Acceptance. I know not your Sentiments on the Matter, but however they may be, I most ardently wish that You may accept of this appointment for many Reasons. Colo Reed was nominated and would have been appointed, had it not been known to Gentlemen that your Situation with respect to each would not admit of your sitting together at the same Board. I think there is not the least Doubt of this Fact. Your own affairs need not interrupt your immediate Attendance, as the Super Intendance of all the Commissaries in the eastern and northern Department is with the Governor and Council of Connecticut, who may displace and appoint at pleasure, and can direct the issuing Commissaries to receive the provision now on your Hands, and your Accounts may be settled witho. a constant attendance on the Commissioners. the succession of Errors wch have taken place in the Commissary's Department, have reverberated on Congress, and had the Gentlemen Who were the Cause thereof been troubled with an attention to the Business of rectifying them, I should not have regretted the Consequences, but this Burthen has unreasonably fell on those who opposed the Errors from the Beginning, and there seems to be a general Conviction that the Business never will be carried on by some of the present Officers.5. I hope soon to see the Treasury Office upon a new Establishment, and that your Brother the p. M General will be a Commissioner; his Salary is augmented to 125 Dollars per Month, but I think him too valuable for that office, altho it must be acknowledged an important one." . P. S. If you decline this office, it must have all the Effects so far as it respects yourself of giving up the Cause; a Measure that my Friend will never consent to, after having endured greater Toils than may be expected in future. General Stevens is broke for Drunkenness Sir 758. THE PREsident of ConGRESS (HENRY LAURENS) TO YORK TOWN 28th. Novem: 1777 My last trouble was dated the 23d. Inst: and conveyed by favour of Mr. Pierce.2 By the present please to be informed, that Congress lately entered into Resolutions for establishing a Board of War to consist of five Commissioners not Members of the House. And I have received express orders 4 Cf. no. 700, ante, nos. 759, 761, 769, post. 5 Cf. nos. 664, 726, 748, ante, nos. 759, 790, post. The omitted passage summarizes the financial measures of Nov. 22, 26, 27. Cf. no. 756, ante. 6 The reorganization of the treasury office was not, however, very speedily effected. See no. 298, note 7, ante. Jonathan Trumbull, jr., deputy paymaster-general of the Northern department. See the Journals, Nov. 19, 22. Cf. no. 412, ante. [758]1 N. Y. Hist. Soc., Gates Papers, XI.; Library of Congress, Presidents LetterBook, I. 43. 2 No. 752, ante. Mr. Pierce was probably John Pierce, jr., assistant paymaster. to notify to you Sir, You have been elected a Commissioner and by the unanimous Voice of Congress appointed President of the Board.3 . Dr Sir 759. WILLIAM WILLIAMS TO JOSEPH TRUMBULL.1 YORK TOWN 28 Nov. 1777 Genl Gates, Genl Miflin, Adj. Genl. Pickering, Jos Trumbull and Rich Peters Esqrs. are elected etc. to constitute a newly erected Board of War, from which great Things are expected as You will be informed by the President.2 as You call your Self a plaguegy obstinate Fellow I had some Fears least You shod injure your Self, your Father, and your Friends and more especially your Country, by refusing her Call and I trust that of Providence on this Occasion. you may perceive how honorable and important Congress account the Business by the Generals employed, and by the inclosed Resolve I beg You will not suffer Prejudice or Passion to influence your Judgment, but coolly consider the nature and importance of the Subject and the Duty and Obligation lying on You, to serve your Country in this Station. Congress expect your usefullness especially in the Comissary Department, and assistance to regulate the abuses of that and so for the other great Departments, in which other of the Gent. are particularly versed. it is of importance to be called by every voice as you was to this honble. Service and Col Read was sacrificed to You, supposing You cod not sit together. The Department is of very great Moment most certainly, and never was or cod be properly executed by a Board consisting of Members of Congress, if for no other reason it was impossible to give proper Attention and Time to both, and They are most heartily weary of trying. and if I was not quiting Congress shod have some personal Interest, in the new Boards coming soon. The pay is 2,000 Dols. to Each, and I have no doubt but additions will be made e'er long. I much dislike the new Regulations of the Comissa. Department, but had no doubt Alterations wod take place, as they have already and very likely may further as occasion and experience may require and if you had continued in that, I verily believe you would have [done] your Country a very real and great Service, and that the Army has suffered exceedingly by the inexperience of the new officers. And it is a bad and wrong revenge to wound your already bleeding bleeding Country, to come up with Congress for a great mistake in my opinion, but by far the most I doubt not come into with the best intention. if Jack had really an Inclination to have continued in the Army, I have no doubt he might have obtained Justice in the matter he complained off, and wod have done real Service, and been also a Brigr. Genl. instead of Wilkinson, had his Life been spared. but enough. I hope to see You 3 See the Journals, Nov. 24, 27; cf. no 757, note 2, ante. [759]1 Conn. State Library, Joseph Trumbull Collection, no. 568. 2 See nos. 757, 758, ante. 3 Cf. no. 757, ante, nos. 761, 769, post. 4 Cf. nos. 664, 726, 748, 757, ante, no. 790, post. John Trumbull. See nos. 415, 419, 466, 495, note 2, ante, no. 776, post. before You can set out hither, designing homeward, if Mr. Law dont delay me next Monday with Complimts to your Lady Col Jos. Trumbull I am your Affectio. Friend and Brothr 760. WILLIAM WILLIAMS TO THE GOVERNOR OF CONNECTICUT Hond and dear Sir (JONATHAN TRUMBULL).1 YORK 28 Nov 1777 I wrote you sometime since that the Plan of Confederation was finished, after revising correcting etc it was sent to Lancaster to be printed and is just returned. and after a long delay and consideration a Report has been made by the Comtee, to Consider the result of the N England States etc and a number of important resolutions relating to taxation etc etc are come into and will bee also transmitted, it is not my Fault it was not done long ago, but it cant be helpd and tis difficult to explain the reasons of delay in many Cases. But I hope it is not utterly too late. Congress have established a new board of War, consisting of 5 Members, not of Congress it is deemd of vast importance for the Regulation and Supply etc of the Army, and highly honorable etc, and by the Influ ence of his Friends Col Jos. Trumbull is chosen a member. the plan was to have one versed in every Department, the members are Genl Gates Presidt. Gen. Miflin, Adj. Genl Pickering, Col Jos Trumbull, and R. Peters Esq late Secrety. it is deemed of very great importance, as you will readily perceive by the Members appointed. The Sallery is 2000 Dols per An: and a Struggle to get higher. And I have no doubt it will yet be raised and such further sums allowed as to satisfie the Members, if this dont.*. . . I am with Great Affection, Esteem and Duty your unworthy Son and Serv P. S. on Fryd: the 21 the motion, made last July was revivd for recalling Mr Deane, was again taken up and carried without a dissenting Voice. He died at last very easie, tho there had been at sund. Times before, the most violent and convulsive throes and Exertions on the same Question 5 this Day Jno Adams Esq was elected in his room he is not present and tis not certain he will not accept, but hope he will." [760]1 Library of J. Pierpont Morgan, Declaration of Independence, I. 2 Cf. nos. 733, 746, 747, 753, 754, ante. 3 See no. 753, note 3, ante. 4 Cf. nos. 757-759, ante, no. 761, post. See no. 753, ante, nos. 766, 768-770, post. In a foot-note to the Journals (ed Ford), under Aug. 5, will be found two motions for the recall of Deane. Possibly that of Lovell was made in July. See no. 565, ante. See no. 753, ante. Laurens Nov. 28 (Wharton, Notice of his election was sent to Adams by President A motion is also made that it be left to the remaining Comisrs to Judge on the Spot, whethr. Mr D. may not yet be employed at some other Court. the Motion dropd, and I trust will never be carried. His Excelly. Govr. Trumbull. D[ear] Sir 761. ELIPHALET DYER TO JOSEPH TRUMBULL.1 YORK TOWN Novr 28th 1777 The Congress finding almost every department in the Army running into the greatest Confusion and disorder for want, as we apprehend of a proper Board Consisting of Gentn. well skill'd in the various departments and who can at least for some time Constantly attend to the immediate concerns of the Army and our board of Warr hitherto Consisting of Members of Congress who could not be supposed to have a proper knowledge of the several departments, and beside had not time to attend to them Congress have Unanimously agreed to Constitute that Important Board, and to have it consist of such Gentn. whom they think have the greatest knowledge of the several departments and abilities to discern and discover from whence the disorders arise and how they may be remedied, have therefore made Choice of Majr. Genll Gates Majr. Genll Mifflin, Coll. Pickering present Adjutant Genll. Mr Trumbull late Commissy. Genll. and Mr Peters, who has heretofore been Secretary of the Board of Warr to Constitute that Board, Genll. Gates to be President and who is also to be Continued Majr. Genll. and to act as such in the Army as Occasion may require. the Salary is at present established at 2000 dollars Pr Annum. some were for 3000, and not quite a Majority for 2500, but considering the times, and in hopes and expectation that our Currency will soon regain its Credit it was thought best not for an Establishment to exceed 2000, and had better if Necessary some other way make an allowance for extraordinary expences to the present board, than make an Establishment at this time tho' just could not afterwards be reduced if our money in a great measure regained its Credit, and believe tho not certain that Congress will generously consider the present board over and above the present Establishment. as to your Appointment as One, it was without any Sollicitation of those you might call your Friends or any movements from them, but by the Unanimous Choice not only of every State but of every Individual member of Congress and every State except Jersey and Deleware not represented. therefore I hope notwithstanding your past feelings, your present Interest and Inclination to tarry at home, and retire among the common Mass of private Citizens; Yet that you have not so lost your strong attachment to your Country, their Interest and defence as to refuse them your Assistance in this present critical Situation of our affairs and of the state of the Dec. 3 (see ibid., II. 442). A statement of John Adams relative to the notification of his election to the French mission is found in an autobiographical note in his Works, IX. 89-93. His letter of acceptance, dated Dec. 23, 1777, is in Wharton, Rev. Dipl. Corr., II. 458. It was read in Congress Jan. 19, 1778. For some account of the proceedings in connection with Adams's election, see a letter of Elbridge Gerry to John Adams, Sept. 29, 1779 (Adams's Works, IX. 491 ; also vol. IV. of these Letters). Cf. no. 769, post. [761]1 Conn. Hist. Soc., Joseph Trumbull Papers. Army, as to refuse Your Aid and Assistance without which and some of the other Gentn. at least we have every prospect of ruin and destruction at least to the Army if not to the whole Country. Coll. Reed was in Nomination and believe would have been appointed instead of Mr Peters but Congress really was so Intent to avail themselves of your services and knowing the former altercation and that it was possible you could not set with him in the same board with that Harmony which ought to Subsist, entirely omitted him on that account and Voted for Mr Peters that there might be no difficulty in your way of attending. I sincerely wish leaving all other cares and business that you would Immediately hasten to this place take your seat in the board for the present with the other Gentn. who will be pressed to Attend as soon as possible and hope by Spring or by the opening the Next Campaine that our several departments may be so reduced to Order and System as, if you on Trial shall think best to resign your place, no doubt it may be done.3 . . . . I readily percieve an Objection arising from your accounts with the publick you expect to settle this Winter, but that must be postponed if Necessary for this service I hope before this that your Stores eastward are either taken by Gen Heath or regularly delivered over as Congress have given every appointment Necessary both in the purchasing and Issuing department to Govt. Trumbull that there might be no failure in that quarter.*. . . . Sir, 762. THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS TO HORATIO GATES.1 YORK TOWN 29th. Novem. 1777 After I had Sealed the Packet which you will receive with this, I was honoured by your favour of the 16th. the weather being extremely bad. I judged it would be no pernicious delay to detain the Messenger till after the sitting of Congress. in the sitting I reported your Letter and the several papers which accompanied it, but received no Commands or the subject except an order to transmit a Copy of the Letter to General Washington. I have therefore nothing to add but that I send a Copy of Articles of Confederation and that I remain in every sentiment of respect and Esteem Sir The Honorable Major General Gates Albany. Your very obedient Servant 2 A similar statement is made by Gerry and also by Williams (nos. 757, 759, ante). Cf. no. 769, post. See also no. 773, post. 3 Cf. nos. 757, 759, ante, nos. 773, 776, post. Mifflin wrote to Trumbull, Nov. 30: "It is of much Importance to the public that the Business should not be delayed and as the Gentlemen appointed with you in this Office are near at hand, and will wait Your Arrival before they enter upon the Duties of the Office let me beg you to lose no time in coming to Reading where I will wait for you." (Conn. Hist. Soc., Joseph Trumbull Papers.) In the end Trumbull's ill health prevented his taking his seat in the board of war. See the Journals, Feb. 16, Apr. 18, 1778. See the Journals, Nov. 3, and nos. 773, 776, post. [762] N. Y. Hist. Soc., Gates Papers, XI.; Library of Congress, Presidents LetterBook, I. 48. 2 See the Journals, Nov. 29. |