1. Bailey wrote Congress from West Point on 12 May: “A few days ago, I wrote His Excellency General Washington requesting liberty to resign. He, in answer, refered me to Congress. I therefore do myself the Honour to write you on the Subject. Though it is not without some degree of reluctance, and nothing but a consciousness of my being held in disgrace, would induce me to quit the Field at this critical moment.

“I shall state my Situation, since the begining of this Contest, and leave it to your own feelings, to determine the propriety of my request.

“I have had the Command of a Regiment since the commencement of the present War, and since the Resignation of Brigadier General Learned, have had the Command of the 4th Massachusetts Brigade, which is now more than two Years, a similar instance, I presume, has not existed in the Line of any one State in the Army of the United States: What an Idea then, must the World entertain of my Situation? Doubtless it will be presum’d, that I am esteemed, not competent to hold a Commission, higher than the one I now hold; or that I stand in the way of some Court favourite, to whom the Authority of the Said Massachts State have (at least in some degree) given the preference. If the former, why have I been permitted to Command the said 4th Brigade for more than two Years? (which I think I have done without impeachment) If the latter (which I have every reason to beleive) I beg to be speedily released from so disgracefull a Situation, either by giving me that which is my right upon every principal of Justice as well as custom in like cases, or by granting me leave to quit that service, in which I have for more than five Years with chearfullness, been spending in a rapid manner, both my bodily Strength and personal Interest” (DNA:PCC, item 78). Congress read Bailey’s letter on 19 May and referred it to the Board of War (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 , 17:436).

Congress considered on 30 May a report from the Board of War of the same date and adopted the board’s recommendation. The report contended that “two Major and three Brigadier Generals belonging to Massachusetts” and reduced numbers of soldiers from the state made it “not expedient to appoint another Brigadier” for that line (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 , 17:472–73; see also James Lovell to the Massachusetts Council, 2 June, and Samuel Huntington to Bailey, 10 June, in Smith, Letters of Delegates description begins Paul H. Smith et al., eds. Letters of Delegates to Congress, 1774–1789. 26 vols. Washington, D.C., 1976–2000. description ends , 15:235–36, 284). Bailey apparently remained in the army until the fall and resigned in October (see Heitman, Historical Register description begins Francis B. Heitman. Historical Register of Officers of the Continental Army during the War of the Revolution, April, 1775, to December, 1783. 1893. Rev. ed. Washington, D.C., 1914. description ends , 81).