George Washington Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-27-02-0569

To George Washington from Samuel Huntington, 24 August 1780

From Samuel Huntington

Philadelphia August 24. 1780.

sir,

By the Act of Congress1 herewith enclosed you will observe, that, the Court Martial having acquitted Doctor Shippen he is discharged from Arrest.2

Your Excellency will also receive enclosed an Act of Congress of the 22. Instant, subjecting Delinquents in the Departments of the Quarter Master General, Commissary General of Purchases, and of Issues, Clothier General, Commissary General of Military Stores, Purveyor General of the Hospitals, and Hide Department to Trial by Court Martial.3 I have the Honor to be with the highest respect your Excellencys most obedient humble servant

Sam. Huntington President

LS, DLC:GW; LB, DNA:PCC, item 15. GW acknowledged this letter when he wrote Huntington on 6 Sept. (DNA:PCC, item 152).

1The letterbook copy adds the words “of the 18. Instant” at this point.

2The enclosed document, dated 18 Aug., is in 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 , 17:744–46.

3The enclosed document, dated 22 Aug., reads: “Whereas it is of the utmost importance effectually to prevent the destruction, waste, embezzlement and misapplication of the public stores and provisions upon which the existence of the Armies of these United States may depend; And no adequate provision hath been made for the just punishment of delinquents in the departments of the Quartermaster General, Commissary General of purchases, Commissary General of issues, Cloathier General, Commissary General of Military stores, purveyor of the Hospitals and Hide department; therefore.

“Resolved, That every person in any of the said departments intrusted with the care of provisions or Military or hospital stores, or other property of these United States, who shall be convicted at a General Court Martial of having sold without a proper Order for that purpose, embezzled or wilfully misapplied, damaged or spoiled any of the provisions, horses, forage, Arms, Cloathing, Ammunition, or other Military or hospital stores or property belonging to the United States of America, shall suffer death or such other punishment as shall be directed by a General Court Martial; according to the nature and degree of the offence at the discretion of such Court: And every person in any of the said departments intrusted as aforesaid, who shall be convicted at a General Court Martial, of having through neglect suffered any of the Articles aforesaid to be wasted, spoiled or damaged, shall suffer such punishment as the said Court shall in their discretion direct, according to the degree of the Offence” (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 , 17:756–57). GW published this act in the general orders of 6 September.

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