From George Washington to Jeremiah Wadsworth, 7 December 1779
To Jeremiah Wadsworth
Head Quarters Morris town 7th Decemr 1779
Dear Sir
Having received several representations of mal conduct in the Quarter Masters, and purchasing and issuing Commissaries at Coos I have determined, that the public and individuals may have justice done them, to direct Courts of Enquiry held upon the parties at this place. I have desired General Greene to summon General bailey who acts in his department,1 and you will be pleased to do the same by Mr Tychnor and Mr Childs, your deputies in that Quarter. You had best confer with General Greene and fix upon the most convenient time for your respective deputies to attend. One of the charges against the Commissary of purchases is, that, thro’ neglect, the salted Meat put up last year was mostly spoiled. It will be necessary therefore to have, the state of what of last years salt Meat remains, carefully inspected, and a report made to you.
I am told that the parties are acquainted with the nature of the charges which will be exhibited against them, and earnestly wish an enquiry, they will therefore undoubtedly come prepared with vouchers to support their Characters.2 I am Dear Sir Your most obt Servt
Go: Washington
Major Whitcombe is going directly up to Coos and will afford you an opportunity of writing.
LS, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, CtHi: Washington Letters and Papers; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. GW signed the cover of the LS, which was addressed to Wadsworth at Morristown.
1. In a letter written at Morristown on 11 Dec., Q.M. Gen. Nathanael Greene informed Brig. Gen. Jacob Bayley at Coos, N.H.: “Col. Hazen and others have represented great abuses prevailing in the Staff Departments in the Coos Country. His Excellency therefore has directed me to desire you to give your attendance at Camp the 20th of next Month, to have the several matters of complaint fairly enquird into, which you will not fail of doing. You will please to bring your Accounts and vouchers for settlement with you, that during your stay they may be brought to Close” (DNA:PCC, item 173; see also GW’s second letter to Greene, this date).
2. GW took further steps to investigate the situation at Coos when he wrote James Gray, deputy commissary of the northern department, from Morristown on 11 Dec.: “A Complaint hath been lodged against Mr Lynes Dy Commy of Issues at Coos for mal conduct in Office while at that post. A Court of enquiry is to be held at this place on the 20th January and you will therefore direct Mr Lynes to appear here at that time, bringing with him his vouchers for all the provision issued by him at Coos. It will be necessary that a survey should be held upon all the salt provision at Coos and Charles town in the hands of the issuing Commy distinguishing clearly between that put up last year and this fall. The Reason of this is, that complaint is also made of the bad quality of the provision—Mr Lynes is not to fail being here at the appointed time on any account, as a number of Witnesses will be then collected” (Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; copy, MH: Stewart Papers; Varick transcript, DLC:GW). The draft manuscript and Varick transcript indicate Samuel Gray, deputy commissary of issues for the eastern department, as the recipient. This name certainly was an error because James Gray replied to GW on 10 Jan. 1780 (DLC:GW), and his department included Coos within its jurisdiction.
GW also wrote Col. Timothy Bedel from Morristown on 11 Dec.: “A Complaint having been lodged agt the Quarter Master and Commissaries of purchases and Issues at Coos for mal conduct in their respective Offices—A Court of enquiry will be held upon them at this place on the 20th January next.
“I am informed that your presence will be necessary in the investigation of the several charges, and you will therefore be pleased to attend at the time above mentioned” (LS, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, NhHi; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW).
Allegations involving Bayley, Isaac Tichenor, Jonathan Child, and Matthew Lyne eventually came before courts-martial at Springfield, Mass., and Charlestown, N.H., in April 1780. These courts-martial acquitted the defendants on most charges and found no serious misconduct (see Moses Hazen to GW, 8 Feb. 1780, 4:355; GW to Stephen Moylan, 8 March, DLC:GW, and to Bayley, to Joseph Cilley, Jr., and to James Gray, all 9 March, DLC:GW; and General Orders, 15 and 16 Oct.; see also 4:356–57).