George Washington Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-17-02-0350

From George Washington to the Board of War, 10 October 1778

To the Board of War

Head Quarters Fredericksburg 10th October 1778

Gentn

The Committee of Arrangement having determined to annex the Regiment late Pattons to Colo. Hartleys, it will be proper to put them in the same Uniform. I have therefore desired Capt. Prowell the commanding Officer to send an Officer to Philada with an exact return of the Regiment, and the Cloathing wanting.1 Be pleased to give an order to the Cloathier General to have them made up after the same fashion of Hartley’s and as speedily as possible as the Men are in extreme want. I have the honor to be Gentlemen Yr most obt Servt.

Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.

1Joseph Prowell of Pennsylvania, who apparently had been appointed a captain of artificers in October 1776, had become a captain in Col. John Patton’s Additional Continental Regiment in January 1777, and at this time he was commanding the regiment as the senior officer present. After the regiment’s major, Peter Scull, resigned his commission on 1 Jan. 1778, Prowell had begun serving in that capacity. When Congress on 16 Dec. 1778, and again on 13 Jan. 1779, authorized the creation of the 11th Pennsylvania Regiment from the remnants of Colonel Patton’s and Col. Thomas Hartley’s regiments and some independent companies, with a continuance of the old officers, Prowell considered himself commissioned as major of the new regiment (see 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 , 12:1225; 13:58; and Prowell to the Continental Congress Committee of Arrangement or the Board of War, 15 Feb. 1779, DLC:GW). His right to that promotion, however, was subsequently challenged by other captains of the Pennsylvania line, and on 29 May 1779 a board of general officers ruled against Prowell (see Pennsylvania Continental Captains to GW, 8 May 1779; Board of General Officers proceedings, 29 May 1779; and GW to John Jay, 3 June 1779; all in DNA:PCC, item 169). Congress revoked Prowell’s commission as major on 5 June 1779, and in July 1779 Prowell resigned from the army (see 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 , 14:694, 800; Jay to GW, 7 June 1779, DLC:GW; General Orders, 13 June 1779; and Prowell to Congress, 2 July 1779, DNA:PCC, item 78).

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