stopped by General McDougal; but as his Excellency never directed it to be done, they remain unsettled. I remain your obedient servant, THOMAS REED, Esq., New Windsor. JOHN PIERCE. MORRISTOWN, Feb. 9, 1780. SIR-As I conclude you are detained by business from giving us the pleasure of your company in this town, and possibly may not have an opportunity this winter, I could wish you would do me the favor to send the warrants you have taken up for me by some careful hand, to whom I will deliver your receipt. I am about settling my accounts, and can proceed no further without those vouchers. The difficulty in obtaining money from the public treasury has occasioned my chest to be empty the greater part of the winter, for which reason I have been asked several times at head-quarters if that sum was returned. I make no doubt, sir, but yourself and Mrs. Hay are enjoying every happiness which results from integrity and virtue; and can only add, that none among the circle of your acquaintance wishes more than myself for its continuance. You will please to present my best regards to your lady, and believe me to be, with sincerity, Your obedient servant, JOHN PIERCE. PAY OFFICE, PHIladelphia, Feb. 9, 1780. GENTLEMEN :-I inclose you a copy of a letter from Mr. Pierce, who requests a further sum of 500,000 dollars to complete the payment of the main army to January 1st. I likewise inclose you a letter from Mr. Blount, Deputy Paymaster-general in North Carolina, who is out of cash. Benjamin Harrison, Deputy Paymastergeneral in Virginia, informs me that his chest is also empty; but the necessities of the two latter seem not to be very pressing. I am, gentlemen, with due respect, Your Honorable Board of Treasury. very humble servant, J. BURRALL, Ass't Pay. Gen. NEW WINDSOR, Feb. 12, 1780. DEAR PIERCE :-I arrived here the 1st inst., and found at Gen eral Heath's quarters 250,000 dollars, and a few days after I received per Lieutenant Williams 50,000 dollars. I have given General Heath a receipt for the first, and to Lieutenant Williams one for the latter sum. This 300,000 dollars, with what I brought with me, is not sufficient to answer all the demands in this quarter. However, I will do the best I can. I have made a return to Philadelphia for the sum I think necessary to pay the troops their November and December pay, which I expect along in about a fortnight. My business is very brisk, therefore you must excuse this scrawl. The first leisure shall be more particular, only let me add, and I hope you will join me in my prayer, and that is, to implore the fates to blast the authors of my removal from Albany. Cursed at New Windsor is an equal curse, and I give it to them with all my heart. In haste, I remain yours sincerely, JOHN PIERCE, Esq. THOMAS REed. PAY OFFICE, PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 12, 1780. SIR-In the absence of Colonel Palfrey, who is gone to Boston, I have regularly received your returns to the last of December. I should have answered your questions concerning the subsistence of the staff of the army, state troops, militia, &c., had Congress enabled me to do it; but they have not yet extended the subsistence, allowed by the resolve of the 18th of August, to any but those specified in that resolve, except those mentioned in the inclosed list. If by the state troops you mean those of the sixteen battalions, which were raised at the request of General Washington, after the eight battalions formed, they are undoubtedly entitled to the same subsistence as the others. With regard to the militia, I can give no answer. Your very humble servant, J. BURRALL. BENJAMIN STELLE, Esq PAY OFFICE, PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 14, 1780. SIR-I send you 500,000 dollars per Messrs. Saxton and Hunt, escorts. I likewise send 75 quills, some wax, and the Journals of Congress to December 31, 1779. I wrote you yesterday by Mr. Hodgdon. I am, sir, your obedient servant, JOHN PIERCE, Esq. J. BURRALL. PAY OFFICE, PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 21, 1780. GENTLEMEN :-I inclose you a letter from Mr. Reed, Deputy Paymaster-general for the troops under the command of General Heath, who requests 500,000 dollars to enable him to pay off the troops in that department. I have the honor to be your obedient servant, Honorable Board of Treasury. J. BURRALL. MORRISTOWN, Feb. 27, 1780. SIR-Yours of the 18th ult. and 6th inst. are now before me. I am obliged to you for attending to Colonel Campbell's letter and the stoppages. The following expenses for recruiting men during the war, I believe you have never had transmitted to you: Sept. 30, 1779-Paid by Mr. Pierce to Patrick Bennett, for $5,000 4,000 Jan. 7, 1780-Paid by Colonel Palfrey, Paymaster-general, to Lieutenant Henry Willis, of the 4th regiment of light Jan. 7, 1780-Paid by ditto to Lieutenant Larkin Smith, of the same regiment, for recruiting, 4,000 4,000 Making in all, . $17,000 I am your obedient servant, JOHN PIERCE. WM. BEDLOW, Esq. MORRISTOWN, March 1, 1780. SIR-Since mine of the 8th ultimo, I have advanced money to the following persons in your department: Feb. 17, 1780-James Legar, 1st North Carolina regiment, for pay and subsistence from March 1, 1779, to January 23, 1780, being then discharged, $195 Feb. 28, 1780-Brigadier-general Hand, for Martin Medder and William Earles, privates in the 13th Virginia regiment, for pay and subsistence from May 1, 1778, to Nov. 1, 1779, 276 Feb. 29, 1780-Major Oliver Towles, 6th Virginia regiment, SIR-By this conveyance you will receive my account current for February. I am now preparing to pay the army the two last months, which will require 1,500,000 dollars. This sum I wish to have forwarded before the end of the present month-your particular attention to which will oblige Your most obedient servant, J. BURRALL, Esq., Philadelphia. JOHN PIERCE. PAY OFFICE, PHILADELPHIA, March 1, 1780. GENTLEMEN:-By a resolve of Congress of the 29th May last, it was directed that returns should be made to the Paymaster-general of all money which has been advanced for the pay, &c., of the Continental army in the different departments, that the proper charges might be made in his books, in pursuance of which most of the accounts have been collected. But on examining the general account of payments made by Mr. Trumbull, late Paymastergeneral in the Northern department, which is lodged in this office, I find it does not in every instance particularly specify the purpose for which the payment was made. I cannot therefore proceed to enter them in the Paymaster-general's books until I can obtain the vouchers to his accounts, which are lodged in the Commissioners' office at Albany. I must therefore request that the Commissioners may be directed to forward them to this office as soon as possible. A further supply of cash is wanted for this office, as the chest is nearly empty, and there are demands on it daily. Two hundred thousand dollars will be sufficient. I have the honor, gentlemen, to be, with the greatest respect, your very humble servant, Honorable Board of Treasury. J. BURRALL, Ass't Pay. Gen. PAY OFFICE, PHILADELPHIA, March 2, 1780. SIR-I received yours of the 5th ultimo about three weeks after the date, and made application to the Board of Treasury for the sum you request; but the treasury being low, I could obtain only 300,000 dollars, which I send you, under the care of Messrs. White and Gray, escorts. I likewise send you some paper and sealing-wax. I am, sir, your humble servant, THOS. REED, Esq., New Windsor. J. BURRALL. PHILADELPHIA, March 14, 1780. SIR-In the absence of Colonel Palfrey, who is gone to Boston, I have regularly received your monthly returns to the 31st December, 1779, and duly noticed them. Your favor of the 10th ult. to Colonel Palfrey, requesting a supply of money to pay the troops under the command of General Scott, did not come to hand till yesterday. I laid it before the Treasury Board this day, and have not yet had an answer; but as the treasury is very much exhausted, and the troops for whose pay you requested it (they conclude) have marched before this time, I rather think they will not spare any money for your department at present, as there are other demands more pressing. I will let you know as soon as I get their answer. |