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From George Washington to Bartrem Galbraith, 17 January 1778

To Bartrem Galbraith

Head Quarters [Valley Forge] 17th Jany 1778

Sir.

Mr William Smith, is employed in the Continental Service as Deputy Waggon Master—Josiah Kittara as Waggon Conductor—Wm Smith Junior as Sub Conductor—and Thomas Edwards and Amos Evans as Waggoners—the Certificates of their being attached to the Continental Army in these Capacities will be deliver’d to you by Mr Wm Smith who goes in behalf of the rest—and as it cannot be the intention of the Legislature to treat persons of this description in the light of Delinquents—I have no doubt that upon receipt of this you will acquit them from the Fines to which they have hitherto been consider’d as subject under the Militia-Act1—I am Sir Your humble Servt.

Df, in John Laurens’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.

1. William Smith’s commission as deputy wagon master general dated from April 1777, Josiah Kitterea’s commission as wagon conductor dated from November 1777, and William Smith, Jr., had been subconductor since October 1777. All served in Brig. Gen. Anthony Wayne’s division and were from Lancaster County, of which Galbraith was the county lieutenant.

The Pennsylvania council of safety approved an ordinance on 25 Oct. 1777 imposing fines on those refusing to serve in the militia, and on 8 Dec. 1777 the state general assembly declared the ordinance “to be in full force and virtue” (Pa. Col. Records description begins Colonial Records of Pennsylvania. 16 vols. Harrisburg, 1840–53. description ends , 11:332–33; Pa. Archives description begins Samuel Hazard et al., eds. Pennsylvania Archives. 9 ser., 138 vols. Philadelphia and Harrisburg, 1852–1949. description ends , 1st ser., 6:73).

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    Washington Papers
    Title
    From George Washington to Bartrem Galbraith, 17 January 1778
    Author
    Washington, George
    Recipient
    Galbraith, Bartrem
    Date
    17 January 1778

    Reference

    Cite as
    “From George Washington to Bartrem Galbraith, 17 January 1778,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-13-02-0220. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 13, 26 December 1777 – 28 February 1778, ed. Edward G. Lengel. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2003, p. 258.]