1. The enclosed petition followed one addressed to Joseph Reed and the Pennsylvania Supreme Executive Council complaining about the promotion of Maj. Benjamin Eustis and transfer of Capt. Jonas Simonds’s company to the 4th Continental Artillery Regiment (see Reed to GW, 24 April, and n.1). In this case, Capt. Andrew Porter, “at the request and the Behalf” of the 4th Continental Artillery Regiment’s officers, had presented a petition to Congress while at Philadelphia on 29 June. It reads: “That in consequence of an Arrangement of the Artillery by General Knox, and a Letter from his Excellency General Washington, the Board of War has made out Commissions for two Officers from other Artillery Regiments to fill up the Vacancies late occasioned in ours by the Resignation of Colo. Thomas Proctor.

“We complain the greatest Injustice is done us in the above Instance. …

“We therefore pray Congress to prevent the unjust Preferment of those Officers to the Vacancies in our Regiment and that the Promotions take place agreeable to the above Rules established by your Honble House” (DLC:GW). Congress ordered this memorial on 2 July “to the Board of War to report specially thereon” (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 , 20:716). For Maj. Gen. Henry Knox’s artillery arrangement, see Knox to GW, 13 Nov. 1780; see also GW to the Board of War, 9 June 1781.

In his reply to the board on 9 July, GW rejected the petition (DLC:GW; see also GW to Reed, 5–7 May).