1783] NEW YORK EVACUATION 259 powers will not permit such request, it is certainly not consistent with my Duty, to grant an Indulgence, which they reject. I am etc.87 GENERAL ORDERS Head Quarters, Newburgh, Tuesday, March 25, 1783. Parole Quadruple. Countersigns Rotterdam, Scotland. JMajor Reading. For the day tomorrow B. Q. Mr. York brigade. The Maryland Detachment gives the Guards tomorrow. By the United States in Congress Assembled, March 18th. 1783. On the report of a committee to whom was referred a letter of the 12, from the Commander in Chief. Ordered, That the Superintendant of finance lay before Congress an account of the payments made to the army, in consequence of the resolution of the 25 day of January last, and what sums the state of the public finances will enable him to pay to the army at present; and also that he communicate to Congress what steps have been taken towards settling the accounts of the army since the said resolution. The Newhampshire regiment will march on thursday next, to relieve the third Massa. regimt. on the Lines. TO MAJOR BENJAMIN TALLMADGE Head Quarters, March 25, 1783. Sir: It is more than probable that the Orders to Sir Guy Carleton by the last Packet, are decisive as to the Evacuation or holding N York. As it is important to our Operations to have as early knowledge of this Determination as possible, and having great Dependance on your Channel of Intelligence, I am anxious to have you exert your most diligent Endeavours, to obtain all the Information you can, of what is passing in N York since the Arrival of the Packet. What is the Genl Rumour; what their Movements or Operations; the state and No of their Transports, and Ships of War; What the Number, State and Situation of their Troops; whether any Embarkation is meditated, and to what part if any. And in General, any Information that may be useful to us in present Circumstances. The present anxious incertitude as to a general Pacification, renders our watchful Observations of more importance than common; that we may if possible be able to penetrate the Designs of our Enemy. If another Campaign is to be expected, the sooner we are ascertained of its Necessity the Better, that our preparations may be prosecuted with Vigor. The more frequent and the more particular your Communications are, the more agreeable will they prove. I am &c.68 GENERAL ORDERS Head Quarters, Newburgh, Parole Paris. Countersigns London, Philadelphia. My dear Knox: Such as I have, I give unto thee. God grant the News may be true. But whether it is, or not, the late con The draft is in the writing of Jonathan Trumbull, jr. 1783] FORAGEMASTER'S CONDUCT 261 duct of the Army will redound to the immortal honor of it." Yrs. etc.TO 70 For duty the 1st. York regiment. At the general courtmartial of which Colonel M. Jackson is president, Mr. Samuel Evans, Forage Master, charged, Ist. With making false charges of the Issues of forage to divers officers of the Army. 2ndly. With making false returns of his Issues. 3dly. With forging receipts to be produced as Vouchers for his Issues of forage was tried. The Court on consideration are of opinion that the 1st. and 2d. charges against Mr. Evans are supported; on the 3d. charge they are of opinion that Mr. Evans put a fictitious name to a receipt for a quantity of forage to be produced as a Voucher; but it appears at the same time that the hay was received; the Court, as they think Mr. Evans's Conduct proceeded more from neglect and Inattention, than an intention, to defraud, only sentence him to be mulched three months pay. The General approves the opinion of the court; but is induced, from the representations which have been made of the good character of Mr. Evans, to remit the sentence. "No letter from Knox explanatory of this is now found in the Washington Papers. It may refer to the receipt of the news of the resolve of Congress of March 22, continuing the officers then in the Army in service to the end of the war and granting them 5 years full pay with 6 per cent interest, in lieu of half-pay for life. 70 From a photostat of the original kindly furnished by Gabriel Welles, of Ridgefield, Conn. TO MAJOR GENERAL HENRY KNOX Head Quarters, March 27, 1783. Dear Sir: Since you left me, a Servant of the Marquis de la Fayette has arrived with Dispatches. The Marquis sent him in the Packet from Cadiz. I enclose a summary of the Articles as published in Philadelphia; also a Copy of the Communication from the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, and an Extract of a Letter from His Excellency the Minister of France for your satisfaction. It likewise gives me great pleasure to have received the following Assurance from a Gentleman in Congress. "The measures of the Army are such as I could have wished them, and will add lustre to their character as well as strengthen the hands of Congress." With the greatest regard etc." [MS.H.S.] To CAPTAIN GEORGE HURLBUT Head Quarters, March 27, 1783. Sir: His Excellency, sensible of your Merits, and attentive to your wishes, desires me to reply to your Letter of Yesterday: and to inform you that he will take much pleasure in contributing, by any Means in his power, to alliviate your Misfortunes; and will most readily comply with your Requests. A few Days will determine whether it will be necessary to obtain from Sir Guy Carleton or Admiral Digby, passports for your going by Water to N London: should Circumstances require it, no delay will be made to prevent your being furnished by the Time you mention. The Q. M Genl will have Orders to procure a Suitable Vessel, and your Friend Mr Colfax" will be permitted to attend you. "The draft is in the writing of David Humphreys. T2 Capt. William Colfax. 1783] NEWS OF PEACE 263 During your Stay in this Neighbourhood, if the Genl Stores can furnish any little Comfitures to supply your Desire or gratify your Wishes, you have only to hint your Wants, and they will be cheerfully attended to. I am etc.73 To GOVERNOR GEORGE CLINTON Head Quarters, March 27, 1783. Dr Sir: I take the first moment of forwardg to your Excellency, the Dispatches of the Secry of Foreign Affairs; which contain, I presume, all the Intelligence respecting Peace, on which happy and glorious Event, permit me to congratulate you with the greatest sincerity. With perfect respect etc." GENERAL ORDERS Friday, March 28, 1783. Parole peace. Countersigns Independence, Plenty. Officers for the day tomorrow [Major Scott. B. Q. M. 3d. Massa. Brigade. For duty the 2d. York regiment Altho' the public dispatches from our Commissioners in Europe have not arrived, and the Commander in Chief has it not in his power to announce officially a general Peace to the Army, yet he cannot resist the pleasure of communicating the happiness he experiences from a certainty of that Event, and for the satisfaction of every brave officer and soldier under his command he orders the following Extract of a Letter from his Excellency the Minister of France to be made public. Philadelphia, March 24, 1783. Sir: It is with the most lively and sincere joy that I have the honor to inform your Excelly. of the conclusion of a peace. It crowns in the "The draft is in the writing of and is signed “J. T—————]].” "The draft is in the writing of David Humphreys. |