1To Thomas Jefferson from Hugh McGavock, 14 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I am sorry to trouble your Excellency at this Time concerning my Rank; but as Major Walls Claims the Rank for his Son in Preference to any other Ensign, from his appointment, as it came from the Executive Power, which if it was their Intention I will chearfully submit to. For my Part I conceiv’d that the Preference was only to old officers, that those who never were in the Service should not...