To George Washington from Major General Alexander McDougall, 17 April 1779
From Major General Alexander McDougall
Head Qrs Pecks Kill [N.Y.] April 17th 1779
Sir,
The inclosed Copy of mine, to Brigadier General Glover, will inform your Excellency, of the steps, I have taken, respecting the arrangement of the Bay Line, as far as it respects those troops at Providence.1 Colonel Sheppard and Major Cogswell, arrived here yesterday, as a Committee from Glovers Brigade. And I have directed, a Committee, from Nixons, Patersons, and late Learned’s, to meet those from Providence, tomorrow, with the Claims of all the Field Officers, and eldest Captains of those Brigades. I shall do every thing in my power, to prepare the work for a finishing Hand. I have the honor to be your most obedient and most Humble Servant
Alexr: McDougall
LS, DLC:GW; ADf, CSmH.
1. The enclosed copy of a letter from McDougall to Brig. Gen. John Glover, dated 7 March at Peekskill, N.Y., reads: “Inclosed is a Copy of a Letter from His Excellency the Commander in Chief to Me on the Subject of the Arrangement of your Line. You have also a Copy of the Arrangement as transmitted to me. From my knowledge of the various disputes which have arisen on the Subject of Rank it appears necessary that the Rank Roll of every State Line shou’d be made in the first Instance by placeing all the Field Officers of different Ranks in the Order of Seniority or in which they command and perhaps it wou’d be expedient to descend in the Arrangement as far as the Rank of Captains inclusive This shou’d be followed by a Battalion or Regimental Roll of each which wou’d give all concerned a clear Idea of their Rank in Line and in Regiments. You will perceive by the Generals Letter His Anxiety to have this Matter finally Settled. I therefore wish if there are any Objections in your Brigade to its Arrangement as it now stands or in the Bay-Line or in Regiments they may be made in Writing, as soon as possible and brought here by one or more Gentlemen who shou’d be authorised to Represent those Objections and give it finishing Hand on the part of your Brigade to the Work, which is so desirable and absolutely Necessary for the peace Order and Justice of the service” (DLC:GW).