Washington, George, 1732-1799. The writings of George Washington from the original manuscript sources: Volume 12
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To THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS

   Head Quarters, White Plains, August 31, 1778.

    Sir: I would take the liberty to inform Congress, that Colo. Armand is come to camp with his Corps and has applied to me for commissions for his Officers. By the Resolution for establishing the Corps, it was to be officered out of the Foreigners then commissioned in our service, who were not, nor could be provided for in any of the Regiments. Instead of this, there are only three Officers in his Corps, who before held any Commissions in our service Viz: Lieut. Colo. Vrigny 31 and Captains Mercley and Shafner. 32 The Two last were only Lieutenants and are now appointed to Captaincies, contrary, it seems to me, to the spirit and intention of the Resolution. 33 As Colo. Armand has departed from his instructions which must govern me, I am not authorised to grant the Commissions he requires, and am therefore under the necessity of troubling Congress, with the arrangement of the Corps, No. 1, 34 as it now actually stands for their consideration and decision. The Colonel founds his deviation from the Resolve upon some verbal intimation given him, that the part in question would not be insisted on.

[Note:Resigned in October, 1778. ]
[Note:Capts. Charles Markit and George Shaftnet. Both had been in Pulaski's Legion. ]
[Note:The resolve of June 25, 1778. (See Journals of the Continental Congress .) ]
[Note:This arrangement (inclosure No. 1), in Armand's writing, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress , No. 152, 6, 383. It is indorsed by Charles Thomson: "Arrangement of Armand's Corps made by the sd. Armand wch. Genl. Washington cannot confirm. referred to the board War." ]

    I would also take the liberty to mention, that General Du Portail lately delivered me a Memorial, 35 in which among other things he represents that he had made an agreement with Congress, at his first appointment, that neither himself nor the other Gentlemen with him, should ever be commanded by any of the Engineers who had preceded them in our Army. I could not but answer, that the Commissions of Officers were the only rule of precedency and command I had to judge by; and while others held superior appointments, I must consider them accordingly in the course of service. He gave me the inclosed Letter to you upon the subject and is extremely anxious to have the matter placed upon a certain footing; and no doubt it will be for the good and tranquility of the service that the claim be determined as speedily as possible one way or the other. At the same time I think it right to observe, that it cannot be expected that Colo. Cosciusko, 36 who has been a good while in this line

[Note:This inclosure, which should have been numbered 2, is dated August 27 and is in the Papers of the Continental Congress , No. 41, 8, 54. ]
[Note:Col. Thaddeus Kosciuszko. ]
and conducted himself with reputation and satisfaction will consent to act in a subordinate capacity to any of the French Gentlemen, except General Portail.

    The frequent condemnations to capital punishment, for want of some intermediate one between that and a Hundred lashes (the next highest under our present military articles) and the necessity of frequent pardons in consequence, induced me a few days ago, to lay the matter before a Board of Officers for them to consider, whether some mode might not be devised of equal or greater efficacy for preventing crimes and punishing Delinquents when they had happened, less shocking to humanity and more advantageous to the States, than that of Capital execution. The inclosed paper No. 3, 37 contains the opinion of the Board upon the subject, which with all deference I submit to the consideration of Congress and doubt not but they will adopt the expedient suggested, if it shall appear in anywise calculated to promote the service. I will only observe before I conclude upon this occasion, that when I call the Board to consult upon the point, there were Eleven prisoners under sentence of death, and probably many more for trial, in the different guards on charges that would effect their lives.

[Note:This was a copy of the proceedings of the Council of General Officers, Aug. 20, 1778, ante.]

    Since I had the honor of writing you on the 25th Inst. I have not received a single line from General Sullivan. The only intelligence I have from the Eastward is from Monsr. Pontjebeau. 38 This Gentleman left Rhode Island the 27th inst. and arrived about Two Hours ago in Camp. From him I learn that that our people were still on the Island. That it was generally thought they had made effectual provision for a retreat in case of exigency. That in the evening of that day he met Monsr. Preville, 39

[Note:Pontgibaud, Comte de Moré, Chevalier de, aide to Lafayette. ]
[Note:Chevalier de Preville is given in Combattants Français de la Guerre Americane as an ensign on Le Zélé, D'Estaing's fleet. ]
an Officer belonging to the Languedoc, at Providence, going with dispatches to Genl. Sullivan, who informed him that the French fleet had got into Boston. He further adds, that Monsr. Colonne, 40 who was in company with him at Providence and who had more conversation with Mr. Preville than he himself had, told him, that M. Preville said Count D'Estaing had sailed or was on the point of sailing again for Rhode Island with 10 Ships of the line and his Frigates. I have the Honor etc.

[Note:Capt. Louis St. Ange, Chevalier de la Colombe. He was aide to Lafayette. ]

    P.S. Your favor of the 20th only came to hand just now. 41

[Note:In the writing of Robert Hanson Harrison. The letter was read in Congress on September 3 and referred to the Board of War. ]