THE PAY DEPARTMENT.

JOURNALS OF THE AMERICAN (CONTINENTAL) CONGRESS.

June 16, 1775.

Resolved, That there be one Paymaster-General, and a deputy under him, for the Army in a separate department; that the pay for the Paymaster-General himself be one hundred dollars per month, and for the deputy paymaster under him, fifty dollars per month.

July 27, 1775.

Resolved, That the paymaster give bond, with two sureties, in the sum of fifty thousand dollars for the faithful performance of his

office.

That the bond be made payable to the same persons to whom the bonds of the Continental treasurers are payable.

James Warren, esq., was then unanimously elected PaymasterGeneral.

Resolved, That the paymaster in the New York Department give bond to the same persons as above directed, with two sureties, in the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars, for the faithful performance of his office.

July 28, 1775.

The Congress then proceeded to the election of a paymaster for the forces in the New York Department, when Jonathan Trumbull, jr., esq., was unanimously elected to that office.

July 29, 1775.

Resolved, That the Paymaster-General,

and every [one] of

their deputies, shall take an oath truly and faithfully to discharge the duties of their respective stations.

Resolved,

monthly.

Resolved,

December 2, 1775.

That the troops in the new Army be paid

January 9, 1776.

That the deputy paymaster-general have liberty

to appoint under him two assistant paymasters, who shall each receive 26 2/3 dollars per month for their trouble and services.

That all the officers and soldiers in the northern department be paid in person by the deputy paymaster-general, or the assistants to be appointed by him in consequence of the foregoing resolve.

Resolved,

February 15, 1776.

That a paymaster be appointed for the troops

in Virginia, and that his pay be 50 dollars per month.

The Congress then proceeded to the election, and Benjamin Harrison, jr., of Berkeley, was chosen.

April 21, 1776.—Resignation of Paymaster-General Warren was accepted.

April 27, 1776.

Congress proceeded to the election of a Paymaster-General, in the room of Mr. Warren, whose resignation was accepted; and the ballots being taken and examined,

William Palfrey, esq., was elected.

May 4, 1776.-"The honorable the Continental Congress have been pleased to appoint William Palfrey, esq., to be Paymaster-General of the Army of the United Colonies." (Orders, General Headquarters, New York.)

Resolved,

June 5, 1776.

That the Paymaster-General and the deputy paymaster-general make monthly returns to Congress of their expenditures and the state of the military chests in their several departments.

June 12, 1776.

Congress proceeded to the election of a deputy paymaster-general for the eastern department, and, the ballots being taken, Ebenezer Hancock was elected unanimously.

July 17, 1776.

The Congress proceeded to the election of a deputy paymastergeneral for the flying camp, and, the ballots being taken, Richard Dallam, esq., was elected.

August 2, 1776.

Resolved,

That the Paymaster-General and the several deputy paymasters-general be directed to make weekly returns to Congress of the state of the military chests under their direction.

October 21, 1776.

Resolved,

That the rations allowed to the several officers on the staff in the Army of the United States, not heretofore settled, be as follows:

To the

deputy paymaster-general, 6 rations.

December 24, 1779.-"The honorable the Board of War having procured a small supply of shirts and linen and directed the distribution of them among the officers

of the

staff, who are not adopted by any State: the clothier-general is to deliver them upon returns signed by the heads of the following corps and departments at the rates directed by a resolve of Congress of the 25th of November deputy paymaster-general." Orders, General Headquarters,

last: Morristown.)

January 18, 1777.

Congress proceeded to the election of a paymaster in Baltimore, and, the ballots being taken,

Mr. Jonathan Hudson was elected.

January 30, 1777.

That the salary of

Jonathan Trumbull,

Resolved, esq., deputy paymaster-general of the northern department, be augmented to the sum of 75 dollars per month.

April 1, 1777.

Resolved, That the pay of the assistant paymasters in the northern department be augmented to 40 dollars a month, and that they be allowed three rations a day.

April 2, 1777.

Resolved, That the paymaster and deputy paymaster-general, at the end of every month after the first day of May next, shall make up rolls containing the names of the general and other officers of the army to which they respectively belong who are not comprised in the regimental abstracts, excepting only the commander in chief of the several departments, who shall respectively examine such rolls.

April 9, 1777.

Resolved, That the paymaster and the deputy paymasters-general be directed forthwith to consult the commanders in chief of their respective districts and appoint deputies to repair to such posts and places of rendezvous and answer the draughts of such officers stationed thereat as the said commanders in chief shall respectively direct; that the deputies be supplied with money by the respective paymaster and deputy paymasters-general, and account with them therefor, and that all other paymasters of the Army cease to act at the posts and places provided with deputies as aforesaid.

May 27, 1777.

Resolved, That the pay of the assistant deputy paymaster-general in the Northern Army be raised to 45 dollars per month.

July 11, 1777.

Resolved, That Mr. John Baynton be appointed deputy paymastergeneral to the troops and garrisons on the frontiers of Virginia and Pennsylvania.

August 1, 1777.

Resolved, That a deputy paymaster-general be appointed in the said State of Georgia.

Resolved, That the pay of the Paymaster-General be increased to 150 dollars a month.

That the pay of the deputy paymaster-general be increased to 75 dollars a month.

August 28, 1777.

Resolved, That the pay of the deputy paymaster-general of the Northern, Eastern, and Southern departments be augmented to 80 dollars per month.

That the assistants to the Paymaster-General and deputy paymastergeneral whom they are respectively authorized to appoint, when such officers shall be necessary, shall receive, for the time of their actual service, 50 dollars a month.

That the Paymaster-General and deputy paymasters-general shall be obliged, respectively, to take bond of their respective assistants appointed by them for the faithful performance of their trust, in such penalties as the Commander in Chief or commanding officer of the department shall direct.

September 10, 1777.

Congress proceeded to the election of a paymaster for the North Carolina Light Horse, in the service of the continent; and, the ballots being taken,

William Hardy was chosen.

October 4, 1777.

Resolved, That every assistant appointed, or that hereafter may be appointed, by the deputy commissaries-general of purchases and of issues shall enter into a bond . . . to be] lodged with the Paymaster-General or deputy paymaster-general of the district, to be by him transmitted to the treasury board.

November 10, 1777.-General Gates was authorized to order the Paymaster-General to pay dues to officers and men for rations allowed to them but not paid, provided that the existing regulations of the Commissary's Department on the subject be no longer dispensed with than he shall judge necessary.