Letter George Washington to Morristown, New Jersey, Detachment Commanding Officer, December 30, 1776
The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745-1799. John C. Fitzpatrick, Editor.--vol. 06
Sir: I have the pleasure to acquaint you that the Continental Regiments from the Eastern Governments, have, to a Man, agreed to stay Six weeks beyond their Term of Inlistment, which was to have expired the last day of this Month; For this extraordinary mark of their Attachment to their Country, I have agreed to give them a Bounty of Ten Dollars pr Man, besides their pay running on. I hope this noble Example will be followed by the four Regiments under your Command; promise them the Same Reward and endeavour to work upon them by every Means in your power; let them Know the Militia are pouring in from all Quarters and only want Veteran Troops, to lead them on. (13) Since our Success at this place on the 26th., the Enemy have evacuated all the Country below, they went off in the greatest hurry and Confusion. I beg you will collect all the Men you possibly can about Chatham, and after gaining the proper Intelligence, endeavour to strike a Stroke upon Elizabeth Town or that Neighbourhood; at any rate be ready to cooperate with me. Let me hear what Success you have with your Troops as soon as possible. I am &c. (14)
[Note 13: On December 27 Congress resolved "That General Washington be empowered to use every endeavour, by giving bounties and otherwise, to prevail upon the troops, whose time of inlistment shall expire at the end of the month, to stay with the army so long after that period, as its situation shall render their stay necesary." The Commander in Chief was also empowered to appoint a Commissary of Prisoners and a Clothier General and fix then' salaries. Also to fix a system of promotion in the Army "which, in his opinion, and that of the general officers with him, will produce most general satisfaction; that it be suggested to him, whether a promotion of field officers in the colonial line, and of captains and subalterns in the regimental line, would not be the most proper." Also Washington was vested with full powers to raise the 16 Additional Continental regiments at large, to appoint the officers, to arrange for supplies, etc. These powers were to be in force for six months. These resolves were copied out by George Clymer, attested by Clymer, Robert Morris, and George Walton; and transmitted to Washington from Philadelphia on December 31. They are in the Washington Papers. Sparks prints the resolves in full, with brief comment, in the Appendix to volume 4 of Writings of Washington, p. 550. Ford prints them as a footnote, vol. 5, P-140.]
[Note 14: The draft is in the writing of Tench Tilghman.]
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