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Notes on Debates, 13 June 1783

Notes on Debates

MS (LC: Madison Papers). For a description of the manuscript of Notes on Debates, see Papers of Madison description begins William T. Hutchinson, William M. E. Rachal, et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison (7 vols. to date; Chicago, 1962——). description ends , V, 231–34.

The mutinous memorial from the Sergeants was recd. & read.1 It excited much indignation & was sent to the Secretary at war.

1Although the manuscript of the memorial has not been found, its contents were summarized in a number of contemporary letters, including JM’s letter of 17 June to Randolph (q.v.). The noncommissioned officers of several companies of continental infantry and one company of artillery, stationed at the Philadelphia barracks and composed chiefly of recruits who had experienced no arduous service, voiced in threatening language a demand for their overdue pay before being furloughed in conformance with the resolution of Congress of 26 May (The Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States of America, from … September 10, 1783, to … March 4, 1783 [3 vols.; Washington, 1837], I, 9; Burnett, Letters description begins Edmund C. Burnett, ed., Letters of Members of the Continental Congress (8 vols.; Washington, 1921–36). description ends , VII, 189, n. 4; Varnum Lansing Collins, The Continental Congress at Princeton [Princeton, 1908], pp. 9–11).

Benjamin Lincoln, secretary at war, temporarily warded off the threatened mutiny by having Brigadier General Arthur St. Clair, commanding officer of the Pennsylvania troops, continental line, transfer most of those in Philadelphia to the barracks at Lancaster. Anticipating similar discontent among the soldiers commanded by Major General Anthony Wayne, who were daily expected to arrive in Philadelphia by ship from the southern army, Lincoln arranged for them to disembark at Wilmington and proceed directly to Lancaster for furloughing (Pa. Archives description begins Samuel Hazard et al., eds., Pennsylvania Archives (9 ser.; 138 vols.; Philadelphia and Harrisburg, 1852–1949). description ends , 1st ser., X, 55; William Henry Smith, The St. Clair Papers: The Life and Public Service of Arthur St. Clair [2 vols.; Cincinnati, 1882], I, 586, and n., 587, n. 2).

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