To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel William Palfrey, 17 November 1776
From Lieutenant Colonel William Palfrey
Peeks Kill [N.Y.] 17th November 1776
Sir
I would beg leave to acquaint you that agreeable to your Orders I have fix’d my Office at this place, and should be extremely glad to be inform’d whether I am to pay any Warrants but what I receive from your Excellency[.] General Lee has sent me several, which I have paid, but am afraid the business is not conducted with the regularity it us’d to be, under the inspection of your Secretary[.] Major Lee of Glover’s Regiment has drawn pay as Major of Brigade as well as Major of the Regiment[.]1 This I think cannot be right; but as a Warrant came from General Lee, I could not refuse the payment[.] I am told by General Heaths Aids de Camp that as he acts in a seperate department he also has a right to draw Warrants. As I would wish to conduct properly I beg your Excellency’s directions on the Subject.
When you write again to the Congress be pleas’d to inform them that I have now only the last remittance of 500,000 doll. on hand[.] The demand will soon be great, when the Troops are dismiss’d; and Colo. Trumbull informs me that between this & the last of Decr he shall want a Million of dollars.2
I have no directions from your Excellency with respect to the payment of the Militia[.] you’ll be pleas’d to inform me whether I am to pay them or not. I am most respectfully Your Excellency’s obedt & hble Servt
Wm Palfrey P.M.G.
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. Maj. William Raymond Lee of Col. John Glover’s 14th Continental Regiment was ordered on 7 Sept. to act as brigade major of the brigade that Glover commanded until an appointment could be made (see General Orders, that date).
2. GW complied with this request in his letter to Hancock of 19–21 November.