the case will admit, they must be considerable Sufferers; because necessity will compell them to part with their certificates for whatever they will fetch; to avoid the evil I have mentioned above: and how much this will place them in the hands of unfeeling, avaricious speculators a recurrence to past experience will sufficiently prove.

It may be said by those who have no disposition to compensate the Services of the Army, that the Officers have too much penetration to place dependance (in any alternative) upon the strength of their own Arm; I will readily concede to these Gentlemen that no good could result from such an attempt; but I hope they will be equally candid in acknowledging, that much mischief may flow from it. and that nothing is too extravagent to expect from men, who conceive they are ungratefully, and unjustly dealt by; especially too if they can suppose that characters are not wanting, to foment every passion which leads to discord, and that there are-but-time shall reveal the rest.

Let it suffice, that the very attempt, wd. imply a want of justice, and fix an indelible stain upon our national character; as the whole world, as well from the enemies publication (without any intention to serve us) as our own, must be strongly impressed with the sufferings of this army from hunger, cold and nakedness. in allmost every stage of the War. Very sincerely etc.

GENERAL ORDERS

Parole Quibbletown. Countersigns Raway, Swansey.

Tuesday, March 18, 1783.

[Lt. Colo. E. Vose.

For the day tomorrow

Brigade Qr. Mastr. Jersey Brigd.

For duty the first Massachusetts Regiment.

The Commander in Chief is highly satisfied with the report

of the proceedings of the officers assembled on the 15th. instt. in

1783]

REMOVAL OF FILTH

235

obedience to the Orders of the 11th. He begs his inability to communicate an adequate idea of the pleasing feelings which have been exited in his breast by the affectionate sentiments expressed towards him on that occasion, may be considered as an apology for his silence.

The Original papers being too prolix to be inserted in the Records of the Army, will be lodged at the Orderly office, to be perused, or copied by any Gentleman of the Army who may think proper.

It has been reported to the Commander in chief that a large quantity of Filth remains between the Hutts of the 5th. 8th. 3d. and 4th. Massachusetts Regiments. He directs that it be immediately removed.

As the Weather is now favorable the General requests that the communication between the wings of the Army may be perfected, he supposes the materials are already collected and that there will be no interruption to the business. General Dayton will be pleased to appoint a person or persons in the right wing to superintend the work and see that it is properly done. Genl. Putnam will do the same in the left wing.

If the Brigades and corps have not themselves divided the ground; it will be proportioned as follows: Jersey Brigade 219 Feet; York do. allowing the 2d. regt. the materials collected by the 3d. Massa. regiment 216; Hampshire Brigade 178; 1st. Massa. do. 354; 6th. do. Regiment 122; 2d. do. Brigade 351; To

tal 1440.

The Jersey Brigade takes its proportion at the western, and the 2nd. Massa. Brigade at the Eastern extremity: the other Brigades and Corps in their order of encampment.

On March 18 Washington wrote to Brig. Gen. Rufus Putnam, authorizing a board of officers to settle the relative rank of Capts. Sylvanus Smith, John Burnham, and others, of the Massachusetts line. This draft is in the Washington Papers.

TO CHEVALIER DE LA LUZERNE

Head Quarters, March 19, 1783. Sir: I am exceedingly obliged to your Excellency, for your communication of the 15th of this month. The Articles of Treaty between America and Great Britain, as they stand in connection with a general pacification, are so very inconclusive, that I am fully in sentiment with you, that we should hold ourselves in a hostile position, prepared for either alternative, War or Peace.

I shall confer with the Duke de Lauzun on the objects you are pleased to mention, and as I have ever viewed the practice of the States, in supplying the Enemy in New York with the means of subsistence, as a very pernicious one in its Tendency, both to ourselves and our Allies, you may depend upon me to exert every measure in my power to prevent it.

I am at all times happy in receiving any intelligence from your Excellency, and should it be in your power to announce a general Peace, you cannot make a more pleasing communication to me; persuaded of the pure and benevolent intentions which animate the breast of his Most Christian Majesty, I am assured, if that happy event should not result from the present negotiation, that the failure will not rest on his part. I have the honor etc."

45

TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL

WILLIAM STEPHENS SMITH

Head Quarters, Newburgh, March 19, 1783.

Dear Sir: The Commander in Chief has reced a Letter from a Mr. Richd Corbin of Laneville in Virginia, desiring him to

“In the writing of Benjamin Walker. From the original in the Paris Archives, Aff. Etrang., Mems. et Docs., E. U., vol. 6.

1783]

PEACE TREATY

237

cause Enquiry to be made for his Son Dicky, who left his Father in the Year 1775, and went to England to secure a family Claim to an Estate in England and in Jamaica. The Father is informed, that his Son is now in N York, and wishes to get a certainty of the Fact. His Excellency desires you to take measures, such as you shall think proper, to gain some knowledge of the Young Gentleman, and if in N York, to give us what Information you can obtain of him.**

The inclosed Letter for Sir Guy Carleton was transmitted to the Commr in Chief, by Mr Livingston Sectry of foreign Affairs. You will please to forward it to N York taking notice, for your future Government, of the Exchange that has been agreed to by Doctr Franklin. I am etc.""

47

*To THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS

Head Quarters, March 19, 1783.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge your Excellency's favor of the 12th inst. and to thank you most sincerely for the Intelligence you was pleased to communicate.48

The Articles of Treaty between America and Great Britain, are as full and satisfactory, as we have reason to expect; but from the connection in which they stand, with a general pacification, they are very inconclusive and contingent: from this circumstance, compared with such other Intelligence as I have

48

On this same day (March 19) Washington wrote to Richard Corbin that inquiry would be made for his son in New York. This draft is in the Washington Papers. "The draft is in the writing of and the letter sent is signed by Jonathan Trumbull, jr. 'Boudinot's letter (March 12) stated that Capt. Joshua Barney, in the packet Washington, left L'Orient on January 17, arrived in Philadelphia on the morning of March 12, and brought the preliminary treaty of peace between Great Britain and the United States which had been signed by the commissioners at Paris on the 30th of November. Boudinot enumerated the substance of the various articles of the treaty. In a letter to Washington, also dated March 12, Robert R. Livingston forwarded the complete text of Arts. 5 and 6. Sir Guy Carleton forwarded to Washington, for transmission to Congress, a copy of the preliminary treaty, in a letter of March 19. Carleton's letter is in the Washington Papers.

been able to collect, I must confess, I have my fears, that we shall be obliged to worry thro' another Campaign, before we arrive at that happy period, which is to crown all our Toils.

Any Intelligence from your Excellency will, at all Times, be very agreeable to me; but should it be in your power to announce a general Peace, you could not make me more happy, than in the communication of such an Event. With the highest Regard etc."

TO THE SECRETARY AT WAR

Head Quarters, March 19, 1783. Sir: I have received from Capt Kirkwood, the Arrangement of the Officers of the Delaware Battalion, which has my Approbation. Capts. Wm McKennan and George Purvis,50 will, by their Consent, also continue in Service, to do the Duty of P Master and Adjutant.

Should it be tho't proper to collect that Battalion together, it is more probable that they may be called to join the Main Army, than to be ordered to any other place; they will therefore, remain as they are, for the present.

The proposal mentioned in your Letter of the 8th. for callg on deranged Officers to Attend the Discipline of the Troops in the Main Army, meets my full Approbation, and should it be tho't proper to have it carried into effect, I think it may be attended with very salutary Consequences. It is not in my power, from Recollection to name the Officers, who would be most suitable for this purpose. The Baron 51 I expect will soon be on, and should the Measure be adopted by Congress, the Nomination may be seasonably made. I am &c."

In the writing of Jonathan Trumbull, jr.

52

50 Both Captain McKennan and Captain Purvis served to the close of the war.

51 Baron Von Steuben.

52

The draft is in the writing of Jonathan Trumbull, jr.