1. The word “army” rather than “service” is used in the resolution as printed in JHDV description begins (1828 ed.). Journal of the House of Delegates of Virginia, Anno Domini, 1776 (Richmond, 1828). description ends , May 1783, p. 86. For Captain Alexander Parker, 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, 63; 64, n. 6; Fitzpatrick, Writings of Washington description begins John C. Fitzpatrick, ed., The Writings of George Washington, from the Original Sources, 1745–1799 (39 vols.; Washington, 1931–44). description ends , XXXI, 79; Pay Rolls of Militia Entitled to Land Bounties under the Act of Congress of Sept. 28, 1850 (Richmond, 1851), p. 379; National Intelligencer (Washington), 4 Sept. 1821.

On 23 June Governor Harrison and the Council of State, in response to Parker’s plea on behalf of his command of forty-six soldiers who had marched from Georgia, directed “the Quarter Master” to issue a pair of shoes and some flour to each of the men (JCSV description begins H. R. McIlwaine et al., eds., Journals of the Council of the State of Virginia (4 vols. to date; Richmond, 1931——). description ends , III, 272–73; Pendleton to JM, 26 May, n. 11). On 24 June 1783, having heard that Parker’s was only the first contingent of three hundred Virginia troops coming to Richmond from the southern army, Harrison directed Jacquelin Ambler, the treasurer, to “avert the worst of Consequences” by reserving from the commutables received for taxes enough flour to supply those soldiers for twelve days. On the same day, even before the adoption of the present resolution, Harrison expressed to the auditors of the state his earnest hope that they could settle accounts with Parker’s band “immediately,” so that it could be sent from Richmond before the other troops arrived (Executive Letter Book, 1783–1786, pp. 161, 163, MS in Va. State Library).

2. 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 , VI, 486, n. 3; JM Notes, 23 May, n. 1; 26 May, and n. 2; 11 June, n. 1; Harrison to Delegates, 31 May, and n. 1; Jones to JM, 31 May; Maryland’s Payment to Troops, 28 July 1783, n. 3.

3. On 25 June the House of Delegates assigned to a committee, Richard Henry Lee, chairman, the task of preparing a bill “for paying the soldiers late from the southern army, belonging to the Virginia continental line, three month’s wages.” The resolution, which Lee submitted later that day, was adopted on 26 June and delivered by him to the Senate for its concurrence. This was accorded on the following day. The version of the resolution appearing in the journal of the House of Delegates reads “these” rather than “those brave troops” (JHDV description begins (1828 ed.). Journal of the House of Delegates of Virginia, Anno Domini, 1776 (Richmond, 1828). description ends , May 1783, pp. 83, 85, 93).

4. George Webb. Perhaps to reinforce the present instruction, Governor Harrison in a letter of 4 July informed Robert Morris, superintendent of finance, that the Virginia continental troops returning from South Carolina were causing the state some expense which would be charged “to the continent” (Executive Letter Book, 1783–1786, p. 166, MS in Va. State Library).

5. There appears to be no evidence to show that Governor Harrison sent this instruction to the delegates or that they submitted it to Congress. Congress and Morris, as manifested by the resolutions of the first and the letters of the second, intended that each continental soldier, upon being discharged or furloughed, should receive from a member of the paymaster-general’s staff a Confederation treasury note, redeemable in specie in six months, covering three months of his overdue pay. Besides the fact that the printing of sufficient notes had been delayed, the money for their redemption, as well as one month’s pay in specie, also promised to each soldier, was to be provided to the continental receiver by the state to which the soldier belonged. Virginia was delinquent in meeting her financial quota. Beyond these considerations, however, both the governor and the Virginia delegates had reason to disregard the instruction (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, 173–75). See also Maryland’s Payment to Troops, 28 July 1783.

6. Clerk of the House of Delegates.

7. Clerk of the Senate.