THIS book is of home manufacture, oblong in shape (end fold), the cover being made by pasting a number of the first pages together, the size of page being about 5 by 9 inches. One part has been used as an account book, for personal entries, the other contains Acts of Congress, Washington's address at New Windsor, in relation to the Hamilton Imbroglio, or the attempt to cause the troops to mutiny on account of the shameful treatment the army had received from Congress. This whole matter is here given from Jared Sparks' Letters of General Washington, to complete Rufus Lincoln's story. The farewell letter of Galvan is a curious epistle. he was a French officer, an aide to General Lafayette. All that I can ascertain about him is, that His name is mentioned as the bearer of a letter to General Washington from General Lafayette. He was in the service December 28, 1779, mentioned in a letter to Congress. (Journals of Congress, 1778-1782, vol. iii. p. 416.) The part relating to the army was written at New Windsor (Newburgh), at the camp, and the personal entries at his home in Taunton, Mass., after the war. [1] DIARY NUMBER FIVE By the United States in Congrefs afsembled March 22 1783 on the report of a committee to whom was refered a motion of Mr Dyrė, together with a momaral of the officers of the army, and the report of the committee thereon, Congrefs came to the following resolutions Wheras the officers of the Several lines under the immeadite Command of his Excelency Gen1 Washington did by there late memorale transmitte by there Committee represented to Congrefs, that the half pay granted by Sundery resolutions was regarded in an unreasinable light by the citizens of Some of these States, who would prefer a compensation for a limited time of years or by a Sum in grose to an establishment for life and on that account Salicite a commutation of thier half pay for an Equivalant in one of the two modes above mentioned in order to remove all Subject of disapprobation from the minds of their fellow citizens and where as Congress are desirous [2] as well of gratfing the resonable expatations of the officers as of removing all objections which may exsite in any part of the United States to the prinsaple of the half pay Establishment, for which the faith of the United States hath been pledged, persuaded that there objections can only arise from the nature of a compensation not from any indisposition to compensate those whose Services Sacrifices and Suffirings, have So just a title to the approbation and rewards of their Countrey Therefore Resolved That such officers as are now in Service and Shall continue there in to the end of the war Shall be intitled to receive the amount of five years full pay in money or Sucuritiees on intrest at Six percent pr annum as Congrefs Shall find most convenant instead of the half pay promised for life. by the resolution of the 21th day of october 1780 thee Several Securites to be Such as Shall be given to other creditors of the United States, [3] Provided that it be at the option of the lines of the respetive States, and not of officers indivudaly in those lines to accept or refuse the Same and provided also that their Election Shall be Signified to Congress through the Commander in Chif from the lines under his immedeate command with in two months and through the Commander off the Southern army, with in Six months from the date of this Resolution That the Same commutation Shall existe to the Corps not belonging to the lines of any perticular States, and who are intitled to half pay for life as aforsaid the acceptance or refusal to be detarminade and to be Signifed in the Same manner and wthin the Same time as above mentioned. That all officers belonging to the hospital department who are intitled to half pay by the resolution of the 17th day of Jany 1781 may Colitively agree to accept or refuse [4] the afforsaid commutation Signifying the Same through the Commander in Cheif within Six months from this time That all the officers that have retired at difrent Periods entitled to half pay for life, may collectievly in each State of which they are inhabitance accept or refuse the Same their aceptance or refusal to be Signifed by agents authorised for that purpose within Six months from this period That with respect to retiring officers the commutation if accepted by them Shall be in lue of what ever may be now due to them Since the time of their retiring from Service, as well as what hereafter become due, and that So Soon as their acceptance Shall be Siginified, the Superentant of finiances be, and he is hereby directed to take measures for the Settlments of thare accounts accordingly and to isue to them Certificats bearing intrest at Six p' Sent [5] That all officers intitled to half pay for life not includid in the proceding resolution may also Colectively agree to accept or refuse the aforsaid commutation, Signafying the Same with in Six months from this time. Extrace from General Orders R. Lincoln |