Year of 1782- Primary Historical Documents & Maps - Geographers Department, Continental Army, 1777-1783

The Cartographers and Surveyors of the Continental Army in the War for American Independence
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1782
Elias Boudinot to Nathanael Greene, March 30th, 1782	War Office, April 10, 1782	Washington to Lincoln, April 22, 1782
General Orders, November 8, 1782			Congress November 12, 1782
Washington to Lincoln, November 27, 1782	General Orders, November 27, 1782

Letters of Delegates to Congress: Volume 18 March 1, 1781 - August 31, 1781
Elias Boudinot to Nathanael Greene, March 30th, 1782

    Dear Sir, Philadelphia March 30t 1782 My very particular Friend Capt. Hutchins Geographer to the united States, being ordered for the Southern Army under your Command, I take the liberty to recommend him in the most special Manner to your Notice. If a Knowledge of this Gentleman for upwards of fifteen Years in which he has supported a most unexceptionable Character both as a Gentleman, an Officer and an undaunted Friend to his Country, will warrant my using this Freedom, I am fully justifyed.
    His abilities as an Engineer, have been long acknowledged in the British Army, and you may depend on his being thoroughly qualified for the department at the Head of which Congress have most judiciously placed him.
    You will find him a Gentleman of great Candor, Integrity & Firmness. Any Civilities you may think proper to shew him, will be all ways acknowledged as done to, My Dear Sir, Your most obed Hbl Ser, Elias Boudinot

On Captain Elliot's petition referred to me in which he requests that it may be ascertained what proportion of his travelling expences shall be borne by the public, and that money may be advanced to bear his expences to the Southern Army--

I beg leave to observe that on the 8th Ulto, he was appointed an assistant geographer to the United States with the pay of two dollars, and one ration per day. If he considered this provision as inadequate, would it not have been much better for him and the public, to have declined the office--for if after such establishments, new claims are made and admitted, it will be impossible to determine the expences of the United States.

An advance of two months pay (which he may receive in common with other officers) and his ration money will enable him to proceed to the Southward where farther provision must be made for him.¹

[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 149, I, folio 245. It was read on this day, the indorsement states. Elliot's letter is on folio 237.
On this day, as the endorsement indicates, was read a letter of January 29 from the Marquis de Lafayette. It is in No. 156, folio 264.

Dear Sir: The inclosed List of Officers of the Staff²⁵ a, who were not allowed Servants by the late Regulation, is the best I have been able to form; the number of servants annexed to each appears to be reasonable; it may not comprehend the whole, in which case you can make the necessary addition. I have the honor etc.²⁶

[Note 25: The list inclosed is a separate memorandum in the writing of Benjamin Walker and David Humphreys, and is as follows:

Parole Xerxes. Countersigns Yarmouth, Zeland. For duty tomorrow the Jersey brigade.

The Quarter Master general having represented his inability to procure forage during the Winter for the whole number of horses allowed to the General and other officers of the Line and Staff who remain with the troops in the New Windsor Cantonments, has proposed to supply in the following proportion, which has been approved by the Commander in Chief: To a Major Genl. Rations for three horses; each of his Aides, 1. Brigr. and Adjutant Genl., 3. Brigr. General, 2, His aid, I. Inspector of the Northern army and Assistant Inspector, each 2. As they will have to visit and Muster Detachts. Each field officer, 1. Captain of Engineers, 1. Brigade Major, 1. Brigade Qr. Master, 1. Regimental Pay Master, 1. Assistant of Adjt. General etc, 1. Geographer and Assistt. together, 1. Judge Advocate, 1. Director of Hospitals, 2; each hospital Physician, 1. Apothecary, I. Purveyor or Steward, 1. Chaplain, 1. Commissary of Prisoners, 2. His business often requiring his absence. Quarter Master Genl., 2. Each of his Assistants, 1. Commissary of forage, 2; each of his Assistants who are employed riding in the country, 1. Waggon Master Genl., 2; Each of his assistance employed on duty of riding, 1.

It will be optional in those who are entitled to keep a greater number of horses than are allowed in the foregoing, to deliver up the surplus to the Quarter Master General who will send them to some distance from Camp and keep them at public expence, or they may keep them at their own charge and he will pay them the amount of the rations which such horses would have drawn had they remained with the army.

Dear Sir: I have been honored with your favor of the 20th. covering a Resolve making provision for the Geographers of the Army and another explanatory of the Resolve of the 7th. of Augt. A Question has been made whether The Liberty for senior Officers intitled to remain in service, to retire upon half pay, is confined to those Lines which are now to be reformed or whether the allowance is general. Be pleased to answer this as soon as possible, as I expect applications.

I have yet heard nothing from New Hampshire, New Jersey is taking measures to fill her Battalions to 500 Rank and File.

Hazens Regt. is so respectable at present that I should not think a reform expedient at this time. He probably may have more Officers than the establishment requires; if so, the supernumeraries may be put upon the footing of those in other Corps.

I pray your attention to the Shirts for the Army. They are extremely wanted, and I wish an answer to my letter of the 6th. Inst. respecting the general supply of Cloathing for the next Year.

I have granted a permit for the Ship Amazon to proceed from New York to Wilmington with Cloathing &c. for the Prisoners of War in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia. I inclose you a Copy of it. I have informed Sir Guy Carleton of the consequences of putting other Goods than those really intended for the prisoners, on board the Flag, and have desired him to direct Capt. Armstrong⁴⁶ to make you a Return upon his arrival at Wilmington of the number of Packages under the

[Note 46: Capt. Thomas Armstrong, of the One Hundred and Second Foot. He was assistant deputy quartermaster general, British Army in America.] Care and their Contents. You will then be pleased to furnish him with the necessary passports to the interior Country. I have the honor etc.

P.S. We have such a great number of Arms become useless for the want of small repairs, that I am very anxious some measures should be fallen upon this winter to make our stock good. I submit to you, whether a Company of German Artificers. a Contract for repairing Arms, or some other immediate and effectual expedients, are not essential to the success of our future prospects.

The Inspector has represented the necessity of having Company Books sent on before the close of the year, as it will be impossible to have the accounts kept regularly without them; it is for that reason I wish it might be done.⁴⁷

[Note 47: The draft is in the writing of Tench Tilghman; the P.S. is in that of David Humphreys.]

Whereas no provision has been made by Congress for the geographers to the armies of the United States ; therefore,

Resolved, That the geographer to the main army and the geographer to the southern department, be each of them allowed sixty dollars per month, three rations per day, forage for two saddle horses, one two-horse covered waggon, six dollars and two-thirds of a dollar per month for a servant, for whom they shall be entitled to draw one ration per day, and the cloathing allowed to a private soldier.

That the assistant geographers if such officer shall be judged necessary by the Commander in Chief, be allowed thirty dollars per month, one ration per day, and forage for one saddle horse.

That when chain-bearers shall be employed, not being soldiers, they shall each be allowed half a dollar per day.

The Cloathier general having reported that he can make a distribution of shoes, stockings, and a few blankets to the troops, the regimental Paymasters are directed to call for their respective proportions.

The Commander in Chief has the pleasure of announcing that a delivery of two shirts per man will shortly be made to the whole Army.

Tomorrow being thanksgiving day a Gill of West India rum per man is to be delivered to the troops.

The Fatigue party from the 10th. Massa . regimt. employed in removing Military Stores from Fishkill landing and Fishkill are to be relieved this afternoon by a like number from the 9th. The 10th. regiment being to march to Verplanks point tomorrow to assist in repairing the Fortifications at that post. Colonel Tupper will please to apply at Head Quarters this evening for instructions.