John Sullivan to George Washington, 17 May 1781
From John Sullivan
Philadelphia May 17th 1781
Dear General
I was Last Evening honored with your Exellencys favor of the 11th Instant.1 I am sorry that the report respecting promotions has been so long Delayed. but this delay has not been Occasioned by any Difference in Sentiment between your Excellencey and the Committee. your reasonings were attended to & there remains no Difference of Sentiment between us though perhaps Congress may make some alterations Disagreable to us all.2
The Report has Long Since been made to Congress two Days have already been Spent in Considering it & I flatter myself that this Day will bring it to a Conclusion. The Situation of Colo. Tilghman and other Gentlemen of that Line has opened a Field Extensive enough, & Occasioned Much delay I hope however to obtain Such a determination as will do Justice to the feelings of Those Gentlemen who have Merited so Much from the public.3
I Lament exceedingly the Distresses of our Army the deplorable Situation of our Public affairs and tremble for the Event Mr Robert Morris has Accepted the office of Minister of Finance upon which I Sincerely congratulate your Excellencey & my Country.4
The appointment of the other officers is delayed, for reasons which I cannot comprehend The ostensible one respecting a Minister of war is that There is no man Existing upon whom Congress can agree. Many of the Members Say that if your Excellencey or the principal officers would recommend any person they would immediately proceed to the Choice of that officer—& I presume that of Marine as also that of Foreign affairs would follow of Course.5 we have no News worthy your Excellencys attention.6 I have the honor to be with the most perfect respect Dear Genl your Excys mos[t] obedt Servant
Jno. Sullivan
ALS, DLC:GW. Sullivan signed the cover.
1. See GW to Sullivan, 11 May.
2. GW had submitted to Congress observations on a congressional committee report related to military promotions (see Sullivan’s second letter to GW, 9 March, and Remarks on a Congressional Committee Report, 3 April; see also GW to Samuel Huntington, 20–26 Dec. 1780).
3. Congress adopted resolutions concerning promotions on 25 May. These resolves also authorized a commission for GW’s aide-de-camp Tench Tilghman (see Huntington to GW, 28 May 1781, and n.1 to that document; see also GW to Sullivan, 11 May, and n.4 to that document).
4. Robert Morris accepted his appointment as superintendent of finance on 14 May (see Morris to Huntington, same date, in , 1:62–64).
5. For the eventual selection of Benjamin Lincoln as secretary at war and Robert R. Livingston as secretary of foreign affairs, see GW to Sullivan, 11 May, and n.7. Congress later named Morris as agent of marine to handle duties contemplated for the secretary of marine (see Morris to Thomas McKean, 8 Sept., in , 1:214–19).