made waistcoat to the inauguration.  He had a bit of trouble getting the material from the Hartford Woolen Manufacturing Company in Connecticut so he had to resort to enlisting the help of Henry Knox to help him secure it.  After he managed to successfully drag the cannons of Fort Ticonderoga to Boston in the midst of the winter of 1776, Knox’s logistical abilities were easily the best in the country.  A courier was sent with the fabric which arrived in Mount Vernon about a week before Washington had to depart.  Cavan Boa, Washington’s indentured servant, was enlisted to tailor the 'Congress Brown' wool suit that Washington wore.  However, Washington decided that he needed 6 more engraved buttons to complete the look and wrote Henry Knox a letter asking him to get some more so that they could be added when he got to New York.