From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 29 August 1778
To Thomas Johnson
Head Quarters White plains 29th Augt 1778
Sir
I am honored with yours of the 12th inst.1 I very highly approve of the determination of your Council to reinlist the nine months Men at this period; if it is left undone, untill the time of their service is near expiring, it will be almost impossible to re-engage them. I, some time ago, pointed out to Congress the expediency of2 adopting this measure but as yet have not received their Answer. The money supplied by the Board of treasury to the pay Master General is barely sufficient to pay the monthly abstracts of the Army, and to defray other contingent expences; I therefore have it not in my power to advance the state Bounty of 40 dollars, out of the military Chest: Indeed I should not be authorised to advance it, without the special order of Congress, did the state of the Chest allow it. I have the Honor &c.
Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. See the Council of Maryland to GW, 12 August.
2. On the draft, Tilghman completed this sentence with the words “recommending this measure to the Legislatures of all the states,” but Robert Hanson Harrison revised the text. GW was probably referring to comments in his letter to Henry Laurens of 3–4 August.