1. Jacob Gerhard Diriks had served as a captain in both the 9th Pennsylvania Regiment and the 4th Continental Artillery Regiment before receiving an appointment as deputy quartermaster general for Major General Stirling’s division. For Diriks’s brevet commission as lieutenant colonel, see Henry Laurens to GW, 6 Nov. 1778; see also 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 , 19:128–29.

Diriks traveled to Holland in 1779 in an effort to negotiate a Dutch loan for the United States. Diriks wrote Congress from Amsterdam on 10 July 1779 that Joan Derk van der Capellen tot den Pol, a strong supporter of American independence, was unable “to commence a Loan at this moment,” but he anticipated future success (DNA:PCC, item 78; see also Samuel Huntington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 13 Oct. 1779, in Smith, Letters of Delegates description begins Paul H. Smith et al., eds. Letters of Delegates to Congress, 1774–1789. 26 vols. Washington, D.C., 1976–2000. description ends , 14:67–68).

2. The congressional reform of the Continental army authorized GW to appoint the officers in the corps commanded by Colonel Armand and Lt. Col. Henry Lee, Jr. (see General Orders, 1 Nov. 1780).

3. Sullivan chaired the committee that wrote the report that Congress read on 8 March 1781 and he now transmitted. One resolution in the report reads: “That the Commander in chief may employ such reduced Officers as he shall think proper in the Military Staff or in the inspectors department who are constantly to attend their duty in the Army” (DLC:GW; see also Sullivan’s second letter to GW of this date; Remarks on a Congressional Committee Report, 3 April, n.19; and 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 , 19:242–44).

4. Diriks had served under Sullivan in the failed allied attempt in August 1778 to drive British forces from Newport.

5. Diriks had written Samuel Huntington, president of Congress, from Philadelphia on 26 Jan. 1781 requesting leave to return home since he had “no oportunity” for a command. He again offered to conduct congressional business in Holland (DNA:PCC, item 78).

Diriks then wrote Huntington from Philadelphia on 1 May to report that he had an “opportunity” to return to Holland “by a Vessel which is to sail in a few days.” Lacking money to depart, he required “the depreciation” of his wages from Congress. Diriks also sought to receive his pension while living in Holland: “Should I draw my half pay while in this Country it would be very inadequate to the support of my family being deprived of all employ in the Army by the late arrangement” (DNA:PCC, item 19).

A congressional resolution adopted on 17 May called for Diriks to “be informed, that although Congress have received the most satisfactory proofs of his zeal and capacity to serve these United States, it is impracticable to employ him in the service of these states consistent with the arrangement of the army.” The resolution also ordered that his “account for pay and subsistance be settled by the Board of Treasury in specie value, up to this day.” Diriks was to be paid the balance owed him “together with a sum equal to one year’s pay; and that from henceforward he be no longer entitled to pay and subsistance” (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 , 20:514–15; see also Diriks to GW, 21 May, DLC:GW).