From George Washington to the Committee at Headquarters, 13 June 1780
To the Committee at Headquarters
Head Quarters Springfield June 13th 1780
Gentlemen
I have examined the system for the Quarter Masters department with as much attention as the time I have had for it, and the hurry of my situation would permit—It appears to me as good an one as we can adopt in the present posture of our affairs.1
I beg leave to observe that I conceive it indispensably necessary for the Committee at once to fix the Salaries of the different Offices finally. A reference will cause delay, perhaps considerable delay—and the advanced period of the season, and the exigency of the conjuncture will admit of none. The department should instantly be put in full activity and this cannot be the case unless those employed in it know on what terms they are to act.2
With the greatest deference I think the amendment proposed by the Committee page 22d will prove eventually injurious and against the interests of economy. To specify an ultimate will be to give it. The establishment will be an act of notoriety, and those who would otherwise have served for less when they once know that Congress have determined a particular sum will insist on that—If the limitation is ample the Public will then lose by it; if it is parsimonious proper persons will not be found to engage in the department, and the worst consequences must follow. The approbation of the Board of War being required will be a sufficient security for the discretion of the Quarter Master General.3 With perfect respect & esteem I have the honor to be Gentlemen yr Most Obet & hum. Servt
Go: Washington
P.S. I return herewith the copy of the system sent me by the committee.4
LS, in Richard Kidder Meade’s writing, DNA:PCC, item 152; Df, DLC:GW; copy, DNA:PCC, item 11; copy, DNA:PCC, item 39; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. The postscript does not appear on the copy in DNA:PCC, item 39.
1. GW comments in this letter on the committee’s draft plan for re-forming the department of the quartermaster general. Q.M. Gen. Nathanael Greene also submitted comments on the draft plan (see Greene to the Committee at Headquarters, 14 June, in , 6:15–17). Philip Schuyler subsequently departed Morristown for Philadelphia to present the committee’s plan to Congress (see Committee at Headquarters to Huntington, 16 June, in , 15:326–27). After receiving the plan on 17 June, Congress referred it to a committee of five on 19 June (see , 17:522, 528). On 15 July, Congress adopted a revised plan for the quartermaster general’s department (see , 17:615–35).
2. Neither GW nor Greene wanted the committee to ask Congress to fix the salaries of employees in the quartermaster’s department. Schuyler explained the committee’s position in part of his letter to Samuel Huntington, president of Congress, written on 17 June: “The Committee was perfectly In Sentiment with the General on the necessity of putting the Department In full activity without the least delay, and would have ventured on It without a referrence to Congress had they conceived themselves authorized to have determined on the pay to the Officers’” (, 15:338–39).
3. GW is referring to the committee’s intention to limit the salaries of deputy quartermasters.
4. The enclosed copy of the committee’s draft plan has not been identified.