Continental Congress Motion that Furloughs be Granted to Noncommissioned Officers and Soldiers, [26 May 1783]
Continental Congress
Motion that Furloughs be Granted
to Noncommissioned Officers and Soldiers
[Philadelphia, May 26, 1783.] On this date Hamilton moved “That the Commander in Chief be instructed to grant Furlows to the noncommission’d Officers & Soldiers in the service of the U S inlisted to serve during the War, who shall be discharged as soon as the definitive Treaty of Peace is concluded.”1
D, in writing of Hugh Williamson, Papers of the Continental Congress, National Archives.
1. A committee report, in the writing of H and dated May 23, 1783, calling for the discharge of soldiers enlisted for the war had been defeated (see “Report on the Discharge of Noncommissioned Officers and Soldiers,” May 23, 1783). In the motion printed above H accepted the argument of those who had opposed the report of May 23 on the grounds that the soldiers should be granted furloughs rather than discharges.
On May 27 Robert Morris made the following entries in his Diary:
“The Honble Mr. Hamilton respecting the dismissing the Soldiers enlisted for the War by granting Furloughs which I did not approve and think they ought to be discharged.
“The Honble. Secy at War on the same business he says he will go to Camp himself on this business.” (Robert Morris Papers, Library of Congress.)