To George Washington from John Morgan, 5 January 1779
From John Morgan
Philadelphia Janry 5. 1779.
Doctor Morgan presents his most respectful Compliments to his Excellency General Washington, and informs him that a Committee appointed by Congress to examine into the State of the Hospitals under his Direction, and into his Conduct, in the Discharge of Duty, meets this Evening at 7. OClock.1
It is recommended to Him to apply to his Excellency for a few Lines, respecting his Attention to the Discharge of his Duty, and Obedience to the Generals orders.
On this Examination will probably depend a Sentence of Congress, whether he is to be considered as a Delinquent unworthy of public Confidence; (which to a generous mind, conscious of meriting a different Treatment is worse than Death,) or whether he is to be restored to the good Opinion of his Country-Men of which he has been deprived for two Years past, by a cruel Determination hastily adopted on general Clamors & misplaced Censures, without examining into the State of facts.
Relying on the Generals Justice & Humanity; & appealing to his Excellency, for the Integrity & uprightness of his Conduct His Diligence & Fidelity, in executing the Commands of the General and Congress, as far as in him lay, on Acct of the defective Constitution of the Army, in its infant State; he flatters Himself Genl Washington will be pleased to favour him with a few Lines, to enable him the more effectually to vindicate his Conduct against groundless charges and Imputations, wch will be ever remembered with the most grateful Esteem by his Excellencys most Obedient, & very Humble Servt
John Morgan
The following are some of the principal Points, on which the Committee propose to inquire into Dr Morgan’s Conduct, this Evening viz.
whether the Genl Hospital at Cambridge was well taken care of by him.
whether Dr Morgan shewed Himself attentive to the Sick & wounded, when received into the Genl Hospital.
His Management in respect to System & Oeconomy of His Diligence in collecting Medicines & other Stores at Boston, on the Evacuation of that City; & whether he therein complied with the Generals orders.
Of His Diligence in preserving the Stores from falling into the hands of the Enemy at the Evacuation of N. York.
Of the Contagion which broke out in the flying Camp towards the Close of the Year 1776 in the Jerseys.
Whether the Resolves of Congress Oct. 9th Dr Morgans being fixed on the East Side of the North River; & Dr Shippens appointment to take charge of the Hospitals in the Jerseys, by that resolve, and getting possession of the Hospital Stores at Newark clashed with Dr Morgans Exertions to take Care of the Troops in the Jerseys.
ALS, DLC:GW; copy (extract), DNA:PCC, item 63.
1. On 17 Sept. 1778, Morgan presented a memorial to Congress requesting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his demotion and final dismissal as director general of the hospitals on 9 Oct. 1776 and 9 Jan. 1777 (, 6:857, 7:24; the memorial is in DNA:PCC, item 41). Congress referred Morgan’s memorial to a committee chaired by William Henry Drayton, and GW also offered his support (see GW to Morgan, 6 Jan. 1779). The committee reported favorably on 13 March, and on 12 June, Congress resolved that it was “satisfied with the conduct of Dr. John Morgan while acting as director general and physician in chief in the general hospitals of the United States; and that this resolution be published.” Morgan subsequently charged the new director of hospitals, William Shippen, Jr., with misconduct, charges for which Shippen eventually would be arrested (, 12:925; 13:313, 14:724, 733–34; for more on Morgan’s experiences, see , 206–19).