To George Washington from Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer and William Fitzhugh, 26 March 1779
From Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer and William Fitzhugh
[Annapolis] Maryland March 26th 1779.
Sir,
By request of the General Assembly of this State, We have the honor to transmit to your Excellency the enclosed resolution respecting rank and Grade.1
We have also enclosed a Resolution allowing half pay during life to such of our officers as shall remain in the Service during the War; this probably may prevent resignations.2 That health & happiness, may always attend your Excellency is the sincere wish of Your affectionate Friends and obedient Servants
Dan. of St Thos Jenifer P. S.
Willm Fitzhugh Speaker H: D.
LS, in Jenifer’s writing, DNA: RG 93, manuscript file no. 30143; LS (duplicate), in Jenifer’s writing, DLC:GW; LB, MdAA. For GW’s reply, see his letter to Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer and William Fitzhugh, 10 April 1779, DLC:GW.
1. The enclosed resolution of 24 March reads: “Resolved Unanimously that his Excellency General Washington is hereby fully empowered and requested to settle the Rank of all Officers of the Maryland Forces in the continental Service in such Manner, as to him shall seem most proper and consistent with Justice, both with Respect to Rank and Grade” (DLC:GW; see also Md. Senate Proc., March 1779, 49). For GW’s use of this new authority, see his letter to a Board of General Officers, 9 April, DeHi; see also William Fitzhugh to GW, 2 Jan., and Nathaniel Ewing to GW, 9 March.
2. The enclosed resolution of 25 March reads: “Resolved that the Officers who now are or here after shall be in the Maryland line and who shall continue in the Service till the End of the present War shall, unless they should thereafter resign, or be cashiered for Mal-Conduct, be entitled to half-pay during their Lives, and that the same commence at the End and Expiration of the seven Years heretofore provided for by Congress.
“Resolved that the Widows of all such Officers as are or shall be entitled to the half-pay as aforesaid shall receive the same pay during their widowhood that their Husbands were or would have been entitled to” (DLC:GW; see also Md. Senate Proc., March 1779, 52).