To James Madison from Francis Dade, [December?] 1790
From Francis Dade
[December 1790?]
Memorandum.
Colonel James Madison will be kind enuf to inquire of Colo Edward Carington if he has setled my Comutation with the Minister of War, & if he has not Colo. Madison will Oblige me Greatly in Assisting Colo. Carington to Settle it.
The Reason I find so much dificulty in setling my Comutation is. At the Close of the Campaign 1781. It was thought by several Sergeons of the Armey that I was going fast into a Dropsey. Genl. Greean who was of that Opinion two. Gave me A furlow, & Advised me to Return to Virginia. Accordingly I did. Some time After I got home I Observed A piece in One of the Northern Papers, directing all Officers Absent from camp, to Join their Respective Corps. immediately, considering that I came under that order, I wrote to Colo. George Baylor requesting A further indulgence, & At the same time informed him that if it Could not be granted, I should be glad if he would Receive that Letter as my Resignation And at the same time informed Colo Baylor I should wait his Answer. Not hearing from him, & finding myself something better, I set off to Join my Regiment and met Colo Baylor in South Carolina on his way in. Where I was informd by him that he had mistook the intent of my Letter & informed the Officers that I would wish to Resign, The Young Officers who wished for promotion peticioned for A Court of inquirey, which was granted by Colo Baylor. The Court Conseived it to be A Resignation. The determination of the Court was handed in to Genl. Green he being Acquainted with my situation disaproved of the Sentance & Ordered me to be reinstated which was neglected by Colo Baylor untill he met me, at which time he Wrote to Capt. Churchill-Jones & directed him to do it. And took me with him to Virginia where he kept me on duty as my Papers will shew, which I expect is in the Hands of Colo. Carington.
NB While Affairs was in the Above ⟨mentioned?⟩ State the last Muster Role was made & I was left Out.
Frans. Dade1
RC (DLC). Docketed by JM. Listed under date of 1790 in Index to the James Madison Papers. The editors have assigned the conjectural date on the basis of circumstantial evidence explained in n. 1.
1. Francis Dade (1757–1791), of Orange County, rose to the rank of captain in the Virginia Continental line. In 1782 he married Sarah Taliaferro, daughter of Lawrence Taliaferro. His petition seeking compensation for his military services was presented to the House on 30 July 1790, but Secretary Knox made no report on it before the First Congress adjourned in March 1791 (, pp. 183–84; DAR Patriot Index, p. 173; , XXVI [1918], 196; , 2d ser., VII [1927], 271; , III, 542; JM to Ambrose Madison, 2 Jan. 1791).