To George Washington from Samuel Huntington, 24 December 1779
From Samuel Huntington
Philadelphia Decr 24th 1779
sir,
I am honoured with your Excellency’s favours of the 7th—8th 11th1 & 15th instant, some of which have much engaged the attention of Congress. I should have been happy to have had it in my power before this time to communicate to your Excellency the proper decisions of Congress on the important Matters contain’d in several of those Letters.
At present I have the honour to transmit your Excellency two Acts of Congress of the 23d & 24th instant; The former ascertaining the subsistance to be allowed to the Officers in the department of the field Commissary of Military Stores;2 and the latter making further provision for the obtaining Depositions & witnesses in trials not Capital before Courts Martial.3 I have the honour to be with perfect respect your Excy’s hble Servt
Sam. Huntington President
LS, DLC:GW; LB, DNA:PCC, item 14. GW acknowledged receipt of this letter when he wrote Huntington on 30 December.
1. No letter from GW to Huntington dated solely 11 Dec. has been found, but see GW to Huntington, 10–11 December. Huntington almost certainly means that letter.
2. The enclosed resolution adopted on 23 Dec. changed the monthly subsistence allowance for “officers in the department of the field commissary of military stores” from the sums allowed in the act of Congress passed on 18 February. The field commissary went from $40 to $400; the deputy field commissary from $30 to $300; and the conductors and clerks from $10 to $100. The resolution provided for the increased subsistence to commence on 10 Aug. “and continue till the further orders of Congress” (DLC:GW; see also 13:204 and 15:1403–4). GW publicized the resolution in the general orders for 31 December.
3. The enclosed resolution adopted on 24 Dec. is in DLC:GW (see also 15:1409–10, and John Morgan to GW, 27 Dec., and n.2 to that document).