George Washington Papers
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To George Washington from Samuel Huntington, 19 November 1779

From Samuel Huntington

Philadelphia Novr 19th 1779.

Sir

Your Excellency will receive herewith enclosed five Acts of Congress, Viz. one of 12th and four of the 16th Instant; respecting the eleven Companies of Artificers raised by the Quarter Master general;1 The procuring of Witnesses and depositions in trials before Courts Martial;2 And the Constituting a sub Cloathier for the Artillery, Cavalry, Artificers and Corps composed of troops from different States.3 I have the honor to be with the greatest respect Your Excellency’s humble servt

Saml Huntington President

LS, DLC:GW; LB, DNA:PCC, item 14.

1The enclosed resolution that Congress adopted on 12 Nov. reads: “Resolved That the eleven companies of artificers raised by the quarter master general be reformed and incorporated and arranged in such manner as the commander in chief shall deem proper. …

“That the officers and men of the said corps be considered as part of the quotas of the eighty batallions as apportioned in the several states to which they respectively belong” (DLC:GW; see also JCC, description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends 15:1261–62, and Nathanael Greene to John Jay, 30 Aug., in Greene Papers, description begins Richard K. Showman et al., eds. The Papers of General Nathanael Greene. 13 vols. Chapel Hill, N.C., 1976–2005. description ends 4:346). At the bottom of this enclosure is a resolution adopted on 16 Nov. that reads: “Resolved That the commissary of prisoners be directed until the further order of Congress to make the same provision for the Spanish prisoners in New York as is made for the prisoners of the united states, keeping a separate account thereof” (DLC:GW; see also JCC, description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends 15:1273).

Congress modified its action related to artificers on 16 November. The enclosed copy of that resolution reads: “Resolved, That it be recommended to the several States to allow the Corps of Artificers established by Congress the 12th Instant, all the benefits provided for Officers and soldiers in the line of their quotas of the Continental Battalions except the half pay.

“That the Commanding Officer of the Corps of Artificers shall be allowed the same pay and subsistance as a lieutenant Colonel.

“That the allowance of pay subsistance and Cloathing of the other Officers and men of the said Artificers be the same with that of the Artillery Artificers under the Command of Col. B. Flower” (DLC:GW; see also JCC, description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends 15:1276).

2The enclosed resolution that Congress adopted on this subject on 16 Nov. reads: “Resolved, That it be recommended to the Executive Authority of the respective States upon the application of the Judge advocate for that purpose, to grant proper writs requiring and compelling the person or persons whose attendance shall be requested by the said Judge to appear and give testimony in any cause depending before a Court Martial; And that it be recommended to the Legislatures of the several States to vest the necessary persons for the purposes aforesaid in their Executive authorities, if the same be not already done.

“Resolved, That in cases not capital in trials in a Court Martial depositions may be given in evidence, provided the prosecutor and person accused are present at the taking of the same” (DLC:GW; see also JCC, description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends 15:1277–78). John Morgan urged this measure to assist his case against William Shippen, Jr. (see Huntington to GW, 27 Nov., and n.1 to that document, and Morgan to GW, 27 Dec.).

3The enclosed resolution that Congress adopted on this subject on 16 Nov. reads: “Resolved, That in addition to the sub-cloathiers appointed by virtue of the Ordinance of March 23d 1779 for regulating the cloathing department, the cloathier general with the approbation of the Board of War, and the Commander in Cheif, appoint a sub-cloathier to receive from the cloathier genl and the several Sub State cloathiers, the proportion of Cloathing Assigned the Artillery, Cavalry Artificers and corps composed of troops from different States According to the general estimate, and to cause such cloathing to be distributed to the Officers and soldiers of the several Corps Aforesaid, and in all other respects to govern his Conduct in the execution of the said business agreeable to the regulation of Congress of the 23d of March A.D. 1779 respecting the sub-cloathiers” (DLC:GW; see also JCC, description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends 15:1275–76). GW had recommended these positions in his letter to James Wilkinson of 8 October. For the regulations adopted on 23 March to govern the clothing department, see JCC, description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends 13:353–60.

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