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 DEMCO 38-297
 
 THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT 
 
 [legislative and administrative history] 
 
 OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY 
 
 DURING THE PERIOD OF 
 
 THE REVOLUTION 
 
 [i776'i786]
 
 John Morgan 
 
 (i 735-1 789)
 
 THE 
 MEDICAL DEPARTMENT 
 OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY 
 
 [Legislative and Administrative History] 
 
 DURING THE PERIOD OF 
 
 THE REVOLUTION 
 
 [1776- I 786] 
 
 COMPILED AND EDITED BY 
 COLONEL WILLIAM O. OWEN, U. S. ARMY 
 
 CURATOR ARMY MEDICAL MUSEUM 
 WASHINGTON, D. C. 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
 PAUL B. HOEBER 
 
 1920
 
 Copyright, 191 8, 19 19, 
 Copyright, 1920, 
 
 By PAUL B. HOEBER 
 
 Printed in the United States oj America
 
 FOREWORD 
 
 The signal service rendered by the United 
 States Army Medical Department during 
 the Great War has greatly intensified the 
 interest in the history of this organization. 
 
 Colonel William O. Owen, curator of the 
 Army Medical Museum, Washington, D. C, 
 has made a valuable contribution to medical 
 history by culling from the Journal of the 
 Provincial Congress of Massachusetts Bay 
 (1775) and the Journal of the Continental 
 Congress (i 774-1 783) the entries relating 
 to the United States Army Medical Depart- 
 ment. This material, supplemented by 
 excerpts from Thacher's Military Journal, 
 was first published serially in the Annals of 
 Medical History.^ The interest evinced 
 in these articles has led to their republica- 
 tion in book form. 
 
 The portraits of James Tilton, William 
 
 ^ Ann. Med. Hist., vol. i, nos. 2, 3 and 4. Paul B. 
 Hoeber, New York.
 
 FOREWORD 
 
 Shippen, Jr., John Morgan and James Craik 
 are added to give a more intimate contact 
 with the men who were most prominently 
 identified with the formation of the medical 
 department. These illustrations were not 
 included in the serial publication.
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 PAGE 
 
 I. Introduction i 
 
 II. From the Journals of the 
 Provincial Congress of 
 Massachusetts Bay (1775) 1 1 
 
 III. From the Journals of the 
 Continental Congress 
 (1774-1783) 28
 
 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 PAGE 
 
 John Morgan Frontispiece 
 
 William Shippen, Jr. . . Opposite 34 
 
 James Tilton "74 
 
 James Craik ** 166
 
 THE LEGISLATIVE AND ADMINIS- 
 TRATIVE HISTORY OF THE MED- 
 ICAL DEPARTMENT OF THE 
 UNITED STATES ARMY DURING 
 THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 (i 776-1 786) 
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 O far as I have been able to acquire 
 it, the original method of caring for 
 the sick and wounded in the Revo- 
 lutionary War, which is the begin- 
 ning of our medical history, was to employ 
 individual medical men wherever they might 
 be found to take care of the sick or wounded 
 who happened to fall in some particular fight 
 in their locality. 
 
 Little by little the generals in command, 
 the Provincial Congresses of the colonies, 
 and the Continental Congress of the Uni- 
 ted Colonies had medical matters forced 
 upon their attention by the numerous bills 
 coming in from doctors, here, there, and 
 everywhere that there had been a battle.
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 The Provincial Congresses and the Conti- 
 nental Congress had a number of medical 
 men in their memberships, and in looking 
 over the histories of this date we find con- 
 stant references to them. Among those who 
 were found in the legislative bodies of Mas- 
 sachusetts was Dr. Benjamin Church. He 
 was afterwards sent as a member to the 
 Continental Congress itself. He and three 
 other doctors formed the first Army Medi- 
 cal Examining Board of which we can get 
 any history, for I find in the Journal of 
 the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, 
 1775, p. 203, that on May 8th, 1775, this 
 Congress 
 
 "Ordered, That the President pro tempore, Doct. 
 Church, Doct. Taylor, Doct. Helten and Doct. 
 Dunsmore, be a committee to examine such per- 
 sons as are, or may be, recommended for surgeons 
 for the army now forming in this colony." 
 
 and they, 
 
 "Resolved, That the persons recommended by 
 the commanding officers of the several regiments, be 
 appointed as surgeons to their respective regiments 
 provided they appear to be duly qualified upon ex- 
 amination."
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 In Thacher's Military Journal, 1775- 1783, 
 on pages 34-35, we read: 
 
 "On the day appointed, the medical candidates, 
 sixteen in number, were summoned before the board 
 for examination. This business occupied about four 
 hours; the subjects were anatomy, physiology, sur- 
 gery and medicine. It was not long after, that I was 
 happily relieved from suspense, by receiving the 
 sanction and acceptance of the board, with some 
 acceptable instructions relative to the faithful dis- 
 charge of duty, and the humane treatment of those 
 soldiers who may have the misfortune to require 
 my assistance. Six of our number were privately 
 rejected as being found unqualified. The examina- 
 tion was in a considerable degree close and severe, 
 which occasioned not a little agitation in our ranks. 
 But it was on another occasion, as I am told, that a 
 candidate under examination was agitated into a 
 state of perspiration and being required to describe 
 the mode of treatment in rheumatism, among other 
 remedies said that he would promote a sweat, and 
 being asked how he would eflfect this with his pa- 
 tient, after some hesitation he replied, *I would have 
 him examined by a medical committee.' " 
 
 Thacher was so fortunate as to obtain 
 the office of surgeon's mate in the provin- 
 cial hospital at Cambridge, the senior sur- 
 geon being Dr. John Warren, brother and 
 
 3
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 pupil of the gallant General Joseph Warren, 
 who was slain in the memorable battle on 
 Breed's Hill. 
 
 "This gentleman has acquired great reputation in 
 his profession, and is distinguished for his humanity 
 and attention to the sick and wounded soldiers, and 
 for his amiable disposition. Having received my ap- 
 pointment by the Provincial Congress, I commenced 
 my duty in the hospital, July 15th. Several private, 
 but commodious houses in Cambridge are occupied 
 for hospitals, and a considerable number of soldiers 
 who were wounded at Breed's Hill, and a greater 
 number of sick of various diseases, require all our 
 attention. Dr. Isaac Foster, late of Charlestown, is 
 also appointed a senior hospital surgeon; and his 
 student, Mr. Josiah Bartlet, officiates as his mate; 
 Dr. Benjamin Church is Director General of the 
 hospital." 
 
 I find in Thacher's Military Journal, 
 1 775-1 783, on page 294, the following: 
 
 "January ist, 1781. — On this, the first day of the 
 new year, an arrangement of our army takes place, 
 according to the late resolve of Congress. The su- 
 pernumerary regiments are to be incorporated with 
 those which continue on the new establishment fixed 
 by Congress, and are to be entitled to the same 
 privileges and emoluments, which are to be allowed 
 to those who continue to the end of the war. It 
 
 4
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 being optional with me, either to retire or to con- 
 tinue in service, I shall retain my commission as 
 surgeon to Colonel H. Jackson's regiment. We are 
 encouraged to anticipate more favorable circum- 
 stances, and more liberal compensation. Congress 
 having at length passed several resolves, entitling 
 all officers who shall continue in service till the end 
 of the war, or shall be reduced before that time, as 
 supernumeraries, to receive half pay during life, and 
 a certain number of acres of land, in proportion to 
 their rank. Besides these pecuniary considerations, 
 we are actuated by the purest principles of patriot- 
 ism; having engaged in the mighty struggle, we are 
 ambitious to persevere to the end. To be instru- 
 mental in the achievement of a glorious Independ- 
 ence for our country, and posterity, will be a source 
 of infinite satisfaction, and of most grateful recol- 
 lection, during the remainder of our days. Notwith- 
 standing the unparalleled sufferings and hardships, 
 which have hitherto attended our military career, 
 scarcely an officer retires without the deepest re- 
 gret and reluctance. So strong is the attachment, 
 and so fascinating the idea of participating with 
 our illustrious commander in military glory, that a 
 separation is like a relinquishment of principle, and 
 abandonment of the great interest of our native 
 country." 
 
 The successive steps in the legislative 
 history of our Army Medical establish- 
 
 5
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 ment during the Revolution will be found 
 in the following pages, which I have care- 
 fully excerpted, from the Journals of each 
 Provincial Congress of the Colony of Mas- 
 sachusetts Bay, and from the twenty odd 
 volumes of the Journals of the Continental 
 Congress. Buried as they are in these 
 lengthy archives, such records are valueless 
 for medico-historical purposes. Presented 
 here, as purely archivistic material, they 
 are but the crude ore of medical history. 
 Yet this record is undoubtedly the basic 
 material upon which future historians must 
 rely in their work, which is my reason for 
 presenting it. To the medical officer, these 
 records are of exceptional interest; to the 
 patriot they will not seem dry and unin- 
 spiring. 
 
 Our military medical history began, as 
 we have seen, in the Colony of Massachu- 
 setts Bay. In the Journals of the Continen- 
 tal Congress, we trace the prehistory of 
 our present Army Medical Corps, from the 
 appointment of Dr. Benjamin Church as 
 Director General and Chief Physician of 
 our first Army Hospital, at a salary of four 
 
 6
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 dollars a day, to the final acts relating to 
 the reduction of the army in 1783. The 
 subsequent act of June 2, 1784, practically 
 disbanded the U. S. Army, but it was im- 
 mediately followed by acts of June 3, 1784, 
 April 7, 1785, October 20, 1786, and October 
 3, 1787, providing for the levying of troops 
 and officers to guard our Northwestern 
 frontier and other localities. These were, 
 however, only militiamen. The U. S. Army 
 proper was still non-existent. Following the 
 appointment of Major-General Henry Knox 
 as Secretary of War, on March 8, 1785, an 
 act of September 29, 1789, authorized the 
 formation of a corps of 700 men, rank and 
 file, to guard the western posts. This force 
 had a medical complement of one surgeon 
 and four surgeon's mates. These forces were 
 enlarged up to their disbandment in the 
 fall of 1 79 1, and on March 5, 1792, our 
 military forces were reorganized as a ''Le- 
 gion" by Congressional enactment, with 
 Richard AIHson, as "Surgeon to the Le- 
 gion," or Chief Medical Officer on the Gen- 
 eral Staff, at seventy dollars per month, 
 the pay of regimental surgeons (surgeon's 
 
 7
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 mates) being forty-five dollars monthly. 
 Major General Anthony Wayne command- 
 ed the whole Legion, and in August, 1794, 
 fought the decisive battle of Maumee Rap- 
 ids against the hostile Indians. The Medi- 
 cal Department was enlarged by the acts 
 of May 28, 1798, and March 2, 1799, which, 
 at the earnest request of Washington, pro- 
 vided for the appointment of James Craik 
 of Virginia as Physician General to both 
 the Army and the Navy. Craik served in this 
 capacity from July 19, 1798, to June 15, 
 1800, when he was mustered out by dis- 
 bandment of these forces. On March 3, 
 1 81 3, in the midst of the War of 181 2, the 
 office of Physician and Surgeon General was 
 created, and on June 11, James Tilton of 
 Delaware was appointed to this position. 
 With Tilton's appointment, the history of 
 the Medical Corps of our Army, as we now 
 know it, begins. 
 
 In the pages immediately following, one 
 may find the legislation relating to the 
 treasonable action of Church, his trial and 
 confinement, the appointment of John Mor- 
 gan as his successor, the famous act of July 
 
 8
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 17, 1776, limiting and defining the author- 
 ity of medical officers, Morgan's dismissal, 
 through his disputes with Shippen and the 
 unsoldierly neglect of duty of Stringer, the 
 appointment of Shippen, Rush, and others, 
 Shippen's trial for malfeasance in office, his 
 acquittal and the resignation of Dr. Wil- 
 liam Brown, Shippen's resignation, the ap- 
 pointment of Cochran as Director General, 
 and his services up to the disbandment of 
 the Army in 1783. In the different plans 
 considered for organization and reorgani- 
 zation of medical service, in such things as 
 the bits of legislation bearing upon pre- 
 ventive inoculation against small-pox, we 
 get a clear idea of what Congress was act- 
 ually doing for the medical establishment 
 of the Continental Army. 
 
 The main source books for the early his- 
 tory of our Army Medical estabhshment 
 have been James Tilton's * 'Observations on 
 Military Hospitals" (181 3), the Military 
 Journal of James Thacher (1826), James 
 Mann's "Military Sketches of the Cam- 
 paigns of 1 81 2-14" (181 6), and 'The Medi- 
 cal Department of the United States Army 
 
 9
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 from 1775 to 1873" t)y Harvey E. Brown 
 (1873). It is in the hope of stimulating fur- 
 ther interest and research that I add the 
 subjoined record. 
 
 10
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 I 
 
 FROM THE JOURNALS OF THE PROVIN- 
 CIAL CONGRESS OF MASSACHUSETTS 
 
 BAY (1775) 
 
 April 27, 1775 (A. M.) 160 
 
 Ordered, That Capt, Kingsbury, Doct. Holten 
 and Deacon Stone, are appointed to enquire, and 
 endeavor to get an exact account of the men killed, 
 and wounded, and murdered, in the late scene on 
 the 19th instant. 
 
 May 8, 1775, 203. 
 
 Ordered, That the president pro tempore, Doct. 
 Taylor, Doct. Holten and Doct. Dunsmore, be a 
 committee to examine such persons as are, or may 
 be, recommended for surgeons for the army now 
 forming in this colony. 
 
 Resolved, That the persons recommended by the 
 commanding officers of the several regiments, be 
 appointed as surgeons to their respective regiments, 
 provided they appear to be duly qualified upon ex- 
 amination. 
 
 May 16, 1775. 232 
 
 The committee reported, that Doct. Benjamin 
 Church was chosen. 
 
 May 17, 1775- 236 
 
 Resolved, That Doct. Church be allowed one ser- 
 vant to attend him in his journey to Philadelphia. 
 
 June 2, 1775. 290 
 
 Ordered, That Doct. Whiting and Doct. Bailies, 
 be added to the committee which was appointed by 
 
 II
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 the last Congress, to examine those persons who 
 might be nominated for surgeons of the Massachu- 
 setts army. 
 
 June 12, 1775. 321 
 
 Ordered, That Doct. Whiting, Doct. Taylor and 
 Mr. Parks, be a committee to consider some method 
 of supplying the several surgeons of the army with 
 medicines. 
 
 (Afternoon) 
 
 The committee appointed to consider some meth- 
 od for supplying the surgeons in the army with 
 medicine, reported: the report was read and accept- 
 ed, and is as follows, viz.: 
 
 The committee appointed to take into considera- 
 tion a complaint that the surgeons in the army are 
 not properly furnished with medicines, have at- 
 tended that service, and beg leave to report: that 
 whereas, it appears that there is not, as yet, a suffi- 
 cient number of medicine chests provided, to fur- 
 nish each regiment with a distinct chest; and where- 
 as, the committee of supplies are making provision 
 for the supplying of each regiment with such medi- 
 cine chests as soon as possible: therefore. Resolved, 
 That the committee of supplies be, and hereby are 
 directed, immediately to furnish the surgeon of the 
 first regiment at Cambridge, and also the surgeon 
 of the first regiment at Roxbury, each of them, 
 with a medicine chest, for the present; and that all 
 the other surgeons in the army at Cambridge and 
 Roxbury, have free recourse to the said chests, and 
 be supplied from them, from time to time, as they 
 shall find occasion, until more ample provision shall 
 be made for them: all which is humbly submitted, 
 and the committee beg leave to sit again. 
 
 William Whiting, per order, 
 
 12
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 Ordered, That the same committee be appointed 
 to examine into the medical stores, and make a list 
 of what is necessary for the supplying each regi- 
 ment, that the same may be laid before the com- 
 mittee: and that the same committee consider what 
 medicines are necessary, and bring in a list of what 
 medicines are in the medical store: and that they 
 be directed to report what instruments are neces- 
 sary for the surgeons of the army. 
 
 June 1 6, 1775. 341 
 
 Doct. Hall and Doct. Jones were added to the 
 committee to examine surgeons for the army. Re- 
 solved, That any three of said committee shall be a 
 quorum. 
 
 June 19, 1775. 355. 357, 360-1 
 
 Doct. Hall, Doct. Jones and Mr. Bigelow, were 
 appointed a committee to consider the expediency 
 of establishing another hospital for the sick and 
 wounded of the army, and ordered to sit forthwith. 
 
 The committee appointed to consider the expedi- 
 ency of establishing another hospital for the army, 
 reported, that a house belonging to Doct. Spring, 
 of this place, may be had for that purpose, where- 
 upon. 
 
 Resolved, That said committee be directed to in- 
 quire at what rate, per month, Doct. Spring will let 
 the same. 
 
 Doct. Gunn was appointed to report a resolve on 
 the proposal made by the committee of safety, rela- 
 tive to the killed and wounded in the late battle. 
 
 Upon a motion made, Resolved, that the house of 
 Mr. Hunt, at Cambridge, be hired for a hospital, 
 and that the committee appointed to treat with 
 Doct. Spring, be a committee to hire the same. 
 
 Ordered, That Doct. Church, Doct. Taylor, and 
 
 13
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 Doct. Whiting, be a committee to consider what 
 method is proper to be taken to supply the hospi- 
 tals with surgeons: and that the same gentlemen be 
 a committee to provide medicines, and all other 
 necessaries for the hospitals. 
 
 The committee appointed to confer with Doct. 
 Spring, relative to the use of his house for another 
 hospital, reported: the report was read and accept- 
 ed, and is as follows, viz.: 
 
 The committee appointed to consider of the ex- 
 pediency of establishing another hospital for the sick 
 and wounded of the army, having attended that ser- 
 vice, beg leave to report, that they judge it is really 
 expedient to have another established, and they 
 judge that the house of Doct. Spring, in Watertown, 
 is convenient for that purpose; and that he is will- 
 ing said house should be improved by the province 
 for that use, but that he cannot at present ascertain 
 the damage it may be to him, but is willing to sub- 
 mit that matter to the judgment of a committee to 
 be hereafter appointed by this honorable Congress 
 or the house of assembly. 
 
 June 22, 1775. 374, 375, 377 
 
 Ordered, That Doct. Francis Kittridge be desired 
 to attend the hospital, as a surgeon, till the further 
 order of Congress, and that Mr. Kendall be desired 
 to inform Doct. Kittridge of his appointment. 
 
 Ordered, That the colonels of the several regi- 
 ments in the Massachusetts army, be directed to 
 recommend, immediately, suitable persons for sur- 
 geons and surgeons' mates. 
 
 Ordered, That a hospital be provided for the 
 camp at Roxbury, and that Cob Davis, Doct. Tay- 
 lor and Doct. Whiting, be a committee to provide 
 one accordingly, and to supply the same. 
 
 14
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 Resolved, That (the colonels in the Massachu- 
 setts army, be and they are hereby directed, imme- 
 diately to inform the committee appointed by Con- 
 gress to examine the surgeons for said army, whom 
 they recommend for the surgeons and surgeon's 
 mates of their respective regiments, and send them 
 to said committee for examination, without delay; 
 except such as have been examined. 
 
 June 23, 1775. 378 
 
 The committee appointed to provide a hospital 
 for the camp in Roxbury, reported as follows: That 
 they have appointed the house belonging to Joshua 
 Loring, in said Roxbury, for a hospital, and for the 
 use of said camp. The report was accepted. 
 
 June 24, 1775. 383, 384, 387 
 
 Voted, That there shall be two surgeons and two 
 mates appointed for each hospital, and commis- 
 sioned accordingly. 
 
 Ordered, That the committee appointed to exam- 
 ine the surgeons, be desired to report an establish- 
 ment for surgeons of hospitals. 
 
 The committee appointed to consider an estab- 
 lishment for the surgeons of hospitals, reported: the 
 report was accepted, and is as follows, viz. : that it is 
 their opinion, that the establishment of the chief 
 surgeons should be at the rate of eight pounds per 
 month, and each mate, four pounds, ten shillings, 
 per month. 
 
 The committee appointed to hire a house of John 
 Hunt, Esq., for a hospital, reported the following 
 proposal, which was accepted, viz.: 
 
 Gentlemen: — With respect to the hire of the house 
 belonging to John Hunt, Esq., for a hospital, the 
 proprietor only expects such a consideration from 
 
 '(each colonel) 
 
 15
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 the colony, as will be a satisfaction for the necessary 
 damage to the house, expecting proper care will be 
 taken that the out-houses, &c., be kept in good 
 order. W. Hunt, in behalf of the proprietor. 
 
 June 27, 1775. 406 
 
 Ordered, That the committee appointed to pro- 
 vide hospitals for the army, be directed to provide 
 another hospital, to be appropriated solely for such 
 of the army as may be taken with the small pox, 
 and to consider what measures can be taken to pre- 
 vent the spreading of that distemper, and that 
 Doct. Rand, and Doct. Foster, be added to the com- 
 mittee. 
 
 June 28, 1775. 415 
 
 The form of a warrant for the surgeons was read 
 and accepted, and is as follows, viz. : 
 
 The Congress oj the Massachusetts Bay, to A. B. 
 Greeting. 
 
 Bei;jg informed of your skill in surgery, and re- 
 posing especial trust and confidence in your ability 
 and good conduct, we do, by these presents, consti- 
 tute and appoint you the said A. B., to be surgeon 
 
 of the regiment of foot, whereof is colonel, 
 
 raised by the Congress aforesaid, for the defence of 
 said colony. You are, therefore, 'carefully and dili- 
 gently to discharge the duty of a surgeon to the 
 said regiment, in all things appertaining thereunto, 
 observing such orders and instructions as you shall, 
 from time to time, receive from the colonel of said 
 regiment, according to military rules and discipline 
 established by said Congress, or any your superior 
 officers, for which this shall be your sufficient war- 
 By order of the Congress, 
 Dated at Watertown. President. 
 
 16
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 June 30, 1775. 423, 4 
 
 The committee appointed to consider some mea- 
 sures to prevent the spreading of the small pox, 
 were directed to sit forthwith. 
 
 The form of a warrant for surgeons of the hospi- 
 tal, was read and accepted, and is as follows, viz. : 
 
 The Congress oj the Colony oj the Massachusetts 
 Bay, to Greeting. 
 
 Being informed of your skill in surgery, and re- 
 posing special trust and confidence in your ability 
 and good conduct, (we) do by these presents, con- 
 stitute and appoint you, the said to be a 
 
 surgeon of the hospital, established by order of the 
 
 Congress, in , for the sick and wounded of the 
 
 colony army. You are, therefore, carefully and dili- 
 gently to discharge the duty of a surgeon of said 
 hospital, in all things appertaining thereto, observ- 
 ing such orders and instructions as you shall, from 
 time to time, receive from any, your superior offi- 
 cers, according to the rules and discipline estab- 
 lished by said Congress, for which, this shall be 
 your sufficient warrant. 
 
 By order of Congress, 
 
 Dated the day of A. D. 1775. 
 
 Ordered, That warrants be made out to the fol- 
 lowing officers, viz.: Doct. Lemuel Gushing, sur- 
 geon; Doct. Gad Hitchcock, surgeon's mate; . . . 
 Doct. Lemuel Howard, surgeon to the Roxbury 
 Hospital. 
 
 July I, 1775- 436, 7 
 
 Ordered, That Doct. Taylor, Mr. Fox, and Capt. 
 Bragdon, be a committee to bring in a resolve, di- 
 recting how the sick and wounded shall be removed 
 to the hospitals. 
 
 The committee appointed to devise means for th-^ 
 
 17
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 better accommodation of the sick and wounded of 
 the colony army, reported. The report was accepted, 
 and is as follows, viz.: In order that all the sick and 
 wounded in the army may be provided for, and 
 taken care of, in the best way and manner possible. 
 Resolved, and it is hereby Ordered, that when any 
 person in the army is so ill, either by a wound or 
 otherwise, that the surgeon of the regiment, to 
 which the sick or wounded person belongs, finds 
 the sick or wounded as abovesaid cannot be prop- 
 erly taken care of in the regiment to which he be- 
 longs, said surgeon shall send the sick or wounded 
 as abovesaid, to the hospital provided for the use of 
 the camps to which they belong, and a certificate 
 of the man's name, and the company and regiment 
 to which he belongs; and in that case, the surgeon 
 of the said hospital shall receive said sick or wound- 
 ed under his care; and in case said hospital shall be- 
 come too full, in that case, the surgeon of said hos- 
 pital shall send such of his patients as may with 
 safety be removed, to the hospital in Watertown 
 and a certificate setting forth the man's name, what 
 company and regiment each belongs to; and in that 
 case the surgeons of the Watertown hospital shall 
 receive said sick or wounded under his care. 
 
 July 4, 1775. 445, 446, 448 
 
 Ordered, That Mr. Pickering, Mr. Partridge, and 
 Mr. Goodwin, be a committee to prepare a letter to 
 General Washington, informing him of the provi- 
 sion this Congress has made for the sick and wound- 
 ed of the army. 
 
 Ordered, That Doct. Taylor, Doct. Church, and 
 Mr. Johnson, be a committee to bring in a resolve 
 appointing Doct. (Andrew) Craigie, a commissary 
 of medical stores, and that said committee be di- 
 
 18
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 rected to consider what is a proper establishment 
 for his pay. 
 
 The committee appointed to bring in a resolve 
 for appointing Mr. Craigie, medical commissary, re- 
 ported. (The report) was read, and is as follows, 
 viz.: 
 
 Resolved, That Mr. Andrew Craigie be, and he is 
 hereby appointed a medical commissary and apothe- 
 cary for the Massachusetts army, and that said 
 Craigie be allowed five pounds per month, for his 
 services as abovesaid. 
 
 Ordered, That the committee for making out com- 
 missions make out a warrant for Mr. Craigie, medi- 
 cal commissary. 
 
 July 5, 1775. 449, 450, 455. 
 
 A list of surgeons who have been examined and 
 approved of, by a committee of this Congress, was 
 laid before the Congress, and read, and is as follows: 
 
 Doct. David Jones, surgeon; Samuel Blanchard, 
 mate, in Col. Gerrish's regiment; Aaron Putnam, 
 mate, in Col. Fry's regiment; Joseph Hunt, mate to 
 Doct. Joseph Foster, in Cambridge hospital; Jacob 
 Bacon, mate in Col. Scammon's regiment; Harris 
 Clary Fridges, mate; Edward Durant, surgeon, Col. 
 Mansfield's regiment; Josiah Harvey, mate, Col. 
 Fellow's regiment; Abraham Watson, Jr. surgeon, 
 William Vinal, mate, Col. Gardner's regiment; Doct. 
 John Georges, mate. General Heath's regiment; 
 Doct. Isaac SpafFord, surgeon. Col. Nixon's (regi- 
 ment) ;* Doct. John Crooker, surgeon in Col. Scam- 
 mon's regiment; Doct. Walter Hastings, surgeon in 
 Col. Bridges' (regiment) ; Doct. Timothy Child, sur- 
 geon, in Col. Patterson's (regiment); Doct. Levi 
 
 * Material in parentheses was placed in brackets in the 
 original mss. 
 
 19
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 Willard, surgeon, in Col. Reed's (regiment); Doct. 
 Daniel Parker, surgeon, in Col. Walker's (regiment) ; 
 and Doct. Thomas Kittridge, surgeon, in Col. Fry's 
 regiment. 
 
 Thereupon, Ordered, That warrants be made out 
 for them agreeably thereto. 
 
 Resolved, That the order of Congress relative to 
 the date of the warrants for the staff officers, be so 
 far reconsidered, as that the warrants for the sur- 
 geons be dated the 28th June, ultimo. 
 
 A form of a warrant for a medical commissary, 
 was read and accepted, and is as follows, viz.: 
 
 The Congress, oj the Colony oj the Massachusetts 
 Bay, to Greeting. 
 
 We, being informed of your skill in medicine, and 
 reposing especial trust and confidence in your abil- 
 ity and good conduct, do, by these presents, con- 
 stitute and appoint you the said , to be 
 
 medical commissary and apothecary to the army 
 raised by the Congress, for the defence of this col- 
 ony. You are, therefore, carefully and diligently to 
 discharge the duty of a medical commissary and 
 apothecary in all things appertaining thereto, ob- 
 serving such orders and instructions as you shall, 
 from time to time, receive from any your superior 
 officers, according to the rules and discipline estab- 
 lished by said Congress, for which this shall be your 
 sufficient warrant. 
 
 By order of Congress, 
 
 , President. 
 
 The committee appointed to prepare a letter to 
 General Washington, enclosing a resolution of Con- 
 gress relative to the sick and wounded, reported. 
 The report was accepted, and is as follows, viz.: 
 (To his Excellency General Washingt07i:) 
 
 20
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 This Congress ordered the enclosed resolution to 
 be prepared, and sent to Generals Ward and Thom- 
 as; but by the agreeable event of your excellency's 
 appointment to the chief command of the Ameri- 
 can army, and arrival at camp, the propriety of that 
 step ceases. We mean not to dictate to your excel- 
 lency, but presume, that to secure the health of the 
 army, and (to afford) relief for the sick, will natur- 
 ally engage your attention. Every thing in the 
 power of this Congress (to do) to enable you to dis- 
 charge, with ease, the duties of your exalted and im- 
 portant station, will be, by us, attended to, with the 
 greatest alacrity. If the enclosed resolution has that 
 tendency, we attain the end intended by transmit- 
 ting to you the same, and are, with respect. 
 
 Your Excellency's most humble servants. 
 
 July 7, 1775- 464 
 
 Ordered, That a warrant be made out for Doct. 
 Isaac Foster, as surgeon of the hospital at Cam- 
 bridge, and another to Doct. Isaac Rand, as sur- 
 geon of the hospital at Roxbury. 
 
 July 8, 1775- 470, 472, 476 
 
 A list of surgeons examined by a committee ap- 
 pointed for that purpose, was exhibited to Con- 
 gress, and warrants ordered to be made out agree- 
 ably thereto. 
 
 Resolved, That three o'clock, in the afternoon, be 
 assigned, to consider the expediency of appointing 
 a surgeon general for the Massachusetts forces. 
 
 Resolved, That eight o'clock to-morrow morning 
 be assigned for the consideration of the expediency 
 of appointing a surgeon general of the Massachu- 
 setts army. 
 
 21
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 July II, 1775. 488, 489 
 
 Ordered, That Mr. Crane, and Mr. Fox, make out 
 warrants for several surgeons and surgeons' mates, 
 agreeably to a list this day exhibited by Doct. Tay- 
 lor, and that such warrants, when made out, be 
 transmitted to the committee of safety. 
 
 Resolved, That Doct. Church, Doct. Taylor, and 
 Doct. Whiting, be a committee to take into their 
 custody all the medicines, medical stores and in- 
 struments, which are, or may be provided for the 
 use of the army, by this colony, and to distribute 
 them at their best discretion, so that no peculation 
 or needless waste be made of the medicinal stores 
 belonging to the public. 
 
 December 20, 1774. 506 
 
 Voted, unanimously, that Doct. Warren, Doct. 
 Church, and the Hon. John Hancock, Esq., be a 
 committee to inspect the commissaries' stores, in 
 Boston, and report what surgeon's stores and stores 
 of other kind are there. 
 
 February 21, 1775- 509 
 
 Voted, That Docts. Warren and Church be a com- 
 mittee to bring in an inventory of what is necessary 
 in the way of their profession, for the above army 
 to take the field. 
 
 February 24, 1775. 512 
 
 Voted, That Doct. Warren, Doct. Church, Mr. 
 Gerry, Mr. Cheever, Col. Orne and Mr. Devens, 
 make inquiry where fifteen doctor's chests can be 
 got, and on what terms, and report at the next 
 meeting. 
 
 March 7, 1775. 512 
 
 Voted, That the committee of supplies be direct- 
 
 22
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 ecI to make a draft on Henry Gardner, Esq., the re- 
 ceiver general, in favor of Doct. Joseph Warren and 
 Doct. Benjamin Church, for five hundred pounds, 
 lawful money, to enable them to purchase such ar- 
 ticles for the provincial chests of medicine as can- 
 not be got on credit, to be deducted from the pro- 
 vincial tax payable by the town of Boston. 
 
 April 1 8, 1775. 517 
 
 Voted, That two medicinal chests still remain at 
 Concord, at two different parts of the town; three 
 of said chests at Sudbury, in different parts of the 
 town; six do. at Groton, Mendon, and Stow, two in 
 each town, and in different places; two ditto in 
 Worcester, one in each part of the town; and, two 
 in Lancaster, ditto; that sixteen hundred yards of 
 Russia linen be deposited in seven parts, with the 
 doctor's chests; that the eleven hundred tents be 
 deposited in equal parts in Worcester, Lancaster, 
 Groton, Stow, Mendon, Leicester, and Sudbury. 
 
 April 21, 1775. 521 
 
 Voted, That Major Bigelow be applied to, to fur- 
 nish a man and horse to attend the surgeons, and 
 convey medicines agreeably to their directions. 
 
 April 29, 1775. 527 
 
 Voted, That Doct. Isaac Foster be directed and 
 empowered to remove all the sick and wounded, 
 whose circumstances will admit of it, into the hos- 
 pital, and to supply proper beds and bedding, cloth- 
 ing, victuals, and furniture, with every other article 
 he shall judge proper for said hospital, and that this 
 be a sufficient order for him to draw on the com- 
 missary for such articles as he can supply, and to 
 draw orders upon the commissary for the payment 
 
 23
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 of whatever expenses are necessary for procuring 
 the above mentioned articles. 
 
 April 30, 1775. 530 
 
 Voted, That Andrew Craigie be appointed to take 
 care of the medical stores, and to deliver them out 
 as ordered by this committee; and that the secre- 
 tary make out his commission accordingly. 
 
 May 7, 1775- 538 
 
 Whereas, it appears to this committee, that great • 
 uneasiness may arise in the army, by the appoint- 
 ment of surgeons who may not be agreeable to the 
 officers and soldiers in their respective regiments, 
 therefore. Voted, that it be recommended to the 
 Congress, to allow the colonel of each regiment to 
 nominate the surgeon for his regiment; said surgeon 
 to nominate his mate; and unless there is some ma- 
 terial objection made against them, that they be ac- 
 cordingly appointed. 
 
 May 13, 1775. 544 
 
 Voted, That General Thomas be desired to deliver 
 out medicines to such persons as he shall think 
 proper, for the use of the sick soldiers at Roxbury, 
 until the surgeons for the respective regiments are 
 regularly appointed. 
 
 Voted, That the provisions and chest of medicines 
 belonging to Madam Vassal, now under the care of 
 Col. Starks, be stored as Col. Starks may direct, till 
 further orders: and that the other packages may 
 pass into Boston or elsewhere. 
 
 May 14, 1775- 545 
 
 Mr. Andrew Craigie, commissary of the medicinal 
 stores, &c., was directed and empowered to impress 
 beds, bedding, and other necessaries for the sick, as 
 
 24
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 they may be wanting, giving the owners a receipt 
 for such articles as he may take for the purpose 
 aforesaid. 
 
 June 13, 1775. 566 
 
 The committee earnestly recommend to the hon- 
 orable Congress that the representations from the 
 quarter master general, be taken into immediate 
 consideration, especially as the committee, from 
 their own knowledge, find the rooms too much 
 crowded, and the healths and lives of the soldiers 
 thereby greatly exposed; and if tents cannot be im- 
 mediately furnished, that some barracks be forth- 
 with erected.^ 
 
 June 14, 1775. §66 
 
 Whereas, this committee are informed, that Doct. 
 How, of Andover, is prepared to receive (insane pa- 
 tients,) and is well skilled in such disorders as Dan- 
 iel Adams, of Boston, sent on the 13th instant, to 
 the town of Woburn, is affected with, therefore. Re- 
 solved, that the selectmen of the town of Woburn, 
 be, and they hereby are released from keeping said 
 Daniel Adams in the town of Woburn, and they are 
 required to provide a horse and carriage, with pro- 
 visions, to forward the said Adams to Andover, the 
 expense of which will be paid by this colony. 
 
 Resolved, That Daniel Adams, a lunatic, now at 
 Woburn, be carried to the town of Andover, and 
 committed to the care of Doct. How, and the said 
 Doct. How is hereby desired to take proper care of 
 the said lunatic, at the expense of this colony. 
 
 ^ The quartermaster general represented, that there was great 
 want of tents and barracks, and that the least delay in making 
 provision for the shelter of the troops, would be attended with 
 injurious consequences. 
 
 25
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 June 19, 1775. 571 
 
 Resolved, That the house of the Rev. Samuel 
 Cook, of Menotoray, be improved as a hospital for 
 the colony army; and that Mr. William Eustis be, 
 and hereby is appointed, to the care of the sick and 
 wounded in said hospital, till the further order of 
 this committee. 
 
 Ordered, That Doct. Isaac Foster be, and he here- 
 by is directed, to take up and improve as hospitals, 
 so many houses in Menotomy, as he may find nec- 
 essary for the safety of the sick and wounded of 
 the colony army, and that he employ such person 
 or persons as may be necessary to carry such pro- 
 visions and other necessaries as may be wanted for 
 the use of the aforesaid sick and wounded; and fur- 
 ther, that he take such precautions, respecting the 
 small pox hospital, as may be necessary for the pre- 
 vention of the spreading of that epidemical disorder 
 in the camp or elsewhere. 
 
 June 26, 1775. 578 
 
 Whereas, this committee find the public hospital 
 in this town has been much neglected, to the great 
 injury of the patients in said hospital, occasioned 
 by the want of some suitable person being placed 
 there as surgeon, therefore. Resolved, that Doct. 
 John Warren, be, and he hereby is appointed, to the 
 oversight of said hospital, and that he take proper 
 care such provision be made as may be necessary 
 for the comfortable support of the patients in said 
 hospital until further orders. 
 
 July 15, 1775. 597 
 
 Complaint having been made to this committee 
 by the honorable General Ward, and other officers 
 in the army, that several men are dangerously sick, 
 and their lives would be greatly hazarded, except 
 
 26
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 immediate application of medicine be made to them, 
 and that the surgeons of some of the regiments had 
 applied, but could not obtain any; a sub-committee 
 was therefore chosen to visit the hospital, and to 
 see the surgeons, and, upon inquiry, found that 
 there were no such medicines as are immediately 
 wanted : therefore. Resolved, that as the lives of some 
 part of the army are in great danger, for want of 
 medicines, notwithstanding the commission of the 
 committee of safety does not admit of direction in 
 this matter, that Mr. Commissary Craigie be de- 
 sired to procure, at the expense of the colony, such 
 medicines as may be immediately and absolutely 
 necessary; in consequence of which, the following 
 order was given Mr. Commissary Craigie: 
 
 Sir: — You are hereby desired immediately to sup- 
 ply the store under your care, with such medicines 
 as are absolutely necessary for the present relief of 
 the sick in the army.^ 
 
 Report oj the Committee sent to Ticonderoga, 
 
 Cambridge, July 6, 1775. 
 
 Your committee, being of opinion, that a major 
 should be appointed under Col. Easton, and one 
 surgeon to the battalion, and having inquired into 
 the disposition of the officers and men who have 
 engaged, have appointed John Brown, Esq., as ma- 
 jor, and Mr. Jonas Fay, as surgeon. 
 
 All which is humbly submitted, 
 WALTER SPOON ER, by order. 
 
 ' Although the sessions of the committee continued after the 
 fifteenth day of July, 1775, the journal is not preserved to a later 
 date. 
 
 27
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 II 
 
 FROM JOURNALS OF THE CONTI- 
 NENTAL CONGRESS (1774-83) 
 
 June 2, 1775. 76 
 
 The President laid before the Congress a letter 
 from the Provincial Convention of Massachusetts 
 which was read and was as follows: 
 
 In prov. Congress, Watertown, May 16, 1775. 
 
 Resolved, That Docf. Benjamin Church be ordered 
 to go immediately to Philad\ and deliver to the presi- 
 dent of the Hon!''®. American Congress there now sit- 
 ting, the following apphcation to be by him com- 
 municated to the members thereof: and the s^ 
 Church is also directed to confer with the s^ Con- 
 gress, respecting such other matters as may be 
 necessary to the defence of this colony and particu- 
 larly the state of the army therein. . . . 
 
 July 19, 1775- 191 
 
 Resolved, That a Committee of three be appointed 
 to report the method of establishing an hospital. 
 
 The committee chosen, Mr. (Francis) Lewis, Mr. 
 (Robert Treat) Paine, and Mr. (Henry) Middleton. 
 
 July 24, 1775. 203 
 
 The Committee for that purpose app(oin)t^ bro't 
 in a report for establishing a hospital. Ordered to 
 lie on the table. 
 
 July 25, 1775. 203. 
 
 Report read: 
 
 July 27, 1775. 209-211 
 
 The Congress took into consideration the report 
 of the committee on establishing an hospital, and 
 the same being debated, was agreed to as follows: 
 
 28
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 That for the establishment of an hospital for an 
 army, consisting of 20,000 men, the following offi- 
 cers and other attendants be appointed, with the 
 following allowance or pay, viz. : 
 
 One Director general and chief physician, his pay 
 per day, 4 dollars.* 
 
 Four surgeons, per diem each, one and one third 
 of a dollar. 
 
 One apothecary, one and one third of a dollar. 
 
 Twenty (surgeons') mates, each, two thirds of a 
 dollar. 
 
 One clerk, two thirds of a dollar. 
 
 Two storekeepers, each four dollars per month. 
 
 One nurse to every 10 sick, one fifteenth of a dol- 
 lar per day, or 2 dollars per month. 
 
 Labourers occasionally. 
 
 The duty of the above officers: viz.: 
 
 Director to furnish medicines. Bedding and all 
 other necessaries, to pay for the same, superintend 
 the whole, and make his report to, and receive or- 
 ders from the commander in chief. 
 
 Surgeons, apothecary and mates. To visit and at- 
 tend the sick, and the mates to obey apothecary and 
 the orders of the physicians, surgeons and apothecary. 
 
 Matron: To superintend the nurses, bedding, &c. 
 
 Nurses: To attend the sick, and obey the ma- 
 tron's orders. 
 
 Clerk: To keep accounts for the director and store 
 keepers. 
 
 Storekeeper: To receive and deliver the bedding 
 and other necessaries by order of the director. ... 
 The Congress then proceeded to the choice of 
 officers for the Hospital, when, 
 
 * The original plan provided for a Director General and a Phy- 
 sician, each to receive four dollars a day. 
 
 29
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 Benjamin Church was unanimously elected as di- 
 rector of, and chief physician in, the hospital. 
 
 Resolved, That the appointment of the four sur- 
 geons and the Apothecary be left to Docf. Church. 
 
 That the Mates be appointed by the Surgeons; 
 
 That the number do not exceed twenty; and 
 
 That the number be not kept in constant pay, unless 
 the sick and wounded should be so numerous as to 
 require the attendance oj twenty, and to be diminished 
 as circumstances will admit; Jor w"'' purpose, the 
 pay is fixed by the day, that they may only receive pay 
 Jor actual service. 
 
 That one Clerk, two storekeepers, and one nurse 
 to every lo sick, be appointed by the Director. 
 
 September 14, 1775. 249 
 
 5'S sundry letters from General Schuyler,^ 
 
 The same being taken into consideration. 
 
 On motion made. Resolved, That Samuel Stringer, 
 Esq?" be appointed director of the Hospital, and 
 chief Physician and surgeon for the Army in the 
 Northern department. 
 
 That the pay of the s^ Samuel Stringer, as Director, 
 Physician, and Surgeon, be four Dollars per day. 
 
 That he be authorized and have power to appoint 
 a number of surgeon mates under him, not exceed- 
 ing four. 
 
 That the pay of said mates be 2/3 of a dollar per day. 
 
 *[That the number be not kept in constant pay, 
 unless the sick and wounded be so numerous as to 
 require the constant attendance of Jour, and to be 
 diminished as circumstances will admit, Jor which 
 reason the pay is fixed by the day, that they may only 
 receive pay Jor actual service.] 
 
 * Material placed in brackets is crossed out in original mss. 
 
 ^ Letters dated July 26, 27, 28, and August 6, read in Congress 
 on this day, are in Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 153, 
 folios 63, 71, 77, 102. 
 
 30
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 That the deputy Commissary general be directed 
 to pay Doctr. Stringer for the Medicines he has pur- 
 chased for the use of the army, and that he purchase 
 and forward such other medicines as General P. 
 Schuyler shall, by his warrant, direct, for the use of 
 said army. 
 
 That M!- (Eliphalet) Dyer, MP (Thomas) Lynch, 
 Mr (John) Jay, MP (John) Adams, and Mf (Fran- 
 cis) Lewis, be a Committee to devise ways and 
 means for supplying the continental army with 
 Medicines. 
 
 September 23, 1775. 261 
 
 On motion Ordered, That the Committee appoint- 
 ed to devise ways and means of supplying the Army 
 with Medicines, do buy a parcel of Drugs in the 
 hands of Mr. Rapalje, which he offers at the prime 
 cost. 
 
 October 14, 1775. 294-295 
 
 On motion made, 
 
 Resolved, That a director general and chief physi- 
 cian of the Hospital in Massachusetts bay, be ap- 
 pointed in the room of DoctP (Benjamin) Church, 
 who is talcen into custody for holding a correspond- 
 ence with the enemy. 
 
 Resolved, That the Congress will, on Monday next, 
 proceed to the election of a director general and 
 chief physician of the Hospital, in the room of DoctP 
 Church. 
 
 October 17, 1775. 297 
 
 The Congress proceeded to the election of director 
 general and chief physician of the Hospital, in the 
 room of Doctr (Benjamin) Church, and the ballots 
 being taken and exam'd, 
 
 Doctf (John) Morgan, (of Philadelphia,) was elect- 
 ed. 
 
 31
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 November 7, 1775. 334 
 
 Resolved, That Dr. Church be close confined in 
 some secure gaol in the colony of Connecticut, with- 
 out the use of pen, ink, and paper, and that no per- 
 son be allowed to converse with him, except in the 
 presence and hearing of a Magistrate of the town, 
 or the sheriff of the county where he shall be con- 
 fined, and in the English language, until farther 
 orders from this or a future Congress. 
 
 November 10, 1775. 344 
 
 Resolved, That the medicines purchased in this 
 city for the army at Cambridge, be sent thither by 
 land. 
 
 December 8, 1775. 416 
 
 On motion, Resolved, That a surgeon be allowed 
 to each regiment, (in the service of the United 
 Colonies;) 
 
 That the pay of a regimental Surgeon be 25 Dol- 
 lars per (calendar) month. 
 
 William Barnet, jun. was unanimously elected 
 surgeon of the first or eastern battalion raised in New 
 Jersey. 
 
 December 21, 1775. 442 
 
 Doctor James Holmes was chosen surgeon to 
 Colonel Maxwell's regiment. 
 
 January 8, 1776. 38 
 
 Resolved, That the provisions heretofore made for 
 an hospital in the northern army, when it was more 
 numerous than it is now, is sufficient. 
 
 January 17, 1776. 61 
 
 A Petition from Benjamin Church was presented 
 to Congress, and read: ^ 
 
 *This petition is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No 
 41, II, folio 5. 
 
 32
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 Ordered, That the same be referred to a commit- 
 tee of three. 
 
 January i8, 1776. 65 
 
 The committee on the petition of Dr. Church, 
 brought in their report, which being taken into con- 
 sideration, 
 
 Resolved, That Governor Trumbull be desired to 
 give order for the removal of Dr. Church to some 
 more comfortable place of confinement than that 
 where he now is, if such can be found in that colony; 
 and that, for the advancement of his health the, 
 said Dr. Church be permitted to ride out, at proper 
 seasons, under a trusty guard, who will be careful 
 to prevent his carrying on any correspondence, or 
 doing any act prejudicial to the safety and welfare 
 of the United Colonies. 
 
 A letter from the committee of Frederic town, 
 (Maryland,) enclosing sundry intercepted letters of 
 Connolly, taken on Dr. John Smith, (one of Con- 
 nolly's associates,) and brought by the guard who 
 had the charge of bringing down said Smith, was 
 laid before Congress and read: 
 
 Resolved, That it be recommended to the commit- 
 tee of safety of Pennsylvania, to take the examina- 
 tion of Dr. Smith, and then commit him to safe 
 and close confinement. 
 
 January 25, 1776. 87-8 
 
 A letter from Richard Huddleston, ....'' 
 The same Committee on considering Dr. Hud- 
 dlestone's Letter, are of Opinion, 
 
 That he be immediately set at Liberty on the 
 Terms he mentions. And that a verbal Proposition 
 be sent by him to General Carleton, to enter into a 
 
 ^ The letter of Huddleston is in the Papers of the Continental 
 Congress, No. 78, XI, folio 13, 
 
 33
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 Stipulation on both sides, not only to release all 
 Physicians and Surgeons; but that if by the For- 
 tune of War, the Hospital of either Army should 
 fall into the Power of the other, the same Subsist- 
 ence and Supplies should be afforded to the Sick 
 and Wounded as if Friends; and that neither they 
 nor the Attendants of the Hospitals should be con- 
 sidered or detain'd as Prisoners. And it is farther 
 the Opinion of the Committee, that if Govr. Carle- 
 ton should not agree to the mutual Release of Sur- 
 geons, Dr. Huddlestone is to be on his Parole, to re- 
 turn immediately hither.^ 
 
 January 30, 1776. loi 
 
 Resolved, That Dr. Cadwalader and Dr. W. Ship- 
 pen, Jun?" be desired to inspect the room of the gaol 
 where General Prescot is confined, and enquire into 
 the state of his health, and report to Congress. 
 
 January 31, 1776. 105 
 
 Dr. Cadwalader and Dr. Shippen returned their 
 report respecting the room where General Prescot 
 is confined, and the state of the general's health, 
 which was read. 
 
 * This report, in the writing of Benjamin Franklin, is in the 
 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, III, folio 215. The fol- 
 lowing notes in the writing of Franklin are in No. 78, XIX, folio 7. 
 
 "Agreed to set Dr. Huddlestone at Liberty on the Terms he 
 mentions. And send by him a Proposition to Gen. Carleton, that 
 it be Stipulated on both Sides, not only to release all Surgeons; 
 but that if by the Fortune of War, the Hospital of either Army 
 should fall into the Power of the other, the same Care should be 
 taken of the Sick and Wounded as of Friends, and that neither 
 they nor the Attendants of the Hospital should be considered as 
 Prisoners. And if Gov' Carleton should not agree to the mutual 
 release of Surgeons, Dr. Huddleston is to be on his Parole to 
 return immediately. . . 
 
 34
 
 William Shippen, Jr. 
 (1736-1808)
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 March i, 1776. 180 
 
 Resolved, That the Secret Committee be empow- 
 ered to treat with the owners of some medicines 
 lately imported, and purchase the same on the niost 
 reasonable terms for the use of the continent, 
 
 March 7, 1776. 188 
 
 Resolved, That the Committee appointed to pro- 
 vide medicine chests be directed to supply the first 
 and third New Jersey batallions with proper medi- 
 cine chests and instruments. 
 
 March 11, 1776. 197 
 
 Resolved, That the committee on applications and 
 qualifications &c. be directed to provide 6 medicine 
 chests for the 6 Virginia batallions. 
 
 March 22, 1776. 225 
 
 A petition from Thorowgood Smith, and others, 
 was presented to Congress, and read, setting forth, 
 that they have procured a vessel, and raised money 
 to fit her out as a privateer, in order to guard and 
 cruise on the coast of Virginia, and praying that a 
 commission be granted to William Shippen, to 
 whom they propose to give the command of said 
 vessel; and that the Congress will grant them a 
 small quantity of powder, upon their making satis- 
 faction for the same: 
 
 Resolved, That a commission be granted to Wil- 
 liam Shippen, as captain of the above mentioned 
 vessel, for the purposes aforesaid. 
 
 Resolved, That Captain William Shippen be sup- 
 plied with three hundred weight of powder by the 
 Secret Committee, he paying for the same. 
 
 March 23, 1776. 229 
 
 The Committee of Claims reported that there is 
 due, 
 
 35
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 To Dr. Jonathan Potts, for attendance on the 
 second and fourth Pennsylvania batallions, the sum 
 of 125.6.9=67.6 dollars. 
 
 March 30, 1776. 242-3 
 
 Resolved, That each regimental surgeon be allow- 
 ed a mate: 
 
 Resolved, That the pay of a surgeon's mate be 18 
 dollars per month. 
 
 Resolved, That (suitable chirurgical) instruments 
 be purchased with each medicine chest. 
 
 April II, 1776. 271 
 
 To Dr. Jonathan Potts, for attending the prison- 
 ers at Reading, the sum of £28.15.0 (=76.6 dollars); 
 and for sundry medicines, &c. provided for the mid- 
 dle department, the sum of £50.9.1 (= 134.6 dollars,) 
 amounting, together, to the sum of £79.4.1=211.2 
 dollars. 
 
 April 29, 1776. 317 
 
 A letter from Thomas BuIIit and a petition from 
 Dr. J. Potts, was presented to Congress and read.* 
 
 Resolved, That they be referred to the foregoing 
 committee. 
 
 May 6, 1776. 330 
 
 Resolved, that the convention, or committee or 
 council of safety of Virginia, be empowered to ap- 
 point surgeons to the batallions raised in said col- 
 ony, for the service of the continent. 
 
 May 10, 1776. 344 
 
 G. 6. That Dr. Potts be taken into the Pay of the 
 Continent and be employed in the Canada Depart- 
 ment or at Lake George as the Genl Schuyler shall 
 
 "... The petition of Dr. Potts is in the Papers of the Con- 
 tinental Congress, No. 78, XVIII. folio 56. . . . 
 
 36
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 think fit. But that this Recommendation be not 
 considered so as to supersede Dr. Stringer. That the 
 Pay of Dr. Potts be Dollars per Mo. 
 
 May II, 1776. 348 
 
 Resolved, That two sets of trepanning instruments 
 be sent to Virginia for the use of the surgeons of the 
 continental troops there; and that two sets of tre- 
 panning instruments, and 100 lb. of Peruvian bark, 
 be sent to North Carolina, for the use of tlie conti- 
 nental troops in that colony. 
 
 May 13, 1776. 350 
 
 Sundry petitions were presented to Congress and 
 read, viz. : One from Benjamin Church, accompanied 
 with one from Benjamin Church, Samuel Church 
 and Edward Church, and a certificate from three 
 Doctors (respecting the health of Dr. B. Church;) 
 one from John Connolly and John Smith, accom- 
 panied with a letter from Dr. (Thomas) Cadwala- 
 der:i« 
 
 May 14, 1776. 352 
 
 The committee to whom the petition of Dr. Ben- 
 jamin Church, now confined in gaol in Norwich, in 
 the colony of Connecticut, and also a petition from 
 Benjamin, Samuel, and Edward Church, together 
 with a certificate from physicians, respecting the 
 dangerous state of the aforesaid Dr. Church, were 
 referred, brought in their report, which was read 
 and agreed to: Whereupon, 
 
 Resolved, That Dr. Benjamin Church be sent to 
 the colony of Massachusetts bay, and that the coun- 
 
 1" The petition of Connoly is in the Papers of the Continental 
 Congress, No. 78, V, folio 39. That of Smyth is in No. 78, XX, 
 folio 29. That of Cadwalader is in No. 78, V, folio 43. 
 
 37
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 cil of the said colony be requested to take a recog- 
 nisance from him, with two good sureties, in such 
 penalty as they shall think sufficient, not being less 
 than one thousand pounds, lawful money, for his 
 appearance before such court as shall be erected for 
 his trial, and at such time and place as such court 
 shall direct, and to abide the judgment of the same; 
 and that they be farther requested, to take his 
 parole, not to hold any correspondence with the 
 enemies of the United Colonies, or at any time, to 
 depart out of the same colony, without their license; 
 and that, upon the performance thereof, the said 
 Dr. Benjamin Church be set at liberty. 
 
 May 1 6, 1776. 358 
 
 A letter from General Washington, of May (15), 
 enclosing a letter (to him) from Dr. Stringer.^^ 
 
 Resolved, That the letter from Dr. Stringer to 
 General Washington, be referred to the committee 
 appointed to prepare medicine chests: 
 
 May 18, 1776. 284 
 
 That a continental Hospital be established in Vir- 
 ginia, and a director to the same be immediately 
 appointed by Congress. 
 
 May 22, 1776. 378 
 
 15. That Surgeons and mates be added 
 
 to the Hospital in Canada and that DoctT Stringer 
 be directed to procure them.^^ 
 
 June 5, 1776. 419 
 
 That the pay of the regimental surgeons be aug- 
 
 11 The letter of Washington is in the Papers of the Continenta 
 Congress, No. 152, I, folio 685. It is printed in Writings of Wash- 
 ington (Ford), IV, 80. 
 
 12 Against this paragraph is written: "Referr'd to to-morrow." 
 
 38
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 nicntcd to thirty three dollars and one third of a 
 dollar a month. 
 
 June 6, 1776. 424 
 
 Resolved, That doctor Jonathan Potts be em- 
 ployed as a physician and surgeon in the Canada 
 department, or at Lake George, as the general shall 
 direct; but, that this appointment shall not super- 
 sede Dr. Stringer. 
 
 June 17, 1776. 449, 453 
 
 U. 6." 
 
 R. 8. That the committee, appointed to provide 
 medicines, be directed to send a proper assortment 
 of medicines to Canada: ^'' 
 
 June 18, 1776. 460-461, 463 
 geA memorial from Dr. (John) Morgan, director 
 
 neral and chief physician of the Hospital, was laid 
 before Congress, and read: ^^ 
 
 Resolved, That it be referred to the committee 
 appointed to provide medicines. 
 
 Resolved, That Mr. (Thomas) Heyward (Jr.), and 
 Mr. (Lyman) Hall be added to the committee for 
 providing medicines. 
 
 June 19, 1776. 466 
 
 To Mary Thomas, for nursing and boarding two 
 of Captain Benezet's men, in the small pox, the 
 sum of £4.10.0=12 dollars: 
 
 Ordered, That the said accounts be paid. 
 
 '' This paragraph, relating to the appointment of Dr. Jonathan 
 Potts, is stricken out of the Jefferson report, having been printed 
 under June 6, p. 424, ante. 
 
 ^^ In the Jefferson report this paragraph read: "Resolved, That 
 a proper assortment of medicines be sent to Canada." Against it 
 Harrison has written "Com^? already appointed to provide 
 medicines." 
 
 '^ This memorial is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, 
 No. 41, VI, folio 3. 
 
 39
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 Resolved, That the committee for preparing medi- 
 cine chests, be directed to send a chest of medicines 
 to the surgeon of said batalhon. 
 
 A memorial from the mates of the Hospital was 
 laid before Congress and read:^^ 
 
 Resolved, That it be referred to the committee for 
 providing medicines. 
 
 June 20, 1776. 469 
 
 To Abraham Mills, for nursing and boarding six 
 soldiers in the small pox, the sum of £12.14.8= 
 33 36/90 dollars: 
 
 Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed 
 to consider what provision ought to be made for 
 such as are wounded or disabled in the land or sea 
 service, and report a plan for that purpose: 
 
 The members chosen, Mr. (Robert Treat) Paine, 
 Mr. (Francis Lightfoot) Lee, Mr. (Lyman) Hall, 
 Mr. (William) Ellery, and Mr. (Francis) Lewis. 
 
 July 8, 1776. 528 
 
 Resolved, That the committee for providing medi- 
 cines, be directed to supply the militias aforesaid, 
 with a sufficient quantity of suitable medicines. 
 
 July 12, 1776. $s6 
 
 The committee appointed to take into considera- 
 tion the memorial of the director general of the 
 American hospital, brought in their report, which 
 was read: 
 
 Ordered, To lie on the table. 
 
 July 15, 1776. 562 
 
 Resolved, That a chief physician be appointed for 
 
 1^ This memorial is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, 
 No. 41, III, folio 167. 
 
 40
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 the flying camp, and that his pay be four dollars 
 per day: 
 
 The ballots being taken (and examined,) 
 
 William Shippen, JunT was elected. 
 
 July 17, 1776. 568-571 
 
 The Congress took into consideration the report 
 of the committee on the memorial of the director 
 general of the American hospital; Whereupon, 
 
 [Resolved, For the better Government of the gen- 
 eral Hospital of the American Army, for explaining 
 and ascertaining more fully the duties of the Direct- 
 or-General, the directors of Hospitals, the Surgeons 
 and Mates, both Hospital and Regimental:] 
 
 Resolved, That the number of hospital surgeons 
 and mates be increased, in proportion to the aug- 
 mentation of the army, not exceeding one surgeon 
 and five mates to every five thousand men, to be 
 reduced when the army is reduced, or when there is 
 no further occasion for so great a number: 
 
 That as many persons be employed in the severa 
 hospitals, in quahty of store keepers, stewards, man- 
 agers, and nurses, as are necessary for the good of 
 the service, for the time being, to be appointed by 
 the directors of the receiving hospitals: 
 
 That the several regimental chests of medicines, 
 and chirurgical instruments, which now are or here- 
 after shall be, in the possession of the regimental 
 surgeons, be subject to the inspection and enquiry 
 of the respective directors of hospitals, and the di- 
 rector general; and that the said regimental surgeons 
 shall, from time to time, when thereto required, ren- 
 der account of the said medicines and instruments 
 to the said directors, or if there be no director in 
 any particular department, to the director general; 
 the siad accounts to be transmitted to the director 
 general, and by him to this Congress; and the medi- 
 
 41
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 cines and instruments not used by ant regimental 
 surgeon, to be returned when the regiment is re- 
 duced, to the respective directors, and an account 
 thereof by them rendered to the director general, 
 and by him to this Congress: 
 
 Resolved, That an Additional Apothecary with 
 such Number of Mates as the Service may require, 
 be allowed, under the Title of Apothecary to the 
 Army, and in subordination to the ^General Hospital 
 Apothecary of the General Hospital.^'' 
 
 That the several directors of hospitals, in the sev- 
 eral departments, and the regimental surgeons, 
 where there is no director, shall transmit to the di- 
 rector general regular returns of the number of sur- 
 geons' mates, and other officers employed under 
 them, their names and pay; also, an account of th 
 expenses and furniture of the hospital under their 
 direction; and that the director general make report 
 of the same, from time to time, to the commander 
 in chief, and to this Congress: 
 
 That the several regimental and hospital sur- 
 geons, in the several departments, amke weekly 
 returns of their sick to the respective directors in 
 their departments: 
 
 That no regimental surgeon be allowed to draw 
 upon the hospital of his department, for any stores 
 except medicines and instruments; and that, when 
 any sick person shall ;require other stores, they shall 
 be received into the said hospital, and the rations 
 of the said sick persops be stopped, so long as they 
 are in the siad hospitals; and that the directors of 
 the sevetal hospitals report to the commissary the 
 names of the sick, when received into, and when 
 discharged from the hospital, and make a like re- 
 turn to the Board of Treasury: 
 
 1^ A paragraph that wa^ not r.itaiaod. 
 
 42
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 That all extra expenses for bandages, old linen, 
 and other articles necessary for the service, incurred 
 by any regimental surgeon, be paid by the director 
 ol that department, with the approbation ol tha 
 commander thereof: 
 
 That no more medicines belonging to the conti- 
 nent be disposed of ^by sale till the army is fully 
 supplied'' till further order of Congress: 
 
 Resolved, that no Surgeon or Surgeon's Mate shall 
 receive a Commo as such in the Army, without hav- 
 ing first undergone an Exam ination by the director 
 ot the hospital of the Department in which he may 
 desire employment or the director GenI and ob- 
 tained a Certificate from the Commdr and director 
 of that department, or the Director Genl, of his 
 Abilities and knowledge in his business. ^^ 
 
 That the pay of the hospital surgeons be increased 
 to one dollar and two thirds of a dollar by the day; 
 the pay of the hospital mates be increased to one 
 dollar by the day; and the pay of the hospital 
 apothecary to one dollar and two thirds of a dollar 
 by the day; and that the hospital surgeons and 
 mates take rank of regimental surgeons and mates: 
 
 Resolved, that the Storekeepers of the several 
 Hospitals be paid by the month, and the Stewards 
 and Managers of the said Hospitals be paid by the 
 Month a sum not exceeding dollars. ^^ 
 
 Resolved, That the duties and privileges of the 
 Surgeons and Mates, not heretofore particularly as- 
 certained, be conformable to the established Usage 
 of other well regulated Armies, as far as is consist- 
 ent with the Good of the Service, until otherwise 
 settled and directed by this Congress. ^^ 
 
 Resolved, that the Appointments of Surgeons (Sur- 
 geons Mates), Storekeepers, Stewards, Managers and 
 
 1* A paragraph that was not retained. 
 
 43
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 Nurses, heretofore mentioned, shall be made by the 
 Director General in the Northern and Eastern De- 
 partments; which may hereafter be app'd in that 
 dep't; and in the Southern Dep't by the director of 
 that dep't with the approba. of the Commandr of 
 the respective departments.^^ 
 
 Resolved, that it be recommend to Congress to 
 purchase the Medicines (now in Phila) belonging to 
 Doctor Morgan. ^^ 
 
 Resolved, that in all levies of Troops hereafter 
 to be raised for the Service of the Continent a stop- 
 page of out of the month's pay of each Man be 
 made for the Use and support of the several Conti- 
 nental Hospitals.^^ 
 
 That the director general, and the several direct- 
 ors of hospitals, be empowered to purchase, with 
 the approbation of the commander of the respective 
 departments, medicines, and instruments for the 
 use of their respective hospitals, and draw upon the 
 pay master for the same, and make report of such 
 purchases to Congress.^" 
 
 July 20, 1776. 595 
 
 Resolved, That Dr. Senter be recommended to 
 Dr. Morgan; who is desired to examine him; and if, 
 (upon examination,) he finds him qualified, to em- 
 ploy him in the hospital as a surgeon. 
 
 July 26, 1776. 612 
 
 Resolved, That an order for 2,000 dollars be 
 drawn on the treasurers in favor of Dr. W. Shippen; 
 he to be accountable. 
 
 1' A paragraph that was not retained. 
 
 ^^ This report, in the writing of Thomas Stone, is in the Papers 
 of the Continental Csngress, No. 19, IV, folio 181. 
 
 44
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 July 31, 1776. 622 
 
 Resolved, That the committee for providing medi- 
 cines be directed to provide, and send forward, such 
 a quantity of medicines as may be necessary for the 
 Hospital in the northern army: 
 
 That the said committee be directed to procure 
 and send forward such a quantity of medicines as 
 may be necessary for the hospital in the southern 
 department. 
 
 August 6, 1776. 633 
 
 Resolved, That the committee for procuring medi- 
 cines be directed to supply the director general of 
 the Hospital with such medicines as he may want. 
 
 August 7, 1776. 636 
 
 Resolved, That Dr. (Benjamin) Rush be added to 
 the committee for procuring medicines. 
 
 August 16, 1776. 661 
 
 A petition from Dr. Samuel Stringer, was present- 
 ed to Congress and read: 
 
 Resolved, That it be referred to the Medical Com- 
 mittee. 
 
 Resolved, That the Medical Committee be em- 
 powered to purchase such medicines as they judge 
 proper and useful for the army. 
 
 August 20, 1776. 673 
 
 The committee to whom was referred the peti- 
 tion of Dr. Stringer brought in their report, which 
 was taken into consideration; whereupon, 
 
 Resolved, That Dr. Morgan was appointed direct- 
 or general and physician in chief of the American 
 hospital : 
 
 That Dr. Stringer was appointed director and 
 physician of the hospital in the northern depart- 
 ment only. 
 
 45
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 That every director of a hospital possesses the ex- 
 clusive right of appointing surgeons and hospital 
 officers of all kinds, agreeable to the resolutions of 
 Congress of the 17 of July, in his own department, 
 unless otherwise directed by Congress: 
 
 That Dr. Stringer be authorized to appoint a sur- 
 geon for the fleet now fitting out upon the lakes: 
 
 That a Druggist be appointed in Philadelphia 
 whose business it shall be, to receive and deliver all 
 medicines, instruments, and shop furniture for the 
 benefit of the United States: 
 
 That a salary of thirty dollars a month be paid to 
 the said druggist for his labour. 
 
 Congress proceeded to the election of a druggist, 
 and, the ballots being taken. Dr. William Smith was 
 elected. 
 
 August 26, 1776. 705 
 
 Provided, that all such officers and soldiers that 
 may be entitled to the aforesaid pension, and are 
 found to be capable of doing guard or garrison duty, 
 shall be formed in a corps of invalids, and subject 
 to the said duty; and all officers, marines, and sea- 
 men of the navy who shall be entitled to the pen- 
 sion aforesaid, and shall be found capable of doing 
 any duty on board the navy, or any department 
 thereof, shall be liable to be so employed: 
 
 Ordered. That the above be published. ^^ 
 
 The Medical Committee, to whom Dr. M'Henry's 
 petition was referred, brought in their report: Where- 
 upon, 
 
 Resolved, That Congress have a proper sense of 
 the merit and services of Dr. M'Henry, and recom- 
 mend it to the directors of the diff"erent hospitals 
 belonging to the United States, to appoint Dr. 
 
 z^ Printed in the Pennsylvania Gazette, 4 September, 1776. 
 
 46
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 M'Henry to the first vacancy that shall happen, of 
 a surgeon's berth in any of the said hospitals. 
 
 August 29, 1776. 717 
 
 That the said committee be directed to import 
 the medicines ordered by the Medical Committee. 
 
 September 7, 1776. 742 
 
 Resolved, That Mr. (Gustavus) Risberg, the as- 
 sistant to Colonel Biddle, be directed to take proper 
 measures for providing the sick soldiers in Philadel- 
 phia, with proper lodgings and attendance. 
 
 September 18, 1776. 781 
 
 That the Medical Committee send an assortment 
 of proper medicines to the northern army: ^^ 
 
 September 24, 1776. 812-813 
 
 Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed 
 to devise ways and means for effectually providing 
 the northern army with provisions and medicines, 
 and supplying their other necessary wants: 
 
 The members chosen, Mr. (Benjamin) Rush, Mr. 
 (Lyman) Hall, Mr. (Samuel) Chase, Mr. (Thomas) 
 Johnson and Mr. (Richard) Stockton. 
 
 Resolved, That the Medical Committee be direct- 
 ed to apply to the council of safety of Pennsylvania, 
 for a quantity of medicines; to be repaid in kind or 
 in cash, as they shall chuse. 
 
 September 25, 1776. 822, 823, 826 
 
 The committee appointed to devise ways and 
 means for providing the northern army with pro- 
 
 22 This report, dated "at a board of war, Sepf. I4th, 1776" and 
 in the writing of Richard Peters, is in the Papers of the Continen- 
 tal Congress, No. 147, I, folio 5. It is endorsed: "partly agreed to. 
 Two paragraphs postpon'd, Sepf. 18, 1776." 
 
 47
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 visions, medicines and other necessaries, brought 
 in a report, which was taken into consideration; 
 Whereupon, . . . 
 
 That the committee be empowered to make regu- 
 lations for the hospitals in the northern depart- 
 ment, and to remove or suspend any person em- 
 ployed therein, and to employ such as they may 
 think necessary and proper; and that they report 
 to Congress the state and condition of the army, 
 and any further regulations which they may think 
 necessary, for the better government and supplying 
 the said army: 
 
 That the committee consist of [three] two, and 
 that to Morrow be assigned for electing the said 
 committee. 
 
 To the steward of the Pennsylvania hospital, for 
 boarding William Whiting, a wounded soldier, four 
 weeks, by order of Congress, 5 30/90 dollars: 
 
 September 30, 1776. 836-837 
 
 That it be recommended to the legislatures of 
 the United States, to appoint gentlemen in their re- 
 spective states, skilful in physic and surgery, to ex- 
 amine those who offer to serve as surgeons or sur- 
 geons' mates in the army and navy; and that no 
 surgeon or mate shall hereafter receive a commis- 
 sion or warrant to act as such, in the army or navy, 
 who shall not produce a certificate from some or 
 one of the examiners so to be appointed, to prove 
 that he is qualified to execute the office: 
 
 That all regimental surgeons and mates, as well 
 as those of the hospitals, be subject to the direction 
 and controul of the directors in the several depart- 
 ments: 
 
 That no soldier be discharged from the service as 
 disabled, unless the certificate of disability be coun- 
 tersigned by the director, assistant physician, or 
 
 48
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 first surgeon of the hospital, nor be excused from 
 duty for sickness, unless the certificate of sickness 
 be countersigned by one of those persons, where ac- 
 cess may be had to them. 
 
 Resolved, That the remainder of the said report be 
 postponed. 
 
 October 7, 1776. 852-3 
 
 . . . . Three Camp Kettles for the use of the 
 Hospital, to W. V. Wimple Surgeon; . . . 
 
 That said Nicholson delivered five Camp Kettles, 
 to Colo. Hazen, 3 ditto to Doctr. Lynn for the Gen- 
 eral Hospital, and 3 ditto for the red hospital at St. 
 Foys. 
 
 October 9, 1776. 857-8, 9 
 
 Congress resumed the consideration of the report 
 of the committee who went to the camp; ^^ Where- 
 upon, 
 
 Resolved, That no regimental hospitals be, in fu- 
 ture, allowed in the neighbourhood of the general 
 hospital: 
 
 That John Morgan, EsqF provide and superin- 
 tend a hospital, at a proper distance from the camp, 
 for the army posted on the east side of Hudson's 
 river. 
 
 That William Shippen (Jun.), EsqT provide and 
 superintend an hospital for the army, in the state 
 of New Jersey : 
 
 That each of the hospitals be supplied by the re- 
 spective directors with such a number of surgeons, 
 apothecaries, surgeons' mates, and other assistants, 
 and also with such quantities of medicine, bedding, 
 and other necessaries, as they shall judge expedient: 
 
 23 See note under October 3, p. 844, ante. 
 
 2* This sentence is in the writing of John Hancock. 
 
 49
 
 HI*TORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 That they make weekly returns to Congress and 
 the commander in chief, of the officers and assist- 
 ants of each denomination, and also the number of 
 sick and deceased in their respective hospitals: 
 
 That the regimental surgeons be directed to send 
 to the general hospitals such officers and soldiers of 
 their respective regiments, as, confined by wounds 
 or other disorders, shall require nurses or constant 
 attendance, and, from^ time to time, to apply to the 
 quarter master general, or his deputy, for conve- 
 nient waggons for this purpose; also, (that they ap- 
 ply to the directors in their respective departments, 
 for medicines and other necessaries:) ^^ 
 
 That the wages of nurses be augmented to one 
 dollar per week: 
 
 That the commanding officer of each regiment be 
 directed, once a week, to send a commission officer 
 to visit the sick of his respective regiment in the 
 general hospital, and report their state to him: 
 
 That for the promoting health in the army, the 
 commissary general be directed to cause the same 
 to be well supplied with Indian meal and vegetables. 
 
 October 14, 1776. 869 
 
 A letter .... One from General Washington, 
 'of the 7, enclosing a letter from Dr. Morgan, were 
 laid before Congress, and read. 
 
 Resolved, . . . That the letter from Dr. Morgan, 
 enclosed in General Washington's letter, be referred 
 to the Medical Committee. 
 
 November 4, 1776. 921 
 
 It being represented that some of the marines in 
 the barracks are sick. 
 
 Resolved, That Doct"" Rush be desired to take 
 them under his care, and see them properly provided 
 for. 
 
 50
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 November 12, 1776. 940 
 
 A letter, . . . and one, of the 9, from Dr. Ship- 
 pen, were read.^^ 
 
 November 13, 1776. 948 
 
 To Doctor Samuel Wilson, for board, attendance, 
 and medicine, to sick soldiers of the 6 Virginia regi- 
 ment, 33 60/90 dollars: 
 
 That there should be paid to Thomas Armer, on 
 account of Elizabeth Robinson, for so much short 
 paid on settlement of her account, the 14th October 
 last, for board, &c. of sick soldiers belonging to Cap- 
 tain Grier's company, 10 dollars: 
 
 That there should be paid to the Pennsylvania 
 hospital, for the support and cloathing of John 
 Hughes, a wounded soldier, 36 54/90 dollars: 
 
 November 19, 1776. 965 
 
 That, on any sick or disabled non-commissioned 
 officer or soldier, being sent to any hospital or sick 
 quarters, the captain or commandant of the troop 
 or company to which he belongs, shall send to the 
 surgeon, or director of the said hospital, or give to 
 the non-commissioned officer or soldier, so in the 
 hospital or quarters, a certificate, (countersigned by 
 the pay master of the regiment, if he be with the 
 regiment,) of what pay is due to such sick non-com- 
 missioned officer or private, at the time of his enter- 
 ing the hospital or quarters; and the captain or com- 
 mandant of the troop or company, shall not receive 
 the pay of the said soldier in hospital or quarters, 
 or include him in any pay abstract during his con- 
 tinuance therein. And, in case any non-commis- 
 sioned officer or soldier shall be discharged from 
 
 ^ The letter of Dr. Shippen is in the Papers of the Continental 
 Congress, No. 78, XX, folio 75. 
 
 51
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 the hospital or quarters, as unfit for farther service, 
 a certificate shall be given him, by the surgeon or 
 director, of what pay is then due to him; and the 
 said non-commissioned officer or soldier, so dis- 
 charged, shall be entitled to receive his pay at any 
 pay office, or from any pay master in the service of 
 the United States ; the said pay master keeping such 
 original certificate, to prevent impositions, and giv- 
 ing the non-commissioned officer or soldier his dis- 
 charge, or a certified copy thereof, mentioning, at 
 the same time, his having been paid: 
 
 November 26, 1776. 983 
 
 That the committee, who are sent to the camp, 
 be directed to make particular enquiry into the 
 abuses in the medical department in the army, and 
 report thereon to Congress. 
 
 November 28, 1776. 989 
 
 The Medical Committee, to whom Dr. Shippen's 
 letter was referred, brought in a report, which was 
 taken into consideration; Whereupon, 
 
 Resolved, That Dr. Morgan take care of such sick 
 and wounded of the army of the United States, as 
 are on the east side of Hudson's river, and that Dr. 
 Shippen take care of such of the said sick and 
 wounded as are on the west side of Hudson's river; 
 and that they both be directed to use the utmost 
 diligence in superintending the surgeons and mates 
 of the army, so that the sick and wounded may be 
 effectually provided with everything necessary for 
 their recovery. 
 
 November 29, 1776. 990-991 
 
 Resolved, That Mr. Mease be directed to supply 
 the sick soldiers, in the House of Employment in 
 Philadelphia, with one shirt apiece. 
 
 52
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 Resolved, That the Medical Committee be directed 
 to provide sufficient quantities of antiscorbutics for 
 tlie use of the hospitals in the northern army: 
 
 That the hospital at Fort George be continued 
 for the reception of soldiers labouring with con- 
 tagious diseases, and that there be a general hospi- 
 tal erected on Mount Independence: 
 
 That a suitable spot of ground for a garden be 
 enclosed in the neighbourhood of the general hospi- 
 tal, to supply the army with vegetables; and that 
 labourers be hired to cultivate it, under the direc- 
 tion of an overseer, to be appointed by the general 
 or commanding officer: 
 
 That the general, or commanding officer, in each 
 of the armies, cause strict enquiries to be made into 
 the 2^ conduct of the directors of the hospitals, and 
 their surgeons, officers, and servants, and of the 
 regimental surgeons, that if there has been any just 
 grounds of complaint in those departments, the of- 
 fenders may be punished: 
 
 That the colonel or commanding officer of every 
 regiment, make frequent enquiry into the health of 
 the men under his command, and report the state 
 thereof, with any negligence, mal-practice, or other 
 misconduct of the surgeons or others, to the general, 
 and to Congress, delivering copies of such reports 
 to all persons therein accused: 
 
 December i, 1776. 998 
 
 Resolved, . . . That the Medical Committee be 
 directed to take such steps, as they shall judge 
 proper, for the accommodation of the sick of the 
 army. 
 
 December 5, 1776. 1006 
 
 Resolved, That it be and is earnestly recommend- 
 
 28 The original report here contained "past as well as future." 
 
 53
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 ed to the council of safety of Pennsylvania, to pro- 
 cure the Pennsylvania hospital, for the purpose of 
 accommodating the sick belonging to the continen- 
 tal army. 
 
 Resolved, That the Medical Committee be em- 
 powered to procure suitable persons to take care of 
 the sick, and to remove them to such convenient 
 places in the country, as they shall think proper. 
 
 December 12, 1776. 1024 
 
 That 5,000 dollars be advanced to Dr. Nicholas 
 Way, (of Wilmington,) for the public service; he to 
 be accountable. 
 
 Resolved, That the continental apothecary be di- 
 rected immediately to pack up all the continental 
 medicines, and send them to the quarter master 
 general : 
 
 That the quarter master general be directed to 
 remove all the medicines belonging to the continent 
 in this city to a place of security: 
 
 Standing Committees 
 I 775-1 776 
 
 Medicines p. 1065 
 
 14 September, 1775. Eliphalet Dyer 
 
 Thomas Lynch 
 John Jay 
 John Adams 
 Francis Lewis 
 18 June, 1776. Thomas Hey ward, Jr. 
 
 Lyman Hall 
 7 August, 1776. Benjamin Rush 
 
 January 3, I777- I3 
 
 Resolved, That Dr. (Jonathan) Elmore and Dr. 
 (Nathan) Brownson be added to the Medical Com- 
 mittee. 
 
 54
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 January 9, 1777. 24-5 
 
 Congress resumed the consideration of the report 
 of the Medical Committee; Whereupon, 
 
 Resolved, That Dr. John Morgan, director general, 
 and Dr. Samuel Stringer, director of the hospital in 
 the northern department of the army of the United 
 States, be, and they are hereby, dismissed from any 
 farther service in said offices: 
 
 That the directors of the military hospitals 
 throughout the army, with the assistance of the hos- 
 pital and regimental surgeons in each department, 
 make returns to Congress, as soon as possible, of 
 the kind and quantity of medicines, instruments, 
 and hospital furniture that remain on hand. 
 
 January 14, 1777. 34 
 
 Resolved, . . . That the Medical Committee 
 provide a suitable assortment of medicines, and 
 send them to the hospital in the northern army, 
 with all possible despatch, Itogether with other nec- 
 essaries for the sick; and that the list mentioned by 
 Dr. Stringer, in a paper, No. i, enclosed in Genera 
 Schuyler's letter, be committed to them: 
 
 That Dr. Potts be directed to repair to Ticon- 
 deroga without delay: 
 
 That Dr. Stringer be directed to deliver to Dr. 
 Potts, such medicines, and other medical stores, as 
 may be in his hands belonging to the Continent. 
 
 January 17, 1777. 44 
 
 A letter with a number of papers, from Dr. Mor- 
 gan, were laid before Congress, and referred to the 
 Medical Committee. 
 
 January 18, 1777. 48 
 
 To Dr. J(ohn) Witherspoon, for wood supplied 
 
 55
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 the troops at Princetown; for the expences of sick 
 soldiers; and the allowance due to John M'Kinzie, 
 a prisoner from North Carolina, from the i8th Oc- 
 tober to the loth January, inclusive, being 12 weeks, 
 105 78/90 dollars: ^^ 
 Ordered, That the said accounts be paid. 
 
 January 29, 1777. 70 
 
 Resolved, That Dr. Mackenzie, who has the care 
 of the sick in the hospital in Baltimore, be empow- 
 ered to appoint a mate to assist him. 
 
 January 31, 1777. 79-80, 81 
 
 Resolved, That a committee of four be appointed 
 to consider what honours are due to the memory of 
 General Warren, (who fell in the battle of Bunker's- 
 Hill, the 17th of June, 1775;) and of the late Gen- 
 eral H. Mercer, who died on the 12th instant, of 
 the wounds he received on the 3** of the same 
 month, in fighting against the enemies of American 
 liberty, near Princetown: 
 
 The members chosen, Mr. (Benjamin) Rush, Mr. 
 (Thomas) Heyward, Mr. (Mann) Page, and Mr. 
 S(amuel) Adams. 
 
 To Dr. Samuel Mackenzie, for sundry medicine 
 purchased by him for the use of the hospital in Bal- 
 timore, 86 74/90 dollars: 
 
 To Dr. John Hindman, for sundry medicine sup- 
 plied by him for the use of Colonel Richardson's 
 batallion of Maryland forces, 20 6/90 dollars: 
 
 February 4, 1777. 87 
 
 A memorial from Dr. Thomas Young was read, 
 and referred to the medical committee. . . . 
 Resolved, That Dr. (Thomas) Burke be added to 
 
 *' This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 
 132, I, folio 17. 
 
 56
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 the Medical Committee; and that he be appointed 
 a member of the Marine Committee, in the room of 
 Mr. (William) Hooper, who has leave to return 
 home for some time. 
 
 February 5, 1777. 91 
 
 Ordered, That the Board of War digest the said 
 conference, and bring in a proper report on the 
 several matters mentioned, saving what relates to 
 medicines. 
 
 Resolved, That the Medical Committee be empow- 
 ered to employ a suitable person in each of the 
 states, to purchase such medicines as they shall di- 
 rect, for the use of the army, which can be procured 
 at any reasonable rates. 
 
 \\Ordered\\ That the said committee enquire what 
 is become of the medicines which Dr. Morgan took 
 from Boston, and which Dr. Stringer bought for the 
 northern army, and take measures to have them 
 secured, and applied to the use of the army. 
 
 February 12, 1777. no 
 
 Ordered, That the Medical Committee write to 
 General Washington, and consult him on the pro- 
 priety and expediency of causing such of the troops 
 in his army, as have not had the small pox, to be 
 inoculated, and recommend that measure to him, if 
 it can be done consistent with the public safety, and 
 good of the service. 
 
 February 20, 1777. 139 
 
 To Dr. Frederick Phile, for the amount of his ac- 
 count for medicine and attendance to the German 
 batallion, in Philadelphia, (£74 16 6=) 199 48/90 
 dollars: . . . 
 
 Ordered, That the said accounts be paid. 
 
 57
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 At a Board of War, 2d^ Feb^., 1777. 
 Agreed to report to Congress: .... 
 That the Assembly of the State of Maryland be 
 requested to deliver to Doctor McKensie so much 
 Medicines of the following Denominations as he 
 shall want and they can spare, to enable him to 
 inoculate the Continental Troops in this Town, in 
 the following Proportions for one hundred Men. 
 Six ounces Calomel 
 Two Pounds Jallop 
 Three Pounds Nitre 
 
 Elix"" Vitriol 
 One Pound Peruvian Bark 
 One Pound Virginia Snake Root.^^ 
 
 February 22, 1777. 143 
 
 Resolved, . . . That 1,500 dollars be paid to Dr. 
 Samuel M'Kinzie, for the use of the hospital in Bal- 
 timore; he to be accountable. 
 
 February 25, 1777. 155, 156 
 
 Two officers of the 2d and 7th Virginia batallions, 
 who were left to bring up the baggage of their re- 
 spective batallions, and a surgeon's mate belonging 
 to the 2d batallion, of the Virginia forces, being ar- 
 rived in Baltimore, applied for two months' pay 
 (for themselves and the men with them,) to enable 
 them to proceed with their companies. 
 
 Resolved, That they be referred to M""- Jonathan 
 Hudson, who is directed to pay the said officers and 
 [their] men [one] two months' pay; [and to the sur- 
 geon two months' pay] ; and return an account to the 
 General, and to the pay master general. 
 
 ^^ This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 
 147, I, folio 85. 
 
 58
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 Doctor (John) Witherspoon, having represented 
 o Congress that the situation of his private affairs 
 requires his returning home for a short time, desires 
 leave of absence. 
 
 Resolved, That leave be granted. 
 
 To Dr. Benjamin Rush, for sundry medicine and 
 attendance to sick soldiers and prisoners, the sum 
 of (£177.9=) 473 18/90 dollars: 
 
 To Richard Stockton, Esq. and to be paid to Dr. 
 Benjamin Rush, for the hire of two horses, a sulky, 
 &c. for his journey to Ticonderoga last fall, by order 
 of Congress, 151 30/90 dollars: 
 
 February 27, 1777. 16 1-4 
 
 The Medical Committee, to whom the report on 
 the hospital was re-committed, brought in a report, 
 which was read: 
 
 The Medical Committee having taken into their 
 consideration a plan ^^ for establishing Military Hos- 
 pitals, [transmitted to Congress by General Wash- 
 ington], agree to report — 
 
 Section i. That the Continent be divided into 
 three districts. The Middle to extend from Hudsons 
 river to Potomac. The Southern to extend from 
 Potomac to Georgia, and the Northern from Hud- 
 sons river to Quebec or Crown Point. 
 
 2. That there be a Surgeon and Physician Gen'* ^^ 
 with a suitable number of Senior ph ysicians, Senior 
 Surgeons and mates to each district. That the sick 
 be taken care of by the physicians, and the wound- 
 ed by the Surgeons in different apartments. 
 
 3. That there be a physician and Surgeon General 
 
 ^' This plan, in the writing of William Shippen, is in the Papers 
 of the Continental Congress, No. 22, folio 9. It was prepared by 
 Doctors Shippen and John Cochran, and was transmitted to 
 Congress by Washington, February 14, 1777. 
 
 59
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 with the main army whose business it shall be to 
 attend the general and principal Officers of the 
 Army, to enquire into the quality of the food of the 
 Soldiers, to superintend the regimental Surgeons and 
 Mates, and to attend when called upon in consulta- 
 tion with them in all extraordinary cases. 
 
 4. That there be an Apothecary General whose 
 business it shall be to purchase such medicines and 
 instruments as shall be judged necessary by the 
 Surgeons and physicians general of the Army. That 
 he have the liberty of appointing three assistant 
 Apothecaries in different parts of the United States, 
 in order to supply with the more convenience the 
 several hospitals, and regimental and Naval Sur- 
 geons with medicines and instruments. 
 
 5. That there be an Inspector General of the 
 Army of the United States whose business it shall 
 be to visit the Military hospitals and Apothecaries 
 Shops in every part of the Continent; to examine 
 the medicines and instruments belonging to the 
 States; to enquire into the conduct of the several 
 Officers in the medical department and report to 
 the Congress, and Commander in chief at least once 
 a month. 
 
 6. That the Surgeons and Physicians General of 
 the hospitals have the liberty of appointing hospital 
 Apothecaries, senior Physicians, and Surgeons, 
 Mates, Purveyors, Clerks, Commissaries, Wardmas- 
 ters, Servants, Washerwomen, Nurses, Cooks, and 
 all such Officers as shall be necessary for the accom- 
 modation of the sick and wounded in the hospitals. 
 
 7. That the business of the Commissaries shall be 
 to provide provisions, and liquors, also straw, hay 
 and fuel for the hospitals. Also to bury the dead. 
 He shall likewise provide, and superintend the wag- 
 
 60
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 gons employed in transporting tlie sick, and wound- 
 ed, and the baggage of the hospitals. 
 
 The business of the Purveyors shall be to take 
 care of, and distribute the provisions, and other Ar- 
 ticles provided by the Commissaries for the sick and 
 wounded both in the camp and hospitals. 
 
 8. The business of the Wardmaster shall be to 
 take care of the Arms, Accoutrements, and cloathes 
 of the sick and wounded, and to take care that 
 proper attention is paid to the cleanliness of the 
 patients, and their respective wards, rooms, or tents. 
 
 9. That one Clerk be allowed to every general 
 hospital, and one Nurse to every ten sick. That 
 each military hospital be furnished with a number 
 of shirts, sheets, blankets and cases for straw for 
 the accommodation of the sick. 
 
 That each regiment be furnished with a number 
 of hospital tents according to their number of men, 
 a full regiment not to have more than six tents. 
 
 10. That the pay of the Surgeons and physicians 
 Generals, be four dollars and six rations a day. 
 That the inspector General have five dollars and 12 
 rations a day. That the pay of the Apothecary 
 General be 3 dollars, and 4 rations a day. That the 
 assistant Apothecaries appointed by the Apothecary 
 General have one dollar and 1/3 per day. That the 
 Purveyors of the hospitals have 2 dollars and 3 
 rations per day, and that the pay and rations of the 
 hospital Apothecaries, senior Surgeons and Mates 
 of the hospital be the same as formerly established 
 by Congress. That the pay and rations of the senior 
 physicians of each hospital be the same as those of 
 a senior Surgeon. 
 
 11. That the pay and rations of the commissaries 
 of the hospitals be the same as the deputy com- 
 missaries in the Army. 
 
 61
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 12. That the pay and rations of the Wardmasters 
 be the same as that of a Commissary. 
 
 13. That the pay of the Clerks, Cooks, Nurses, 
 Washerwomen, Servants, &c., be regulated by the 
 Physicians and Surgeons General. 
 
 14. That the pay and rations of a regimental Sur- 
 geon be the same as those of a Captain and the pay 
 and rations of a Mate be the same as those of a 
 i^ Lieutenant. 
 
 15-16. That no senior Physician, or Surgeon, no 
 hospital Mate, nor shall any regimental Surgeon or 
 Mate be appointed in the Army who has not previ- 
 ously undergone an examination before one or more 
 of the Physicians and Surgeons General, or before 
 the Inspector General of the medical department. 
 
 17. That a Sergeants guard be constantly placed 
 at each general hospital to prevent the unnecessary 
 visits of Strangers, and the desertion of convalescent 
 patients, and to assist, if necessary in inforcing the 
 rules, and orders of the Surgeons, and physicians of 
 the hospitals. 
 
 18. That the Officers of the several regimental 
 companies to which the sick and wounded belong be 
 ordered to concur by means of their Authority with 
 the Surgeons and physicians in taking care of their 
 respective Soldiers. 
 
 19. That the physicians and Surgeons General 
 with the Inspector General of the medical depart- 
 ment be authorized to make such further improve- 
 ments in this plan for regulating the medical de- 
 partment as the exigencies and situation of the 
 Army may make necessary, and that they report the 
 same when made to Congress for their Approbation. 
 
 20. That it be recommended to each of the States 
 to make suitable provision for the maintainance of 
 such maimed, and incurable Soldiers and Seamen as 
 
 62
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 shall be discharged from the service of the united 
 States.^" 
 
 Ordered, To lie on the table. 
 
 March 15, 1777. 180 
 
 Resolved, That as Congress proceeded to the dis- 
 mission of Doctor Stringer, upon reasons satisfac- 
 tory to themselves, General Schuyler ought to have 
 known it to be his duty to have acquiesced therein: 
 
 Resolved, That the suggestion in General Schuy- 
 ler's letter to Congress, that it was a compliment 
 due to him to have been advised of the reasons of 
 Doctor Stringer's dismission, is highly derogatory to 
 the honour of Congress; and that the president be 
 desired to acquaint General Schuyler that it is ex- 
 pected his letters, for the future, be written in a 
 stile more suitable to the dignity of the representa- 
 tive body of these free and independent states, and 
 to his own character as their officer. 
 
 March 19, 1777. 186 
 
 Resolved, That the extract of Mr. Deane's letter, 
 relative to Dr. Williamson, be referred to a com- 
 mittee of five, who are empowered to send for Dr. 
 Williamson and examine him: 
 
 The members chosen. Dr. (John) Witherspoon, 
 Mr. (Jonathan Bayard?) Smith, Mr. (George) Cly- 
 mer, Mr. (James) Wilson, and Mr. (Thomas) Hey- 
 ward. 
 
 March 22, 1777. 193 
 
 The report of the Medical Committee was taken 
 up and considered; (and, after debate,) Whereupon, 
 
 ^^ This report, in the writing of Benjamin Rush, is in the Papers 
 of the Continental Congress, No. 22, folio 1. Against paragraphs 
 1, 2, and 4 is written "Query if necessary." 
 
 63
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 Resolved, That said report, together with Dr. 
 Shippen's plan, be recommitted. 
 
 Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed 
 to devise ways and means for preserving the health 
 of the troops, and for introducing better discipline 
 into the army: 
 
 The members chosen, Mr. (Ohver) Wolcott, Mr. 
 (Daniel) Roberdeau, Dr. (John) Witherspoon, Mr. 
 S(amuel) Adams, and Mr. (Abraham) Clark. 
 
 March 24, 1777. 197-200 
 
 The Medical Committee, to whom the plan of the 
 general hospital was recommitted, brought in a re- 
 port, which was read: 
 
 The Medical Committee, having taken into their 
 consideration the establishment of the medical de- 
 partment in the Army, Report as follows: 
 
 i^'. That to each regiment there be appointed 
 one Surgeon and one Surgeon's Mate, who shall 
 constantly attend the Regiment, to afford present 
 relief to the sick and wounded, and take care of 
 such as it may be proper to remove to the hospital. 
 
 2^^*^, That Senior Surgeons of approved Abilities 
 in Physick and Surgery be appointed to each Brig- 
 ade or a greater number of Regiments as the Gen- 
 eral commanding in each department or grand divi- 
 sion of the Army shall judge necessary; whose busi- 
 ness shall be, to Superintend the Regimental Sur- 
 geons and Mates, see that they do their duty, ad- 
 vise and direct them in all difficult cases, and direct 
 or perform all Capital Operations, give Assistance 
 to the director of the hospital when such assistance 
 is necessary; direct the Commissary of the Sick in 
 the Articles Necessary to be procured for the Sick 
 and wounded out of the hospital, and see that the 
 Commissary, purveyor and Nurses Regularly per- 
 
 64
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 lorm their respective duties, and provide proper 
 Nurses to attend the sick wlien Necessary; and also 
 from Time to Time furnish the Regimental Surgeons 
 with such Medicines and instruments as they may 
 have Occasion for out of those furnished them by 
 the Apothecaries, taking receipts for the same, and 
 render Accounts of all medicines and instruments 
 by them received or delivered out when required 
 thereto by Congress. 
 
 S'"'*, That a Commissary for the Sick be appoint- 
 ed to attend each grand division of the Army, who 
 shall appoint one or more assistants if necessary, 
 whose business it shall be to purchase and deliver 
 to the purveyor all such Provisions, Liquors, and 
 other necessaries for the Sick and wounded as di- 
 rected by the Senior Surgeons, and keep accounts of 
 and take receipts for the same: he shall provide 
 Straw, hay and fuel for the hospitals, and have the 
 care of burying the Dead: he shall furnish the hos- 
 pital with such a number of shirts, sheets, blankets, 
 and cases for straw for the Accommodation of the 
 Sick as the General commanding in such grand divi- 
 sion of the Army shall direct: he shall likewise pro- 
 vide or obtain from the Quarter master general a 
 proper number of hospital tents for the Sick in case 
 the Army is likely to be stationed in places where 
 houses convenient cannot be obtained for that pur- 
 pose: and also provide and Superintend the Wag- 
 gons necessary to be employed in removing the Sick 
 and wounded, the number of hospital tents and 
 Waggons necessary for the above purposes to be 
 fixed and ascertained by the Generals commanding 
 each division, and certified under their hands re- 
 spectively: of all which Articles above enumerated, 
 when provided, the Commissary shall take proper 
 receipts and vouchers proving that the same were 
 
 ^5
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 furnished, which he shall lay before Congress when 
 required. 
 
 4*^ That one Purveyor be appointed to attend 
 each grand division of the Army, with one or more 
 Assistants if necessary: whose duty it shall be to re- 
 ceive from the Commissary, take care of and dis- 
 tribute the provisions and other necessaries provid- 
 ed for the sick and wounded in such manner as the 
 Senior Surgeons shall direct: which provisions and 
 necessaries are to be delivered in lieu of well rations. 
 
 5*^*, That the General commanding in each De- 
 partment or grand division of the Army, direct one 
 hospital to be provided in some Convenient place 
 contiguous to the Army consisting of different or 
 separate houses, if such can be had, in order that 
 the wounded may be kept apart from the sick, and 
 also that: he sick may be properly divided, as may 
 be most conducive to their recovery: to which hos- 
 pital all such sick and wounded are to be sent as 
 the Senior Surgeons may think proper, and whose 
 circumstances will admit being removed, which hos- 
 pital shall be supplied by the Commissary for the 
 sick, with such provisions and other necessaries for 
 the use of the sick and wounded, as the director 
 shall require in lieu of well rations. 
 
 6*^ That one director of approved skill in Phy- 
 sick and Surgery be appointed for each hospital, 
 who shall have the liberty of appointing one assist- 
 ant Surgeon and four mates; a purveyor and such a 
 number of Washerwomen and Nurses as he shall 
 judge necessary for the comfortable accommodation 
 and attendance of the sick and wounded under his 
 care, always observing that no more than necessary 
 are employed. Also that the director May call to his 
 assistance one or more of the Senior Surgeons when 
 the number of sick and wounded in the hospital re- 
 
 66
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 quires such assistance. Also that the director take 
 an Account of each of the sick and wounded under 
 his care, with the Time of their coming to the hos- 
 pital, and when discharged, or deceased: and also of 
 the Number of attendants employed in Nursing and 
 taking care of the sick: and make due returns there- 
 of every month to the general commanding in each 
 grand division of the Army to be by him transmit- 
 ted to Congress. 
 
 7*^ That there be two Apothecaries, one in the 
 middle, and one in the eastern department, whose 
 business it shall be to receive all such Medicines and 
 instruments as shall be procured by the Secret Com- 
 mittee, and to purchase such others as they shall di- 
 rect. That the Apothecaries prepare and put up such 
 medicines and instruments for each hospital, and for 
 each Regimental Surgeon, and also for each Senior 
 Surgeon to be used by them or dealt out to the 
 Regimental Surgeons when needed, as the medical 
 committee shall direct, and forward the same with 
 Supplies from Time to Time agreeable to their or- 
 ders, keeping exact accounts and taking proper re- 
 ceipts for the same to be laid before Congress when 
 required. Each Apothecary to be allowed one mate. 
 
 8*^ That the sick and wounded as well in the 
 Army as in the hospital be kept separate from each 
 other, when circumstances will admit thereof; and 
 that the sick be always placed at such a distance 
 from those in health as to prevent the spread of in- 
 fection in the Army. 
 
 9*^ That the pay of the medical department be 
 as follows — 
 
 The director of the hospital dollars per month 
 and rations per day. 
 
 The Senior Surgeons and assistants to the direc- 
 
 (>7
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 tors dollars per month and rations per day 
 
 each. 
 
 The Apothecaries dollars per month and 
 rations per day each. 
 
 The Regimental Surgeons dollars per month 
 
 and rations per day each. 
 
 The directors Apothecaries and Surgeons mates 
 dollars per month and rations per day each. 
 
 The Commissary of the sick dollars per month 
 and rations per day each. 
 
 The Purveyors dollars per month and ra- 
 tions per day each. 
 
 The Assistant Commissaries and Assistant Pur- 
 veyors dollars per month and rations per day 
 each.^^ 
 
 Ordered, That it be referred for consideration to 
 morrow morning. 
 
 March 27, 1777. 206 
 
 Congress resumed the consideration of the report 
 of the Medical Committee on the hospital; 
 
 Resolved, That it be [referred to a Committee of 
 the Whole. Congress then resolved itself into a 
 Committee of the Whole, to take into consideration 
 the report of the Medical Committee, and after 
 some time, the President resumed the chair, and 
 Mr. (Daniel) Roberdeen reported] re-committed. 
 
 April 2, 1777. 219 
 
 Congress resumed the consideration of the report 
 of the (medical) committee on the hospital, and, 
 after debate. 
 
 Ordered, That the said report lie on the table (for 
 farther consideration). 
 
 '1 This report, in the writing of Abraham Clark, is in the Pa- 
 pers of the Continental Congress, No. 22, folio 15. 
 
 68
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed 
 to revise Dr. Shippcn's plan for the regulating the 
 hospital, and report thereon. 
 
 The members chosen, Mr. (Elbridge) Gerry, Mr. 
 (Thomas) Burke and Mr. J(ohn) Adams. 
 
 April 4, 1777. 225 
 
 The Committee on the hospital, brought in a re- 
 port, which was taken into consideration, and after 
 debate. 
 
 Resolved, That the farther consideration thereof 
 be postponed till to morrow. 
 
 April 5, 1777. 227 
 
 Congress resumed the consideration of the report 
 on hospitals, and, after debate. 
 
 Resolved, That the farther consideration be post- 
 poned till Monday next. 
 
 April 7, 1777. 231-7 
 
 Congress resumed the consideration of the report 
 on the hospital; Whereupon, 
 
 Resolved, That there be one director general of all 
 the like weekly returns to their respective directors, 
 mutatis mutandis: 
 
 That the deputy directors general cause the like 
 returns to be made, once every month, to the di- 
 rector general, together with the names and de- 
 nominations of all the officers in the respective hos- 
 pitals: 
 
 And that the director general shall make a like 
 return for all the hospitals and armies of the United 
 States, once every month, to the Medical Commit- 
 tee: 
 
 That the Medical Committee have power to ap- 
 point any of their members to visit and inspect all 
 or any of the medical departments, as often as they 
 
 69
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 shall think proper, to enquire into the conduct o- 
 such general officers of the hospital as shall be delin- 
 quent in this or any parts of their duty, and to ref 
 port their names to Congress, with the evidence of 
 the charges, which shall be brought against them.^^ 
 
 Resolved, That the farther consideration of the re- 
 port be postponed till to morrow. 
 
 April 8, 1777. 243, 244-6 
 
 That the eldest son of General Warren, and the 
 youngest son of General Mercer, be educated, from 
 this time at the expence of the United States,^^ 
 
 Congress resumed the consideration of the report 
 on the hospital; Whereupon, 
 
 Resolved, That in time of action and on any other 
 emergency, when the regimental surgeons are not 
 sufficient in number to attend properly to the sick 
 and wounded, that cannot be removed to the hos- 
 pitals, the director, or deputy director general of 
 the district, be empowered and required, upon the 
 request of the physician and surgeon general of the 
 army, to send, from the hospitals under his care, to 
 the assistance of such sick and wounded, as many 
 physicians and surgeons as can possibly be spared 
 from the necessary business of the hospitals. 
 
 That the director, deputy directors general, as- 
 sistant deputy directors, physicians and surgeons 
 general, be and they are hereby required and di- 
 rected to employ such parts of their time, as may 
 conveniently be spared from the duties before point- 
 
 "^ This report, in the writing of Thomas Burke, is in the Papers 
 of the Continental Congress, No. 22, foho 19. 
 
 ^' This report, in the writing of Benjamin Rush, is in the Pa- 
 pers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, V, foho 151. 
 
 70
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 ed out to them, in visiting and prescribing for the 
 sick and wounded of the hospitals under their care.^^ 
 That the establishment of the medical department 
 be as follows: 
 I director general 6 dollars a day and 9 rations. 
 
 3 deputy directors gen- 
 eral 5 do. 6 do. 
 
 Indeterminate assist- 
 ant deputy director. 3 do. 6 do. 
 
 4 physicians general 
 and 4 surgeons gen- 
 eral each 5 do. 6 do. 
 
 I to each army, physi- ^ 
 
 cian and surgeon 
 
 general of the army . 5 do. 6 do. 
 
 Senior surgeons 4 do. 6 do. 
 
 Second surgeons 2 do. 4 do. 
 
 Surgeons' mates 1 3^ do. 2 do. 
 
 Apothecaries general. .3 do. 6 do. 
 
 Mates 1 3^ do. 2 do. 
 
 Commissary 2 do. 4 do. 
 
 Clerk, who is to be 
 
 paymaster 2 do. 4 do. 
 
 Assistant clerks 2/3 do. i do. 
 
 Stewards i do. 2 do. 
 
 Matron 3^ do. i do. 
 
 Nurses 24-90 i do. 
 
 Stabler i do. i do. 
 
 Regimental surgeons. .2 do. 4 do. 
 
 Do. mates. ... i 1/3 2 do. 
 
 Ordered, That the regulations respecting hospitals 
 be published. 
 
 April 9, 1777. 247 
 
 '^ These two paragraphs, in the writing of James Wilson, are 
 in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 22, folio 26 1/2. 
 
 71
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 Resolved, That to-morrow be assigned for nomi- 
 nating gentlemen for the offices of director and dep- 
 uty directors general, physicians general and sur- 
 geons general of the military hospital, and the physi- 
 cians and surgeons general of the respective armies, 
 and that the election be on the day following. 
 
 April II, 1777. 253-5 
 
 Congress then proceeded to the election of the 
 officers in the hospital department; and the ballots 
 being taken, 
 
 Dr. Wilham Shippen, Jun' was chosen, by the 
 unanimous vote of the thirteen states, director gen- 
 eral of all the mihtary hospitals for the armies of the 
 United States. 
 
 Dr. Walter Jones, was elected physician general of 
 the hospital in the middle department. 
 
 Dr. Benjamin Rush, was elected surgeon general 
 of the hospital in the middle department. 
 
 Dr. John Cochran, was elected physician and sur- 
 geon general of the army in the middle department. 
 
 Dr. Isaac Forster, deputy director general of the 
 hospital in the eastern department. 
 
 Dr. Ammi Ruhamah Cutter, physician general of 
 the hospital in the eastern department. 
 
 Dr. Phihp Turner, surgeon general of ditto. 
 
 Dr. William Burnet, physician and surgeon (gen- 
 eral) of the army (in the eastern department). 
 
 Dr. Jonathan Potts, was elected deputy director 
 general of the hospital in the northern department. 
 
 Dr. Malachi Treat, physician general of ditto. 
 
 Dr. Forgue, surgeon general of ditto. 
 
 Dr. John Bartlett, physician and surgeon general 
 of ditto. 
 
 The Board of Treasury reported. 
 
 That there is due to Dr. J. Ramsey, and to be paid 
 
 72
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 to the honorable Jonathan Elmer, Esq^ for sundry 
 medicine supplied the New Jersey troops, the sum 
 of £9 3 6 equal to 24 42/90 dollars; 
 
 That there is due to Dr. James Tilton, for sundry 
 medicine supplied the batallion of the state of Dela- 
 ware, the sum of £10, equal to 26 60/90 dollars; 
 
 That there is due to Dr. William Currie, for sun- 
 dry medicine supplied the 5, or Colonel Johnston's 
 Pennsylvania batallion, the sum of £50 17 2 equal 
 to 135 56/90 dollars. 
 
 April 12, 1777. 257 
 
 Resolved, That 100,000 dollars be advanced to Dr. 
 Shippen, director general, for the use of the hospi- 
 tals; he to be accountable. 
 
 Resolved, That the surgeons general and physi- 
 cians general of the hospitals, shall, each of them 
 regulate the practice of both physic and surgery, and 
 do the duty of physician and surgeon general in the 
 hospitals respectively committed to their charge, and 
 that the director and deputy directors general take 
 proper care to keep the sick and wounded in separate 
 departments. 
 
 April 17, 1777. 274-5 
 
 That there is due to Dr. William Smith, conti- 
 nental druggist, for sundry medicine purchased by 
 him for public use, the sum of 2,820 30/90 dollars, 
 and for sundry medicine supplied by him for the use 
 of the brig Lexington, the sum of 131 38/90 dollars, 
 both sums making 2,952 28/90 dollars; 
 
 That there is due to Dr. William Currie for sun- 
 dry medicine supplied the sick of the 4th and 6th 
 Virginia regiments, the sum of 99 66/90 dollars. 
 
 April 22, 1777. 288-90 
 
 Resolved, That a Corps of Invalids be formed con- 
 sisting of eight Companies, each Company to have 
 
 73
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 one Captain, two Lieutenants, two Ensigns, five Ser- 
 jeants, six Corporals, two Drummers, two fifers and 
 one hundred Men. This Corps to be employed, in 
 Garrisons and for Guards, in Cities and other Places, 
 where Magazines or Arsenals are placed; aS also to 
 serve as a Military School for Young Gentlemen, 
 previous to their being appointed to marching Regi- 
 ments, for which purpose, all the Subaltern Officers, 
 when off Duty, shall be obliged to attend a Mathe- 
 matical School, appointed for the purpose to learn 
 Geometry, Arithmetick, vulgar and decimal Frac- 
 tions and the extraction of Roots. And that the 
 Officers of this Corps, shall be obliged to contribute 
 one day's pay in every Month, and Stoppages shall 
 be made of it accordingly, for the purpose of pur- 
 chasing a Regimental Library of the most approved 
 Authors on Tacticks and the Petite Guere. 
 
 That some Officers from this Corps be constantly 
 employed in the Recruiting Service, in the Neigh- 
 bourhood of the places they shall be stationed in, 
 that all Recruits so made, shall be brought into the 
 Corps, and drilled and afterwards draughted into 
 other Regiments as occasion shall require.^^ 
 
 Inform General Washington that Surgeons' Mates 
 are appointed and their Pay fixed. Pay and Rations 
 of Regimental Surgeons and Mates same as second 
 surgeons in the Hospital. ^^ 
 
 Resolved, That the farther consideration of the 
 report be postponed. 
 
 Resolved, That the director and deputy directors 
 general, shall constantly publish in the news-papers, 
 the names of the places in which their military hos- 
 pitals are respectively kept; and the several com- 
 
 3^ See under June 20, 1777, post. 
 
 ^° This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 
 147, I, folio 147. 
 
 74
 
 James Tilton 
 
 (1745-1822)
 
 DURING THE REVOTNT ENARR TER EDZ 
 
 manding officers of parties, detachments, or corps, 
 on their march to or from the camp, shall send to 
 the said hospitals, such of their oflicers and soldiers, 
 as, from time to time, are unable to proceed, together 
 with certificates to the director or deputy director 
 general, mentioning the names of the said officers 
 and soldiers and particular regiments to which they 
 belong; unless, from the distance of the hospitals, 
 or other causes, it shall at any time be necessary to 
 deliver them to the care of private physicians or 
 surgeons, in which cases, such physicians and sur- 
 geons, and also the respective commanding officers, 
 are forthwith to report their names and regiments 
 to the director or deputy directors general as afore- 
 said, who shall give the necessary orders for removing 
 them to the hospitals as soon as may be, and dis- 
 charge the reasonable demands of the physicians and 
 surgeons conducting agreeable to this resolve. 
 
 That the director, deputy directors general and 
 assistant deputy directors, have power to order to 
 their respective hospitals, the sick and wounded of 
 the army, wherever found, in their own or other 
 departments, provided such other departments are 
 not supplied with any of the officers aforesaid. 
 
 April 23, 1777. 292 
 
 Resolved, That Dr. James Tilton be authorized to 
 repair to Dumfries, in Virginia, there to take the 
 charge of all continental soldiers that are or shall 
 be inoculated, and that he be furnished with all 
 necessary medicines: that the commanding officers 
 in that department be directed to afford every as- 
 sistance in their power, and that all commissaries 
 and quarter masters on whom the doctor shall have 
 occasion to call, be directed to provide quarters and 
 everything requisite for this business. 
 
 75
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 April 25, 1777. 300 
 
 Resolved, That the physician or surgeon general 
 of the hospital in the middle department, be directed 
 to send a proper person or persons in the medical 
 department, to visit all the hospitals betwixt this city 
 and the town of Annapolis, in Maryland, with direc- 
 tions to order all such soldiers, as shall be deemed 
 capable of service, to join immediately their respec- 
 tive corps under proper officers. 
 
 April 30, 1777. 317 
 
 Resolved, That Major General Schuyler be di- 
 rected to send a proper officer, to hasten the march 
 of the Carolina continental troops, supposed to be 
 now on their way to head-quarters; that they halt 
 at Dumfries, Colchester and Alexandria, in Virginia, 
 there to pass through inoculation; which the hospi- 
 tal surgeons, lately despatched from this city to Dum- 
 fries, are directed to see effected, with the greatest 
 despatch. 
 
 May 2, 1777. 321-2 
 
 That there is due to Christopher, jun. and Charles 
 Marshall, for sundry medicine and chirurgical in- 
 struments supplied by them for the use of different 
 batallions of continental forces, the sum of £1,556 
 16 6, equal to 4,151 48/90 dollars: 
 
 That there is due to Dr. George Glentworth, for 
 sundry medicine supplied the sick of Captain Doyle's 
 company in continental service, the sum of 28 48/90 
 dollars : 
 
 That there is due to Dr. Frederick Phile, for sun- 
 dry medicine administered by him to several batal- 
 lions of continental forces, the sum of £492 2 9, 
 equal to 1,312 33/90 dollars." 
 
 Ordered, That the said accounts be paid. 
 
 ^' This report, dated April 29, is in the Papers of the Continen- 
 tal Congress, No. 136, I, folio 141. 
 
 76
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 May 8, i777- 335 _ 
 
 A letter, from Governor Livingston, to Dr. Wither- 
 spoon, dated Haddonfield, May 7, was laid before 
 Congress and read, wherein he requests a guard of 
 2^ or 30 continental troops, for purposes therein 
 mentioned; Whereupon,^^ 
 
 May 20, 1777. 371 
 
 A letter ... of the 19th, from Dr. W. 
 Shippen, director general; . . .^^ 
 
 May 27, 1777. 389-90 
 
 Resolved, ... by the resolutions of Congress 
 of the 26th day of August, 1776, to make provision 
 for the maintenance of disabled wounded soldiers, 
 belonging to their respective States, and to keep a 
 regular account of the expence attending the same, 
 that, at a future day, the Continent may be charged 
 therewith : 
 
 May 28, 1777- 394 
 
 A letter, of the 27th, from Dr. B. Rush, was read: 
 Ordered, That it be referred to the Medical Com- 
 mittee. 
 
 June 20, 1777. 482 
 
 Resolved, That a corps of invalids be formed. 
 . . . This corps to be employed . . ., and 
 for guards in cities and other places where . . ., 
 or hospitals are placed; . . . 
 
 June 23, 1777. 490 
 
 A . . . letter of the 20th, from Dr. W. Ship- 
 pen, informing that Dr. Walter Jones, for weighty 
 reasons, cannot accept the honour Congress did him 
 
 '8 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No 
 68, foUo 255. 
 
 '* The letter of Shippen is in the Papers of the Continental Con- 
 gress, No. 78, XX, folio 403. 
 
 77
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 in appointing him physician general of the hospitals 
 of the middle department; and that he gives this 
 information at the desire of Doctor W. Jones; 
 
 40 
 
 • • • 
 
 July I, 1777. 517, 518 
 
 Resolved, That there be advanced to Dr. W. 
 Shippen, director general of the military hospitals, 
 25,000 dollars, for which he is to be accountable.^^ 
 
 Congress proceeded to the election of a physician 
 general of the hospital in the middle department, in 
 the room of Dr. Jones, who declines, and, the ballots 
 being taken, 
 
 Benjamin Rush was elected. 
 
 July 2, 1777. 525 
 
 Congress proceeded to the election of a surgeon 
 general of the hospital in the middle department, in 
 the room of Dr. Rush; and, the ballots being taken, 
 
 Dr. William Brown was elected. 
 
 July 3, 1777. 527 
 
 A letter ... of the 22 June, from Jonathan 
 Potts, at Ticonderoga; . . . 
 
 Ordered, . . . that the letter from Dr. Potts, 
 be referred to the Medical Committee. 
 
 July 5, 1777. 532. 
 
 The said Board farther reported that a warrant 
 should be drawn by the president on Benjamin Har- 
 rison, Jun^ Esq^, deputy pay master general of 
 the southern department, in favour of Colonel Will- 
 iam Aylett, deputy commissary general in the said 
 
 *" The letter of Shippen is in the Papers of the Continental Con- 
 gress, No. 78, XX, folio 115. 
 
 *^ This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 
 136, I, folio 271. 
 
 78
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 department, for 54,000 dollars, for which the said 
 Commissary General is to be accountable/^ 
 
 July 7, 1777. 538 
 
 That there is due to Messrs. Caldwell & Co. for 
 sundry medicine delivered William Smith, conti- 
 nental druggist, for the use of the United States, 
 the sum of 666 60/90 dollars: 
 
 (Ordered, That the said account be paid.) 
 
 July 12, 1777. 547 
 
 That there be advanced to Dr. William Shippen, 
 director general of the hospitals, 8,000 dollars, for 
 which he is to be accountable: 
 
 July 16, 1777. 554-6 
 
 Resolved, That the pay and subsistence of sur- 
 geons in the navy, be equal to the pay and subsis- 
 tence of the lieutenants of the vessels to which the 
 shall respectively belong. 
 
 Resolved, That, for carrying into execution the re- 
 solve especting Colonel Nicola's corps of invalids, 
 the following plan, for raising one company, be 
 adopted for raising the whole of the said corps: 
 
 I. That the director general of the continental 
 hospital be desired to give directions to the Phy- 
 sician and surgeons, in the different departments- 
 at a rseasonable distance from Philadelphia, that, be 
 fore they discharge any Serjeants, corporals, or pri- 
 vate men from the hospitals as unfit for service, 
 they consider, whether such men are actually, or 
 
 ^ Thi3 paragraph formed part of a report, dated July 2, which 
 contained two other paragraphs, both of which were ordered," to 
 lie." These paragraphs were: "Resolved, That all Bedding, Blan- 
 kets, Shirts and Sheets which may be necessary for the use of the 
 Hospitals be purchased and supplied by the Clothier Gen- 
 eral. ..." 
 
 The report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 
 136, I, folio 283. 
 
 79
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 likely soon to be capable of doing garrison duty; 
 and, if thought so, to mention it in the discharge, 
 that they may not be entirely discharged from the 
 service, but transferred from the regiment to which 
 they actually belong, to that of invalids; and that 
 in case such men are at a distance from their re- 
 spective regiments, that the director or steward of 
 each hospital send such men to Philadelphia, in the 
 best manner circumstances will admit: 
 
 2. That notice be sent, by the Board of War, to 
 the generals commanding the armies, of the raising 
 a corps of invalids, and that they be desired to give 
 orders to the officers commanding regiments, that, 
 in case they have any Serjeants, corporals, drum- 
 mers, or private men, deemed incapable of doing 
 field duty, such men should be examined by the di- 
 rector of the hospital or some other physician or 
 surgeon, and, if judged fit for garrison duty, that 
 they be not discharged, but transferred to the in- 
 valid corps, and sent to Philadelphia as soon as pos- 
 sible. 
 
 Men having only one leg or arm each, if otherwise 
 capable of doing garrison duty, are to be deemed 
 proper recruits for this corps. 
 
 3. That the following advertisement be published 
 in the several newspapers as soon as possible, viz. 
 
 "War-Office, June, 1777: The Congress, being de- 
 sirous to make provision for such men as suffer in 
 the military service of the United States, have di- 
 rected a regiment of invalids to be immediately 
 raised for the reception of such as have already 
 been, or may, in future, be rendered, by wounds or 
 disorders, incapable of doing field duty, but are yet 
 fit for garrison service. Notice is hereby given, that 
 all persons in Philadelphia, or within twenty miles 
 round, who are under continental half-pay, on ac- 
 
 80
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 count of incapacities contracted in the service, must, 
 within fifteen days, repair to Philadelphia and show 
 themselves to Colonel Nicola, in Front Street, four 
 doors below the Coffee house, that, if judged capable 
 of duty, they may be put on full pay. All other per- 
 sons, who have served in the armies of the United 
 States, within the above description, though not on 
 half-pay, may present themselves, and, if judged 
 capable, they will be immediately received. All 
 such as are above twenty miles from Philadelphia 
 must apply to the nearest continental general, field 
 officer, physician or surgeon, who are desired to for- 
 ward such as they judge fit for the corps of invalids. 
 Officers who, from wounds or disorders contracted 
 in the service, are rendered unfit for field duty, 
 must signify their pretensions, with certificates from 
 continental physicians or surgeons to the Board of 
 War. As this corps is intended, not only as a pro- 
 vision for disabled officers and soldiers, but as a 
 school for propagating military knowledge and dis- 
 cipline, no officers need apply but such as produce 
 ample certificates of their having served with repu- 
 tation, and having supported good characters, both 
 as citizens and soldiers. Officers and soldiers who 
 have engaged during the war will be preferred." 
 
 Resolved, That Enoch Welsh be appointed an en- 
 sign in the corps of invalids.*^ 
 
 July 17, 1777. 560 
 
 Resolved, That in lieu of the advance ordered on 
 the 12 instant to be made to Dr. William Shippen, 
 director general of the hospitals, an order be drawn 
 on the loan officer of Connecticut, in his favour, for 
 
 ^ This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 
 147. I, foUo 237. 
 
 81
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 8,000 dollars, for which the said Dr. Shippen is to 
 be accountable.'** 
 
 July 22, 1777. 570 
 
 A letter, of the 5, from Dr. W. Rickman to Mr. 
 (Benjamin)* Harrison, was laid before Congress and 
 read:**'' 
 
 Ordered, That it be referred to the Medical Com- 
 mittee. 
 
 July 31, 1777. 593 
 
 A . . . letter and memorial from Dr. J. Mor- 
 gan, were read: ***• 
 
 Ordered, . . . that the memorial of Dr. Morgan 
 be referred to the Medical Committee. 
 
 August 5, 1777. 608, 609 
 
 . . . That there are sick in the Hospitals and 
 Army 3,745 soldiers, the number of which has been 
 greatly increased by the use of bad Bread, and the 
 Want of Vinegar, Vegetables and Soap as particu- 
 larly set forth in General Washington's Letter to the 
 Committee .... 
 
 In the Hospital Department from the Want of 
 Authority in the Director and Deputy Directors 
 General to draw Supplies from the Commissary's 
 Stores. 
 
 That the General officers as well as the Staff com- 
 plain of their not receiving regularly the resolutions 
 of Congress relative to their several offices. 
 
 That the Complaint of the General upon the be- 
 stowing of rank on the inferior officers of the civil 
 
 ** This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 
 136, I, folio 305. 
 
 ^^^ This letter is in No. 78, XIX, folio 97. 
 
 ^^'^The letter of Morgan, in No. 63, folio 113; and the me- 
 morial in No. 41, VI, folio 19. 
 
 * Material placed in parenthesis appeared in brackets in the 
 original MSS. 
 
 82
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 Departments of the Army, corresponds with the 
 Opinion of the Officers in general, and there is too 
 much Reason to apprehend great inconveniences 
 from such Measures if not rectified in future. . . . 
 That the Director and each of the Deputy Direc- 
 tors General be severally authorized to empower the 
 Surgeon and Physician General of the Army within 
 his respective District, to draw on the issuing Com- 
 missaries for such Articles of Provision in gross 
 Quantities as the said Surgeon and Physician Gen- 
 eral Shall require for supporting the Sick in the fly- 
 ing and temporary Hospitals; and the said issuing 
 Commissaries are respectively directed to charge 
 such Provisions to the Director or Deputy Director 
 General of the District, and to keep the Vouchers in 
 separate Files in order for. Settlement with the 
 Officers aforesaid. ... 
 
 August 6, 1777. 618 
 
 Resolved, That there be advanced to Dr. Wilham 
 Shippen, Jr. director general of the hospitals, the 
 sum of fifty thousand dollars, for the use of the hos- 
 pitals, for which he is to be accountable: 
 
 August 8, 1777. 623 
 
 A petition from William West, major, James 
 M'Henry and Hugh Hodge, surgeons of the 4th and 
 6th regiments of || Pennsylvania forces, || commanded 
 by Colonels Magaw and Cadwallader, prisoners on 
 parole, praying to be informed, whether, as conti- 
 nental officers holding commissions only revocable 
 by this or a future Congress, they are not entitled 
 to pay while on parole, as well as when in the hands 
 of General Howe: ^^ 
 
 Ordered, To lie for consideration to Monday next. 
 
 *5 This petition is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 
 42. VIII, folio 167. 
 
 83
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 The Medical Committee, to whom the memorial 
 from Dr. J. Morgan was referred, brought in a re- 
 port.^® 
 
 August 9, 1777. 626-7 
 
 Congress took into consideration the report of 
 the Medical Committee which was read, as follows: 
 
 "The Medical Committee to whom the memorial 
 of Dr. John Morgan to Congress was referred, beg 
 leave to report, that they find from the journals of 
 Congress, that Dr. Morgan was appointed director 
 general and chief physician of the hospital, in the 
 room of Dr. B. Church, October 17, 1775; that, on 
 the 9 January, 1777, he was dismissed from said ap- 
 pointment; that though no cause is assigned for his 
 discharge, yet, your committee on enquiry, find, 
 that the general complaints of persons of all ranks 
 in the army, and not any particular charges against 
 him, together with the critical state of affairs at 
 that time, rendered it necessary for the public good 
 and the safety of the United States, that he should 
 be displaced, and were the reaeons of his dismission; 
 that the doctor's memorial appears to your commit- 
 tee to be a hasty and intemperate production; not- 
 withstanding which, as he conceives himself injured, 
 and requests an enquiry into his conduct, your com- 
 mittee are of opinion that he ought to be heard, and 
 that a committee of Congress should be appointed 
 for that purpose:" 
 
 Resolved, That Congress concur in the said report. 
 
 The Medical Committee, to whom was referred 
 the letter from Dr. William Rickman, also report, 
 "that as the estabhshment of the military hospital 
 n Virginia, by a resolution of Congress of the i8th 
 
 *• This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No* 
 19, IV, folio 177. It is summarized on August 9, post. 
 
 84
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 of May, 1776, is entirely distinct from, and inde- 
 pendent of, the general establishment of hospitals 
 in the other States, they are of opinion, the same 
 was not affected by the new regulations of the 7th 
 day. of April last, and that Dr. Rickman still con- 
 tinues director of that hospital;" 
 
 Resolved, That Congress concur with the foregoing 
 report.^^ 
 
 Ordered, That a copy of the foregoing report and 
 concurrence of Congress be sent to Dr. Shippen, and 
 that he be directed to withdraw from Virginia such 
 physicians, surgeons, or assistants, as he may have 
 sent thither. 
 
 August 25, 1777. 670 
 
 A letter, . . . of the 16, from Dr. Shippen, were 
 read: ^^ 
 
 Ordered, That . . the letter from Dr. Shippen, be 
 referred to the Medical Committee. 
 
 August 30, 1777. 699 
 
 The Medical Committee brought in a report 
 which was taken into consideration; Whereupon, 
 
 Resolved, That the several issuing commissaries 
 be directed to furnish the director general, or any of 
 the deputy directors, or their assistants, with such 
 provisions as any of them shall, from time to time, 
 demand by an order in writing, for the use of any 
 temporary hospital which shall be established, which 
 order, with the receipt of the steward endorsed 
 thereon, shall be a sufficient voucher for such issu- 
 ing commissary, who is also required to keep such 
 vouchers separate, and make a separate entry of the 
 same in his books, charging the director who ordered 
 the same therewith. 
 
 ^' See note under August 8, aiite. 
 
 *^ The letter of Shippen, is in the Papers of the Continental 
 Congress, No. 78, XX, folio 147. 
 
 85
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 September lo, 1777. 727, 728-9 
 
 A letter, . . of the 9, from Dr. Shippen, director 
 general of the hospital, . . . 
 
 Ordered, That the letter from Dr. Shippen, . . 
 be referred to the Board of Treasury. . . . 
 
 That there is due to Dr. John Morgan, late direc- 
 tor general of the American hospitals, the balance 
 of his account current as adjusted by the commis- 
 sioners of accounts at Hartford, the 12 July last, the 
 sum of 613 40/90 dollars, and the farther sum of 
 200 dollars which he advanced to Dr. Warren, sur- 
 geon of the general hospital, to defray expences, &c. 
 which sum was stolen from the said Warren, as per 
 certificates taken on oath before the commissioners 
 at Stamford, and which the Board of Treasury 
 agrees should be allowed to Dr. Morgan; 
 
 Also the pay of director general from the 31 De- 
 cember, 1776, to the 12 July, 1777, being 194 days, 
 at 6 dollars per day, which time he employed in 
 taking accounts, and delivering up the medicines, 
 hospital stores, &c. settling accounts with the sur- 
 geons, mates, &c. attending the commissioners at 
 Hartford, 1,164 dollars; for 1,179 rations from 31 
 December, 1776, to 10 May, at 8/90 dollar, 104 
 72/90 dollars, and for 567 rations, from 10 May to 
 12 July, at 10/90, 63 dollars, making in the whole 
 2,145 22/90 dollars: 
 
 September 13, 1777. 739 
 
 Ordered, That the President issue his warrant on 
 the commissioners of the loan office for the State of 
 Pennsylvania, in favour of Dr. Shippen, director 
 general of the hospital, for fifty thousand dollars, 
 for the use of that department; and for which he 
 shall be accountable: 
 
 September 18, 1777. 754 
 
 Resolved, That estabhshments be made for the 
 
 86
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 hospital in the respective departments, and chap- 
 lains appointed, and that their pay be each 60 dol- 
 lars a month, three rations a day, and forage for 
 one horse: 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Noah Cook was elected chaplain of 
 the hospitals in the eastern department. 
 
 October 18, 1777. 821 
 
 A letter from William Shippen, director general, 
 to the Medical Committee, was laid before Con- 
 gress and read: 
 
 Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War. 
 
 October 20, 1777. 823 
 
 Resolved, That General R. Howe's letter of the 
 29 August last, relating to the general hospital in 
 South Carolina, be referred to the Medical Commit- 
 tee. 
 
 October 24, 1777. 838 
 
 Resolved, That a warrant issue on the treasurer for 
 500 dollars, in favour of William Shippen, Jun^ di- 
 rector general of the hospital, which is to be charged 
 to the said W. Shippen, and for which he is to be 
 accountable; this being to indemnify the treasurer 
 for so much advanced by him to the said Dr. Ship- 
 pen on account of the military hospitals, as appears 
 by his receipt, dated 15 October, 1777. 
 
 November 6, 1777. 870 
 
 Resolved, That the unremitted attention shewn 
 by Dr. Potts, and the officers of the general hospi- 
 tal in the northern department, (as represented in 
 General Gates's letter to Congress, of the 20 Octo- 
 ber,) *^ to the sick and wounded under their care, 
 is a proof not only of their humanity, but of their 
 zeal for the service of the United States, so deeply 
 interested in the preservation of the health and lives 
 
 *' Words in parentheses were inserted by Henry Laurens. 
 
 87
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 of the gallant asserters of their country's cause; and 
 that Congress, therefore, cannot but ascertain a 
 high sense of the services which they have ren- 
 dered, during this campaign, by a diligent discharge 
 of their respective functions.^'' 
 
 November 12, 1777. 894 
 
 Ordered, That a warrant issue on Nathaniel Ap- 
 pleton. Esq?' commissioner of the continental loan 
 office of the State of Massachusetts bay, in favour 
 of Dr. William Shippen, director general of the hos- 
 pitals, for sixty-seven thousand dollars, for the use 
 of his department, and for which he is to be ac- 
 countable: 
 
 November 19, I777- 94 1 
 
 The Medical Committee brought in a report, 
 which was taken into consideration; Whereupon, 
 
 Resolved, That the cloathier general be directed to 
 deliver to the director general of the military hospi- 
 tals, the deputy directors general, or their assistants, 
 for the use of the sick and wounded of the several 
 departments, a proportionable share of the blankets, 
 shirts, shoes, and stockings, he shall, from time to 
 time, procure for the supply of the army: 
 
 That the director general of the hospitals be au- 
 thorized to cause stoves to be erected in the differ- 
 ent hospitals, in case he shall think such a measure 
 will conduce to make up for the present scarcity of 
 blankets and cloathing, or to the greater comfort of 
 the sick; and that the waggons annexed to the hos- 
 pital department be employed, as much as possible, 
 in the transportation of fuel for the respective hos- 
 pitals. 
 
 *" This report, dated November 4, is in the Papers of the Conti- 
 nental Congress, No. 147, I, folio 381. The members of the Board 
 present were: Francis Lightfoot Lee, WilUam Duer, Joseph 
 Bones, William Williams and John Harvie. 
 
 88
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 November 29, 1777. 980 
 
 A letter, of the 16, from General Gates, . . . 
 also a letter of the 24, from W. Shippen, director 
 general, at Bethlehem, were read: ^^ 
 
 December i, 1777. 983 
 
 Ordered, That a warrant issue on Thomas Smith, 
 Esq?" commissioner of the loan office for the State 
 of Pennsylvania, in favour of Dr. William Shippen, 
 director general of the hospitals, for fifty thousand 
 dollars, for the use of his department; the said direc- 
 tor general to be accountable: 
 
 Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in 
 favour of Dr. William Shippen, director general of 
 the hospitals, for fifty thousand dollars, for the use 
 of his department, the said director general to be 
 accountable: 
 
 December 10, 1777. 1016 
 
 Resolved, That two members be added to the 
 Medical Committee: 
 
 The members chosen, Mr. (Francis) Lewis and 
 Mr. (John) Penn. 
 
 Congress having received information that the 
 inoculation of recruits in the hospital in the State 
 of Virginia has of late been attended with much ill 
 success; 
 
 Resolved, That the Medical Committee make strict 
 enquiry into the truth of this information, and re- 
 port to Congress, with all possible despatch. 
 
 December 13, 1777. 1024 
 
 A return of the number and names of the wound- 
 ed men, distinguishing such as are fit for the corps 
 of invalids, and such as are totally unfit for service; 
 
 *i The letter of Shippen is in the Papers of the Continental Con- 
 gress, No. 78, XX, folio 163. 
 
 89
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 December 20, 1777. 1039 
 
 The Medical Committee, to whom it was referred 
 to enquire into the conduct of the director of the 
 hospitals at Alexandria, reported, 'That from the 
 information of several officers in the Virginia and 
 North Carolina regiments, which are annexed, it 
 appears obvious to the committee that Dr. Rick- 
 man, director of the said hospitals, has been guilty 
 of great neglect in not giving proper attendance to 
 the officers and soldiers under inoculation at Alex- 
 andria:" The said report and the informations being 
 read. 
 
 Resolved, That Dr. Rickman be immediately sus- 
 pended, and that he attend the Medical Committee, 
 to answer the several complaints exhibited against 
 him. 
 
 Ordered, That the Medical Committee transmit 
 to Dr. Rickman a copy of the complaints against 
 him, and direct his attendance: 
 
 That the said committee write to Dr. Shippen, 
 director general, and direct him to send imrnediate- 
 ly a skilful physician to take care of the sick and 
 superintend the inoculation of the soldiers at Alex- 
 andria. 
 
 January i, 1778. p. 9 
 
 A letter, of the 8, and one, of the 13 December, 
 from Dr. B. Rush to Mr. (William) Duer, were laid 
 before Congress, and read: ^^ 
 
 Resolved, That the said committee be fully au- 
 thorized to take every measure, which they shall 
 deem necessary, for the immediate relief of the sick, 
 and report such alterations in the medical depart- 
 ment, as they shall deem best adapted to answer 
 the end of its institution. 
 
 ^^ These letters are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No 
 78, XIX, folios 173 and 181. 
 
 90
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 January 6, 1778. p. 23, 24 
 
 The committee to whom the letters from Gover- 
 nor Livingston and Dr. Rush were referred, brought 
 in a report, which was taken into consideration; 
 Whereupon, 
 
 Resolved, That the cloathier general be directed 
 to deliver to the order of the director general as 
 much linen and as many blankets as can be spared, 
 to be retained in the hospital for the use of the sick: 
 
 That the cloathier general be directed to supply 
 the convalescents with necessary cloathing, in order 
 that, when properly recovered, they may join the 
 army: 
 
 That a member of Congress be forthwith appoint- 
 ed to visit the hospitals in the middle department: 
 the member chosen, Mr, (John) Penn. 
 
 That a recommendation be sent to the clergy of 
 all denominations in the said [middle] district, to 
 solicit charitable donations of woolens and linen, 
 made or unmade, for the sick soldiers in the hospi- 
 tals; and to send the same to the Board of War, or 
 any hospital, as may be most convenient. 
 
 That Dr. Shippen and Dr. Rush be directed to 
 attend Congress on the 26 day of January inst. to 
 be examined touching certain abuses said to prevail 
 in the hospital. 
 
 Resolved, That the farther consideration of the re- 
 port be postponed (to the afternoon.) . . . 
 
 Congress resumed the consideration of the report 
 under debate this morning; Whereupon, 
 
 Resolved, That the sum of ten dollars shall be paid 
 by every officer, and the sum of four dollars by 
 every soldier, who shall enter, or be sent into any 
 hospital to be cured of the venereal disease; which 
 sums shall be deducted out of their pay, and an ac- 
 count thereof shall be transmitted by the physician 
 
 91
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 or surgeon who shall have attended them, to the 
 regimental pay master for that purpose; the money 
 so arising to be paid to the director general, or his 
 order, to be appropriated to the purchasing blan- 
 kets and shirts for the use of sick soldiers in the 
 hospital. 
 
 January 19, 1778. 60 
 
 A letter, of the i8th, from W. Shippen, Jun, 
 . . . was read: . .^ 
 
 January 26, 1778. 92 
 
 A letter, of the 25, from Dr. Rush, was 
 read: . . .^^ 
 
 January 27, 1778. 93 
 
 A letter from Dr. Shippen, director general of the 
 hospital, and one from Dr. Brown, (both directed) 
 to the Medical Committee, were laid before Con- 
 gress, (and read:) ®^ 
 
 Ordered, That the same, together with the letters 
 some time since received from Dr. Shippen and Dr. 
 Rush, and Governor Livingston, relative to the hos- 
 pital department, be referred to a committee of five, 
 and that the committee be instructed to confer with 
 Dr. Shippen and Dr. Rush, and report specially: 
 
 January 30, 1778. 100 
 
 Resolved, That a warrant issue on the treasurer 
 in favour of Dr. Jonathan Potts, deputy director 
 general of the hospitals in the northern department, 
 for twenty thousand dollars for the use of his dis- 
 
 '^ The letter of Shippen is in the Papers of the Continental Con- 
 gress, No. 78, XX, folio 171. 
 
 " The letter of Dr. Rush is in the Papers of the Continental Con- 
 gress, No. 78, XIX, folio 197. 
 
 ^ This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 
 78, XX, folio 175. 
 
 92
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 trict; the said deputy director general to be ac- 
 countable. 
 
 A letter, of this day, from Dr. Rush, requesting 
 leave to resign, was read: *'' 
 
 February 6, 1778. 1 28-1 31 
 
 Congress took into consideration the report of the 
 committee to whom the letters from Dr. Shippen, 
 Dr. Rush, and others were committed; and there- 
 upon came to the following resolutions: 
 
 For the better regulating the hospitals of the 
 United States, 
 
 Resolved, That there be a deputy director general 
 for the hospitals between Hudson and Potomack 
 rivers; and that the superintending care of the di- 
 rector general be extended equally over the hospi- 
 tals in every district, and that he be excused from 
 the duty of providing supplies, [and from "particu- 
 larly" superintending the said hospitals]* when the 
 deputy director general shall be ready to enter upon 
 the office: 
 
 That the several officers of the hospitals shall 
 cease to exercise such of their former powers as are 
 herein assigned to other officers thereof: 
 
 That in the absence of the director general from 
 any district, the physician general and surgeon geri- 
 eral shall hereafter determine the number of hospi- 
 tals to be provided by the deputy director general 
 for the sick and wounded, and shall superintend 
 and controul the affairs of such hospitals: 
 
 That the director general shall consult with the 
 physician general and surgeon general in each dis- 
 trict, about the supplies necessary for the hospitals, 
 and shall give orders in writing to the deputy direc- 
 
 ^^ This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No 
 78, XIX, foHo 205. 
 
 * Material in brackets was cancelled in the original MSS. 
 
 93
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 tor general thereof to provide the same; and, in the 
 absence of the director general, the physician gen- 
 eral and surgeon general shall issue such orders: 
 
 That each deputy director general shall appoint 
 one or more of the assistant deputy directors, under 
 him, to the sole business of providing beds, furni- 
 ture, utensils, hospital cloathing, and such like arti- 
 cles; and shall appoint one or more to provide medi- 
 cines, instruments, dressings, herbs, and necessaries 
 of a similar kind: 
 
 That the director general shall frequently visit 
 the hospitals in each district, and see that the regu- 
 lations are carried into effect; shall examine into the 
 number and qualifications of the hospital officers, 
 report to Congress any abuses that may have taken 
 place, and discharge the supernumerary officers, if 
 there be any, that all unnecessary expence may be 
 saved to the public; and when the director general 
 is in any particular district, the physician general 
 and surgeon general in that district shall not ap- 
 point any officers without his consent: 
 
 That, on the settlement of hospital accounts, the 
 officers entrusted with public money shall produce 
 vouchers to prove the expenditure, and receipts from 
 the proper officers of the hospitals, specifying the 
 defivery of the stores and other articles purchased; 
 and the apothecaries, mates, stewards, matrons, and 
 other officers, receiving such stores and other arti- 
 ticles, shall be accountable for the same, and shall 
 produce vouchers for the delivery thereof from such 
 officers, and according to such forms as the physi- 
 cians general and surgeons general have directed, or 
 shall, from time to time, direct; which forms and 
 directions the physicians and surgeons general shall 
 report to the Board of Treasury: 
 
 That the director general, or, in his absence from 
 
 94
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 the district, the physician general, and surgeon 
 general, shall appoint a ward master for each hos- 
 pital, to receive the arms, accoutrements and 
 cloathing of each soldier admitted therein, keeping 
 entries of, and giving receipts for such articles, 
 which, on the recovery of the soldier, shall be re-* 
 turned to him, or, in case of his death, the arms and 
 accoutrements shall be delivered to the commissary 
 or deputy commissary of military stores, and re- 
 ceipts be taken for the same; and the ward master 
 shall receive and be accountable for the hospital 
 cloathing; and perform such other services as the 
 physician general or the surgeon general shall di- 
 rect: 
 
 That the physicians general and surgeons general 
 shall hereafter make no returns to the deputy direc- 
 tors general, but the returns shall be made by the 
 said officers respectively to the director general, 
 who shall carefully transmit copies of each with his 
 monthly return to Congress, and suspend such of 
 the officers aforesaid as neglect this or any other 
 part of their duty, and shall report their names to 
 Congress : 
 
 That the director and deputy directors general 
 forthwith prepare their accounts, and adjust them 
 with the commissioners of claims, at the Board of 
 Treasury. 
 
 That four dollars a day, and the former allowance 
 of rations, be hereafter allowed to each assistant 
 deputy director and the commissary of the hospitals 
 in each district; and one dollar a day, and two ra- 
 tions, to each ward master: 
 
 Resolved, That Dr. Potts be called from the north- 
 ern district, and appointed to act as deputy director 
 general in the middle district. 
 
 Resolved, That the eldest assistant deputy director 
 
 95
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 in the northern district shall execute the office of the 
 deputy director general in the said district, until the 
 further orders of Congress : 
 
 That the salaries of the hospital officers and debts 
 contracted for the hospitals of the middle district 
 to the time of Dr. Potts's entering upon the office of 
 deputy director general therein, shall be adjusted 
 and paid by the director general, who shall deliver 
 all the public stores in his possession to the deputy 
 director general or his order, taking duplicate re- 
 ceipts for the same, and transmitting one of each to 
 the Board of Treasury; and the same rule shall be 
 observed by Dr. Potts with respect to the salaries 
 and debts of the hospitals of the northern district, 
 and the public stores thereof, which are to be de- 
 livered to his successor in office in that district. 
 
 Congress proceeded to the election of a physician 
 general in the middle district, in the room of Dr. 
 Rush, [ resigned ] and the ballots being taken. 
 
 Dr. William Brown was elected. 
 
 February lo, 1778. p. 142 
 
 Resolved, That another chaplain be chosen for 
 the hospitals in the middle department: 
 
 The ballots being taken, the Rev. Mr. (James) 
 Sproat was elected. 
 
 February 13, 1778. p. 157, 158 
 
 That there is due to Dr. John Witherspoon, for 
 hay for the army, and wood for the hospital at 
 Princeton, as appears by the certificate of Enos Kel- 
 sey, acting in the quarter master's department, the 
 sum of 429 30/90 dollars: 
 
 Resolved, That Mr. Nathaniel Scudder be added 
 to the Medical Committee, 
 
 96
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 February 21, 1778. p. 186, 187 
 
 A letter of 21, from Dr. W. Shippcn, was read; ^^ 
 Whereupon, 
 
 Resolved, That a surgeon general be appointed 
 for the hospital in the middle department, in the 
 room of Dr. Brown, promoted; the ballots being 
 taken, 
 
 Dr. Charles M'Knight was elected. 
 
 Whereas, the duty of the person who executes the 
 office of secretary and pay master of the hospital in 
 the middle department, is important and difficult: 
 
 Resolved, That the pay of the person who exe- 
 cutes those offices in the hospital in the middle de- 
 partment, be augmented to three dollars a day. 
 
 That a warrant issue on the treasurer for the sum 
 of forty thousand dollars, in favour of William Ship- 
 pen, Jun. director general of all the military hospi- 
 tals, for the use of the middle district; for which 
 the director is to be accountable: 
 
 February 23, 1778. p. 191 
 
 That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of 
 Dr. Jonathan Potts . . . for one hundred thou- 
 sand dollars . . . he is to be accountable.^^ 
 
 March 7, 1778. p. 230 
 
 The Medical Committee report, "That they have 
 carefully examined and considered the several alle- 
 gations and testimonies for, and against. Dr. Wil- 
 liam Rickman, deputy director general in the south- 
 ern department; that, notwithstanding, it appears 
 the North Carolina and Virginia troops, inoculated 
 by the said Dr. Rickman at Alexandria, suffered, in 
 general, more in the course of the disease than is 
 
 ^'' This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 
 78, XX, folio 193. 
 
 ^^ This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 
 136, II, folio 101. 
 
 97
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 usual, and that a number of them did die; yet, as 
 the committee are convinced that it was impracti- 
 cable for the director to obtain, in season, a variety 
 of articles for their due accommodation in the hos- 
 pitals, as many of them were badly cloathed, and 
 all had, immediately before the operation, under- 
 gone a long and fatiguing march at a season of the 
 year when putrid diseases generally prevail most; as 
 from a regular return it appears that most of those 
 who were lost, died of a putrid fever; as the director 
 really had not sufficient assistance, and lastly, as 
 one of the assistants, of the name of Parker, who 
 was employed from the necessity of the case, ap- 
 pears to have greatly abused the confidence and 
 trust reposed in him by the director; whence a great 
 part of the evils complained of by the patients may 
 have arisen; the committee are of opinion, that Dr. 
 Rickman ought to be acquitted of the charges ex- 
 hibited against him; that the resolution of the 20th 
 day of December last, for his suspension, be re- 
 pealed, and that Dr. Rickman be directed to repair 
 immediately to his department, and resume the ex- 
 ercise of his duty there:" ^^ 
 
 March 9, 1778. 235 
 
 A letter, of the 2, from Captain W. Nichols, was 
 read, praying for leave to resign his commission. 
 . . . A letter from Dr. A(mmi) R(uhamah) Cut- 
 ter to Mr. (George) Frost, praying for leave to re- 
 sign, were read: ^^ 
 
 Ordered, That Dr. Cutter have leave to resign; 
 that the letter from Captain Nichols be referred to 
 the Board of War; , 
 
 *' This report, in the writing of Nathan Brownson (?), is in the 
 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, V, folio 249. 
 
 ^^ The letter of Nichols is in the Papers of the Continental Con- 
 gress, No. 78, XVII, folio 37. 
 
 98
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 March ii, 1778. 243 
 
 That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour 
 of Joseph Nourse, pay master to the Board of War 
 and ordnance, for 50,000 dollars, to be by him trans- 
 mitted to Doct. Isaac Forster, deputy director gen- 
 eral of the military hospital in the eastern depart- 
 ment, at Danbury, in Connecticut, for which the 
 said doctor is to be accountable: 
 
 March 26, 1778. 284 
 
 A letter, of the 24 February, from the council of 
 Massachusetts bay, respecting allowances to be 
 made to sick and wounded soldiers, was read. ^^ 
 
 April 3, 1778. p. 303 
 
 A letter, of 21 March, from General Washington, 
 enclosing a copy of a letter to him from Dr. Rush, 
 dated Princeton, 25 February, was read; also a let- 
 ter of 9 March, with a postscript of 19, from Dr. 
 Rush to Mr. (Daniel) Roberdeau, was laid before 
 Congress : ^^ 
 
 April 17, 1778. p. 361 
 
 That 30,000 dollars be advanced to Dr. Potts, 
 and that a warrant issue in his favour on Thomas 
 Smith, Esq. commissioner of the continental loan 
 office in the State of Pennsylvania, for the farther 
 sum of 70,000 dollars, for the use of the hospital in 
 the middle district; for which sums the said Dr. 
 Potts is to be accountable: 
 
 ^1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 
 65, I, folio 288. It is indorsed: "There are no resolutions of Con- 
 gress respecting soldiers in any of the circumstances mentioned 
 in this letter." 
 
 ^ The letter of Washington is in the Papers of the Continental 
 Congress, No. 152, V, folio 411; that of Rush to Washington is 
 in No. 78, XIX, folio 211; and that of Rush to Roberdeau, in 
 the same volume, folio 215. 
 
 99
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 April 1 8, 1778. p. 365, 366 
 
 Resolved, That a Warrant issue on the Treasurer 
 On question, in favour of Dr. William Shippen, . 
 negatived for Forty thousand Dollars, . . . 
 for which he is to be accountable. 
 
 Resolved, That Mr. G(ouverneur) Morris be add- 
 ed to the Medical Committee. 
 
 May 16, 1778. p. 504 
 
 Ordered, That 100,000 dollars to be paid to Dr. 
 Thomas Bond, Jun. to be by him delivered to Dr. 
 Jonathan Potts, deputy director general, for the use 
 of the hospitals of the middle district; the said Dr. 
 J. Potts to be accountable: 
 
 May 23, 1778. p. 525, 526, 527 
 
 . . . The Board will lay before Congress the facts 
 which they have collected from Major Wilson, com- 
 manding at Carlisle during the residence of Major 
 Stockton and other officers of his party in the goal 
 of that place; from M^ T. Peters, Deputy Commis- 
 sary of prisoners, who has had the charge during the 
 winter of the prisoners at Carlisle and York; from 
 Doctor Henry, employed to attend the British pris- 
 oners when sick; ... 
 
 . . .But the goal at Carlisle not being secure, 
 the deputy Commissary of prisoners removed them 
 to the prison of this place, wherein was also confined 
 Doctor John ConoIIy, for the same causes which in- 
 duced and continued their present imprisonment, 
 and for other reasons of policy and prudence. Doc- 
 tor ConoIIy having also sundry times behaved amiss 
 while on parole. 
 
 . . . There was some time ago an apprehension 
 in a part of the goal distant from the officers' apart- 
 ments that a contagious fever had broke out among 
 the soldiers, but the diseased were immediately re- 
 
 100
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 moved to hospitals, and a Surgeon and nurses pro- 
 vided for them, and every assistance afforded them 
 the nature of our affairs would admit. . . . 
 
 Mr ConoIIy, altho' indulged with every thing a 
 prisoner could reasonably wish, has repeatedly rep- 
 resented his own, and the situation of the goal, in 
 similar terms with the letter now under considera- 
 tion, and the former, and this Board, have often 
 had consequent examinations, in all of which they 
 found the complaints groundless. Once particularly, 
 when MF ConoIIy represented himself as at the 
 point of death from the severity of his confinement, 
 the board directed Doctor Shippen to visit him, who 
 reported that his situation was directly opposite to 
 his representation, his indisposition slight and mere- 
 ly of an Hippochandriac Nature. . . . 
 
 Richard Peters.^ 
 
 May 25, 1778. p. 531 
 
 Resolved, That the auditor, together with Mr. 
 Milligan, one of the commissioners of claims, be au- 
 thorized and directed to examine and pass upon the 
 accounts of Dr. Isaac Forster, deputy director gen- 
 eral of the eastern department. 
 
 May 28, 1778. p. 546 
 
 That 755 42/90 dollars be advanced to the Com- 
 mittee of Commerce, to enable them to pay Andrew 
 and James Caldwell the freight of sundry medicines 
 imported in their sloop from Martinico, on public 
 account; the said Committee to be accountable.^ 
 
 June 4, 1778. p. 568 
 
 A letter, of 20 April, from Dr. Rush to Messrs^ 
 (William Henry) Drayton, (Samuel) Huntington' 
 
 *^ This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No- 
 147, II folio 57. 
 
 ^ This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 
 136, II, folio 321. 
 
 lOI
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 and (John) Banister, committee appointed on 3d of 
 that month to inquire into Dr. Rush's charge against 
 Dr. Shippen, (was read:) ^* 
 
 June 9, 1778. p. 580, 582 
 
 Ordered, That 50,000 dollars be advanced to Dr. 
 Isaac Forster, . . .for the use of his department; 
 and for which he is to be accountable. . . . 
 
 Resolved, That the deputy director general of the 
 hospital in the eastern department shall, as hereto- 
 fore, in the absence of the director general, superin- 
 tend the medical affairs of that department till the 
 further order of Congress. 
 
 June 10, 1778. p. 582 
 
 Ordered, That 200,000 dollars be advanced to Dr. 
 Jonathan Potts, deputy director general for the 
 middle district, for the use of his department; he to 
 be accountable. 
 
 N. B. Dr. Potts applies for 300,000 Dollars; but 
 as he has already had that sum advanced him since 
 February last, and as the Treasury is at present 
 very low, your Committee judged it improper to 
 report so large a sum. They beg leave further to 
 inform Congress, that from an examination of the 
 estimates given them by Dr. Potts, they conceive 
 th^ expences that accrue in his Department are ex- 
 v^rbitant; they have therefore laid them before Con- 
 gress for their Inspection.^^ 
 
 June 15, 1778. p. 607 
 
 The auditor general and commissioners of claims 
 having, in consequence of the resolution of the 25 
 May, reported upon the accounts of Dr. Forster, 
 
 Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treas- 
 
 ^ This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 
 78, XIX, folio 233. 
 
 " This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 
 136, II, folio 349. 
 
 102
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 ury, and that the accounts of Dr. Forster be adjust- 
 ed agreeably to the said report, when he shall pro- 
 duce vouchers shewing the expenditure of the stores 
 by him procured and charged in the said account. 
 
 July 13, 1778. p. 686 
 
 The Committee for Foreign Affairs laid before 
 Congress a letter from Dr. Edward Bancroft, dated 
 31 March last which was read, and returned to the 
 Committee. 
 
 August 4, 1778. p. 746 
 
 Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer 
 for one hundred thousand dollars, in favour of Jona- 
 than Potts, Esq., . . . he to be accountable. 
 
 August II, 1778. 775 
 
 That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of 
 Dr. Isaac Forster, . . .for the use of his depart- 
 ment, . . . he to be accountable; and that the 
 same be paid to John Delamater, as requested by 
 the doctor. 
 
 August 14, 1778. 787 
 
 A letter, of the i August, from Mr. (Samuel) 
 Huntington, one of the delegates of that State in 
 Congress, was laid before Congress, and read, set- 
 ting forth sundry evils and abuses in the hospitals 
 in the eastern district: Whereupon,^'' 
 
 Resolved, That the resolution of Congress of the 
 9 of June last, authorizing the deputy director gen- 
 eral of the hospital in the eastern department, in 
 the absence of the director general, to superintend 
 the medical affairs of that department, be, and it is 
 hereby repealed; and that the said hospital for the 
 
 ^' The letter of Huntington is in the Papers of the Continenta 
 Congress, No. 78, XI, folio 309. 
 
 103
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 future be under the same regulations as the hospi- 
 tals in the other departments. 
 
 Resolved, That the director general be directed to 
 enquire into the state of the hospital in the eastern 
 department, and give proper orders for the good 
 government and economy thereof, and discharge un- 
 qualified and supernumerary officers, if any there 
 be. 
 
 August 20, 1778. 816 
 
 A letter, of 19, from Major General Arnold, was 
 read: 
 
 Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War, 
 and that the Board be directed to report their opin- 
 ion on the necessity of an additional number of 
 troops to the corps of invalids, for the purpose of 
 guards in the city of Philadelphia; and if an addi- 
 tional number is, in their opinion, necessary, how 
 many and for what purposes. 
 
 August 21, 1778. p. 825 
 
 That there is due to the officers and privates of. 
 the invalid regiment, for pay and subsistence for the 
 months of May and June last, the sum of 937 54/90 
 dollars: ®^ 
 
 Ordered, That the said accounts be paid. 
 
 September 3, 1778. p. 863 
 
 That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour 
 of Dr. Jonathan Potts, deputy director general for 
 the middle district, for 70,000 dollars, of which 
 40,000 is for the use of the hospitals thereof, and 
 30,000 to be transmitted to Dr. Johnston, assistant 
 director of the northern department; the said Dr. 
 Potts to be accountable: 
 
 ** This report, dated August 20, ia in the Papers of the Conti- 
 nental Congress, No. 136, II, foHo 471. 
 
 104
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 September 7, 1778. p. 887 
 
 A letter, of 28 August, from Dr. (I.) Forster, dep- 
 uty director general of the hospital in the eastern 
 department, was read: 
 
 Ordered, Tliat it be referred to the Medical Com- 
 mittee. 
 
 September 16, 1778. p. 918 
 
 That Dr. John Warren, Executor of the late Ma- 
 jor General Warren be authorized and requested to 
 superintend their Education, and to make quarter- 
 ly Drafts on the Treasury of the United States for 
 the Expences incident to the same, transmitting to 
 the Board the necessary Accounts. 
 
 September 18, 1778. 925 
 
 A letter and memorial from Dr. J. Morgan, were 
 read: ^^ 
 
 Ordered, That the foregoing letter and memorial 
 be referred to the said committee. 
 
 September 23, 1778. 946 
 
 Resolved, That Mr. (Samuel) Holton be added to 
 the Medical Committee. 
 
 October 9, 1778. p. 993 
 
 That there is due to the officers and privates of 
 the invalid regiment, commanded by Colonel L. 
 Nicola, for pay and subsistence for the month of 
 August last, the sum of 1558 25/90 dollars: 
 
 October 10, 1778. 997 
 
 A letter, of 4, from Dr. W. Shippen, director gen- 
 eral, enclosing a return of the sick in the hospital, 
 was read: 
 
 ** This position, dated September 17, is in the Papers of the 
 Continental Congress, No. 41, VI, foHo 51. The letter is iu No. 63. 
 foUo 117. 
 
 105
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 Ordered, That the same be referred to the Medi- 
 cal Committee. 
 
 October 20, 1778. 1031 
 
 Whereas by a resolution of Congress of the 22 
 April, 1777, it is provided, that the several com- 
 manding officers of parties, detachments or corps on 
 their march to or from the camp, shall send to the 
 military hospitals such of their officers and soldiers 
 as from time to time, are unable to proceed, unless 
 from the distance of the hospitals or other causes, 
 it shall at any time be necessary to deliver them to 
 the care of private physicians or surgeons, in which 
 cases the deputy director general shall discharge the 
 reasonable demands of the physicians and surgeons 
 conducting, agreeably to the said resolve. 
 
 And, whereas, no provision is therein made for 
 discharging the accounts of other persons who have 
 been or may be employed by proper officers for 
 taking care of and providing for such officers and 
 soldiers: 
 
 Resolved, That the deputy directors general be 
 respectively authorized and instructed to discharge 
 such of the said accounts as shall appear to be rea- 
 sonable and just, provided that each person who 
 may hereafter be employed to provide for officers 
 and soldiers as aforesaid, shall give the earliest no- 
 tice thereof to the deputy director general, or the 
 physician or surgeon general of the district, in order 
 for their speedy removal to the mihtary hospitals. 
 
 October 22, 1778. p. 1038 
 
 A memorial from the regimental surgeons and 
 surgeons' assistants of the Army or the United 
 States of America, was read : 
 
 Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of 
 three: 
 
 106 
 
 A
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 The members chosen, Mr. (Nathaniel) Scudder, 
 Mr. (Samuel) Holton, and Mr. (Josiah) Bartlett. 
 
 October 26, 1778. p. 1062, 1064. 
 
 A letter, of 21, from Major General Lord Stirling, 
 enclosing a letter to him from Dr. Griffith, with sun- 
 dry affidavits relative to the massacre of Colonel 
 Bayler's regiment, on 27 September last, was read: 
 
 . . . Ordered, That Mr. (Josiah) Bartlett be 
 added to the Medical Committee: 
 
 October 30, 1778. p. 1079 
 
 That there is due to the officers and privates of 
 Colonel Lewis Nicola's regiment of invalids, for ra- 
 tions and parts of rations retained from their first 
 establishment to the 31 of May, 1778, a balance of 
 six hundred and eighty-eight 50/90 dollars, as more 
 fully appears by a particular state filed with the ac- 
 counts: 
 
 November 3, 1778. p. no: 
 
 That a warrant issue on Thomas Smith, commis- 
 sioner of the continental loan office in the State of 
 Pennsylvania, in favour of Jonathan Potts, deputy 
 director general, for one hundred and thirty thou- 
 sand dollars, for the use of his department; he to be 
 accountable: ""^ 
 
 A motion being made respecting the medical de- 
 partment. 
 
 Ordered, That it be referred to the Medical Com- 
 mittee. 
 
 November 9, 1778. p. 1113 
 
 An extract from the journals of the assembly of 
 South Carolina, purporting to be "a report of the 
 committee on the president's message, relative to 
 the hospital establishment and military arrange- 
 
 ''" This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 
 136, II, folio 665. 
 
 107
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 merits of this State, as agreed to by the House," 
 was laid before Congress: 
 
 Ordered, That so much thereof as relates to the 
 hospital, be referred to the Medical Committee, and 
 the remainder to the Board of War. 
 
 November 12, 1778. p. 11 24 
 
 Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasury for 
 seventy-five thousand dollars, in favour of Jonathan 
 Potts, deputy director general, and another warrant 
 in his favour on Derick Ten Broek, Esq. commis- 
 sioner of the continental loan office in the State of 
 New York, for seventy-five thousand dollars, . . . 
 for use in hospitals in the northern department; 
 . . . said deputy director general is to be account- 
 able. 
 
 November 28, 1778. p. 11 70, 11 74 
 
 That another warrant issue on the treasurer in 
 favour of Isaac Forster, Esq., . . .for twenty-five 
 thousand dollars, to be paid to James Davison, 
 . . . said deputy director general to be account- 
 able: . . . 
 
 A memorial from the magistrates and the over- 
 seers of the poor of the city of Philadelphia, was 
 read, praying for a compensation for the use of the 
 house of employment, occupied for continental hos- 
 pital : ■'I 
 
 Ordered, To lie on the table. 
 
 December 5, 1778. p. 11 92 
 
 The committee to whom was referred the memo- 
 rial of the regimental surgeons and assistants, 
 brought in a report, which was read, and after de- 
 bate, 
 
 '^ This memorial, dated November 18, is in the Pa ers of the 
 Continental Congress, No. 41, VI, folio 73. 
 
 io8
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 Ordered, That it be committed to the Medical 
 Committee, who are directed to take into considera- 
 tion the case of the hospital as well as regimental 
 surgeons, and report thereon. 
 
 December 28, 1778. p. 1259 
 
 Resolved, That a member in the place of Mr. 
 (John) Harvie be added to the committee on the 
 memorial from Dr. Morgan: 
 
 The member chosen, Mr. M(eriwether) Smith. 
 
 February 6, 1778. p. 1282 
 
 Resolutions on Hospitals. 
 
 199. Rules and directions / for the better regulat- 
 ing the Military Hospital of the United States: / In 
 consequence of a Resolve of the Honourable the 
 Continental Congress, the 6th of / February, 1778; 
 to be punctually observed by the Officers, Nurses, 
 &c. of the / Eastern Department.^^* 
 
 (Signed) P. Turner, Surg. Gen. M. H. E. D. 
 
 F? Broadside. 
 
 September 25, 1778. p. 1287 
 
 Provision for disabled officers and privates. 
 226. In Congress, August 26, 1776 .... In Con- 
 gress September 25, 1778 . . J^^ 
 
 December 3, 1778. p. 1289 
 
 Health of Soldiers. 
 
 235. Directions / For Preserving / The Health of 
 / Soldiers: / recommended to / The Consideration 
 of the / Officers / Of the Army of the United / 
 States. / By Benjamin Rush, M. D. / Published by 
 Order of the Board / of War. / Lancaster: Printed 
 by John Dunlap, / In Queen-Street. / M.DCC.LXX- 
 VIII. 12? pp. 8. 
 
 ''* A copy is in the Library of Congress. Papers of the Con- 
 tinental Congress, No. 78, xxii, folio 567. It measures 40 x 25 cms. 
 ^^^ See Pennsylvania Archives, vi, 755. 
 
 109
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 January 12, 1779. 51 
 
 A letter, of 10, from Doctor Shlppen, Director 
 General, was read: 
 
 Ordered, That it be referred to the Medical Com- 
 mittee. 
 
 Ordered, That two members be added to the said 
 committee. 
 
 The members chosen, Mr. (Thomas) Burke and 
 Mr. T(homas) Adams. 
 
 January 16, 1779. 73 
 
 That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour 
 of Nathaniel Eustis, upon the application of Doctor 
 Isaac Forster, deputy director general of the eas- 
 tern district, agreeable to his letter of the 28 Decem- 
 ber last, for twenty-five thousand dollars; and 
 
 That another warrant issue on Nathaniel Apple- 
 ton, Esq. commissioner of the continental loan office, 
 in the State of Massachusetts bay, in favour of the 
 said Doctor Isaac Forster, for fifty thousand dol- 
 lars; . . . said deputy director general is to be 
 accountable; ... for the use of his department. 
 
 January 23, 1779. iio-iii 
 
 Resolved, That the director general (of the medi- 
 cal department) be authorized and instructed to en- 
 join the several deputy directors, physicians, and 
 surgeons general and other officers under his super- 
 intendence, to attend and perform such duties at 
 any post or place, as a change of the position of the 
 army, or other circumstances, may, from time to 
 time, make necessary, and shall be required by the 
 Commander in Chief, notwithstanding such deputy 
 director, physician, or surgeon is, by the general ar- 
 rangement of the hospitals, attached to a particu- 
 lar department; and that in case of any dispute con- 
 
 iio
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 cerning their seniority or precedence, the director 
 general shall determine the same in the first instance, 
 the party supposing himself aggrieved being at lib- 
 erty to appeal for redress to the Medical Committee. 
 Resolved, That the director general be authorized 
 and instructed to supply, for the use of the regi- 
 mental surgeons, such medicines and refreshments 
 as may be proper for the relief of the sick and 
 wounded before their removal to a general hospital, 
 and to be dispensed under the care and at the dis- 
 cretion of the physician and surgeon general of the 
 army.''^ 
 
 February 8, 1779. 151 
 
 A memorial from W. Shippen, director general, in 
 behalf of himself and the medical officers of the gen- 
 eral hospital in the middle, eastern and northern 
 districts, was read: 
 
 Ordered, That it be referred to the Medical Com- 
 mittee. 
 
 February 26, 1779. 255 
 
 That agreeable to the application of the Medical 
 Committee a warrant issue on the treasurer, in 
 favour of Doctor Jonathan Potts, *** for one hun- 
 dred and fifty thousand dollars, *** he to be ac- 
 countable. 
 
 March 6, 1779. ^§7 
 
 Resolved, That a warrant issue on the treasurer, 
 in favour of Dr. Jonathan Potts, *** on the applica- 
 tion of the Medical Committee, for one hundred 
 and fifty thousand dollars, ... for which he is 
 to be accountable. 
 
 March 10, 1779. 301 
 
 That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of 
 
 ■^2 This report, in the writing of James Duane, is in the Papers 
 of the Continental Congress, No. 33, folio 277. 
 
 Ill
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 Doctor Jonathan Potts, . . .for one hundred and 
 fifty thousand dollars, . . . he is to be accountable. 
 
 March 13, 1779. 313 
 
 The committee, to whom was referred the memo- 
 rial of Doctor J. Morgan, late director general and 
 physician in chief in the general hospital of the 
 United States, brought in a report, which was read: ^^ 
 
 Ordered, To lie on the table for the perusal of the 
 members, to be taken into consideration on Thurs- 
 day next. 
 
 April 12, 1779. 440 
 
 That John Nixon Esqr. Col. Shee, Andrew Doz 
 have been recommended by Francis Hopkinson Esq. 
 Treasurer of Loans; Hugh Montgomery by Doctor 
 Witherspoon, and John Miller Esq. by Doctor 
 Ewing, as proper persons to be appointed Commis- 
 sioners for destroying the Bills to be taken out of 
 circulation. 
 
 April 15, 1779. 455 
 
 A memorial from the staff officers of the general 
 hospital was read: 
 
 Ordered, That it be referred to the Medical Com- 
 mittee. 
 
 April 16, 1779. 460 
 
 That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour 
 of Doctor Jonathan Potts, deputy director general 
 of the military hospitals for the middle department, 
 upon the application of the Medical Committee, for 
 one million of dollars, for the use of his department, 
 and for which he is to be accountable. 
 
 April 27, 1779. 515, 523-524 
 
 That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour 
 of Isaac Forster, Esq. *** for one hundred thousand 
 
 " See under June 12, "post." 
 
 I 12
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 dollars, to be paid agreeable to his request to John 
 
 Adams, *** the said Doctor Forster to be account- 
 able.74 
 
 The Committee on the Treasury report. 
 
 That information has been given to the Board of 
 Treasury that Alexander McKallaher, the deputy 
 commissary of the hospital at the Yellow Springs, 
 has made a practice of exchanging the hospital stores, 
 such as sugar, molasses, &c. for butter, poultry, eggs, 
 &c. for his own and the doctors' table: That he keep 
 a i^Iooded horse in the guard house, and a mare and 
 colt; and a hostler at his quarters, and another at 
 the hospital, that he entertains all people who come 
 to the hospitals with wine and toddy, alledging that 
 he is allowed to do so by Congress or Doctor Ship- 
 pen, the informant is not certain which. 
 
 That those circumstances have given occasion to 
 great clamours among the inhabitants in the neigh- 
 bourhood. 
 
 That it is convalescent hospital: That they have 
 repaired the Farmer's houses in the neighbourhood 
 for their own convenience at the public expence; 
 Whereupon, 
 
 Ordered, That the information from the Commit- 
 tee on the Treasury, relative to Alexander McKalla- 
 her be referred to the Medical Committee, and that 
 they take such measures for ascertaining the facts; 
 and if properly supported for bringing him to a tryal, 
 as they shall judge expedient.'^^ 
 
 ^* Based upon Forster'a letters of March 9 and 10, 1779. 
 
 ^* The committee's recommendation was that "an enquiry 
 ought to be made into the truth of the said charges, without de- 
 lay; and that on proof thereof the parties charged ought to be 
 suspended and brought to trial." The resolution adopted was an 
 amendment offered by Elbridge Gerry, to be found in his writing 
 on folio 259 1/2. The name is written McKallaster in the Journals, 
 and McKallaher in the committee report. 
 
 "3
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 May 5, I779- 549 
 
 That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour 
 of Doctor George Smith, for the sum of thirteen 
 hundred seventy six dollars 22/90, equal to five hun- 
 dred and fifty pounds ten shillings. New York cur- 
 rency, reported by John Welles and Edward Chinn, 
 Esquires, commissioners of accounts, at Albany, to 
 be due to him for cattle and forage taken by order 
 of General Schuyler for the immediate subsistance 
 of the militia and other troops assembled at Fort 
 Edwards on the evacuation of Ticonderoga, his de- 
 mand of recompence for the loss of fencing being re- 
 jected.''® 
 
 May 17, 1779- 599 
 
 Resolved, That a warrant issue on the treasurer 
 in favour of John Gibson, auditor general, for four- 
 teen thousand dollars, being the sum he so paid to 
 the said Scott, on the order of the said Nathan 
 Brownson, on the i September, 1777, on account of 
 the State of Georgia, and for which the said State is 
 to be accountable.'''^ 
 
 May 28, 1779. 661 
 
 A petition from Isaac Forster and others, officers 
 of the hospital in the eastern department, was read: 
 
 Ordered, That it be referred to the Medical Com- 
 mittee. 
 
 June 5, 1779. 689 
 
 A letter, of this day, from John Morgan was 
 read;^^ Whereupon, 
 
 I 
 
 '* This report, dated May 3, is in the Papers of the Continenta 
 Congress, No. 136, III, folio 287. 
 
 '^ This report, dated May 17, is in the Papers of the Continental 
 Congress, No. 136, III, folio 313. The account with the State of 
 Georgia is on folio 317. 
 
 '* This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 
 63, folio 125. 
 
 114
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 Resolved, That Saturday next be assigned for 
 considering the report of the committee on the 
 memorial of Doctor J. Morgan. 
 
 June 12, 1779. 722, 723, 724 
 
 That upon the application of the Medical Com- 
 mittee, a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour 
 of Doctor Isaac Forster, deputy director general 
 of the eastern department, for one hundred and 
 fifty thousand dollars, . . .he is to be account- 
 able. . 
 
 That there is due to the officers and privates of 
 Colonel Lewis Nicola's invalid regiment, their pay 
 and subsistance for the month of April last, two 
 thousand three hundred and seventy three dollars 
 and 6/90ths. . . . 
 
 Congress took into consideration the report of the 
 committee to whom was referred the memorial of 
 Doctor John Morgan, late director general and phy- 
 sician in chief of the general hospitals of the United 
 States, and thereupon came to the following resolu- 
 tion: 
 
 Whereas by the report of the Medical Committee, 
 confirmed by Congress on the 9th of August, 1777, 
 it appeared that Dr. John Morgan, late director 
 general and chief physician of the general hospitals 
 of the United States, had been removed from office 
 on the 9th of January, 1777, by reason of the gen- 
 eral complaint of persons of all ranks in the army, 
 and the critical state of aff^airs at that time; and 
 that the said Dr. John Morgan requesting an in- 
 quiry into his conduct, it was thought proper that 
 a committee of Congress should be appointed for 
 that purpose: and, whereas, on the i8th day of 
 September last, such a committee was appointed, 
 before whom the said Dr. John Morgan hath in the 
 most satisfactory manner vindicated his conduct in 
 
 115
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 every respect as director general and physician in 
 chief, upon the testimony of the Commander in 
 Chief, general officers, officers in the general hospi- 
 tal department, and other officers in the army, shew- 
 ing that the said director general did conduct him- 
 self ably and faithfully in the discharge of the duties 
 of his office: therefore, 
 
 Resolved, That Congress are satisfied with the 
 conduct of Dr. John Morgan while acting as director 
 general and physician in chief in the general hospi- 
 tals of the United States; and that this resolution 
 be published.^^ 
 
 June 15, 1779- 733 
 
 A letter, of this day, from Dr. J. Morgan, was 
 read, charging Dr. William Shippen, Jun. in the 
 service of the United States, with mal-practices, and 
 misconduct in office, and declaring his readiness to 
 give before the proper court having jurisdiction, the 
 necessary evidence in the premises against the said 
 Dr. Wilham Shippen.^" 
 
 On motion of Mr. (Henry) Laurens, seconded by 
 Mr. (William Henry) Drayton, 
 
 Resolved, That a copy of the said letter be trans- 
 mitted to the Commander in Chief, and that he be 
 directed to cause such proceedings to be had there- 
 on, as that the charges alluded to in it be speedily 
 enquired into, and justice done. 
 
 Ordered, That an extract of the letter, with the 
 above resolution, be transmitted to Dr. Shippen. 
 
 ''^ This report, in the writing of William Henry Drayton, is in 
 the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, IV, folio 185. It 
 was presented March 13, 1779. Morgan's "Vindication," dated 
 February 1, 1779, is in No. 63, foUo 184. 
 
 ^'^ This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 
 63, folio 129. 
 
 1X6
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 June 21, 1779. 754 
 
 A petition from the surgeons of the American 
 navy was read: 
 
 Ordered, That it be referred to the Marine Com- 
 mittee. 
 
 June 29, 1779. 782 
 
 That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour 
 of Doctor John Warren, for seventeen hundred and 
 forty three dollars and 60/90, in full of his account 
 for the support and education of Joseph Warren, son 
 of the late Major General Warren, to April, 1779, as 
 allowed by the council of Massachusetts bay, and 
 that the said sum be paid to David H. Conyngham 
 authorised to receive the same.^^ 
 
 July 19, 1779- 854 
 
 A letter, of 19, from John Morgan was read, en- 
 closing sundry papers relative to his charges against 
 Doctor Shippen: ^^ 
 
 Ordered, That copies thereof be sent to General 
 Washington. 
 
 August 3, 1779- 917 
 
 A letter, of 28 July, from Doctor W. Shippen, was 
 read; ^ Whereupon, 
 
 The Medical Committee, to whom were referred 
 the several papers and memorials from the officers 
 of the Medical department, brought in a report, 
 which was read: 
 
 Ordered, That the same be taken into considera- 
 tion, when the report from the committee on a far- 
 
 *i Baaed upon an order of the Council of the State of Massa- 
 chusetts of May 3, 1779. 
 
 ^^ Morgan's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, 
 No. 68, folio 133. 
 
 ^^ The Shippen letter is in the Papers of the Continental Con- 
 gress, No. 78, XX, folio 435. 
 
 117
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 ther allowance to the officers of the army is consid- 
 ered. 
 
 August 1 8, 1779. 978 
 
 Resolved, That until the further order of Congress, 
 the said officers be entitled to receive monthly for 
 their subsistance money, the sums following, to wit, 
 . . . ensign and surgeon's mate 100 dollars. 
 
 September 3, 1779. 10 18 
 
 A letter, of 2d, from the hon^- Sr. Gerard, was 
 read, soliciting leave for Mr. Witherspoon, a surgeon 
 in the service of the United States to go to France: 
 
 Ordered, That it be referred to the Medical Com- 
 mittee. 
 
 Resolved, That two members be added to the said 
 committee. 
 
 The members chosen, Mr. (Nathaniel) Peabody, 
 and Mr. (Frederick A.) Muhlenberg. 
 
 September 29, 1779. 11 23 
 
 That on the application of the Medical Commit- 
 tee, a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of 
 Doctor Jonathan Potts, . . for one hundred and 
 fifty thousand dollars, for the purchase of hospital 
 stores, and for defraying the necessary expences of 
 his department, and that another warrant issue on 
 Thomas Smith, Esq. commissioner of the continental 
 loan office, for the State of Pennsylvania, in favour 
 of the said Doctor Jonathan Potts, for seventy one 
 thousand one hundred and forty four dollars, in loan 
 office certificates [for the purpose of discharging 
 a debt due to Robert Morris, Esq. for twelve 
 boxes of surgical instruments purchased of him by 
 the said Dr. Potts;] the said Doctor Potts to be ac- 
 countable .... 
 
 October 19, 1779. 11 87 
 
 Resolved, That Friday next be assigned for taking 
 
 118
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 into consideration the report of the Medical Com- 
 mittee on the medical staff. 
 
 October 22, 1779. 1 200-1 
 
 Congress took into consideration the report of the 
 Medical Committee on the medical staff, and some 
 time lacing spent thereon, 
 
 Ordered, That the farther consideration thereof be 
 postponed. 
 
 October 25, 1779. 1208 
 
 A letter, of this day, from Doctor John Morgan, 
 was read: ^^ 
 
 Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of 
 three: 
 
 October 27, 1779. 1211 
 
 Sundry returns of the state of the hospital in the 
 southern department, were laid before Congress and 
 read: 
 
 Ordered, That they be referred to the Medical 
 Committee. 
 
 October 27, 1779. 12 13-14 
 
 According to order. Congress took into consider- 
 ation the report of the Medical Committee and af- 
 ter debate. 
 
 On motion of Mr. (Nathaniel) Scudder, seconded 
 by Mr. (Samuel) Holton, 
 
 Resolved, That the farther consideration thereof 
 be postponed. 
 
 On motion of Mr. (Nathaniel) Scudder, seconded 
 by Mr. (William Churchill) Houston, 
 
 Resolved, That the director general, each of the 
 deputy directors general, each physician and sur- 
 geon general, each senior physician and surgeon, 
 each junior surgeon, each apothecary general, each 
 
 ^ The Morgan letter is in the Papers of the Continental Con- 
 gress, No. 63, folio 137. 
 
 119
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 chaplain and each apothecary's assistant, in the 
 hospital of the United States, [to the north ward of 
 the river Potomac ] shall be entitled to draw clothing 
 annually from the stores of the clothier general, in 
 the same manner, and under the same regulations as 
 are established for officers of the line, by a resolu- 
 tion of the twenty-sixth day of November, 1777. 
 
 Resolved, That until the further order of Con- 
 gress, the said officers of the military hospital shall 
 also be entitled to subsistence, in like manner as is 
 granted to officers of the line, to be estimated in the 
 following ratio: 
 
 1st. The director general to receive the same sub- 
 sistence as a colonel in the line: 
 
 2d. The deputy directors general, the physicians, 
 surgeons and apothecaries general, the same as lieu- 
 tenant colonels: 
 
 3d. The senior physicians and surgeons the same 
 as majors: 
 
 The junior surgeons and apothecaries' assistants 
 the same as captains: and the chaplains, the same 
 as chaplains of brigades are entitled to by a resolu- 
 tion of the 1 8th day of August last, and to com- 
 mence from the said i8th day of August. 
 
 Resolved, That the mates of the military hospital 
 shall, during service, be entitled to the same sub- 
 sistence as is given to regimental surgeon's mates, by 
 the resolution of the iSth day of August last. 
 
 October 28, 1779. 12 16 
 
 Resolved, That the resolutions of yesterday, re- 
 specting the officers of the hospital department of 
 the United States, be re-considered; and together 
 with the report of the Medical Committee on the 
 hospital department, be re-committed. 
 
 November 4, 1779. 1237 
 
 120
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 A letter, of 26 October, from Thadeus Benedict, 
 was read,^^ respecting the conduct of Dr. Forster: 
 
 Ordered, That it be referred to the Commander 
 in Chief, and that he be directed to cause such pro- 
 ceedings to be had thereon, as that the charges al- 
 luded to in it be speedily enquired into and justice 
 done. 
 
 Ordered, That the Medical Committee transmit 
 to the Commander in Chief the memorial of Thadeus 
 Benedict and others, against Dr. Forster, and such 
 other papers as they may have respecting that 
 matter. 
 
 November 5, 1779. 1240 
 
 A letter, of 4, from Doctor Forster, was read, re- 
 questing that a court of enquiry may be appointed 
 to examine into his conduct.^^ 
 
 Ordered, That it be transmitted to the Com- 
 mander in Chief. 
 
 November 16, 1779. 1277 
 
 The Medical Committee, to whom were referred 
 the resolutions of 27 October respecting the officers 
 of the hospital department, together with the re- 
 port of the said committee on the said department, 
 which was re-com.mitted, brought in a report: 
 
 Ordered, That the same be taken into considera- 
 tion on Friday next. 
 
 The committee to whom was referred the letter of 
 25 October last, from Dr. J. Morgan, brought in a 
 report; Whereupon, 
 
 Resolved, That it be recommended to the execu- 
 tive authority of the respective states, upon the ap- 
 plication of the judge advocate for that purpose, to 
 
 ^ This letter is in the Washington Papers, No. 92, folio 312. 
 ^ The Forster letter is in the Washington Papers, 92, folio 311. 
 
 121
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 grant proper writs requiring and compelling the per- 
 son or persons whose attendance shall be requested 
 by the said judge, to appear and give testimony in 
 any cause depending before a court martial; and 
 that it be recommended to the legislatures of the 
 several states to vest the necessary powers for the 
 purposes aforesaid in their executive authorities, if 
 the same be not already done. 
 
 November 19-20, 1779. 1293, 4-6 
 
 Resolved, That the report of the Medical Com- 
 mittee on the hospital staff be postponed till to- 
 morrow, and that the same be taken into consider- 
 ation immediately after reading the journal. 
 
 Congress took into consideration the report of 
 the Medical Committee on the hospital staff; Where- 
 upon, 
 
 Resolved, That the director general, deputy di- 
 rectors general, the assistant deputy directors, the 
 physicians and surgeons general of the hospitals and 
 army, the senior surgeons, the second or junior sur- 
 geons, the apothecaries general and apothecaries' 
 mates or assistants, the hospital chaplains, regimen- 
 tal surgeons and mates, mates of the military hos- 
 pitals, commissaries, assistant commissaries, pay 
 masters and stewards of the hospital, who shall have 
 been in the service for the space of one year, and are 
 at present employed in the same, shall each be en- 
 titled annually to draw cloathing from the stores of 
 the cloathier general, in the same manner and under 
 the same regulations as are established for officers 
 of the line by a resolution of Congress of the 26 day 
 of November, 1777. 
 
 Resolved, That until the further order of Con- 
 gress, the following officers of the military hospital 
 shall be entitled to subsistence, in like manner as is 
 granted to officers of the line by a resolution of the 
 
 122
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 1 8th day of August last, and in the following pro- 
 portions, viz. each deputy director general, 500 dol- 
 lars per month; each assistant deputy director, 400 
 dollars; each physician general and surgeon general, 
 500 dollars; each physician and surgeon general, 500 
 dollars; each senior surgeon, 400 dollars; each junior 
 surgeon, 300 dollars; each apothecary general, 400 
 dollars; each apothecary's assistant or mate, 100 
 dollars; each commissary, 300 dollars; each commis- 
 sary's assistant, 200 dollars; each clerk, who is to 
 be pay master, 200 dollars; each steward, 100 dol- 
 lars; each chaplain, 400 dollars; 
 
 The same to commence from the 18 day of August 
 last. 
 
 [ Resolved, That all the said officers of the military 
 hospital and all regimental surgeons and their mates 
 who shall continue in the service to the end of the 
 present war, shall be entitled to quotas of lands 
 respectively, in like manner as is stipulated, in favour 
 of officers of the line by the resolution of the 
 day of , which quotas shall be ascertained and 
 
 apportioned according to the rate of subsistance 
 above granted. ] 
 
 Resolved, That all mates necessarily employed in 
 the military hospital or army shall, during service, 
 be entitled to the same subsistence as is given to 
 regimental mates, viz. 100 dollars per month. 
 
 Resolved, That the remainder of the report be re- 
 committed. 
 
 November 22, 1779. 1297 
 
 A letter, of 19th, from George Morgan, was read: 
 Resolved, That the Medical Committee be instruct- 
 ed to revise the several resolutions passed respecting 
 the hospital department, and to digest and arrange 
 them with such amendments as may make the whole 
 
 123
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 consistent with and conformable to the alterations 
 made by Congress in the original system, and re- 
 port the same to Congress. 
 
 November 24, 1779. ^303 
 
 A letter, of 22d, from Doctor J. Morgan, was 
 read: ^^ 
 
 Ordered, That the same be transmitted to the 
 Commander in Chief, Doctor Shippen being first 
 furnished with a copy thereof. 
 
 November 25, 1779. 13 10 
 
 That on the application of the Medical Commit- 
 tee, the following warrants issue in favour of Doctor 
 Isaac Forster, deputy director general of the eastern 
 department, amounting to one hundred and fifty 
 thousand dollars, for the use of his department; for 
 which he is to be accountable, viz: 
 
 December 10, 1779. 1366 
 
 A letter, of 8, from D(avid) Jackson and a memo- 
 rial from the officers in the hospital department, 
 were read: ^^ 
 
 Ordered, That they be referred to the Medical 
 Committee. 
 
 December 13, 1779. 1373 
 
 The director general, to whom was referred the 
 report of the commissioners on the memorial of 
 Lewis Weiss in behalf of the single brethren of Beth- 
 lehem, having reported thereon, and the said re- 
 port being read: ^^ 
 
 ^^ The Morgan letter is in the Papers of the Continental Con- 
 gress, No. 63, folio 143. 
 
 *' Letter of Jackson and enclosures, in the Paper s of the Con- 
 tinental Congress, No. 78, XIII, folio 125-33. 
 
 ^' Shippen's letter, dated this day, is in the Papers of the Con- 
 tinental Congress, No. 19, VI, folio 513. 
 
 124
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in 
 favour of Lewis Weiss, attorney of John Bonn, war- 
 den of the single brethren of Bethlehem, for three 
 thousand and seventy seven dollars and 60/90 for 
 the use of the said brethren, being in full of their 
 account for evacuating, repairing and re-entering 
 their house, which was used as a general hospital 
 for the space of eight months, in lieu of rent and all 
 other demands.^" 
 
 December 22, 1779. 1400 
 
 A letter, of 20, and one of 22d, from Doctor Mor- 
 gan, were read: ^^ 
 
 Ordered, That they be referred to a committee of 
 three: 
 
 December 24, 1779. MOQ 
 
 The committee to whom was referred the letter 
 of 20, from Dr. Morgan, brought in a report, which 
 was taken into consideration; and thereupon. 
 
 Resolved, That on the trials of cases not capital 
 before courts martial, the depositions of witnesses 
 not in the line or staff of the army, may be taken 
 before some justice of the peace, and read in evi- 
 dence, provided the prosecutor and person accused 
 are present at the taking the same, or that notice 
 be given of the times and places of taking such de- 
 positions to the opposite party four days previous 
 thereto, where the witness resides within the dis- 
 tance of thirty miles from such party, and six days 
 where the witness resides above the distance of 
 
 ^ This report, dated December 4, is in the Papers of the Con- 
 tinental Congress, No. 136, III, folio 873. 
 
 '^ Morgan's letter of the 20th is in the Papers of the Continental 
 Congress, No. 63, folio 165. 
 
 125
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 thirty, and not exceeding eighty miles, and a reason- 
 able time for a greater distance. 
 
 p. 1435 
 
 SUES ADVANCED IN THE HOSPITAL DEPARTMENT 
 
 Feb. 26. To Jonathan Potts, deputy di- 
 rector 150,000 
 
 March 10. To do 150,000 
 
 April 16. To do 500,000 
 
 Sep. 29. To do 221,144 
 
 Jan. 16. To doctor Isaac Forster, dep- 
 uty director eastern district . 75,000 
 
 April 27. To do 100,000 
 
 June 12. To do 150,000 
 
 Nov. 25. To do 150,000 
 
 June 29. To S. Kennedy for rent of hos- 
 pital at Yellow Springs . . 5,000 
 
 Dollars 1,501,144 
 p. 1440 
 
 FARTHER SUMS ADVANCED IN THE PAY-OFFICE DE- 
 PARTMENT 
 
 Jan. 9 and 20 3857 5-90 
 
 Feb. 9 2102 26-90 
 
 March 30 2275 5-90 
 
 April 12 2152 70-90 
 
 May 13 2300 4-90 
 
 June 12 2373 6-90 
 
 January i, 1780. i 
 
 A letter, of 30 December, from Doctor J. Morgan, 
 was read, requesting to be furnished with copies of 
 the following letters and returns of Doctor W. Ship- 
 pen, viz: ^^ 
 
 Letters previous to October 9, 1776, on which 
 were founded the resolves of that day; of November 
 
 ^ This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No 
 158, folio 305. 
 
 126
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 I, 1776, including the return of the sick; November 
 9, 1776; November 24, 1777, and return of the sick, 
 also return of the hospital ofTicers; January 19, 1778, 
 with the return of the hospital officers, &c., also 
 Governor Livingston's, to which it refers; January 
 26, 1778, to Francis Lewis, Esquire; Whereupon, 
 
 Ordered, That Doctor Morgan's request be com- 
 plied with and that those of the papers which are in 
 the possession of the Medical Committee be lodged 
 in the Secretary's office for that purpose. 
 
 January 3, 1780. 10-12 
 
 According to order, Congress took into considera- 
 tion the report of the Medical Committee, viz. 
 
 That each and every officer hereafter mentioned 
 and described in this resolve, belonging to the medi- 
 cal department in the hospitals, or army, who is 
 now in the service of the United States, and shall 
 continue therein during the war, and not to hold 
 any office or profit under the United States, or any 
 of them, shall after the conclusion of the war, be 
 entitled to receive, annually, for the term of seven 
 years, if they shall live so long, viz; the physicians 
 general, surgeons general, the physician and surgeon 
 general of the army, the deputy directors general, 
 each, a sum equal to the half pay granted and ex- 
 tended to a colonel in the line of the army by a re- 
 solve of Congress, of the 15 of May, 1778; the senior 
 surgeons and physicians, assistant deputy directors, 
 and the apothecary general, each, a sum equal to the 
 half pay of a lieutenant colonel, granted and ex- 
 tended by the resolve aforesaid; the junior or sec- 
 ond surgeons of the hospitals and the regimental 
 surgeons, each, a sum equal to the half pay of a ma- 
 jor in the line, granted and extended as aforesaid; 
 the mates of the regimental surgeons, the apothe- 
 cary's mates, or assistants, each a sum equal to the 
 
 127
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 half pay granted and extended to a lieutenant in 
 the line of the army, by the resolve aforesaid; the 
 whole of the foregoing allowances are to be subject 
 in every respect to the same rules, restrictions and 
 limitations, upon which the half pay of the afore- 
 mentioned officers of the line was granted and ex- 
 tended by the said resolve, of the 15 of May, 1778. 
 
 That each of the aforementioned and described 
 officers in the medical department, or their legal 
 representatives, respectively, shall be entitled to the 
 like quantity of lands with the aforementioned and 
 described officers of the line, in due proportion to 
 the sums granted to them respectively by the pre- 
 ceding resolve, upon the same conditions, and sub- 
 ject to the same rules, restrictions and limitations, 
 as the grants of lands to the aforementioned officers 
 of the line, by a resolve of Congress of the 16 Sep- 
 tember, 1776. 
 
 On the question to agree to the first proposition 
 for granting half pay, the yeas and nays being re- 
 quired by Mr. (Roger) Sherman, 
 
 So it passed in the negative. 
 
 On the question to agree to the second proposition 
 for granting lands, the States were equally divided, 
 and the question lost. 
 
 January 27, 1780. 99 
 
 That the Medical Committee, as soon as they 
 shall judge convenient, give directions for removing 
 the hospitals in or near Philadelphia, to some other 
 place, where wood and other necessaries may be 
 procured on more reasonable terms than in the city 
 aforesaid : 
 
 That the issuing commissaries be respectively di- 
 rected not to defiver rations, or parts of rations, to 
 any hospital commissary, unless on returns signed 
 by him and countersigned by the principal physician 
 
 128
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 or surgeon of the respective hospitals, specifying the 
 names and stations of the persons for whom, and for 
 what time, the rations are drawn; and that the hos- 
 pital commissary be also required to annex to each 
 return the receipts of the persons to whom he shall 
 have delivered the provisions drawn on the last re- 
 turn: 
 
 That the commissary general of issues direct tlie 
 form of the returns and receipts aforesaid.^^ 
 
 February 7, 1780. 130 
 
 A letter from sundry officers in the hospital de- 
 partment was read: 
 
 Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War, 
 to take order. 
 
 A memorial from President Wheelock, of Dart- 
 mouth college, was read: ^* 
 
 Ordered, That the same, together with the report 
 of the committee on a memorial from the late Doc- 
 tor Wheelock, be referred to the Board of War. 
 
 February 9, 1780. 143 
 
 ' That on the application of the Medical Commit- 
 tee, a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of 
 Jonathan Potts, purveyor general in the middle dis- 
 trict, for sixty thousand dollars, to defray the neces- 
 sary expences of the department; and for which sum 
 he is to be accountable.^^ 
 February 14, 1780. 166 
 
 8' This report, in the writing of Elbridge Gerry, is in the Papers 
 of the Continental Congress, No. 29, folio 123. 
 
 9^ This memorial, dated January 3, 1780, is in the Papers of 
 the Continental Congress, No. 41, X, folio 423; the letter from offi- 
 cers in the hospital department, dated February 7, 1780, is in the 
 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XX, folio 499. 
 
 '^ This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 
 136, IV, folio 79. 
 
 129
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 The Board of Treasury beg leave to report 
 That a warrant issue on Thos. Smith Esq- Com- 
 missr of the Continental Loan Office for the State 
 of Pennsylvania for Thirty six thousand nine hun- 
 XT f' f] dred dollars in Loan Office Certificates 
 ^ in favor of Jonathan Potts Purveyor 
 
 General of the Hospitals, or order, for which sum 
 the said Purveyor General is to be accountable.^^ 
 March i, 1780. 220 
 
 Two letters, of February 4th and 14, from Philip 
 Turner, were read: 
 
 Ordered, That they be referred to the Medical 
 Committee. 
 
 March 18, 1780. 260 
 
 That on the application of the Medical Commit- 
 tee, the following warrants issue in favour of Jona- 
 than Potts, purveyor general of the hospitals, for 
 the use of his department; and for which, amount- 
 ing to forty six thousand nine hundred dollars, he is 
 to be accountable; viz 
 
 March 30, 1780. 317 
 
 A letter, of ii, from Doctor L Forster to the 
 Medical Committee was laid before Congress and 
 read. 
 
 Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of 
 Treasury. 
 
 April 4, 1780. 326 
 
 A letter, of 28 March, from Doctor J. Morgan, 
 was read.^^ 
 
 ^ This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, 
 No. 136, IV, folio 91. 
 
 " Morgan's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, 
 No. 63, folio 169. 
 
 (Note) A letter from W. Rickman, dated April 23, 1780, ap- 
 pears to have been read. It is in the Papers of the Continental 
 Congress, No. 78, XIX, folio 311. 
 
 130
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 April 5, 1780. 330 
 
 That on the application of the Medical Commit- 
 tee of the third instant, a warrant issue on Henry 
 Gardiner, treasurer of the State of Massachusetts 
 bay, in favour of Isaac Forster, deputy director gen- 
 eral of the hospitals in the eastern department, for 
 forty thousand dollars, being part of the monies 
 raised in the said State, for the use of the United 
 States, and for the use of that department; for which 
 the said deputy director general is to be accountable. 
 
 May 4, 1780. 412 
 
 Ordered, That a member be added to the Medical 
 Committee. 
 
 The member chosen, Mr. (James) Henry. 
 
 May 10, 1780. 417 
 
 A letter, of this day, from Doctor J. Morgan was 
 read, requesting "to be indulged with an authenti- 
 cated copy of his Excellency General Washington's 
 letter to Dr. Shippen, referred to in the General's 
 letter to him (Dr. Morgan), of January 6, 1779, 
 dated about the beginning of November, 1776, and 
 enclosed to the President of Congress in Doctor 
 Shippen's letter, dated 9th November, 1776:" 
 
 Ordered, That Doctor Morgan be furnished with 
 a copy of the said letter, agreeably to his request. 
 
 May 12, 1780. 425 
 
 The Board having considered the letter of William 
 Rickman Deputy director general of the hospitals 
 in Virginia referred to them by Congress report 
 
 That the said William Rickman is not charged 
 with any monies in the Treasury books, [and that if 
 he has received any monies that he is accountable 
 to the Director General who is to account with the 
 United States.] 
 
 131 ,
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 May 1 6, 1780. 430 
 
 The Board on the references relative to the Chil- 
 dren of the late General Warren Report, 
 
 That the accounts for the Education of Joseph 
 Warren his eldest son have been paid to Doctor 
 John Warren up to April 1779 and that no accounts 
 have Since been rendered, 
 
 That they know of no resolution of Congress mak- 
 ing provision for the education of any other of the 
 Children of the said late General Warren. ^^ 
 
 May 20, 1780. 442 
 
 On motion of the Medical Committee, I 
 
 Resolved, That on the application of the Medica_ 
 Committee, the Commercial Committee be author 
 ised to furnish Doctor Potts, the purveyor genera/, 
 with two hogsheads of sugar, for the use of the hos- 
 pitals in the middle district, the said purveyor gen- 
 eral to be accountable. 
 
 Resolved, That on the application of the Medical 
 Committee, the commissary general of purchases be 
 directed to furnish the purveyor general with two 
 hogsheads of spirits, for the use of the hospitals in 
 the middle district, the said purveyor general to be 
 accountable.^^ 
 
 May 23, 1780. 447 
 
 Congress took into consideration the report of the 
 Medical Committee, to whom was referred the let- 
 ter from Governor Trumbull, of the ist inst.; and 
 thereupon, 
 
 Resolved, That the director general, or in his ab- 
 sence, deputy director general, of the hospitals in 
 
 ** This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 
 136, IV, folio 303. 
 
 '^ This report, in the writing of Frederick A. Muhlenberg, is 
 in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 22, folio 89. 
 
 132
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 the eastern district, be and he is hereby directed to 
 hire a suitable house at or near the port of New 
 London, in the State of Connecticut, for the recep- 
 tion of such sick American prisoners as shall, from 
 time to time, be exchanged and landed in that 
 neighbourhood; and that one senior surgeon or phy- 
 sician, and a suitable number of mates, be occasion- 
 ally employed therein, as the number of sick shall 
 increase or diminish.^*^" 
 
 June 26, 1780. 562 
 
 That on the application of the Medical Commit- 
 tee, a warrant issue on Abraham Yates, commission- 
 er of the continental loan office for the State of New 
 York, in favour of Robert Johnson, assistant direc- 
 tor of the hospitals in the northern department, on 
 account of Jonathan Potts, purveyor general of the 
 military hospitals, for the sum of fifty thousand dol- 
 lars, one half of which, payable in loan office cer- 
 tificates, and the other half in current money of the 
 United States, to be applied in the department afore- 
 said; and for which the said Jonathan Potts is to be 
 accountable.^*"- 
 
 July I, 1780. 581 
 
 A letter, of this day, from the Board of War was 
 read : 
 
 Ordered, That the same be referred to the Medi- 
 cal Committee, and that they take order thereon. 
 
 July 6, 1780. 589 
 
 Ordered, That on the application of the Medical 
 Committee, a warrant issue on the treasurer, in 
 
 100 This report, in the writing of Frederick A. Muhlenberg, is in 
 the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 22, folio 87. 
 
 ^"^ This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 
 136, IV, folio 367.
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 favour of Jonathan Potts, purveyor of military hos- 
 pitals, for twenty thousand dollars for the purpose 
 of purchasing necessaries for the hospitals in the 
 middle department; and for which the aforesaid 
 Jonathan Potts is to be accountable.^"^ 
 
 July 7, 1780. 592 
 
 Resolved, That a member be added to the Medi- 
 cal Committee, in the room of Mr. J(ames) Henry, 
 who is absent: 
 
 The member chosen, Mr. (Abraham) Clark. 
 
 July 18, 1780. 638 
 
 Another letter, of 15, from General Washington 
 was read, enclosing the proceedings and sentence of 
 a general court martial on the trial of Doctor W. 
 Shippen, Junr, director general of the military hos- 
 pitals: 
 
 Ordered, That the consideration thereof be as- 
 signed for to morrow. 
 
 Another letter, of 15, from General Washington 
 was read, respecting the hospital department. 
 
 Ordered, That it be referred to the Medical Com- 
 mittee.^**^ 
 
 July 19, 1780. 646 
 
 According to the order of the day, Congress took 
 into consideration the proceedings of the court mar- 
 tial on the trial of Doctor W. Shippen, director gen- 
 eral of the hospitals, and some time being spent 
 therein; 
 
 Ordered, That the farther consideration thereof 
 be postponed till to morrow. 
 
 102 xhis report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 
 136, IV, folio 409. 
 
 103 Washington's letters are in the Papers of the Continental Con- 
 gress. No. 152, IX, foHos 25 & 19.
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 July 20, 1780. 648 
 
 Congress resumed the consideration of the pro- 
 ceedings of the court martial on the trial of Doctor 
 Shippen; and having made some farther progress, 
 
 Ordered, That the farther consideration thereof 
 be postponed till to morrow. 
 
 July 21, 1780. 648 
 
 The Medical Committee, to whom was referred 
 the letter of 15, from General Washington, brought 
 in a report, which was read; Whereupon, 
 
 The Medical Committee to whom was referred 
 the letter of the Commander in Chief of July 15th 
 beg leave to report, 
 
 That they have conversed with D. Cochran and 
 other gentlemen of the Hospital department by 
 whom, and the many distressing accounts the Corn- 
 mittee almost daily receive from every quarter, it 
 appears that the department is in want of almost 
 every article necessary for the comfortable suste- 
 nance of the sick and wounded soldiery. They are 
 therefore clearly of opinion that a sum of two hun- 
 dred thousand dollars is immediately necessary to 
 put the department on such a footing, that the dan- 
 ger the General apprehends in his letter may be 
 avoided. They beg leave to refer to the enclosed 
 estimate and submit the following resolution. 
 
 Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in 
 favour of Jonathan Potts, purveyor of the hospitals 
 in the middle district, for two hundred thousand 
 dollars, for the use of the hospitals in the middle 
 district, to be applied as the Medical Committee 
 shall direct; the said purveyor to be accountable.^"* 
 The Medical Committee, to whom was referred 
 
 ^"^ This report, in the writing of Frederick A. Muhlenberg, is in 
 the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, VI, folio 287.
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 the letter, of 15, from Doctor Brown, brought in a 
 report, which was read; Whereupon, 
 
 The Medical Committee to whom D. Will, 
 Brown's letter of July 15th was referred, beg leave 
 to report: 
 
 That they have conversed with D. Brown and 
 find that his circumstances will no longer permit his 
 continuance in the service, and as it appears to 
 them that he has been a faithful and diligent officer 
 they submit the following Resolution. 
 
 Resolved, That Congress entertain a high opinion 
 of the abilities, integrity and past services of Doctor 
 William Brown, physician general, but as his pres- 
 ent circumstances will no longer permit his continu- 
 ance in the service, his resignation be accepted,^"^ 
 
 July 22, 1780. 654 
 
 Congress resumed the consideration of the pro- 
 ceeding of the court martial on the trial of Doctor 
 Shippen, and having made some farther progress, 
 
 Adjourned to 10 o'CIock on Monday. 
 
 July 27, 1780. 676 
 
 Congress resumed the consideration of the pro- 
 ceedings of the court martial on the trial of Doctor 
 W. Shippen, Junior; and some farther progress be- 
 ing made 
 
 July 28, 1780. 677-8 
 
 Congress resumed the consideration of tlie pro- 
 ceedings of the general court martial on the trial of 
 Doctor W. Shippen; and some farther progress be- 
 ing made therein, 
 
 Ordered, That the farther consideration thereof be 
 postponed. 
 
 ^^ This report, in the writing of Frederick A. Muhlenberg, is 
 in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, I, folio 423. 
 
 136
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 July 29, 1780. 680 
 
 Congress resumed the consideration of the pro- 
 ceedings of the general court martial on the trial of 
 Doctor W. Shippen; and some farther progress be- 
 ing made, 
 
 July 31, 1780. 684 
 
 Congress resumed the consideration of the pro- 
 ceedings of the court martial on the trial of Doctor 
 Shippen, director general; and some farther prog- 
 ress being made therein, 
 
 August 7, 1780. 708 
 
 Ordered, That the Medical Committee report as 
 soon as may be, the state of the military hospitals 
 within the State of Pennsylvania, specifying partic- 
 ularly the number of physicians, surgeons, mates, 
 matrons and attendants residing in Pennsylvania, 
 and the places they are employed in, and also the 
 number of the sick. 
 
 August 10, 1780. 716 
 
 W™ Shippen, D. G. H., 628,200 dollars. Ren- 
 dered accounts. 
 
 August 16, 1780. 737, 8. 
 
 A letter, of 15, from Doctor W. Shippen was read.^"^ 
 
 Congress resumed the consideration of the pro- 
 ceedings of the court martial on the trial of Doctor 
 Shippen, director general, and having gone through 
 the evidence, defence and judgment of the court, 
 
 August 18, 1780. 744, 5, 6 
 
 Congress resumed the consideration of the pro- 
 ceedings of the court martial on the trial of Doctor 
 Shippen, director general, when a motion was made 
 by Mr. (Timothy) Matlack, seconded by Mr. (Wil- 
 liam Churchill) Houston, as follows: 
 
 ^"^ Shippen's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress 
 No. 78, XX, folio 541.
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 That the court martial having acquitted the said 
 Doctor W. Shippen, the said acquittal be confirmed. 
 
 A motion was made by Mr. (Abraham) Clark, 
 seconded by Mr. (Nathaniel) Folsom, to amend the 
 motion, by inserting after W. Shippen, these words, 
 "excepting that part of the 2d charge relating to his 
 speculating in hospital stores, on which the court 
 judge him highly reprehensible." 
 
 The court martial having acquitted the said Doc- 
 tor W. Shippen, Ordered, that he be discharged from 
 arrest. 
 
 So it was resolved in the affirmative. 
 
 August 22, 1780. 755 
 
 A letter from Doctor W. Shippen, director general, 
 was read: 
 
 Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of 
 three : 
 
 August 28, 1780. 787-8 
 
 The committee, to whom was referred the letter, 
 of 22d, from Doctor W. Shippen, D(irector)* G(en- 
 eral), brought in a report; Whereupon, 
 
 The Committee to whom, D. Shippen Direc* 
 Gen'^ letter of the 22nd instant was referred. Re- 
 port, 
 
 That that part of the letter which respects sup- 
 plies of Forage for the Horses belonging to officers 
 of the Hospital Department, together with two let- 
 ters received by the Committee since, from the Di- 
 rector General, be referred to the Board of War to 
 take order. 
 
 The Committee ask leave to sit again. 
 
 Extract of a letter of D. Shippen Aug. 22nd 1780 
 
 "I am informed to day by the Dep*^' Quarter 
 
 * Material placed in parentheses appeared in brackets in the 
 original MS. 
 
 138
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 Master of this State that he will not supply our de 
 partment with any more Forage, unless he is au- 
 thorised so to do by an order of Congress, which 
 I flatter myself will be given immediately." ^"^ 
 
 Resolved, That that part of the letter, which re- 
 spects supplies of forage for the horses belonging to 
 officers of the hospital department, together with 
 two letters received by the committee from the 
 director general, be referred to the Board of War to 
 take order. 
 
 September 9, 1780. 814 
 
 The committee, to whom was referred the letter 
 of 22 August, from Doctor Shippen, director general, 
 brought in a report, which was read: 
 
 Ordered, That a member be added to the Medical 
 Committee, in the room of Mr. (Samuel) Holton, 
 who is absent: 
 
 The member chosen, Mr. (Theodorick) Bland. 
 
 September 11, 1780. 819 
 
 Ordered, That Wednesday next be assigned for 
 the consideration of the report of the committee on 
 Doctor W. Shippen, director general's letter, re- 
 specting the hospital department. 
 
 September 19, 1780. 837 
 
 A letter, of this day, from Doctor W. Shippen, 
 director general, was read: 
 
 Ordered, That it be referred to the Medical Com- 
 mittee. 
 
 September 22, 1780. 847 
 
 Congress resumed the consideration of the report 
 of the committee on the medical department, and 
 on the consideration of the following paragraph, viz. 
 
 ^"^ This report, in the writing of Frederick A.Muhlenberg, is in 
 the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 541.
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 "That the several officers whose pay is estabi 
 Ifshed as above, except the clerks and stewards, shal- 
 at the end of the war be entitled to a certain provi- 
 sion of land in the proportion following, viz. 
 
 The director to have the same quantity as a briga- 
 dier general. Chief physicians and surgeons and 
 apothecary the same as a colonel. Physicians and 
 surgeons and apothecary the same as lieutenant 
 colonel. Regimental surgeons and assistants to the 
 purveyor and apothecary, the same as a major. Hos- 
 pital and regimental surgeons' mates, the same as a 
 captain." 
 
 A motion was made by Mr. (Frederick A.) Muh- 
 lenberg, seconded by Mr. (Theodorick) Bland, to 
 amend the paragraph by inserting after the words, 
 "intitled to" the words following, viz. "half pay in 
 the same manner and under like restrictions as offi- 
 cers of the line"; and on the question to agree to 
 the amendment, the yeas and nays being required 
 by Mr. (John) Fell,.. 
 
 So it was resolved in the affirmative. 
 
 September 23, 1780. 853 
 
 The committee, to whom was re-committed part 
 of the report on the hospital department, having 
 brought in a farther report, Congress resumed the 
 consideration thereof, and made some progress. 
 
 Ordered, That the director general report the 
 names of all the officers in the hospital department 
 from the director to the junior surgeons inclusive, 
 with the dates of their respective commissions. ^°* 
 
 September 25, 1780. 854 
 
 '"^ Here were inserted the resolutions on the hospital service, but 
 Thomson noted in the margin "reconsidered and amended 30th." 
 They are printed under September 30, 1780, post, where the 
 changes are noted. 
 
 140
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 The director general, having made a return of 
 the ofiicers of the hospital ;^''^ 
 
 Ordered, That it be referred to the Medical Com- 
 mittee. 
 
 September 28, 1780. 871 
 
 The Medical Committee, to whom was referred 
 the return made by Doctor Shippen, delivered in a 
 report. 
 
 September 30, 1780. 876-88 
 
 Congress resumed the consideration of the report 
 on the hospital department, when a motion was 
 made by Mr. (Roger) Sherman, seconded by Mr. 
 (Nicholas) Van Dyke, to reconsider that part of the 
 report, viz. "That the several officers whose pay is 
 established, except the stewards and ward masters, 
 be intitled to half pay, in the same manner and un- 
 der like restrictions as officers of the line;" 
 
 And on the question for reconsideration, the yeas 
 and nays being required by Mr. (Roger) Sherman, 
 
 So It was resolved in the affirmative. 
 
 A motion was made by Mr. (John) Fell, seconded 
 by Mr. (William Churchill) Houston, to strike out 
 the words, "half pay in the same manner and under 
 like restrictions as officers of the line." 
 
 And on the question shall those words stand, the 
 yeas and nays being required by Mr. (Roger)„Sher- 
 man, 
 
 So it passed in the negative and the words were 
 struck out. 
 
 Congress proceeded in the consideration of the 
 report, and the same being amended, was agreed to, 
 as follows i^^*^ 
 
 ^'" Dr. Shippen's letter transmitting the return is in the Papers 
 of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XX, 567. 
 
 '^° From here the entries are in Thomas Edison's writing. 
 
 141
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 Whereas, the late regulations for conducting the 
 affairs of the general hospital are in many respects 
 defective; and it is necessary that the same be re- 
 vised and amended, in order that the sick and 
 wounded may be properly provided for and attend- 
 ed, and the business of the hospitals conducted with 
 regularity and economy; therefore, 
 Resolved, That there be one director of the mil-i 
 tary hospitals, who shall have the general direction 
 and superintendance of all the hospitals to the 
 northward of North Carolina; that, within the afore- 
 said limits, there be three chief hospital physicians, 
 who shall also be surgeons; one chief physician, who 
 shall also be a surgeon, to each separate army; fif- 
 teen hospital physicians, who shall also be surgeons; 
 twenty surgeons' mates for the hospitals: one pur- 
 veyor, with one assistant; one apothecary; one as- 
 sistant apothecary; [and to each hospital one clerk 
 who shall also be paymaster,]* a steward,matron, 
 orderly men, and nurses, as heretofore: 
 
 That the director, or, in his absence, one of the 
 chief hospital physicians, be empowered and re- 
 quired, with the advice and consent of the Com- 
 mander in Chief, or commander of a separate army, 
 to establish and regulate such a number of hospi- 
 tals, at proper places, for the reception of the sick 
 and wounded of the army, as may be found neces- 
 sary: 
 
 That the director be authorised and instructed td 
 enjoin the several chief hospital physicians, ano 
 other officers of the hospitals under his superintend- 
 ance, to attend at such posts or stations as he may 
 judge proper, and also to attend and perform such 
 duties, at any post or place, as a change of the posi- 
 
 *Material in brackets was cancelled in the original MS. 
 
 142
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 tlon of the army, or other circumstances, may from 
 time to time make necessary, and shall be required 
 by the Commander in Chief; and that, in case of 
 any dispute concerning their seniority or precedence, 
 the director shall determine the same in the first 
 instance, the party supposing himself aggrieved be- 
 ing at liberty to appeal for redress to the Medical 
 Committee: 
 
 That in time of action, and on any other emer- 
 gency, when the regimental surgeons are not suffi- 
 cient in number to attend properly to the sick and 
 wounded that cannot be removed to the hospitals, 
 the director, or, in his absence, the nearest chief 
 hospital physician, be empowered and required, upon 
 request of the chief physician and surgeon of the 
 army, to send from the hospitals under his care, to 
 the assistance of such sick and wounded, as many 
 surgeons as can possibly be spared from the neces- 
 sary business of the hospitals: 
 
 That the director, or, in his absence, two of the 
 chief hospital physicians, shall make out and de- 
 liver, from time to time, to the purveyor, proper es- 
 timates of hospital stores, medicines, instruments, 
 dressings, and such other articles as may be judged 
 necessary for the use of the hospitals; also direct 
 the apothecary or his assistant, to prepare and de- 
 liver medicines, instruments, dressings, and other 
 articles in his possession to the hospitals and sur- 
 geons of the army and navy, as he or they may 
 judge necessary: 
 
 That the director authorise and instruct the pur- 
 veyor and apothecary to supply, for the use of the 
 regimental surgeons, such medicines and refresh- 
 ments as may be proper for the relief of the sick and 
 wounded, before their removal to a general hospital, 
 and to be dispensed under the care, and at the di- 
 rection of the chief physician of the army: 
 
 143
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 That the director, or, in his absence, the chief 
 hospital physicians, respectively, be empowered oc- 
 casionally to employ second mates, when the num- 
 ber of the sick shall increase so as to make it neces- 
 sary, and to discharge them as soon as the circum- 
 stances of the sick will admit: 
 
 That the director, or, in his absence, the chief 
 hospital physicians, respectively, shall appoint a 
 ward master for each hospital, to receive the spare 
 regimental cloathing, arms, and accoutrements of 
 each soldier admitted therein, keeping entries of 
 and giving receipts for every article received, which, 
 when the soldier shall be discharged, shall be ac- 
 counted for by the said ward master with the com- 
 manding officer of the regiment to which such sol- 
 dier belonged, or the officer directed to take charge 
 of the convalescents from the said hospital; or, in 
 case of the death of the soldier, shall be accounted 
 for with, and delivered to the quartermaster of the 
 regiment to which the said soldier belonged; and the 
 ward master shall receive and be accountable for 
 the hospital cloathing, and perform such other ser- 
 vices as the chief hospital physician shall direct. 
 
 That the director shall make returns of all the 
 sick and wounded in the hospitals, once every 
 month, to the medical committee, together with the 
 names and ranks of all the officers and others em- 
 ployed in the several hospitals: 
 
 That the director be required to employ such part 
 of his time as may be spared from the duties before 
 pointed out to him, in visiting and prescribing for 
 the sick and wounded of the hospitals; and that he 
 pay particular attention to the conduct of the sev- 
 eral officers in the hospital department, and arrest, 
 suspend and bring to trial, all delinquents within 
 the same: 
 
 144
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 That the duty of the chief hospital physician shall 
 be, to do and perform all the duties herein before en- 
 joined them to do in the absence of the director; to 
 receive and obey the orders of the director, made 
 and delivered to them in writing, to superintend the 
 practice of physick and surgery in the hospitals put 
 under their particular care by the director, or which, 
 by the order of the commander in chief or the com- 
 mander of a separate army, may be by them estab- 
 lished; to see that the hospital physicians and other 
 officers attending the same, do their duty; and make 
 monthly returns to the director, of the state and 
 number of the sick and wounded in the hospitals 
 under their care; and also make to the director, and 
 to the medical committee, of all delinquent officers, 
 in order that they may be speedily removed or pun- 
 ished; and to take measures that all such sick and 
 wounded as are recovered and fit for duty be deliv- 
 ered weekly to the officer of the guard, to be con- 
 ducted to the army: when present at any hospital, 
 to issue orders to the proper officers for supplying 
 them with necessaries; and generally, in the absence 
 of the director, to superintend and controul the busi- 
 ness of such hospitals, suspend delinquent and re- 
 move unnecessary non-commissioned officers, mak- 
 ing report to the director; and, when in their power, 
 to attend and perform or direct all capital opera- 
 tions: 
 
 That the hospital physicians shall take charge of 
 such particular hospitals as may be assigned them 
 by the director: They shall obey the orders of the 
 director, or in his absence, of the chief hospital phy- 
 sician: They shall have power to suspend officers 
 under them, and to confine other persons serving in 
 the hospitals under their charge, for negligence or 
 ill-behaviour, until the matter be regularly inquired 
 
 145
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 into: They shall diligently attend to the cases of the 
 sick and wounded of the hospitals under their care, 
 administering at all times proper relief, as far as 
 may be in their power: They shall respectively give 
 orders, under their hands, to the assistant purveyor 
 or steward at the hospital, for the issuing provisions 
 and stores, as well as for the procuring any other 
 articles that the exigencies of the hospital may re- 
 quire, and which the store is not provided with, hav- 
 ing always a strict regard to economy, as well as the 
 welfare of the sick then to be provided for: They 
 shall make weekly returns to the nearest chief hos- 
 pital physician, of the state of the hospitals under 
 their respective care. 
 
 The mates shall each take charge of and attend 
 the patients assigned them, and perform such other 
 duties as shall be directed by the director, chief or 
 other physicians and surgeons. 
 
 The chief physician and surgeon of the army shall 
 be subject to the orders and controul of the direc- 
 tor: His duty shall be to superintend the regimental 
 surgeons and their mates, and to see that they do 
 their duty: To hear all complaints against the said 
 regimental surgeons and mates, and make report of 
 them to the director, or, in his absence, to the Com- 
 mander in Chief or commanding officer of a separate 
 army, that they may be brought to trial by court- 
 martial for misbehaviour: To draw for and receive 
 from the purveyor a suitable number of large strong 
 tents, beds, bedding and hospital stores, and from 
 the apothecary, or his assistant, proper medicines, 
 for such sick and wounded persons as can not be 
 removed to the general hospital with safety, or may 
 be rendered fit for duty in a short time. He shall 
 also see that the sick and wounded, while under his 
 care, are properly attended and provided for, and 
 
 146
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 conveyed, when fit to be removed, to the general 
 hospital; for which last purpose, he shall be sup- 
 plied by the quartermaster general, with a proper 
 number of convenient wagons and drivers; he shall 
 have a steward, which he is to appoint, to receive 
 and properly dispense such articles of diet and re- 
 freshment as shall be procured for the sick; and also 
 shall appoint such a number of nurses and orderly 
 men as may be necessary for the attendance of the 
 sick and wounded under his care. He shall cause 
 daily returns to be made to him of all the sick and 
 wounded which have been removed to the hospitals, 
 all that remain in the hospital tents, all that are be- 
 come fit for duty, all that are convalescent, and all 
 who may have died, specifying the particular mala- 
 dies under which the sick and wounded labour, and 
 shall make a monthly return thereof to the director, 
 who shall add it to his general hospital returns, to 
 be transmitted monthly to the Medical Committee. 
 
 That whenever any regimental surgeon or mate 
 shall be absent from his regiment, without leave 
 from the chief physician and surgeon or commander 
 of the army where his duty lies, the said chief physi- 
 cian and surgeon shall have power to remove such 
 surgeon or mate and forthwith appoint another in 
 his stead. 
 
 That the purveyor provide, or cause to be pro- 
 vided, all hospital stores, medicines, instruments, 
 dressings, utensils, and such other articles as shall 
 be prescribed by the written order of the director, 
 or two of the chief hospital physicians, and deliver, 
 or cause the same to be delivered, upon written or- 
 ders, under the hands of the director, or chief hospi- 
 tal physician, or one of the hospital physicians, hav- 
 ing the charge of a particular hospital, or of a chief 
 physician and surgeon of the army, which, with re- 
 
 147
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 ceipts thereon for delivery of the same, shall be his 
 sufficient vouchers. He shall be allowed a clerk, and 
 as many store keepers as occasion may require, and 
 the director shall approve of. He shall also pay the 
 salaries of the officers, and all other expences of the 
 hospitals. He shall render his accounts every three 
 months to the Board of Treasury for settlement, and 
 make application for money to the Medical Com- 
 mittee, before whom he shall lay estimates of arti- 
 cles necessary, which shall previously have been ap- 
 proved and signed by the director or two of the 
 chief hospital physicians; at the same time he shall 
 render to them an account of the expenditure of the 
 last sum of money advanced to him; and the said 
 Medical Committee shall lay such estimates before 
 Congress, with their opinion thereon: 
 
 That the assistant purveyor shall procure such 
 supplies, and do and perform such parts of the pur- 
 veyor's duty, as by him shall be particularly as- 
 signed to him. 
 
 That the apothecary and his assistant receive, 
 prepare and deliver medicines, instruments and 
 dressings, and such other articles of his depart- 
 ment, to the hospitals and army, on orders in writ- 
 ing from the director, or either of the chief hospital 
 physicans, or chief physician and surgeon of the 
 army; and that he be allowed as many mates as oc- 
 casion may require, and the director shall approve of: 
 
 That the director, or in his absence, the chief hos- 
 pital physician, shall appoint a steward for each hos- 
 pital, whose duty it shall be to purchase vegetables 
 and other small articles, under the direction of the 
 purveyor, and to receive hospital stores from the 
 purveyor, and provisions fromt he commissary gen- 
 eral, and issue the same for the use of the sick and 
 wounded, agreeably to the order of the physician 
 
 148
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 and surgeon attending such hospital; the steward to 
 account with the purveyor for all such issues: 
 
 That the director, or, iu his absence, the chief 
 hospital physician, appoint a proper number of ma- 
 trons, nurses, and others, necessary for the regular 
 management of the hospitals, and fix and ascertain 
 their pay, not exceeding the sums heretofore allowed; 
 and point out and prescribe their particular duties 
 and employments, in writing, which they are en- 
 joined to observe and obey: 
 
 That the director, with two chief hospital physi- 
 cians, be empowered to fix the pay of second mates, 
 and of such clerks, store keepers, and other persons, 
 as may occasionally be employed; and also make 
 such regulations, and point out and enjoin, in writ- 
 ing, such further particular duties for the several 
 officers in the hospital department, as they may 
 judge necessary for the regular management of the 
 same; which duties shall always be consistent with, 
 and in no wise contradictory to any of the duties 
 herein before particularly enumerated, and which 
 being reported to, and approved of by the Medical 
 Committee, shall thereupon become obligatory to 
 all those concerned: 
 
 That the quartermaster general furnish the hos- 
 pital department, from time to time, as occasion 
 may require, with such a number of horses and 
 wagons as may be necessary for removing the sick 
 and wounded, and for transporting the hospital 
 stores; but that no other horses than those belong- 
 ing to the officers of the department, for which for- 
 age may be herein allowed, be kept separately and 
 at the expence of the department: 
 
 That no person concerned in trade, on his own 
 account, shall be suffered to act as an officer in the 
 hospital or medical department of the army: 
 
 149
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 That no officer or other person in the hospital de- 
 partment, except the sick and wounded, be permit- 
 ted to use any of the stores provided for the sick: 
 
 That the director, chief hospital physicians, and 
 the chief physicians and surgeons of the army, phy- 
 sicians and surgeons, purveyor, apothecary, assist- 
 ant purveyor, and assistant apothecary, be appoint- 
 ed and commissioned by Congress; the regimental 
 surgeons and mates to be appointed as heretofore: 
 
 That the director, with the advice and concur- 
 rence of two of the chief hospital physicians, appoint 
 all hospital mates, which appointments shall be cer- 
 tified by warrants under the hand of the director; in 
 which appointments no person shall be admitted 
 under the age of twenty-one years: 
 
 That all the officers in the hospital or medical de- 
 partments, shall be subjected to trial by courts-mar- 
 tial for all offences, in the same manner as officers of 
 the line of the army. 
 
 Resolved, That the pay and establishment of the 
 officers of the hospital department, and medical 
 staff, be as follows: 
 
 Director, one hundred and fifty dollars per month, 
 two rations for himself, and one for his servant, per 
 day, and forage for two horses: 
 
 Chief physicians and surgeons of the army and 
 hospitals, each, one hundred and forty dollars per 
 month, two rations per day, and forage for two 
 horses : 
 
 Purveyor and apothecary, each, one hundred and 
 thirty dollars per month: 
 
 Physicians and surgeons of the hospitals, each, 
 one hundred and twenty dollars per month, one ra- 
 tion per day, and forage for one horse: 
 
 Assistant purveyors and apothecaries, each, sev- 
 enty-five dollars per month: 
 
 150
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 Regimental surgeons, each, sfxty-five dollars per 
 month, one ration per day, and forage for one horse: 
 
 Surgeons' mates in the hospitals, fifty dollars per 
 month, one ration per day: 
 
 Surgeons' mates in the army, forty-five dollars 
 per month, one ration per day: 
 
 Steward for each hospital, thirty-five dollars per 
 month, one ration per day: 
 
 Ward master for each hospital, twenty-five dol- 
 lars per month, one ration per day. 
 
 Resolved, That none of the aforesaid officers, or 
 other persons employed in any of the hospitals, be 
 entitled to rations of provisions or forage when on 
 furlough. 
 
 Resolved, That the chief physician of the army be 
 allowed a two horse covered wagon for transport- 
 ing his baggage: 
 
 That the several officers above mentioned shall re- 
 ceive their pay in the new currency, emitted pursu- 
 ant to a resolution of Congress of the i8th day of 
 March last; and that they be allowed and paid at 
 the rate of five dollars of said currency per month 
 for every retained ration; and shall each be entitled 
 annually to draw cloathing from the stores of the 
 cloathier general, in the same manner and under 
 the same regulations as are established for officers 
 of the line, by a resolution of Congress of the 25th 
 November, 1779: 
 
 That the returns for cloathing for officers in the 
 medical staff (regimental surgeons and their mates, 
 who are to draw with the regimental staff, excepted) 
 be signed by the directors, or one of the chief hos- 
 pital physicians; and such cloathing shall be deliv- 
 ered either by the cloathier general or any sub- 
 cloathier in the state in which the officer to receive 
 cloathing shall reside, in the same manner as is pro- 
 
 151
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 vided in the cases of other staff officers not taken 
 from the line: 
 
 That the several officers wliose pay is established 
 as above (except the stewards and ward masters) 
 shall at the end of the war be entitled to a certain 
 provision of land, in the proportion following, viz. 
 
 The director to have the same quantity as a briga- 
 dier-general; 
 
 Chief physicians and purveyor, the same as a 
 colonel ; 
 
 Physicians and surgeons and apothecary, the same 
 as a lieutenant colonef; 
 
 Regimental surgeons and assistants to the pur- 
 veyor and apothecary, the same as a major; 
 
 Hospital and regimental surgeons' mates, the 
 same as a captain; 
 
 That the former arrangements of the hospital de- 
 partment, and all resolutions heretofore passed 
 touching the same, so far as they are inconsistent 
 with the foregoing, be repealed, excepting that the 
 hospitals in the southern department, from North 
 Carolina to Georgia, inclusive, be continued under 
 the same regulations as heretofore, until the further 
 order of Congress.^^^ 
 
 October 2, 1780. 889 
 
 Congress took into consideration the report of 
 the Medical Committee on the letter, of 24 Septem- 
 ber, from the director general, together with the re- 
 turns of the officers in the hospital departm.ent; and 
 thereupon. 
 
 The Medical Committee, to whom the Director 
 General's letter of the 24th inst. together with the 
 Return of the Officers in the Hospital Department 
 was referred, beg leave to report: 
 
 That they have conferred with the Director Gen- 
 
 ,*** Here Charles Thomson resumes the entries. 
 
 152
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 eral and other ofTicers of the Department, and have 
 
 made out a new Return, of the General Officers, the 
 Senior and Junior Surgeons, together with the Dates 
 of their respective Commissions, which they submit 
 to Congress. 
 
 Resolved, That on Thursday next Congress will 
 proceed to the election of the director, chief physi- 
 cians, purveyor-apothecary and their respective as- 
 sistants, and the physicians of the military hospi- 
 tals."'^ 
 
 October 6, 1780. 908 
 
 Congress proceeded to the election of officers in 
 the hospital department, and the ballots being taken, 
 Doctor William Shippen, jr. was elected director- 
 general; Doctor John Cochran, chief physician and 
 surgeon of the army; Doctor James Craik, Doctor 
 Malachi Treat, Doctor Charles M'Knight, chief hos- 
 pital physicians. 
 
 October 7, 1780. 909-10 
 
 Congress proceeded in the election of officers in 
 the hospital department, and the ballots being 
 taken, Thomas Bond, jun, was elected purveyor; 
 Isaac Ledyard, assistant purveyor; Doctor Andrew 
 Craigie, apothecary; William Johonot, assistant 
 apothecary; Doctors James Tilton, Samuel Adams, 
 David Townshend, Henry Latimer, Francis Hagan, 
 Phihp Turner, William Burnet, John Warren, Moses 
 Scott, David Jackson, Bodo Otto, Moses Bloom- 
 field, William Eustis, George Draper, Barnabas Bin- 
 ney, hospital physicians and surgeons. 
 
 On motion of the medical committee. 
 
 Resolved, That Doctor Matthew Maus be ap- 
 pointed surgeon to the regiment of invalids com- 
 
 ^^^ This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 
 22, folio 27.
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 manded by Colonel L. Nicola, and that Colonel 
 Nicola be authorised to appoint a proper surgeon's 
 mate to the said regiment, when the number of sick 
 shall make it necessary. 
 
 October 17, 1780. 935 
 On motion of the Medical Committee, 
 Ordered, That Doctor Isaac Forster and Doctor 
 Jonathan Potts deliver all pubHc stores in their pos- 
 session to Doctor Thomas Bond, purveyor of the 
 hospitals, or his order, taking duplicate receipts for 
 the same, and transmitting one of each to the Board 
 of Treasury. 
 
 October 21, 1780. 962 
 
 A letter, of 4, from W. Rickman, was read; Where- 
 upon,"^ 
 
 Ordered, That Dr. Rickman be informed, that 
 pursuant to his former request, he is left out in the 
 new arrangement of the hospital department. 
 
 October 30, 1780. 992 
 
 That as Major General Greene has expressed an 
 earnest desire to have Doctor James McHenry as 
 an aid de camp upon the southern command, the 
 said Major General Greene be authorised to employ 
 the said Doctor James McHenry as one of his aids, 
 on his command in the southern department; and 
 that the said Doctor McHenry while so employed 
 be intitled to the rank of major by brevet, 
 
 November i, 1780. 1002 
 
 The Medical Committee delivered in a report; 
 Whereupon, 
 
 The Medical Committee beg leave to Report — 
 
 ^1^ This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 
 78. XIX. folio 319. 
 
 154
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 That they have had under consideration an esti- 
 mate of Hospital Stores, laid before them by the 
 Purveyor by order of the Director of the Hospital : 
 of which estimate, such parts as are approved of by 
 the Committee, and in their opinion necessary to 
 be procured they now lay before Congress, amount- 
 ing by estimation to 4276 2/3 dollars in specie: 
 Whereupon they offer the following Resolution. 
 
 Ordered, That the sum of four thousand two hun- 
 dred and seventy six dollars and sixty ninetieths of 
 a dollar, in bills emitted pursuant to the resolution 
 of the 1 8th of March last, be advanced to Thomas 
 Bond, purveyor of the general hospital, to enable 
 him to purchase the stores mentioned in an esti- 
 mate approved by the Medical Committee; and that 
 the Board of Treasury report a draught or draughts 
 for that purpose."* 
 
 November 6, 1780. 1024 
 
 Ordered, That a warrant issue on Joseph Borden, 
 commissioner of the continental loan office in the 
 State of New Jersey, in favour of Thomas Bond, 
 purveyor of the general hospital, for four thousand 
 two hundred and seventy six dollars and 60/90, in 
 bills of credit emitted pursuant to the act of Con- 
 gress of the 18 of March last; for which sum the 
 said Thomas Bond is to be accountable. 
 
 November 13, 1780. 1049 
 
 A letter, of 5, from Doctor James Tilton was read. 
 A letter from Doctor James Fallon was laid be- 
 fore Congress: "^ 
 
 Ordered, To lie on the table. 
 
 ^^^ This report, in the writing of Abraham Clark, is in the Pa- 
 pers of the Continental Congress, No. 22, folio 29. 
 
 "* Letter of Fallon, dated November 3, 1780, is in the Papers 
 of the Continental Congress, No. 78, IX, folio 347. 
 
 155
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT U..S,A. 
 
 November 17, 1780. 1066 
 
 The Board further report, 
 
 That they have considered the letter from Doc- 
 tor Wilham Rickman of the 4th of October last (re- 
 ferred to them by Congress) and are of opinion, 
 
 That the medical committee only are competent 
 to determine the expediency of accepting the resig- 
 nation of Doctor Rickman. No account is open in 
 the pubhc books against Doctor Rickman, but Ben- 
 jamin Harrison Dep^ Pay Master General in the 
 Southern department has advanced considerable 
 sums of money, for the use of the Hospitals, and 
 that until the said Dep^ Pay Master General ren- 
 ders his accounts, no account with Doctor Rickman 
 can be settled at the Treasury.^^^ 
 
 November 24, 1780. 1 090-1 
 
 The Medical Committee laid before Congress a 
 letter, of 21, from Doctor Shippen, director [general], 
 which was read; Whereupon, 
 
 [A motion was made by Mr. Duane, seconded by] 
 Ordered, That Doctor Shippen, director of the hos- 
 pitals, [be directed to] repair to head quarters and 
 put himself under the orders of the Commander in 
 Chief."^ 
 
 November 27, 1780. 1095 
 
 A letter, of this day, from Doctor Shippen. ^^^ 
 
 December 4, 1780. 1118 
 
 A letter, of 30 November, from B. Binney, hos- 
 pital surgeon; and 
 
 *^® This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 
 136, IV, folio 713a. 
 
 ^" This motion, in the writing of James Duane, is in the Papers 
 of the Continental Congress, No. 36, IV, folio 499. 
 
 ^^^ Shippen's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, 
 No. 78, XX, folio 575. 
 
 156
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 One, of this day, from M. Maus, surgeon of the 
 invalid regiment, were read: ^^^ 
 
 December 5, 1780. 11 20 
 
 A letter, of 4, from D(avid) Jackson, hospital sur- 
 geon, was read, requesting leave to resign: 
 Ordered, That leave be granted. 
 
 December 6, 1780. 11 25-6 
 
 The Medical Committee, to whom were referred 
 the letters from Doctor Binney and Doctor Maus, 
 delivered in a report: 
 
 The Medical Committee to whom was committed 
 the letters from B. Binney and M. Maus beg leave 
 to report — 
 
 That on the 21st day of July last a warrant issue 
 on the Treasury in favor of Dr. Jonathan Potts, 
 Purveyor of the Hospital for 200,000 dollars for pro- 
 curing Hospital Stores, and paying the Physicians 
 and surgeons in that Department, a part only of 
 which Warrant, owing to a deficiency of money in 
 the Treasury, hath been received — 
 
 That on the 6th November last a warrant issued 
 on the Continental Loan Officer of the State of New 
 Jersey in favor of Thomas Bond Jr. the present 
 Purveyor for a certain sum of money for procuring 
 supplies necessary for the hospital, no part of which 
 the Purveyor informs the Committee he hath been 
 able to receive. That on account of the failures in 
 obtaining money, the sick are in a suffering condi- 
 tion; the physicians unable to proceed to their re- 
 spective charges, and the business of the Depart- 
 ment greatly impeeded in every part. 
 
 '1^ Binney 's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress' 
 No. 78, IV, folio 97. 
 
 157
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 That in order to procure supplies immediately 
 wanted for the relief of the sick and to enable the 
 Physicians to perform their duty, it is necessary to 
 furnish the Purveyor with a sum of money. That it 
 be referred to the Treasury to report a Warrant 
 without delay that will insure a speedy supply.^^*^ 
 
 Decembers, 1780. 11 28 
 
 That a warrant issue on Thomas Smith, commis- 
 sioner of the continental loan office for the State of 
 Pensylvania, in favour of Thomas Bond, Junior, 
 purveyor of the hospitals, on the recommendation 
 of the Medical Committee, for fifteen thousand dol- 
 lars, to be paid out of the proceeds of a bill of ex- 
 change for two hundred dollars, part of those here- 
 tofore ordered to be drawn on the honorable Benja- 
 min Franklin, minister plenipotentiary of the United 
 States at the Court of Versailles, at ninety days' 
 sight, to be placed in the hands of the commissioner 
 aforesaid, by order of the Board of Treasury, to en- 
 able the said purveyor to make provision for some 
 sick soldiers in immediate want in the barracks in 
 this city; for which sum the said Thomas Bond is to 
 be accountable. ^^^ 
 
 Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of 
 Treasury, and that they report without delay, a 
 warrant that will ensure a speedy supply of neces- 
 saries wanted for the sick and enable the physicians 
 to perform their duty. 
 
 120 This report, in the writing of Abraham Clark, is in the Pa- 
 pers of the Continental Congress, No. 22, folio 31. 
 
 ^^* This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 
 136, IV, folio 745. 
 
 158
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 December 9, 1780. 11 32 
 
 On motion of Mr. (Theodorlck) Bland, a member 
 of the Medical Committee, 
 
 Ordered, That the purveyor and apothecary be 
 directed to issue medicines and refreshments neces- 
 sary for the transient sick which may be, from time 
 to time, under the care of Doctor Maus, as is done 
 in the general hospital, he making returns of such 
 sick in the manner directed in the hospital regula- 
 tions to the director, and signing receipts for such 
 stores as are issued to him. 
 
 Ordered, That Doctor Maus report to the com- 
 manding officer at the barracks such officers as are 
 appointed to act under him as surgeon to the tran- 
 sient sick, in case of misdemeanor, in order that 
 they be tried for misconduct or neglect of duty by 
 a garrison court martial. '^^ 
 
 December 13, 1780. 11 49 
 
 A letter, of 6, from Doctor Bloomfield and Doc- 
 tor Scott, two hospital physicians, was read, enclos- 
 ing their commissions, and desiring that their resig- 
 nations be accepted. ^"^ 
 
 Ordered, That their resignations be accepted. 
 
 December 26, 1780. 11 94 
 
 A letter, of 7, from John Warren was read, signi- 
 fying his acceptance of the office of hospital physi- 
 cian. 
 
 ^^^ This motion, in the writing of Theodorick Bland, is in the 
 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, IV, folio 435. 
 
 12' This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 
 78, IV, folio 53.
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 EXPENDITURES FOR THE YEAR 1 780^^^ 
 
 Hospital Department. Page 143. 260. 562. 
 589. 648. Jonathan Potts, purveyor gen- 
 eral, &c. accountable: 376,900 
 
 Page 330. Isaac Forster, deputy direc- 
 tor general hospitals, eastern department, 
 
 accountable: 40,000 
 
 Page 1128 15,000 
 
 And Page 1024, in new emission, 4,276 
 dollars. Thomas Bond, jun. purveyor gen- 
 eral, &c. accountable: 
 
 Total 431,900 
 
 standjng committees^^^ 
 
 Medical 
 
 4 May, 1780. James Henry 
 
 7 July, 1780. Abraham Clark in place of 
 
 Henry 
 9 September, 1780. Theodorick Bland in place of 
 
 Holten 
 23 October, 1780. Isaac Motte 
 January 3, 1781. 15 
 
 A letter, of this day, from Doctor William Ship- 
 pen, director general of the hospital, was read, re- 
 questing leave to resign: ^^^ 
 
 Ordered, That his resignation be accepted. 
 
 ^^* This Appendix appears only in the first edition of the Jour- 
 nals, Vol. VI. (Claypoole imprint: See Bibliographical Notes No. 
 353.) The paging has been altered to correspond with the pages 
 of the present edition. 
 
 ^^ See pages 1445-1447 of Vol. XV. I now give such appoint- 
 ments only as were made in 1780. 
 
 **® This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 
 78, XXI, folio 1. 
 
 i6o
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 Two papers, signed Patrick Garvey, were laid be- 
 fore Congress and read: 
 
 Ordered, That the same be referred to the Medi- 
 cal Committee. 
 
 January 4, 1781. 20 
 
 . . . . A letter, of November 29, from Doctor 
 Forster to the Medical Committee, were read:^^^ 
 
 January ii, 1781. 47-8 
 
 Resolved, That Monday next be assigned for elect- 
 ing a director [general] of the hospital, and a paymas- 
 ter general to the army. 
 
 Doctor J. Cochran was nominated by Mr. (James 
 Mitchell) Varnum for the office of director [general]; 
 
 Doctor Brown, by Mr. (Joseph) Montgomery; 
 
 Dr. Craig, by Mr. (Abraham) Clark. 
 
 January 13, 1 781. 56 
 
 Doctor J. Morgan was nominated by Mr. (George) 
 Walton, for the office of director of tlie hospitals. 
 
 January 17, 1781. 6$, 68 
 
 Congress proceeded to the election of a director 
 of the military hospital; and the ballots being taken. 
 Dr. John Cochran was elected, haying been previ- 
 ously nominated by Mr. (James Mitchell) Varnum. 
 
 Congress took into consideration the report of 
 the committee on tlie letter of 5 of November last, 
 from General Washington, enclosing a memorial 
 from the officers in the hospital department; and, 
 thereupon, came to the following resolutions: 
 
 Whereas, by the plan for conducting the hospital 
 department, passed in Congress the 30th day of 
 September last, no proper establishment is provided 
 for the officers of the medical staff, after their dis- 
 
 127 Forster's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress> 
 No. 78, IX, folio 491. 
 
 161
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 mission from public service, which, considering the 
 custom of other nations and the late provision made 
 for the officers of the army, after the conclusion of 
 the war, they appear to have a just claim to; for 
 remedy whereof, and also for amending several parts 
 of the above mentioned plan: 
 
 Resolved, That all officers in the hospital depart- 
 ment, and medical staff, hereinafter mentioned, who 
 shall continue in service to the end of the war, or 
 be reduced before that time as supernumeraries, 
 shall be entitled to, and receive, during life, in lieu 
 of half-pay, the following allowance, viz. 
 
 The director of the hospital equal to the half-pay 
 of a lieutenant colonel: 
 
 Chief physicians and surgeons of the army and 
 hospitals, [each equal to the half-pay of major] and 
 hospital physicians and surgeons, purveyor, apothe- 
 cary, and regimental surgeons, each equal to the 
 half-pay of a [lieutenant] captain: [and regimental 
 mates each equal to the half-pay of a] lieutenant. 
 
 That there be allowed to the purveyor, apothe- 
 cary, and assistant purveyors, each, forage for one 
 horse : 
 
 That the power given in the before-mentioned 
 plan, to the chief physician and surgeon of the army, 
 to remove regimental surgeons and mates in case of 
 absence without leave, shall in future extend no fur- 
 ther than a power of suspension, until such delin- 
 quent shall be reported to a proper officer for bring- 
 ing him to trial by court martial: 
 
 That the apothecary may deliver medicines, in- 
 struments and dressings, and other articles of his 
 department, to the hospitals, on orders in writing 
 from a physician and surgeon having the care of 
 any particular hospital, where the director or one 
 
 162
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 of the chief physicians and surgeons shall not be 
 present to give the same: 
 
 That the power given to the director and chief 
 hospital physicians, with respect to the appoint- 
 ment of matrons, nurses, and other persons neces- 
 sary for the regular management of the hospitals, be 
 extended to each of the physicians and surgeons of 
 the hospitals, in the absence of the director and chief 
 physicians and surgeons. 
 
 [That notwithstanding the prohibition against offi- 
 cers of the hospitals using any of the Stores provided 
 for the sick, the said officers may occasionally draw 
 out of the hospital Stores under their particular di- 
 rection by written orders on the Stewards of the 
 same, such small articles for their comfortable sub- 
 Nesaitved sistence as they may stand in need of, 
 provided such articles are not imme- 
 diately wanted for the use of the sick: of which arti- 
 cles so issued, the Stewards shall keep regular ac- 
 counts, charging each officer with the articles drawn 
 at the current price the same bears at that time, 
 which shall be deducted out of his pay in the settle- 
 ment of his account, copies of which accounts, each 
 respective Steward, under obligation of his oath of 
 Office, shall transmit every six months to the Pur- 
 veyor, Which being charged in a general account by 
 him, shall be lodged in the Treasury Office — 
 
 That the Director, Chief Physicians of the army 
 and hospitals, and other Physicians and officers in 
 the hospital department, as well those lately dis- 
 missed from service, as those re-appointed in the 
 last arrangement who were in office between the first 
 day of Sept. 1777, and the 30th day of September 
 last, shall have the depreciation of money made 
 good to them on their pay for such part of the above 
 
 163
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 mentioned time as they were actually employed in 
 public service.] ^^^ 
 
 January 25, 1781. 86 
 
 A letter, from Doctor Gould, was read: 
 Ordered, That it be referred to the Medical Com- 
 mittee. 
 
 February i, 1781. 103-4 
 
 A letter, of 31 January, from Doctor Gould, was 
 read: ^^ 
 
 On motion of the medical committee. 
 
 Resolved, That the purveyor of the hospital be, 
 and hereby is empowered and directed to collect, or 
 cause to be collected and secured under care, until 
 properly issued, all public hospital stores and medi- 
 cines in Virginia, late under the direction of Dr. 
 Rickman, or others acting under the United States, 
 and all persons in possession of such public stores 
 or medicines, are hereby required to deliver the same 
 to the said purveyor, or his order, upon demand. 
 
 [That the medical committee be authorised during 
 the absence of the director to direct a number of 
 the hospital physicians and mates to repair imme- 
 diately to Virginia and take the charge of the hos- 
 pitals in that state.] ^^^ 
 
 A motion was made by Mr. (Theodorick) Bland, 
 seconded by (Mr. George) Walton, respecting the 
 hospitals for the southern army: 
 
 Ordered, That it be referred to the Medical Com- 
 mittee. 
 
 "' This report, in the writing of Abraham Clark, is in the Pa- 
 pers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, VI, foHo 331. 
 
 ^^ This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 
 78, X, folio 285. 
 
 "" This motion, in the writing of Abraham Clark, is in the Pa- 
 pers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, I, folio 121. 
 
 164
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 February 5, 1781. 115 
 
 A letter, of 3, from Doctor B. Binney, was read:^^^ 
 
 February 6, 1781. 118 
 
 On motion of Mr. (Theodorick) Bland, 
 Resolved, That Thomas Bond, jun. purveyor to 
 the general hospital, be, and hereby is, authorised 
 to settle the accounts for salaries, and pay the offi- 
 cers of the hospital established in Virginia, under 
 the direction of Dr. Gould, which have accrued 
 since the new arrangement of the medical depart- 
 ment; and that Dr. Wilham Rickman, late deputy 
 director, settle and return the accounts of salaries 
 due the officers of the said hospital, prior to that 
 date, to the present purveyor. 
 
 February 8, 1781. 130 
 
 A letter, of 7, from B. Otto, physician and sur- 
 geon, was read; Whereupon, 
 
 Ordered, That the letter of Doctor Otto be refer- 
 red to the Board of War to take measures for pre- 
 venting any interruption being given to the hospi- 
 tal at the yellow springs, the same being provided 
 solely for the reception of proper hospital subjects. 
 
 February 16, 1781. 155 
 
 The Medical Committee laid before Congress a 
 letter, of January 12, from Doctor J. Browne, acting 
 as surgeon general in the southern army, which was 
 read : 
 
 Ordered, That it be referred to the Medical Com- 
 mittee. 
 
 Ordered, That Mr. (Wilfiam) Burnett be added 
 to the Medical Committee. 
 
 ^'* Binney's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, 
 No. 78, IV, folio 93. 
 
 165
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 February 19, 1781. 160 
 
 A letter, of 3, from J. Cochran, was read, signify- 
 ing his acceptance of the office of director general of 
 the hospital. ^^^ 
 
 A memorial of John Bartlet was read: ^^^ 
 
 Ordered, That it be referred to the Medical Com- 
 mittee. 
 
 February 22, 1781. 187 
 
 A letter, from Doctor B. Binney, was read: "■* 
 Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of 
 three. 
 
 February 24, 1781. 191 
 
 On motion of the Medical Committee: 
 Ordered, That a warrant issue on Thomas Smith, 
 commissioner of the continental loan office for the 
 State of Pensylvania, in favour of Doctor Thomas 
 Bond, purveyor of the hospital, for forty thousand 
 dollars of the old emissions, to be applied towards 
 paying the officers of the medical department in 
 part of their salaries due since their appointment 
 under the present arrangement, for which sum the 
 said purveyor to be accountable. 
 
 February 27, 1781. 199 
 
 A letter, of 10, from James Craik, chief hospital 
 physician, was read: 
 
 Ordered, That it be referred to the Medical Com- 
 mittee. 
 
 March 3, 1781. 230 
 
 The report of the committee on the letter of the 
 
 "^ This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 
 78, VI, folio 11. 
 
 "3 Bartlett's memorial is in No. 19, I, folio 241. 
 
 "* This letter, dated February 20, 1781, is in the Papers of the 
 Continental Congress, No. 78, IV, folio 89. 
 
 1 66
 
 James Craik 
 (1730- 1 8 14)
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 28th February from Dr. W. Burnet, was taken into 
 consideration; Whereupon, 
 
 Ordered, That Dr. James Craik, chief hospital 
 physician and surgeon, be, and he is hereby ap- 
 pointed chief physician and surgeon of the army, in 
 the room of Dr. J. Cochran, elected director of the 
 hospital; and that Monday next be assigned for 
 electing a chief hospital physician and surgeon, in 
 the room of Dr. Craik, removed to the army.^^^ 
 
 March 5, 1781. 233 
 
 According to the order of the day. Congress pro- 
 ceeded to the election of a chief physician and sur- 
 geon of the hospital, in the room of Dr. Craik, re- 
 moved to the army; and, the ballots being taken. 
 Dr. William Burnet was elected, having been pre- 
 viously nominated by Mr. (John) Witherspoon. 
 
 March 7, 1781. 237 
 
 A memorial of Francis Hagan, a physician and 
 surgeon in the hospital, was read;^^^ 
 
 March 14, 1781. 259 
 
 The committee on Doctor B. Binney's letter, of 
 20 February: 
 
 The Committee to whom was referred the letter 
 of Doctor B. Binney on the 22d Feby. report. That 
 Doctor Binney's services are useful and necessary 
 in the medical department, and that he ought to be 
 retained in that department. 
 
 That it is the opinion of the Committee Doctor 
 Binney should immediately repair to the State of 
 Virginia, according to the order he hath received 
 from the Director General of the hospitals; and that 
 
 ^'^ This report, in the writing of Abraham Clark, is in the 
 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, I, folio 473. 
 
 "^ Hagan's memorial is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, 
 No. 41, IV, folio 173. 
 
 167
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 an order issue to the Treasury to furnish on account 
 the sum of forty thousand dollars of the old emis- 
 sions of Congress, to enable him to bear the expences 
 of himself and two Mates, and to establish and fur- 
 nish hospitals in the said State.^" 
 
 March i6, 1781. 273 
 
 The Medical Committee also delivered in a re- 
 port for arranging the hospital for the southern 
 army. 
 
 ' The Medical Committee, to whom was referred 
 the memorial of Doctor J. Bartlet: dehvered in their 
 several reports. 
 
 March 19, 1781. 275-7 
 
 The report of the Medical Committee on the 
 memorial of Dr. John Bartlett, late physician and 
 surgeon general of the army in the northern depart- 
 ment, was taken into consideration; and it appear- 
 ing. 
 
 The medical committee to whom was referred the 
 memorial of Dr. John Bartlett late Physic" and 
 Surg° Gen' of the army in the northern department, 
 beg leave to lay before Congress the following State 
 of Facts respecting the memorialist. 
 
 That on the nth of April 1777 he was appointed 
 Physic" and Surg" Gen' to the army in the northern 
 department, to which he repaired some time in July 
 following and with which he continued until the 23d 
 of October following when he was permitted by Gen' 
 Gates to return home on account of his inability to 
 perform the duties of the office by reason of the in- 
 firmities of age and more especially on account of 
 an accidental injury received in his arm. That it 
 appears to your committee that at the time Dr. 
 
 "^ This report, in the writing of Meriwether Smith, is in the 
 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, I, folio 361. It is in- 
 dorsed: "Aug. 24, 1781, not to be acted upon." 
 
 i68
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 Bartlett left the army it was generally understood 
 that he had no design of returning to that post, he 
 having before he received the hurt in his arm de- 
 clared repeatedly to the other officers of that depart- 
 ment that he was too old and infirm to perform the 
 duties belonging to that office and at his particular 
 request exchanged with Dr. Thomas Tillotson an 
 Hospital Surgeon, That before he went home he ob- 
 tained a certificate from Dr. Potts and Dr. Treat 
 recommending him for an appointment to any hos- 
 pital that might be established near his own home. 
 Tliat this notwithstanding, lie repaired to the army 
 at the White Plains some time in the year 1778, but 
 was not considered or treated as Physician and Sur- 
 geon General nor did he do any of the duties of that 
 office, Dr. Tillotson having been appointed by Gen' 
 Gates in his room and being then with the army and 
 doing the duties of that office. 
 
 That on the first of July 1779 Dr. Shippen the 
 late Director General at the particular request of 
 Dr. Bartlett's friends directed him to repair to Fish 
 Kill and superintend the Hospital at that place, 
 where he accordingly came and the officers of that 
 Hospital refusing to do ^duty under him he request- 
 ed and obtained permission from Dr. Shippen on 
 the 28th September 1779 to return home, 
 
 That he received pay for the time he was with 
 the northern army in 1777 and six months pay be- 
 sides after he went home and also that he received 
 three months pay for the time he was at Fish Kill 
 in 1779. Since which time your Committee cannot 
 find that Dr. Bartlett hath either done duty or re- 
 ceived pay. Upon which State of facts your Commit- 
 tee beg leave to report. 
 
 That Dr. John Bartlett, at his own request, and 
 with the consent of the commanding officer of the 
 
 169
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 department, and the deputy director and other offi- 
 cers thereunto belonging, left the service to which 
 he was appointed, in a manner which clearly indi- 
 cated his intention of relinquishing his office; and 
 having received pay for all the time he spent with 
 the army, and six months while he was at home, 
 cannot be entitled to any farther pay or allowance.^^* 
 
 March 22, 1781. 292-4 
 
 A letter, of January 14, from Major General 
 Greene, was read, with sundry papers enclosed: 
 
 Ordered, That it be referred to the Medical Com- 
 mittee. 
 
 The report of the Medical Committee, delivered 
 the 15, was taken into consideration, and it was 
 thereupon resolved as follows: 
 
 Whereas the late regulations for conducting the 
 medical department and mihtary hospitals passed 
 the 30th day of September last, and amended by 
 several subsequent acts of Congress, extends no far- 
 ther southward than to include the State of Virginia; 
 and whereas the present operations of the war to 
 the southward, make it necessary that the hospital 
 department, in that district, be rendered as uni- 
 form to that in the northern army as circumstances 
 will permit, that no inconveniences may arise to the 
 army in general from different and opposite sys- 
 tems, as its operations may eventually be inter- 
 changeable from one district to another in a short 
 space of time; therefore. 
 
 Resolved, That there be one deputy director of 
 the military hospitals, [in the Southern district sub- 
 ject to the general control of the director] who shall, 
 in the absence of the director, have the general 
 control and management of all the military hospitals 
 
 *'* This report, in the writing of William Burnet, is in the Pa- 
 pers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, I, folio 229. 
 
 170
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 that arc or may be established [to the Southward o^ 
 Virginia] under the orders of the commander of the 
 southern army for the time being. 
 
 When the foregoing resolution was under debate, 
 a motion was made by Mr. (John) Mathews, second- 
 ed by Mr. (Thomas) Bee, after the words "the di- 
 rector," to insert "for the southern army;" and on 
 the question, shall those words be inserted? the 
 yeas and nays being required by Mr. (Thomas) 
 Bee, 
 
 So it passed in the negative. 
 
 Resolved, That [within the] for the army aforesaid, 
 [district] there shall be one chief physician of the hos- 
 pital, who shall also be a surgeon; one chief physician 
 to the said army, who shall also be a surgeon; two 
 hospital physicians, who shall also be surgeons; and 
 four surgeons' mates for the hospitals; one deputy 
 purveyor with an assistant, one deputy apothecary 
 with an assistant; and to each hospital, a steward, 
 matron, orderly men and nurses as is directed in the 
 arrangement of the [northern] hospital, passed the 30 
 day of September aforesaid. 
 
 That the deputy director, deputy purveyor and 
 deputy apothecary, have and exercise the same 
 powers which are exercised by the director, pur- 
 veyor and apothecary respectively, agreeably to the 
 arrangement above-mentioned: 
 
 That the pay of the deputy director be one hun- 
 dred and forty dollars per month, that of the deputy 
 purveyor and deputy apothecary, each one hundred 
 and twenty dollars per month; and they shall sever- 
 ally be entitled to the same emoluments, and sub- 
 ject to the same regulations and restrictions as their 
 respective principals are entitled or subjected to by 
 the above-mentioned arrangement and the amend- 
 ments thereto: 
 
 171
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 That all the other officers of the hospital and med- 
 ical staff for the southern [district] army, exercise the 
 same powers, perform the same duties, receive the 
 same pay and emoluments, and be subject to the 
 regulations and restrictions laid down in the afore- 
 said arrangement for officers of like description: 
 
 Provided nevertheless, that the powers therein 
 directed to be exercised by the director, and any 
 two chief physicians and surgeons of the hospital, 
 shall, in the absence of the deputy director, be vest- 
 ed in and exercised by the next officer in the hospi- 
 tal department for the southern army, and so on in 
 succession, in conjunction with the two next 
 seniors.^'^ 
 
 March 27, 1781. 316 
 
 The United States in Congress assembled pro- 
 ceeded to the election of a deputy purveyor of the 
 hospital for the southern army, and, the ballots be- 
 ing taken and counted. Dr. Nathan Brownson was 
 elected, he having been previously nominated by 
 Mr. (Samuel) Adams. 
 
 April 12, 1 78 1. 375 
 
 On motion of the Medical Committee: 
 
 Ordered, That a warrant issue on Thomas Smith, 
 commissioner of the continental loan office for the 
 State of Pensylvania, in favour of Thomas Bond, 
 jun'', purveyor of the hospital, for thirty thousand 
 dollars of the old emissions, twenty thousand dol- 
 lars of which to be dehvered to Nathan Brownson, 
 deputy purveyor, to be applied to the use of the 
 hospitals established for the southern army and the 
 remaining ten thousand to be applied by the pur- 
 veyor towards the paying persons necessarily em- 
 ployed in the general hospital northward of Virginia, 
 
 *" This report, in the writing of Theodorick Bland, is in the 
 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 22, folio 33. 
 
 172
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 for which sum of thirty thousand dollars the pur- 
 veyor to be accountable.^^'' 
 
 April 13, 1 78 1. 388 
 
 On motion of the Medical Committee: 
 Ordered, That a warrant issue on John Hopkins, 
 commissioner of the continental loan office for the 
 State of Virginia, in favor of Thomas Bond, Jun^, 
 purveyor of the hospital, for five thousand dollars 
 of the new emission, to be by him put into the 
 hands of Nathan Brownson, deputy purveyor, to 
 pay three months' salary and wages due to the ofii- 
 cers and others employed in the hospital established 
 for the southern army and to procure suppfies for 
 said hospital, for which sum the said purveyor is to 
 be accountable. 
 April 30, 1 78 1. 464 
 
 A memorial of sundry officers late of the hospital 
 staff" was read : ^^^ 
 
 Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of 
 three : 
 
 The members, Mr. (James) Duane, Mr. (Wilfiam 
 Churchill) Houston, Mr. (Isaac) Motte. 
 May 2, 1 78 1. 467 
 
 Treasury Office, May ist, 1781 
 The Board of Treasury upon the petition of Lieu- 
 tenant Andrew Lee of Col. Hazen's regiment refer- 
 red to them 27th ultimo, beg leave to report to the 
 United States in Congress Assembled, That for the 
 payment of the said L*. Lee's account (inclosed in 
 the said petition) of expences incurred, from the 
 time he was wounded at Springfield New Jersey in 
 
 "" This report, in the writing of Abraham Clark, is in the Pa- 
 pers of the Continental Congress, No. 22, folio 37. 
 
 "1 This memorial, dated April 22, 1781, is in the Papers of the 
 Continental Congress, No. 41, VII, folio 292. 
 
 173
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 June 1780 to the 3rd of January 1781 to the amount 
 of 3820 dollars old emissions, a warrant issue on 
 Thomas Smith Esq. Commissioner of the Continen- 
 tal Loan Office for the State of Pennsylvania in 
 favour of Dr. Thomas Bond purveyor of the Gen- 
 eral Hospital for 3820 dollars of the old emissions to 
 enable him to pay the account of the said lieut*. Lee, 
 for which sum the said Dr. Thos. Bond is to be ac- 
 countable. ^^^ 
 
 Ordered, That a warrant issue on Thomas Smith, 
 commissioner aforesaid, in favour of Thomas Bond, 
 purveyor of the general hospital, for fifty dollars and 
 eighty-four ninetieths of a dollar of the new emis- 
 sion, to enable him to discharge the account of Lieu- 
 tenant Lee for expences incurred from the time he 
 was wounded at Springfield, New Jersey, in June, 
 1780, to the 3 January, 1781, for which sum the 
 said Thomas Bond, purveyor, is to be accountable. 
 
 May 4, 1 78 1. 475 
 
 Ordered, That Mr. (John) Witherspoon be added 
 to the committee on the memorial of sundry officers 
 late of the hospital staff"; 
 
 May 23, 1 78 1. 529 
 
 The report from the Medical Committee was read; 
 Whereupon, 
 
 The Medical Committee report. 
 
 That the Purveyor has certified to them that 
 there is due to Dr. Peter Fayssoux for his pay as 
 Physician and Surgeon General of the Hospitals in 
 the Southern Department, a balance of 2599 dollars 
 therefore submit the following resolve: 
 
 Ordered, That a warrant issue in favour of Thomas 
 Bond, purveyor of the hospitals, for one thousand 
 
 "* This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No* 
 136, V, folio 289. 
 
 174
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 dollars of the new emission to be by him paid to 
 Doctor Peter Fayssoux in part of his arrearages of 
 pay, to enable the said Doctor P. Fayssoux to re- 
 pair to the southern army [to take charge of the 
 hospital]. ^^^ 
 
 May 25, 1 78 1. 534 
 
 That so much of the letter, of 25, from J. Coch- 
 ran, director general, as respects the Iiospital sur- 
 geons, stores and farther appointments, be referred 
 to the Medical Committee; 
 
 That such parts of the same as respects deprecia- 
 tion and the pay of surgeons be referred to the 
 Board of War; and 
 
 That such parts of the same as respects the post- 
 age of letters to and from surgeons be referred to 
 the committee on the Post Office; 
 
 That the resignation of Doctor Hagan be accept- 
 ed; "^ 
 
 May 25, 1781. 541 
 
 Resolved, That Dr. James McHenry receive the 
 commission of major in the army of the United 
 States, to take rank from the 30th of October last: 
 
 May 26, 1 78 1. 544 
 
 The Medical Committee; delivered in their re- 
 spective reports. 
 
 The Medical Committee report that from a Cer- 
 tified account of Joseph Eaker, Surgeon's Mate, 
 under the hands of Doctor WiUiam Shippen, late 
 Director General and Thomas Bond Purveyor, and 
 a letter from the said Joseph Eaker, referred to 
 them, it appears to your Committee that the said 
 
 "^ This report, in the writing of Theodorick Bland, is in the 
 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, II, folio 267. 
 
 "^ Copies of extracts from Cochran's letter are in the Papers of 
 the Continental Congress, No. 78, VI, folios 33-35. 
 
 175
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 Eaker has been lately released from captivity where 
 he had remained for seven months, that he is in 
 much distress, and that there is due to him the said 
 Eaker on account of pay and rations £444- 13s- 3d 
 — Your Committee therefore report, that a warrant 
 issue in favour of D^ Tho^ Bond, Purveyor of Gen- 
 eral Hospital for a sum equal to £444- 13s- 3d to be 
 paid to Joseph Eaker late Surgeons Mate to the 
 Hospital on discharge of the pay and rations due 
 the said Eaker as appears by the aforesaid Certified 
 acct.i''^ 
 
 May 28, 1 78 1. 570 
 
 Ordered, That the Medical Committee be discon- 
 tinued, and that the Committee lodge with the 
 Board of War all the returns and papers in their pos- 
 session, and then be discharged; and that the busi- 
 ness heretofore entrusted to them, and the powers 
 with which they were invested, be transferred to the 
 Board. 
 
 July II, 1 78 1. 624-5 
 
 A report from the Board of War, on the letter from 
 the director (of the hospitals, was read; Whereupon, 
 
 Ordered, That the sum of eight thousand five 
 hundred and forty five dollars and one-third of a 
 dollar in specie or [Bills of the new Emissions] 
 other money equivalent, be immediately put into 
 the hands of the purveyor of the military hospitals 
 in part of the estimate laid before Congress by the 
 medical committee, to enable him to purchase an 
 immediate supply for the use of the sick, and to 
 prepare for the immediate exigencies of the cam- 
 paign in the hospital department: 
 
 That the sum of sixteen thousand one hundred 
 
 "^ This report, in the writing of Theodorick Bland, is in the 
 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, II, folio 191. 
 
 176
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 and sixteen dollars, in specie or [Bills of the new 
 Emissions] other money equivalent, be advanced to 
 the said purveyor, for three months' pay, to be 
 paid by him on account to the officers of the 
 medical department: 
 
 That a warrant be drawn on the treasurer of the 
 State of New York, for six thousand dollars, and 
 another warrant on the treasurer of Virginia for four 
 thousand dollars, in specie or [Bills of the new Emis- 
 sions] other money equivalent, in part of the above 
 sum of sixteen thousand one hundred and sixteen dol- 
 lars, in favour of the said purveyor or his order; and 
 that the residue, viz. six thousand one hundred and 
 sixteen dollars be paid him at Philadelphia, in specie 
 or [Bills of the new Emissions] other money equiv- 
 alent: 
 
 That four thousand two hundred dollars, in specie 
 or [Bills of the new Emissions] other money equiva- 
 lent, be paid to the said purveyor, to be put into 
 the hands of stewards at established hospitals, to 
 purchase milLc and vegetables and discharge small 
 incidental charges at fixed hospitals) .^'*^ 
 
 That the Treasury Board be and they are hereby 
 p d directed to devise ways and means for supply- 
 
 °^ P ing the foregoing sums of eight thousand five 
 hundred and forty five and one third, six thousand 
 one hundred and sixteen, and four thousand two 
 hundred dollars. 
 
 That all vacancies of regimental Surgeons and 
 Mates in any regiments of the several State Lines 
 be filled up by the respective States in whose Lines 
 the vacancies shall- happen in the same manner with 
 vacancies happening in the Line of the State. 
 
 That all vacancies of regimental Surgeons and 
 
 "® The portion in parentheses was entered in the Joxirnal by 
 George Bond, 
 
 177
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 Mates happening in regiments or Corps not belong- 
 ing to the Line of any State be filled up by the Di- 
 rector or Deputy Director of the Hospitals with the 
 Army in which such regiments or Corps shall serve 
 the said Director or Deputy Director reporting the 
 same to the Commander in Chief or commanding 
 General of a separate Army that information there- 
 of may be given to the Board of War who shall 
 fill up Commissions accordingly. 
 
 The filling up the vacancies in the Medical De- 
 partment we leave to the wisdom of Congress with 
 this observation that the Director represents to us 
 that this measure is necessary.^'*^ 
 
 June 1 8, 1 78 1. 668 
 
 Ordered, That the Board of War report a plan of 
 succession to vacancies in the hospital and medical 
 lines of the army. 
 
 June 22, 1 78 1. 690 
 
 The Committee of the Week report, 
 
 That the memorial of G. Glentworth, Wm Srnith 
 and James Fallon, supernumerary senior physicians 
 and surgeons of the general hospital for themselves 
 and in behalf of other supernumeraries praying 
 "That Congress will please to grant them, in com- 
 mon with supernumerary judges advocate, regimen- 
 tal surgeons and chaplains, their depreciation and 
 
 half pay" ought to be referred to a special Commit- 
 tee.148 
 
 July 3, 1781. 718 
 
 The committee of the week made report; Where- 
 upon, 
 
 "' This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 
 147, V, folio 273. It is indorsed: "August 23, 1781, not to be 
 acted upon." 
 
 ^^ This report, in the writing of Thomas Rodney, is in the Pa- 
 pers of the Continental Congress, No. 32, foUo 177. 
 
 178
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 Ordered, That a letter of tliis day from Doctor 
 James Tilton be referred to the Board of Treasury 
 to take order thereon to settle depreciation and 
 grant a certificate as prayed; ^*^ 
 
 July 17, 1 78 1. 756 
 
 A report from the Board of War was read; Where- 
 upon, 
 
 Resolved, That the Board of War be authorised to 
 draw on the paymaster general in favour of Captain 
 Patrick Cams of Lieutenant Colonel Lee's legion, 
 for t\yo hundred and ten dollars in bills of the new 
 emission; ^^^ and of Doctor Morris, surgeon of Colo- 
 nel Armand's legion, for two hundred and twenty- 
 five dollars in bills aforesaid in part of their pay, and 
 for which sums they are respectively to be account- 
 able.151 
 
 July 24, 1 78 1. 785 
 
 A report from the Board of War was read; Where- 
 upon, 
 
 War Office, July 24, 1781 
 Sir, 
 
 Robert Henry, Surgeon of the 2nd New Hamp- 
 shire Regiment hath represented to the Board, that 
 he was taken prisoner by the enemy (at the time 
 Col. Greene was killed) and stripped of all his cloth- 
 ing. He hath since obtained his parole, for a limited 
 time to procure some necessaries. He further repre- 
 sents that he hath received but two months' pay in 
 twenty, that before he belonged to this regiment he 
 was mate in the General Hospital, and there ap. 
 
 "^ This report, in the writing of Samuel Liver more, is in the 
 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 32, folio 185. 
 
 1^" This clause is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No . 
 148, II, folio 49. 
 
 ^^1 This clause is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 
 148, II, folio 55. 
 
 179
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 pears due to him by Doctor Bond's certificate for 
 that service £101.5. specie, which sum there is no 
 provision made to pay, and he further saith, that 
 he is at this time destitute of cash. Upon consider- 
 ing the foregoing representation, the Board submit 
 the following resolution: 
 
 Ordered, That the Board of War draw on the pay- 
 master general in favour of Robert Henry, surgeon 
 of the second New Hampshire regiment for one 
 hundred and ninety-five dollars of the new emis- 
 sions on account of his pay; ^^^ and 
 
 September 20, 1781. 979-81 
 
 The report of the Board of War respecting the 
 hospital department was taken into consideration; 
 and Thereupon, 
 
 At a Board of War September 1 7th, 1 78 1 . 
 
 Present Mr. Peters 
 Mr. Cornell 
 
 The Board do themselves the honor to report to 
 Congress on the medical department, and beg leave 
 to observe that they have taken every measure in 
 their power to procure the necessary information to 
 enable them to do justice to the United States as 
 well as individuals. 
 
 First. For settling the line of promotions in the 
 medical staff they have obtained a plan fixed by a 
 Board of General Officers under the orders of the 
 Commander in Chief with his approbation, Copies 
 of which No. I and 2 are enclosed, the plan they beg 
 leave to recommend to be established by Congress 
 as reported by the General Officers for a rule of pro- 
 motion in the medical staff in future. 
 
 Secondly. In consequence of General Greene's Re- 
 quest for assistance in the Medical Department, 
 
 ^^2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 
 148, II, folio 85. 
 
 180
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 they have consulted the Commander in Chief on the 
 propriety of filling up the vacancies under the Di- 
 rector General and requesting him to send the neces- 
 sary assistance to the Southern Army. He was not 
 able to determine the question, but on his arrival at 
 the head of Elk he obtained Dr. Craik's opinion on 
 that subject which is contained in the enclosed paper 
 No. 3, but as it appears from the tenor of Dr. Coch- 
 ran's letter to the Board (an extract of which is en- 
 closed in No. 4) that he entertains different senti- 
 ments, the Board take the liberty to recommend to 
 Congress that appointments be made agreeable to 
 Dr. Cochran's recommendation contained in the en- 
 closed paper No. 5 to serve with the main army and 
 its dependencies. And those contained in Doctor 
 Oliphant's recommendation contained in the en- 
 closed paper No. 6, to be appointed for the Southern 
 Army under the Command of General Greene. 
 
 The Board are the more induced to recommend 
 the appointment of those Gentlemen to the South- 
 ward as it appears to them absolutely necessary 
 they should be with the army immediately and 
 could they possibly be spared from their quarter a 
 considerable sum of money must be advanced to 
 defray their travelling Expences which it is to be 
 feared would cause a considerable delay.^^^ 
 
 Resolved, That the present vacancies of hospital 
 physicians and surgeons be filled up by the senior 
 surgeons of the hospital lately deranged, the eldest 
 hospital mates or regimental surgeons, as shall be 
 recommended by the director and chief physician 
 and surgeon to the army: 
 
 That all future vacancies of hospital physicians 
 and surgeons be filled by the eldest regimental sur- 
 
 ^^^ This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 
 148, II, folio 259. 
 
 181
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 geons and hospital mates, who shall be reckoned of 
 equal grades, who shall upon examination be found 
 qualified and obtain a certificate of recommendation 
 from the director and chief physician and surgeon 
 of the army, or of the deputy-director and chief 
 physician in a separate department: 
 
 That the persons requisite to fill the higher grades 
 in the hospital and medical departments, be ap- 
 pointed, from time to time, by Congress, according 
 to merit and abilities: 
 
 [That the states shall nominate regimental surgeons 
 to the regiments of their respective lines, who shall 
 be examined by the director and chief physician 
 and surgeon to the army and one of the chief 
 hospital physician or of the deputy director and of 
 the chief Physician in a separate department, and 
 upon their certificates of approbation shall receive 
 the appointment.] 
 
 That all surgeons to regiments or corps not be- 
 longing to the fine of any particular State, be nomi- 
 nated by the director of the hospitals, and the chief 
 physician and surgeon of the army, subject to the 
 approbation of the Commander in Chief, and shall 
 be equally entitled to promotion to hospital physi- 
 cians and surgeons with the regimental surgeons of 
 states lines. ^^^ 
 
 On recommendation of the director approved by 
 the Board of War: 
 
 Resolved, That Dr. Joseph Young, a deranged 
 senior surgeon, and doctors Goodwin Wilson, Daniel 
 Jenifer, Samuel Edmondson and George Campbell, 
 eldest surgeon's-mates, be promoted to the rank of 
 hospital physicians and surgeons, to fill the vacan- 
 
 ^^^ A copy of this report of the Board of General Officers, refer- 
 red to, in the Board of War report, as No. 2, is in the Papers 
 of the Continental Congress, No. 148, II, folio 269. 
 
 182
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 cies occasioned by the resignations of doctors Bloom- 
 field, Scott, Hagan and Jackson, and the promotion 
 of Dr. Burnet. 
 
 On the recommendation of the deputy director, 
 approved by the Board of War: 
 
 Resolved, That doctors Thomas Tudor Tucker, 
 and Vickars, be appointed physicians and surgeons 
 in the hospital for the southern department: 
 
 That Daniel Smith be appointed assistant deputy 
 purveyor, and John Cams assistant deputy apothe- 
 cary, in the southern department.^" 
 
 October i6, 1781. 1055 
 
 Ordered, That Thursday next be assigned for 
 electing a deputy purveyor for the military hospi- 
 tal, in the room of Doct Brownson, who is elected 
 governor of Georgia. 
 
 October 25, 1781. 1072 
 
 A report from the committee of the week was 
 read; Whereupon, 
 
 The Committee of the week report, 
 
 That a letter of Robt. Johnson Deputy Purveyor 
 of the Southern Department requesting relief for 
 the Gentlemen of his Department; the Petition of 
 Capt. Joseph Traversier praying for the pay and 
 subsistance due to him; the letter of R. G. Living- 
 ston praying for so much pay as will enable him to 
 join his Reg*"; the Petition of Thomas Bond and 
 others officers of the medical Department; the Peti- 
 tion of John Dealy praying for a discharge from the 
 army; the Letter from Doctor Hailing requesting 
 the pay due to him, and to know whether he is con- 
 
 ^^^ A copy of the recommeudatiou of the director (John Coch- 
 ran) dated June 4, 1781, is in the Papers of the Continental Con- 
 gress, No. 148, II, foHo 273; a copy of the recommendation of 
 the deputy director (David Olyphant) is on foHo 263. 
 
 183
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 sidered as retiring from the service; be referred to 
 the Board of War. 
 
 November 3, 1781. 1092, 3-8 
 
 A memorial and petition of Barn: Binney was 
 read.^^^ 
 
 The committee to whom the letters from the su- 
 perintendent of finance relative to the hospital de- 
 partment; and 
 
 The committee to whom the letters from the Su- 
 perintendent of Finance relating to the Hospital De- 
 partment was referred do report that they have fully 
 considered the present state of the Hospital or Medi- 
 cal Department in the Army, and the several papers 
 referred to them, and having taken the best advice 
 and information in their power are of opinion that 
 great economical advantages to the public and very 
 useful alterations to the sick and wounded, may be 
 obtained by a regulation of the said Department in 
 the following principles. 
 
 By destroying all distinctions between Hospitals 
 and forming the whole Medical Department into 
 one uniform Corps. 
 
 By establishing the direction of practice and Pur- 
 veyorship entirely distinct and separate vesting it 
 in different hands. 
 
 By establishing the Superintendance of the De- 
 partment in a Board of Surgeons, properly organized 
 for that purpose and not in a single person. 
 
 By the promoting the use of regimental Hospitals, 
 and preventing the crowding the sick together in 
 General Hospitals. 
 
 By preventing every person concerned in Hospi- 
 tals from trading and speculating in any manner 
 whatever for private advantage and emolument. 
 
 "^ This memorial and petition, dated November 3, 1781, is in 
 the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, I, foUo 375. 
 
 184
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 By reducing the number of Surgeons and Mates 
 of the General Hospitals. 
 
 Under the influence of these principles your Com- 
 mittee beg leave to Report the following Ordinance 
 for constituting and arranging the Hospital Depart- 
 ment. 
 
 An Ordinance for regulating the General Hospital, 
 and Surgeons of the Army. 
 
 Be it ordained by the United States in Congress 
 Assembled, That there shall be one Physician in 
 Chief to the Army and Director of the Military Hos- 
 pitals: [Thirteen] Twelve Surgeons and twenty [six] 
 four Mates, for the General Hospital, a Surgeon 
 and one Mate to every regiment; an Apothecary and 
 two Assistants; and a Purveyor and one assistant. 
 
 The Physician in Chief and the hospital Surgeons 
 or any three of such Surgeons shall make a Medical 
 Board, of which a field Officer to be appointed in 
 the usual form shall sit as President; it shall meet 
 regularly once a month, by General order, or often- 
 er if requisite. They shall examine regimental and 
 examine and appoint all hospital Mates; and shall 
 examine and recommend the [regimental and] hospital 
 Surgeons, [and none but those recommended by the 
 Board shall be appointed by Congress to vacancies,] 
 and no person under the age of 21 years shall be ap- 
 pointed a Mate: It shall be the special duty of the 
 said Board from time to time, to settle the propor- 
 tions of regimental and hospital practice, and to 
 make regulations accordingly. They shall prescribe 
 the measures for supplying the sick effectually with 
 medicines, stores, provisions &c. Lt shall also be 
 heir duty to make out proper estimates for the 
 Purveyor, inspect his accounts and transactions, 
 and regulate his plan of issues so as to prevent 
 waste and extravagance. As often as required, the 
 
 185
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 Director shall report to the Board a full state of all 
 the Hospitals under his direction, and receive their 
 Instructions. This Board shall enquire into all com- 
 plaints brought against Officers of the Department: 
 and present to a Court Martial, such as they may 
 think deserving of censure. And this Board shall be 
 authorized to digest rules and carry into execution, 
 every thing relative to the Medical pepartmerit: 
 Provided nevertheless, that no regulation of theirs 
 be valid and take effect until issued in orders, with 
 the consent and approbation of the Commander in 
 Chief or the Commanding Officer of a separate De- 
 partment. 
 
 The Physician in Chief and Director shall have a 
 general Superintendency and direction of practice, 
 both in Camp and in hospitals. He shall always 
 maintain an office near Head Quarters, so as to be 
 ready, at all times, to consult and advise with the 
 Commander in Chief: and to distribute the neces- 
 sary advice and direction to the Surgeons with whom 
 it shall be his duty to correspond. With the concur- 
 rence of the Commander in Chief he may establish 
 such Hospitals as service requires: and he shall dis- 
 pose of the officers necessary to condljct them. In 
 time of engagement or any emergency, he shall call 
 into the field as many hospital Surgeons as the occa- 
 sion requires; and by order of the General, may 
 have assistance in hospitals, from the regimental 
 Surgeons. 
 
 It shall also be the special duty of the Director, 
 frequently to inspect all the hospitals under his di- 
 rection; to see that they are managed with economy 
 and success: to correct all abuses; to suspend and 
 bring to trial, delinquent Officers: and to make 
 monthly returns of the sick to the Commander. 
 In the absence of the Director from Camp, the 
 
 1 86
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 Surgeon eldest in appointment, who is present, shall 
 do his duty. 
 
 . Every Surgeon shall direct his own hospital agree- 
 able to the regulations, from time to time adopted 
 by Congress or the Medical Board, and communi- 
 cated to him by the Director. He is hereby author- 
 ized to order from the Purveyor or his Assistant, or 
 from the Commissaries and Quarter Masters of the 
 Army, or to be purchased from the neighborhood, 
 whatever is necessary and convenient for the sick: 
 and shall be accountable for his conduct and success 
 in practice, to the director; but shall not be dis- 
 missed the service without due form of trial. 
 
 When two or more Surgeons are on duty in one 
 hospital, each shall act independently with respect 
 to all matters relating to his own particular^charge, 
 and shall be accountable to the director only, or the 
 Surgeon presiding in his stead. In case of dispute, 
 with regard to any matter respecting the whole hos- 
 pital, the Surgeon of senior appointment shall con- 
 trol, until the matter in dispute can be decided by 
 the Director, or in his absence, the presiding Sur- 
 geon. 
 
 The regimental Surgeon shall give diligent atten- 
 tion to such regulations as may be established re- 
 specting their conduct, and shall manage the sick of 
 their respective regiments accordingly: and shall also 
 be accountable to the Physician in Chief as the com- 
 mon head of the Medical Department. 
 
 The Hospital and regimental Mates shall observe 
 the director of the Surgeons, and shall diligently per- 
 form all the reasonable duties required of them, for 
 the recovery of the sick. They shall also make out 
 returns of the sick, for the Surgeons respectively, 
 agreeable to such forms as the director shall re- 
 quire. 
 
 187
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 The Apothecary and his Assistants shall receive, 
 prepare and dehver Medicines, Instruments and 
 dressings, and other articles of his department, to 
 the hospitals and Army, on orders, in writing, from 
 the director or Surgeons. He shall appoint a proper 
 number of Mates to assist him in his duty, and shall 
 furnish one to every Hospital, where one is required 
 by the Director. 
 
 All the Instruments delivered by whose order so- 
 ever obtained, shall be paid for, at prime cost, by 
 the Surgeon or Mate receiving them. 
 
 The Purveyor shall provide all necessary medi- 
 cines, utensils and stores of every kind, that may be 
 ordered by the Medical Board, for the delivery of 
 which a written order from the Director of a hospi- 
 tal Surgeon shall be his voucher. It shall also be his 
 duty to pay all the Officers of the Hospital and every 
 debt and expence of the sick after being duly certi- 
 fied. For these purposes he shall draw money from 
 the Treasury agreeable to the estimates given him 
 by the Medical Board. He shall settle his accounts 
 of expenditure in money every three months, with 
 the Auditors of accounts, and once a month, he 
 shall lay a state of the expenditure of stores with the 
 stock on hand, before the Medical Board. 
 
 The Purveyor shall direct the conduct of his As- 
 sistant, and by advice and order of the Medical 
 Board shall appoint such other Assistants, Store- 
 keepers and Clerks as the service may require. 
 
 In every hospital the purveyor or his Assistant shall 
 appoint a steward: whose duty it shall be to pur- 
 chase vegetables, straw and other small articles, to 
 receive the stores and provisions for the use of the 
 hospital and dehver them agreeable to the orders of 
 the prescribing Surgeons. And although in his pur- 
 chases and Issues he is to obey the orders of the 
 
 1 88
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 prescribing Surgeons: yet for the faithful discharge 
 of his OHice, he is to be accountable to the Purveyor, 
 and for this purpose he shall keep separate accounts 
 of all he receives from the Purveyors, Quarter Mas- 
 ters and Commissaries, and of what he purchases 
 himself from the country; and shall render an ac- 
 count of all his Issues monthly, with his stock on 
 hand, to the Purveyor; thus to enable the Purveyor 
 to lay the whole monthly expence of the hospital, 
 before the Medical Board. The Steward's vouchers 
 shall express not only by whom ordered, but by 
 whom received also. The Steward shall also receive 
 the spare regimental arms, accoutrements and 
 cloathing of each soldier admitted into the Hospi- 
 tal keeping entries of and giving receipts for every 
 Article received, which when the soldier shall be dis- 
 charged, shall be accounted for by the said Steward, 
 with the Commanding Officer of the regiment to 
 which such soldier belonged, or other proper person, 
 and shall also take charge of the hospita.1 cloathing. 
 In every Hospital, the director or Senior Surgeon 
 present, shall appoint a Matron and a proper num- 
 ber of nurses to be under the direction of the pre- 
 scribing Surgeons, and paid by the Purveyor. 
 
 During the summer, when the Army is in the 
 field, the Director shall institute a flying or field 
 Hospital, in the rear of Camp, and appoint proper 
 Surgeons to take direction of it, considering it al- 
 ways as a branch of the General Hospital and to 
 have one common regulation and interest with it. 
 
 One Surgeon at least, whom the General may 
 choose, shall always reside near head Quarters, to 
 attend the General and Staff" Officers, and to be in 
 readiness for any emergency when a division or de- 
 tachment of the Army is sent off", or in any manner 
 becomes a distinct and separate body from the Main 
 
 189
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 Army, the Medical board shall nominate its propor- 
 tion of Medical Staff of which the Surgeon eldest in 
 appointment shall preside, with all the powers of 
 Physician in Chief and director; and shall form a 
 Medical board, to be authorized as before men- 
 tioned: and when two Armies unite, having each a 
 separate Board, one shall dissolve of course by di- 
 rection of the Commanding Officer of the whole. 
 
 When Officers of the Line do duty in hospitals, 
 the Medical board shall make rules for their conduct, 
 that they may not interfere with the Surgeons, and 
 they shall receive their instructions by General 
 order. 
 
 That the Quarter Master General furnish the hos- 
 pital Department, from time to time, as occasion 
 may require with such a number of horses and wag- 
 ons as may be necessary for removing the sick and 
 wounded and for transporting the hospital stores, 
 but that no other horses than those [allowed to be 
 kept by] for which forage may be herein allowed to 
 the Officers of the Department, be kept separately 
 and at the expence of the Department. 
 
 That no officer or other person employed in the 
 hospital or Medical Department shall on any ac- 
 count whatever, be concerned in trade for his pri- 
 vate emolument and advantage. 
 
 That no officer or other person in the hospital or 
 Medical Department except the sick or wounded, 
 be permitted to use any of the stores provided for 
 the sick. 
 
 That the Physician in Chief, the Surgeons of the 
 Hospital, Purveyor, Apothecary, Assistant Purveyor 
 and Assistant Apothecary be appointed and Com- 
 missioned by Congress. The Regimental Surgeons 
 and Mates to be appointed as heretofore. 
 
 That all the Officers in the Hospital or Medical 
 Department shall be subject to trial by Courts Mar- 
 
 190
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 tial for all ofTcnccs in the same manner as officers of 
 the Line of the Army. 
 
 That the pay and establishment of the Officers of 
 the hospital Department and Medical Staff be as 
 follows, payable in silver Spanish Milled dollars a 
 7/6 a dollar [or other money equivalent.] 
 
 Physician in Chief and Director of the Military 
 Hospitals 125 dollars per month 2 rations for him- 
 self and I for his servant per day and forage for 2 
 horses. 
 
 Surgeons of the General Hospital 90 dollars per 
 month and 2 rations per day and forage for two 
 horses. 
 
 Purveyor and Apothecary each 100 dollars per 
 month. 
 
 Assistant Purveyor and Apothecary 50 dollars 
 per month each. 
 
 Regimental Surgeons each 60 dollars per month, 
 I ration per day and forage for one horse. 
 
 Surgeons' Mates in Hospitals 40 dollars per month 
 and I ration per day. 
 
 Do. in the Army 40 dollars per mo. and i ration 
 per day. 
 
 Steward for each Hospital 30 dollars per mo. and 
 I ration per day. 
 
 That none of the aforesaid Officers or other per- 
 sons employed in and of the Hospitals be entitled to 
 rations of provision or forage, when on furlough. 
 
 That the Physician in Chief be allowed a two 
 horse covered wagon for transporting his baggage. 
 
 That the same allowance be made to the afore- 
 said Officers for retained rations as is allowed to 
 officers of the line of the army; and also that each 
 of them be annually entitled to draw Cloathing from 
 
 191
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 the Stores of the Cloathier General in the same man- 
 ner and under the same regulations as are estab- 
 lished for Officers of the Line by a resolution of Con- 
 gress of the 25 Nov. 1779 and in like manner as has 
 heretofore been used. 
 
 That the several Officers above mentioned (ex- 
 cept Stewards) shall at the end of the War be en- 
 titled to a provision of Land in the proportions fol- 
 lowing viz: Physician in Chief to have the same 
 quantity as a Brigadier General; the Surgeons, Pur- 
 veyor and Apothecary of the Hospital the same as a 
 Colonel; Regimental Surgeons and assistants to the 
 Purveyor and Apothecary the same as a Major; Hos- 
 pital and regimental Surgeons' Mates the same as a 
 Captain. 
 
 That all former arrangements of the Hospital De- 
 partment and all resolutions heretofore passed touch- 
 ing the same be repealed.^" 
 
 December 20, 1781. 11 82 
 
 (Note) A memorial of George Glentworth and 
 others, supernumerary physicians and surgeons of 
 the general hospital, was presented this day and re- 
 ferred to the Secretary at War, as the indorsement 
 shows. It is dated December 17, 1781, and is in the 
 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, HI, 
 folio 483. 
 
 December 24, 1781. 11 83 
 
 An ordinance respecting the hospital department 
 was read the first time: 
 
 Ordered, That Wednesday next be assigned for 
 the second reading of this ordinance. 
 
 1^^ This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 
 22, foUo 45. 
 
 192
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 STANDING COMMITTEES^^^ 
 
 Medical 
 1 6 February, 1781. William Burnett 
 
 January 3, 1782. 4-7 
 
 On a report of the Secretary at War, to whom 
 was referred a memorial of Dr. Glentworth and 
 others: 
 
 Resolved, That it be, and hereby is recommended 
 to the State of Pensylvania, to settle the balance of 
 pay and depreciation due to Doctors G. Glent- 
 worth, W. Smith, J. Fallon, S. Duffield and S. Hail- 
 ing, late physicians and surgeons in the general hos- 
 pital, on the same principles they settled with the 
 other physicians and surgeons of the army, citizens 
 of that State. ^^^ 
 
 On a report of a committee, consisting of Mr. 
 (Abraham) Clark, Mr. (Ezekiel) Cornell and Mr. 
 (Isaac) Motte, to whom was referred an arrange- 
 ment of the medical department: 
 
 The Committee to whom was referred the ordi- 
 nance respecting the Hospital Department, beg 
 leave to report — 
 
 That they have considered the same, and are of 
 opinion that any ordinance for a new establishment 
 of the hospital, (on) the plan proposed, is unneces- 
 sary and at this time for many considerations im- 
 proper they have therefore returned the same in 
 
 "^ Seepages 1229 and 1230 of Vol. XVIII. I now give such ap- 
 pointments only as were made in 1781. 
 
 **^ This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 
 149, I, folio 63. So far as Hailing is concerned it superseded the 
 following resolution sent to Congress by the Secretary at War 
 December 18: 
 
 Resolved, That the Comptroller be and he is hereby directed 
 to adjust the accounts of Doctor Hailing for pay and deprecia- 
 tion on the same principles as the accounts of Doctor Allison 
 were settled. This resolution is on folio 53. 
 
 193
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 the manner they received it. — Your Committee are 
 nevertheless of opinion that sundry alterations and 
 amendments are necessary to be made to the plan 
 for conducting the General Hospital, passed on the 
 30th day of September, 1 780, and accordingly have 
 herewith submitted such alterations and amend- 
 ments for the consideration of Congress, in case 
 they shall be of opinion with the Committee, that a 
 new regulation of the Hospital by an Ordinance is 
 at this time unnecessary or improper. — 
 
 Resolved, That for the more regular conducting 
 the general hospital, the offices of chief physician 
 and surgeon of the army, and of chief hospital phy- 
 sician, be, and hereby are abolished; and that the 
 chief physician and surgeon to the army, eldest in 
 appointment, be continued in service, under the title 
 of physician, with the pay and emoluments hereto- 
 fore allowed to a chief hospital physician: 
 
 That the number of surgeons to all the military 
 hospitals of the United States, be reduced so as not 
 to exceed fifteen: 
 
 That the director have the general superintend- 
 ance and direction of all the military hospitals, and 
 of practice both in camp and in hospitals: 
 
 That in the absence of the director, his duty de- 
 volve on the deputy director or physician, and in 
 their absence on the hospital surgeons, according to 
 seniority: 
 
 That the director, or in his absence the senior 
 medical officer, with the approbation of the Com- 
 mander in Chief, or commanding general of a sep- 
 arate army, be, and hereby is authorized and em- 
 powered, as often as may be judged necessary, to 
 call a medical board, which shall consist of the three 
 senior medical officers then present; and it shall be 
 the duty of such board to appoint all hospital mates, 
 
 194
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 to examine all candidates for promotion in the hos- 
 pital department, and recommend to the Secretary 
 at War such as they judge best qualified; and gen- 
 erally to take cognizance of, and give their opinion 
 and advice on every matter relative to the depart- 
 ment, which may be submitted to them by the 
 Commander in Chief, or commanding general of a 
 separate army: provided always, that no regulation, 
 plan or order of the board, shall be valid and take 
 effect, until approved by the Commander in Chief, 
 or commanding general of a separate army, and is- 
 sued in general orders: 
 
 That all returns heretofore ordered to be made 
 by the director or deputy director, to the medical 
 committee, be made to the Secretary at War: 
 
 That the stewards may, in the first instance, when 
 the purveyor or his assistant is at a distance, be ap- 
 pointed by the director or senior medical officer, but 
 shall be removeable at pleasure, and others substi- 
 tuted in their stead, by the purveyor or his assist- 
 ant. And although in their purchases and issues, 
 they are to obey the order of the prescribing sur- 
 geons, yet for the faithful discharge of their duty, 
 they are to be accountable to the purveyor, who 
 shall in like manner be accountable to the United 
 States. Wherefore, the said stewards shall keep sep- 
 arate accounts of all they receive, and of what they 
 themselves purchase; and shall render an account 
 monthly of all their issues, with their stock on hand, 
 to the purveyor, who shall render the said accounts, 
 together with a particular account of the supplies 
 furnished by himself or his assistants to each re- 
 spective hospital, once every three months to the 
 Superintendant of finance: 
 
 That the Secretary of War be, and he is herbye 
 empowered and directed, on or before the first day 
 
 195
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 of February next, and hereafter, from time to time, 
 as the service may require, to arrange the depart- 
 ment agreeably to the foregoing resolutions, and to 
 issue his orders to such as he thinks proper to re- 
 main, paying a due regard in his first arrangement 
 to such of the chief physicians and surgeons as may 
 choose to continue in service in the rank of sur- 
 geons, and in his subsequent arrangements to such 
 of the senior officers as may choose to remain in 
 service : 
 
 That such of the officers as shall not be called 
 into service agreeably to the foregoing resolution, 
 be considered as reduced by Congress, and be en- 
 titled to the emoluments granted by the Act of Con- 
 gress of the 17 January, 1781: 
 
 That when by reason of vacancies or otherwise, 
 any officer hereafter to be appointed in the hospital 
 department, and whose appointment is reserved to 
 Congress, [it shall be the duty of the secretary at 
 war to recommend the person or persons best quali- 
 fied, provided that, in the recommendations for 
 director, deputy director and physician] due regard 
 be paid to the officers next in rank; and that the 
 appointment of hospital surgeons be from among 
 the regimental surgeons and hospital mates; pro- 
 vided that no regimental surgeon shall be so ap- 
 pointed, who shall not have submitted himself to an 
 examination by the medical board, and obtained 
 from them a certificate that he is well qualified for 
 the office of regimental surgeon, by which certificate 
 the regimental surgeon shall be considered as sup- 
 erior in rank to an hospital mate, but not otherwise. 
 
 Resolved, That the director, deputy director, phy- 
 sician, surgeons and mates, as well hospital as regi- 
 mental, receive their pay out of the military chest, 
 at the same time and in the same manner as the 
 
 196
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 army with which they serve; the abstracts to be 
 signed by the director, deputy director or physician, 
 or in their absence by the senior hospital surgeon; 
 and the warrants to issue in the same manner as for 
 the pay of the army.^^'* 
 
 February 20, 1782. 81-2 
 
 The committee, consisting of Mr. (Abraham) 
 Clark, Mr. (Ezekiel) Cornell, Mr. (Thomas) Mc- 
 Kean, to whom were referred the report of the Sec- 
 retary at War, on a petition of Dr. Hagan, and the 
 memorials of Dr. Jackson, Dr. Williams, Dr. Eaker, 
 and Dr. Frinke, delivered in a report; Whereupon, 
 
 Resolved, That the comptroller be, and he is here- 
 by, authorized and directed to adjust the accounts 
 of all the officers of the late general hospital for pay 
 and subsistence, up to the time the arrangement took 
 place in [October] September, 1780, or for so much 
 of the preceding time as they continued in service, 
 upon their producing proper documents of the time 
 of their respective services. 
 
 Resolved, That it be, and hereby is, recommend- 
 ed to the legislatures of the several states, to settle 
 and discharge on account of the United States, the 
 depreciation of pay of such officers in the late gen- 
 eral hospital as are inhabitants of, or belong to their 
 respective states, who resigned their appointments 
 after the loth day of April, 1780, or became super- 
 numerary by the new arrangement in [October] 
 September, 1780. 
 
 Resolved, That the comptroller be, and he is 
 hereby, authorized and directed to settle the depre- 
 ciation of pay of officers in the late general hospital, 
 
 '^^ This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 
 22, folios 43 and 63. The paragraphs preceding the resolutions 
 are in Abraham Clark's writing, the rest is in that of Charles 
 Thomson. 
 
 197
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 who resigned or became supernumerary as aforesaid, 
 and who do not belong to any particular State, in 
 the same manner as hath been provided for the 
 officers of the late Colonel Hazen's regiment. 
 
 Ordered, That the account of Dr. Frinke, for tak- 
 ing care of the sick and wounded in the retreat from 
 Ticonderoga, in 1777, and for furnishing supplies for 
 the same, be returned to Dr. Frinke, and the settle- 
 ment suspended, until authentic vouchers shall be 
 produced respecting such services and expendi- 
 tures.^®^ 
 
 February 26, 1782. 100 
 
 (Note) On this day, according to the indorsement, 
 a memorial of Joseph Eaker, of the same date, was 
 read. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, 
 No. 41, III, folio 71. 
 
 ^^^ This report, in the writing of Abraham Clark, is in the Pa- 
 pers of the Continental Congress, No. 22, folio 65. 
 
 Eaker's memorial, dated February 18, is in No. 41, III, folio 
 69; Hagan's, undated, is in No. 41, IV, folio 193; Jackson's, dated 
 January 28, is in No. 41, IV, folio 426. 
 
 The Secretary at War's report is in No. 149, I, folio 119, and 
 is as follows: 
 
 War Office, January 16th, 1782. 
 Sir, 
 
 On the petition of Dr. Francis Hagan referred, the following 
 resolve is submitted to the consideration of Congress: 
 
 That the Comptroller be and he is hereby authorized and di- 
 rected to adjust the account of Dr. Francis Hagan late Physi- 
 cian and Surgeon in the General Hospital for pay and deprecia- 
 tion in the same manner as have been provided for the officers 
 of General Hazen's Regiment. 
 
 The following report, without date, is in No. 149, I, folio 117: 
 
 There being a number of officers who by former acts of Con- 
 gress are entitled to pay or additional pay, and who cannot ob- 
 tain a settlement of the depreciation due thereon from the re- 
 spective States of which they are Inhabitants. 
 
 Therefore, Resolved, That the Comptroller be directed to set- 
 tle the accounts of all such officers on the same principles as he 
 settled with the officers of Colonel Hazen's Regiment. 
 
 198
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 April 10, 1782. 179 
 
 That the petition of L* Morris praying for a set- 
 tlement of his accounts, incurred by his being or- 
 dered to take the charge of an hospital in Litchfield 
 in Connecticut, be referred to the Superintendent of 
 
 Finance. ^^^ 
 
 April 23, 1782. 209 
 
 War Office, March 23rd, 1782. 
 Sir, 
 
 There are frequent applications for the discharge 
 of soldiers whose wounds and sickness incapacitate 
 them for all farther duty even in garrison. They pre- 
 fer a dismission from the service, which shall entitle 
 them to a pension equal to half of their pay, to be- 
 ing classed with the invalids where full pay and 
 every emolument of a soldier would be continued to 
 them. 
 
 Was public economy the only consideration in 
 this matter, there would not I think remain a doubt 
 respecting the propriety of adopting this mode of 
 discharge generally. But as it becomes necessary 
 equally to guard against future inconveniences as to 
 accommodate the wishes of individuals I beg leave 
 to submit the following resolve, which as it only re- 
 spects those whose private circumstances will en- 
 able them when discharged to live independent of 
 any other gratuity than their pension, I think will 
 obviate the possibility of an imputation against the 
 public that they have dismissed such of their ser- 
 vants as could be no longer useful without provi- 
 sion being made to prevent them suffering individ- 
 
 "^2 This report, in the writing of Joseph Montgomery, is in the 
 Pajjers of the Continental Congress, No. 32, folio 347. It is un- 
 dated but belongs to this period. 
 
 199
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 ually or becoming burthensome to the societies 
 where they might live. 
 
 [Congress came to the following resolutions:] 
 
 Resolved, That all such sick and wounded soldiers 
 of the armies of the United States, who shall in fu- 
 ture be reported by the inspector general, or the in- 
 spector of a separate department, and approved by 
 the Commander in Chief, or commanding officer of 
 a separate department, as unfit for farther duty 
 either in the field or in garrison, and who apply for 
 a discharge in preference to being placed or con- 
 tinued in the corps of invalids, [and who can give 
 authentic proof that they either have the means to 
 support themselves, or that their friends will provide 
 for them and prevent them becoming burthensome 
 to the society where they really belong or reside. 
 In that case all such persons shall be discharged, 
 and be entitled to receive as a pension, [the value of 
 half their pay,] five dollars per month, in lieu of all 
 pay and emoluments. 
 
 Resolved, That it be, and hereby is, recommend- 
 ed to the several states to discharge such pensions 
 annually, and draw on the Superintendant of finance 
 for the payment of the money they shall advance 
 
 And that the foregoing resolution take effect so 
 soon as the Superintendant of the Finances shall sig- 
 nify to the several states, that he has made provi- 
 sion for answering such draughts. ^"^^ 
 
 May 3, 1782. 235 
 
 On a report from the Secretary at War: 
 
 War Office, May 3rd, 1782. 
 Sir, 
 
 To the two companies of Artificers now in this 
 
 **^ This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 
 149, I, folios 161-163. 
 
 200
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 City (making the whole about fifty men) there are 
 attached a Surgeon and a Surgeon's mate. As part 
 of these companies will be detained in this town, 
 part are now at Fort Pitt, part will be sent to Vir- 
 ginia and part of them will join the army under 
 General Greene, this dispersion will render it un- 
 necessary to retain the Surgeon and mate longer in 
 the service. 
 
 Should Congress be of this sentiment, and deem 
 some compensation due to their past services they 
 will please to resolve. 
 
 Resolved, That as the dispersed situation of the 
 corps of artificers commanded by Captain Wyley, 
 will no longer require the services of Dr. A. McCos- 
 key, surgeon, and Dr. W. McCoskey, his mate, they 
 be considered as reduced and retiring from service 
 on the loth instant and that the surgeon be entitled 
 [from that day to receive the same emoluments as 
 heretofore allowed to surgeons and mates retiring 
 under the resolves of the 3*^ and 21^* October 1780] 
 to all the emoluments heretofore allowed to reduced 
 regimental surgeons. ^^* 
 
 June 6, 1782. 319 
 
 Congress proceeded to the election of a deputy 
 purveyor for the southern hospital; and, the ballots 
 being taken, Dr. N. Brownson was elected, having 
 been previously nominated by Mr. (William) Few. 
 
 (June 10, 1782.) 322 
 
 (Report of Secretary at War, on the arrangement 
 of the Hospital Department.) 
 
 War Office, June 7th, 1782. 
 Sir, 
 
 I have, in obedience to the orders of Congress, 
 
 1®"* This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 
 149, I, folio 303. 
 
 201
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 conferred with the Superintendant of Finance on the 
 report of your Committee respecting the Hospital 
 Department and find it is agreeable to him — 
 
 As the Purveyor wishes that the Officers acting 
 immediately under him should be of the same grade 
 — he requests that he may be allowed to appoint 
 three clerks, one of whom will have the charge of 
 the store to be kept near the Army — 
 
 He also requests that there may be no distinct al- 
 lowance of subsistence for himself and the Apothe- 
 cary, but that the sum intended as subsistence be 
 added to their pay — 
 
 I wish the Purveyor's requisitions may be com- 
 plied with and that the system, as it will then stand, 
 should be adopted ^®^ 
 
 July 23, 1782. 408-12 
 
 On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. 
 (Joseph) Montgomery, Mr. (Abraham) Clark, and 
 Mr. (David) Ramsay, to whom were recommitted 
 their report respecting the hospital department, and 
 the amendments and observations thereon by the 
 Secretary at War: 
 
 Resolved, That in conducting the business of the 
 general hospital, there shall be an invariable stand- 
 ard of prices established by which the apothecary 
 shall be charged with every article (received into his 
 department, and at which he shall be credited for 
 
 1^^ This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 
 22, folio 81. The indorsement says it was read on this date. 
 
 On June 10, according to the indorsement, was read a letter of 
 June 5 from General W. Smallwood, enclosing one of same date 
 from Lieutenant Levacher de Vaubrun, asking for a furlough to 
 visit France. They were referred to the Secretary at War. Gen- 
 eral Smallwood's letter is in No. 161, folio 183, and de Vaubrun's 
 is in No. 78, XXIII, folio 191. 
 
 202
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 every article) ''"' he shall issue the standard to be es- 
 tablished by the medical board, or such person or 
 persons as they shall appoint, which shall only be 
 considered as a certain ratio whereby to keep the 
 accounts; but that, in the settlement of all accounts 
 in that department, all deficient articles, not issued 
 or returned, shall be accounted for at such real 
 value as shall be estimated by the medical board, 
 and approved of by the Secretary at War. 
 
 An account shall be taken as soon as possible, of 
 all the medicines, instruments and property in the 
 apothecary's department belonging to the public, 
 in the hands of the apothecary, the deputies, assist- 
 ants, and mates, the surgeons of hospitals, and sur- 
 geons of regiments, for which they shall severally 
 be charged at the standard value ascertained by 
 the board as aforesaid, and for all they may here- 
 after receive, but to account for deficiencies at the 
 real value, to be estimated as aforesaid. 
 
 The apothecary shall be accountable for all arti- 
 cles in his department to the purveyor throughout 
 the states, until they come into the hands of the 
 prescribers; and all deputies, assistants, and mates, 
 shall make returns, and be accountable to the 
 apothecary for the medicines, instruments and other 
 property belonging to the public in the department, 
 now in their hands, and of such as they may here- 
 after be possessed of. 
 
 The apothecary shall make up his accounts at the 
 expiration of every year, and settle thern as soon 
 after as possible, and before the expiration of six 
 months. He shall, at the same time, make out two 
 
 Also a memorial dated June 5 from Oliver Hanchett was re- 
 ferrad to the Secretary at War. It is in No. 149, I, folio 447. 
 
 "^ The words in parentheses are in the report but not in the 
 Journal. 
 
 203
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 returns for the director of the hospital, one specify- 
 ing what has been received and issued, and the 
 amount of what remains on hand; the other exhibit- 
 ing a particular amount of the value of the medi- 
 cines, and other public property, each prescriber has 
 received within the year. 
 
 All losses which may happen by the events of 
 war, and other circumstances unavoidable, shall be 
 borne by the public. In cases of losses by fraud or 
 neglect in any deputy, assistant or mate, the apothe- 
 cary shall not be accountable for such losses, pro- 
 vided the delinquent be convicted thereof before a 
 court-martial appointed to try the same. 
 
 The hospital prescribers shall be supplied, upon 
 their own application, with medicines and instru- 
 ments necessary for the sick and wounded under 
 their care. 
 
 Every regimental surgeon shall receive yearly 
 from the apothecary, a supply of medicines to such 
 amount, by the above standard, as the medical 
 board shall^judge necessary. 
 
 Every prescribing surgeon or physician, either in 
 hospital or with the army, shall be supplied by the 
 apothecary with such a set of capital instruments 
 as the medical board shall judge necessary, and shall 
 be accountable for all losses in medicines and in- 
 struments not arising from the events of war and 
 other circumstances unavoidable. Duplicates of all 
 returns made by the apothecary to the director, shall 
 be lodged in the war office. 
 
 Resolved, That in the army of the United States, 
 excepting the southern army, at present under the 
 command of Major General Greene, the offices of 
 assistant purveyor, and assistant apothecary, and 
 the storekeepers under the purveyor and apothecary, 
 except one storekeeper under the purveyor to keep 
 
 204
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 a store near the army, and all the clerks, except 
 [one] two to the purveyor, shall hereafter be discon- 
 tinued. i" 
 
 [The committee to whom was referred the letter of 
 the Secretary of War respecting the rank of the sur- 
 geons in the hospital department submit the follow- 
 ing resolutions:] 
 
 That all surgeons of the hospital shall take rank 
 after the director of the hospital, deputy director 
 and physician to the army, in the following order, 
 viz. those surgeons of the hospital, who have been 
 either deputy director, physician general, surgeon 
 general, chief physician, or chief surgeon to the hos- 
 pital or army, shall take rank next to the above 
 mentioned officers: and their relative rank to each 
 other shall be according to the date of their respect- 
 ive appointments to either of the above offices. 
 
 That all such as were regimental surgeons, when 
 appointed senior physician or surgeon to the hospi- 
 tal, shall take rank with such senior physicians and 
 surgeons, agreeably to the date of their first appoint- 
 ment, whether to the regiment or hospital. 
 
 All surgeons, the date of whose first appointments, 
 either to regiments or hospitals, shall have been on 
 the same day, shall decide their rank by lot. 
 
 [That the pay and subsistance of the officers of the 
 Hospital department and medical staff be as fol- 
 lows: 
 
 Director of the Hospital 122 dollars per month 
 four rations per day for himself and servants, for- 
 age for two horses and twenty-five dollars per month 
 subsistance. 
 
 Deputy Director and Physician each 117 dollars 
 
 1®^ The recommitted report had it: "and all the clerks 
 
 except two to the purveyor one of whom to have the care of the 
 store near the army and all the mates of the apothecary except 
 three be hereafter discontinued." 
 
 205
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 per month three rations per day for himself and Ser- 
 vants, and forage for two horses, and twenty dollars 
 per month Subsistance. 
 
 Hospital Surgeons each 96 sl^ dollars per month 
 two rations for himself and servant forage for two 
 horses and fifteen dollars per month Subsistance. 
 
 Purveyor and Apothecary each 105 dollars per 
 month, one ration and forage for one horse, and fif- 
 teen dollars per month subsistance. 
 
 Deputy purveyor and Deputy apothecary each 
 loi 5/6 dollars per month, one ration, and forage for 
 one horse, and ten dollars per month Subsistance. 
 
 Hospital Mates each 45 dollars per month, one 
 ration per day, and five dollars per month Subsist- 
 ance. 
 
 Stewards each 30 dollars per month, one ration 
 per day and five dollars per month Subsistance. 
 
 Ward Masters each 23 dollars per month, one ra- 
 tion per day and three dollars per month Subsist- 
 ance. 
 
 That all former Acts of Congress, so far as re- 
 spects the pay Subsistance rations and forage grant- 
 ed to the before mentioned Officers, shall be and 
 they are hereby repealed.] ^^^ 
 
 That for the more convenient subsistance of the 
 officers of the hospital department, they be allowed, 
 
 ^'^ The recommitted report allowed 119 dollars per month to 
 the director; 116 75/100 dollars to the deputy director and phy- 
 sician; 93 45/90 dollars to hospital surgeons, three rations for 
 himself and servant and 15 dollars for subsistance; lOG 60/90 
 dollars for purveyor and apothecary. 
 
 In the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 22, folio 79, on 
 a separate sheet in Charles Thomson's hand, is a copy of this 
 part of the report relating to pay and subsistence, with the fol- 
 lowing variations in amounts: deputy director 111 dollars per 
 month; hospital surgeons 93 >a dollars per month, tlu'ee '■ations 
 for himself and servant; purveyor and apothecary 106^2 dollars 
 per month; deputy purveyor and deputy apothecary 101/^ dol- 
 lars per month. 
 
 206
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 including their former allowance of rations and for- 
 age as follows: 
 
 The director of the hospital, four rations a day 
 for himself and servants, forage for two horses, and 
 twenty-five dollars per month subsistance. 
 
 The deputy director and physician, each three ra- 
 tions a day for himself and servants, forage for two 
 horses, and twenty dollars per month subsistance. 
 
 Hospital surgeons, each two rations per day, for 
 himself and servant, forage for two horses, and fif- 
 teen dollars per month subsistance. 
 
 Deputy purveyor and deputy apothecary, each 
 one ration per day, forage for one horse, and ten 
 dollars per month subsistance. 
 
 Hospital mates, each one ration per day, and five 
 dollars per month subsistance. 
 
 Ward masters, each one ration per day, and three 
 dollars per month subsistance. 
 
 That the above allowance of rations, forage, and 
 subsistance to the officers of the hospital depart- 
 ment, over and above what they severally were en- 
 titled to, at the time of passing this act, shall be 
 charged to them respectively, as advances in part 
 of their monthly pay. 
 
 That in the future the pay and allowance of the 
 purveyor and apothecary be the same each as that 
 of a hospital surgeon. 
 
 That none of the aforesaid officers, or other per- 
 sons employed in any of the hospitals, be entitled to 
 rations, forage or subsistance, when on furlough. 
 
 That the regulation respecting officers' servants, 
 
 contained in the Act of Congress of the nth day of 
 
 March, 1780, shall not be construed to extend to the 
 
 hospital department.^^^ 
 
 1^^ This report, in the writing of a clerk, except the part in 
 parentheses which is in Abraham Clark's writing, is in the Papers 
 of the Continejital Congress, No. 22, folios 69 and 85. The report 
 
 207
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 October ii, 1782. 645 
 
 Pursuant to the resolution of the 27 of February 
 last, the Superintendant of finance reports, that he 
 has appointed Mr. Edward Fox, a commissioner for 
 setthng the accounts of the hospital department, 
 desiring to be favoured with the orders of Congress 
 if they should disapprove the appointment.^^" 
 
 November 12, 1782. 722 
 
 The Committee of the Week, (Mr. Ralph Izard, 
 Mr. Ezra L'Hommedieu, Mr. William Hemsley) re- 
 port, That the petition of Etienne Halbon on behalf 
 of his wife, setting forth that there is £12, los due to 
 her from the general hospital for wages as the resi- 
 due of her pay while nurse in the hospital [as by 
 Dr. Binney's certificate directed to Dr. Bond, Jun., 
 doth appear] be referred to the [Superintendant of 
 Finance] Secretary of War.^'^^ 
 
 November 25, 1782. 752 
 
 War Office, Nov^ 23^^ 1782. 
 Sir, 
 
 The request of Doctor Tuclcer referred to me in- 
 volves three questions. 
 
 The first is whether he is entitled to half pay al- 
 lowed to other retiring Iiospital officers of his rank 
 — the second whether he is entitled to pay for his 
 attendance on the hospital in Virginia, and the third 
 
 was delivered May 15, and on May 30 was referred to the Sec- 
 retary at War to confer with the Superintendent of finance to 
 report, and recommitted. A copy of the recommitted report is 
 in No. 22, foUo 73. The few changes made in their report by the 
 Committee are noted. The portion in parentheses was not in the 
 recommitted report. 
 
 "" This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 
 137, I, foUo 817. 
 
 ^^^ This report, in the writing of Ralph Izard, is in the Papers of 
 the Continental Congress, No. 32, folio 413. It was passed this day, 
 as the indorsement shows. 
 
 208
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 what allowance will be made for his expcnces while 
 attending the sick in Charlestown, 
 
 There cannot be a doubt with respect to the first. 
 The resolves of Congress of the ly*?" of January 1781 
 fully secure to him the half pay allowed to other 
 officers of his rank as he was not deranged until the 
 15*.^ of May following. 
 
 On the second question I would observe that by 
 the resolves of Congress passed May 15^- 1781 it 
 is ordered that all officers of the Medical depart- 
 ment appointed under the directorship of Doctor 
 Olyphant who were then in captivity in South Caro- 
 lina and Georgia, and had the charge of sick prison- 
 ers in those States be continued in their respective 
 offices as heretofore — and be considered as vested 
 with the same privileges and emoluments as they 
 had enjoyed before their captivity, to extend no far- 
 ther than to the troops and hospitals within the 
 enemy's lines. 
 
 The Continental Hospitals on the first of July, 
 1 78 1, removed from Charlestown to Williamsburg 
 in Virginia. The hospital was there continued under 
 the care of Doctor Tucker by order of the Marquis 
 de la Fayette as the sick could not at that time be 
 removed into the country. The Commander in chief, 
 on his arrival in Virginia, directed the gentlemen in 
 the Medical Department from South Carolina to do 
 duty in the general hospital at Williamsburg. These 
 are facts which appear from the enclosed papers. 
 
 With respect to the last question which relates to 
 an allowance for the extraordinary expences while 
 detained in Charlestown attending the hospital, I 
 suppose they were necessarily great, but he has not 
 rendered any account of them. 
 
 On the whole of his request I beg leave to submit 
 to the consideration of Congress the following draft 
 of a resolve, 
 
 209
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 That Doctor Thomas T. Tucker, late a senior 
 Surgeon of the hospital under the directorship of 
 Doctor Olyphant, enjoy all the emoluments of his 
 office from the date of his appointment to the time 
 he retired from actual service in the hospital in Vir- 
 ginia, and that a reasonable compensation be made 
 him for his extra expences while acting as senior Sur- 
 geon in Charlestown after its surrender.^''^ 
 
 December 3, 1782. 759 
 
 Resolved, That after the fore-mentioned period, in 
 lieu of the pay and rations allowed to the officers of 
 the hospital department, including rations for ser- 
 vants, they shall be entitled to the following month- 
 ly pay and subsistance; provided in like manner, 
 that where the said subsistance money shall not be 
 paid, they shall be entitled to draw an equivalent 
 number of rations, at the rate of four dollars for 
 each ration per month, viz. 
 
 The director, one hundred and two dollars pay 
 and sixty dollars subsistance. 
 
 The deputy director and physician, each one hun- 
 dred dollars pay and forty-eight dollars subsistance. 
 
 The surgeons, each ninety dollars pay and forty 
 dollars subsistance. 
 
 Apothecary and purveyor, each ninety-two dol- 
 lars pay and thirty-two dollars subsistance. 
 
 Deputy apothecary and deputy purveyor, each 
 fifty-nine dollars pay and sixteen dollars subsist- 
 ance. 
 
 Mates, each forty-two dollars pay and twelve 
 dollars subsistance. 
 
 1'- This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 
 151, foUos 39-43. It is indorsed: Recommitted That the secretary 
 may include in the resolution all those in similar circumstances 
 and to report a reasonable allowance for expenses while in 
 Charlestown. 
 
 210
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 . Stewards, each tliirty-one dollars pay and eight 
 doHars subsistance. 
 
 Ward masters, each twenty-one dollars pay and 
 eight dollars subsistance.^^^ 
 
 "^ This report, in the writing of Alexander Hamilton, is in the 
 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 21, folio 309. 
 
 211
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 • BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTES 
 
 January 3, 1782. 885 
 
 Hospital Department. 
 
 375. By the United States in Congress assembled, 
 January 3, 1782. 
 
 4° Broadside in two columns. 
 
 Report of Clark, Cornell and Motte. A copy is in the 
 John Carter Brown Library. It measures 20.5 x 21 cm. 
 
 July 23, 1782. 887 
 
 Hospital Department. 
 
 384. By the United States / in Congress assem- 
 bled, July 23d, 1782, / 
 
 Resolved, / That in conducting the business of the 
 General Hospital, . . . 
 
 F°. Broadside of two columns. 
 
 Report of Montgomery, Clark and Ramsay. A copy is in 
 the Library of Congress, Washington Papers. It measures 
 40.5 X 30.5 cms. 
 
 February 28, 1783. 
 
 The committee of the week (Mr. William Hemsley, 
 Mr. Benjamin Hawkins, and Mr. Philhps White) 
 report: That the memorial of Charles Mortimer of 
 Virginia Doctor of Physic, praying payment of his 
 account, and the usual wages and rations allowed 
 to others; for attending the hospital at Fredericks- 
 burg^ for nine months be referred to a special com- 
 mittee.i^^ 
 
 ^^* This report, in the writing of WilUam Hemsley, is in the Pa- 
 pers of the Continental Congress, No. 32, folio 449. The indorse- 
 ment gives at this date. The memorial is in No. 41, VI, folio 297. 
 It was referred, the indorsement states, to Mr. (John Lewis) 
 Gervais, Mr. (Hugh) Williamson, and Mr. (Theodorick) Bland. 
 
 212
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 March 6, 1783. 
 
 War Office, March 5*^ 1783. 
 Sir, 
 
 There are many officers, who have been wounded 
 in the service of the United States, who are thereby 
 rendered incapable of farther duty either in the field 
 or in garrison, and who wish to retire from the 
 army. No other provision has been made for such 
 officers than what they may receive by annexing 
 themselves to the Corps of Invalids. 
 
 This is distressing to the individuals, and expen- 
 sive to the public. 
 
 I beg leave to suggest the propriety of permitting 
 those officers, who have been wounded in service, 
 and who wish to leave the army, to retire to their re- 
 spective homes with allowances proportioned in 
 some measure to their inability.^^^ 
 
 March 22, 1783. 
 
 That all officers belonging to the hospital depart- 
 ment, who are entitled to half pay by the resolution 
 of the 17th day of January, 1781, may collectively 
 agree to accept or refuse the aforesaid commutation, 
 signifying the same through the Commander in 
 Chief within six months from this time: that [the 
 deranged] such officers [what] as have retired at dif- 
 ferent periods, intitled to half pay for life, [shall be 
 intitled to the same commutation] may collectively, 
 in each State of which they are inhabitants, accept or 
 refuse the same; their acceptance or refusal to be sig- 
 nified by agents authorised for that purpose, within 
 ix months from this period; that with respect to such 
 
 ^^^ This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 
 149, II, folio 315. According to the indorsement it was referred 
 on this day to Mr. (Alexander) Hamilton, Mr. (Richard) Peters 
 and Mr. (Daniel) Carroll. See ante, December 19, 1782. 
 
 213
 
 HISOTRY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 retiring officers, the commutation, if accepted by 
 them, shall be in lieu of whatever may be now due 
 to them since the time of their retiring from service 
 as well as of what might hereafter become due; and 
 that so soon as their acceptance shall be signified, 
 the Superintendant of Finance be directed to take 
 measures for the settlement of their accounts accord- 
 ingly, and to issue to them certificates bearing in- 
 terest at six per cent. That all officers intitled to 
 half pay for life not included in the preceding reso- 
 lutions, may also collectively agree to accept or 
 refuse the aforesaid commutation, signifying the 
 same [by their agents authorized for that purpose] 
 within six months from this time.^^^ 
 
 March 26, 1783. 
 
 Resolved, That Dr. Charles Mortimer's account be 
 settled for pay and rations on the same principle as 
 a junior surgeon, for the term of nine months, dur- 
 ing which he appears to have been in the public ser- 
 vice: 
 
 That the director-general in the hospital depart- 
 ment, take order for delivering to Dr. Mortimer a 
 quantity of medicines equal to what he has expend- 
 ed in the public hospital."^ 
 
 March 31, 1783. 
 
 War Office, March 27th, 1783. 
 Sir, 
 
 On the petition of the late sergeant Menerson re- 
 ferred to me, I beg leave to report that there are 
 more than twenty thousand men who have similar 
 
 ^^^ This report, in the writing of Alexander Hamilton, is in the 
 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 21, folios 332 and 315. 
 The vote was transcribed by Thomson on the report. 
 
 ^'^ This report, in the writing of Hugh Williamson, is in the 
 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, IV, folio 445. 
 
 214
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 pretensions to be supplied with clothing from the 
 United States, and with whose claims it is alto- 
 gether impossible to comply. 
 
 If it shall appear upon a Surgeon's examining his 
 wounds, that he has been thereby incapacitated 
 from earning his bread, I would beg leave to recom- 
 mend him to the provision made for disabled sol- 
 diers by the resolves of Congress of April 22nd, 
 1782.1^8 
 
 April 22, 1783. 
 
 On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. 
 (Oliver) Ellsworth, Mr. (Hugh) Williamson and Mr. 
 (Abraham) Clark, to whom was referred a letter of 
 22 June, 1 78 1, from Dr. George Gilmer: 
 
 Resolved, That the account of Dr. G. Gilmer for 
 pay and rations, be settled on the same principles as 
 the accounts of other hospital surgeons of the same 
 rank, according to the time he shall appear to have 
 been employed in the public service; and that the 
 purveyor general return to Dr. George Gilmer a 
 quantity of medicine equal to what he expended 
 out of his private stores, for the use of the conti- 
 nental hospital under his care.^''^ 
 
 April 30, 1783. 
 
 On a report from the Supermtendent of Fmance, 
 to whom was referred a letter of the 17th from 
 Darius Stoddard: 
 
 Ordered, That the commissioner for settling the 
 accounts of the hospital department, adjust and 
 liquidate those of Dr. Darius Stoddard.^^° 
 
 1^8 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 
 149, II, folio 407. According to the indorsement it was read on 
 this day. 
 
 "^ This report, in the writing of Hugh Williamson, is in the 
 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, II, folio 417. 
 
 i^'' This order is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 
 137, II, folio 387. 
 
 215
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 May I, 1783. 
 
 Resolved, That the corps of Invalids be reduced, 
 such officers as have lost a leg or been [otherwise] equal- 
 ly disabled in service to retire on full pay for life, [or 
 at their option collectively to the amount of seven 
 years full pay in gross] such officers as may not be in- 
 cluded in this description to retire on [half pay for life] 
 the same principles with other officers of tlie army, 
 such non commissioned officers and soldiers as be- 
 ing strangers in the country and having been dis- 
 abled in service are incapable of providing for their 
 own subsistence and are proper subjects for a hos- 
 pital, to be received into some fixed hospital, to be ap- 
 propriated for the purpose, and there supported dur- 
 ing life on such provision as may be hereafter deter- 
 mined, to be entitled in the meantime to their usual 
 rations and cloathing; and such non commissioned 
 officers and soldiers disabled in service as may have 
 homes to which they can retire, to be discharged on 
 the principles of the resolution of the 23rd of April 
 last. 
 
 That the Secretary at War be directed to take 
 proper measures previous to the reduction to ascer- 
 tain the different classes above described, ]and to 
 report a list of them respectively to Congress.] 
 
 That the officers who shall retire on full pay, may 
 at their option collectively accept in lieu of such 
 full pay for life the amount of years full pay [in 
 money or securities] on the terms of the resolutions 
 of the last. 
 
 That at the reduction of this Corps all the officers 
 
 and men shall receive one month's pay and shall 
 
 share in any further payments which may be made 
 
 to the other parts of the army when reduced. ^^^ 
 
 1'^ This report, in the writing of Alexander Hamilton, is in the 
 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 31, folio 273. The indorse- 
 ment states that it was delivered this day. 
 
 2l6
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 May 12, 1783. 
 
 That the accounts of Doct. Jonathan Arnold be 
 liquidated and settled by the commissioner for set- 
 tling the accounts of the hospital department, who 
 is hereby authorised to allow him pay and rations as 
 an Assistant Deputy Director General in the said de- 
 partment from the 7 day of Jany. 1778 the time to 
 
 D •^-^- A which his accounts were settled by 
 
 Recommitted ^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ p^j^^ ^^ j^j^^^ ^^ ^^ ^^^ ^tu 
 
 of May 1779 when he was discharged, charging him 
 with the monies advanced him for the use of that 
 Department by the State of Rhode Island and cred- 
 iting the said State for the same in account with 
 the United States. 
 
 That the claim of the officers of a Brigade raised 
 in the State of Rhode Island in Feby., 1779 for one 
 year, with the approbation of Congress, for depre- 
 ciation of their pay, is inadmissible, no allowance of 
 that kind having been made or approved by Con- 
 gress to any officers or soldiers discharged from ser- 
 vice before the 10*^ of April 1780.^*^ 
 
 May 16, 1783. 
 
 Resolved, That the Commissioner for settling the 
 accounts of the Hospital department be and he is 
 hereby authorized and directed to audit and settle 
 the accounts of Dr. Jonathan Arnold, as Assistant 
 Deputy Director in the Eastern Department from 
 7th January, 1778, to May 9th, 1779, as well for 
 all supplies and expenditures as for pay and rations, 
 and that he also settle the accounts of all those who 
 
 182 This report, in the writing of Oliver Ellsworth, is in the Pa- 
 pers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, I, folio 179. The indorse- 
 ment states that it was reported this day, and on "September, 
 9, 1785, Arnold's accounts referred to the committee for set- 
 tling hospital accounts. This to be filed." See post, June 10. 
 
 217
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 were necessarily employed in hospital service by 
 the said Dr. Arnold within the term aforesaid. That 
 their pay and other allowances be the same as by 
 the resolutions of Congress are allowed to those of 
 similar stations in the hospital department. And 
 that the said commissioner allow in such settlement 
 for depreciation upon ail advances and sums due to 
 each respectively, with an interest of six per cent, 
 per annum from the times they became due.^^ 
 
 May 23, 1783. 
 
 That the petition of William Stevens and others, 
 mates to the general hospital in the Southern de- 
 partment, praying to be allowed half pay or com- 
 pensation be referred to a special committee. ^^^ 
 
 June 10, 1783. 
 
 Resolved, That the commissioner for settling the 
 accounts of the hospital department audit and set- 
 tle the accounts of Doc^ Jonathan Arnold, as as- 
 sistant deputy director in said department from the 
 7th day of Jany. 1778 to the 9th day of May 1779, 
 as well for all supplies and expenditures as for 
 pay and rations charging him with the monies ad- 
 vanced him for the use of said department by the 
 State of Rhode Island and crediting the said State 
 for the same in account with the U. States, And that 
 he also settle the accounts of all those who were 
 necessarily employed in hospital service by the said 
 
 ^^^ This motion, in the writing of Jonathan Arnold, is in the 
 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, VI, Folio 485. Com- 
 mittee Book, No. 186, gives it this date. It was referred to Mr. 
 (Oliver) Ellsworth, Mr. (Hugh) Williamson, and Mr. (John 
 Lewis) Gervais. See post, June 10, 1783. 
 
 ^^■* This report, in the writing of Thomas Fitzsimmons, is in the 
 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, V, folio 290. Stevens' 
 petition is in folio 287. The indorsement shows the action taken. 
 
 2l8
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 Doctor Arnold within the term aforesaid, and that 
 their pay and other allowances be the same as by the 
 resolutions of Congress are allowed to those of simi- 
 lar stations in the said department.^^^ 
 July 4, 1783. 
 
 The committee of the week, (Mr. William Ellery, 
 Mr. Jacob Read and Mr. Jonathan Arnold) report 
 that the petition of the Rev^ William Plumb late 
 chaplain to the Northern Hospital praying for an 
 adjustment and payment of his accounts be read in 
 Congress with the papers accompanying the same. 
 
 That the petition of Grace Mercer Widow of 
 Richard Mercer Esq^, late of Charles Town in the 
 State of South Carolina deceased Purveyor to the 
 Hospitals of the army of the United States in the 
 said State of South Carolina be referred to the Su- 
 perintendent of Finance to report.^^^ 
 
 July II, 1783. 
 
 The Superintendent of Finance to whom was re- 
 ferred the petition of Grace Mercer Widow of Rich- 
 ard Mercer Esq?" Purveyor to the Hospitals of the 
 United States in South Carolina begs leave to re- 
 port 
 
 That if, as is alledged, the Paper Money therein 
 mentioned remained in the Hands of the said Rich- 
 ard Mercer from the time in which he received it 
 until his Death and from that time to the present 
 in the Hands of his widow the Delivery of it ought 
 to discharge the said Richard Mercer's Estate in 
 account with the United States from the value which 
 so much money was of at the time it was received 
 
 ^** This report, in the writing of Oliver Ellsworth, is in the 
 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, I, folio 181. The in- 
 dorsement states that it was delivered and read this day. 
 
 '^ This report, in the writing of Jacob Read, is in the Papers 
 of the Continental Congress, No. 32, folio 509. 
 
 219
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 by him. And the Delivery of the said Money into 
 the State Treasury of South Carolina ought in like 
 manner to discharge the United States from the like 
 value in account with the said State. 
 
 That the Commissioner for Settling the Hospital 
 Accounts will therefore on proper Proof made to 
 him of the Facts above stated receive the said money 
 and credit the same in the account of the said Rich- 
 ard Mercer and will transmit the money and Proof 
 to the Commissioner for Settling the accounts of the 
 United States with the State of South Carolina who 
 will enter it in those accounts to the Credit of the 
 United States. Office of Finance 8 July, 1783.^^^ 
 
 July 23, 1783. 
 
 On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. 
 (Richard) Peters, Mr. (Abraham) Clark, and Mr. 
 (Stephen) Higginson, to whom was referred a report 
 of the Superintendant of finance, on a petition of 
 Mrs. Grace Mercer: 
 
 The Committee to whom was referred a memorial 
 of Mrs. Grace Mercer, relict of Mercer, late 
 
 Purveyor of the hospital in South Carolina, report, 
 
 That the time when the particular purpose for 
 which the said money was received or the reason 
 why the same was not applied to the use intended 
 do not appear; and as a permission granted to pub- 
 lic Officers to return paper money received at peri- 
 ods of depreciation would establish a Precedent 
 which may be productive of many ill consequences 
 Your Committee are of opinion. 
 
 Ordered, That the superintendant of finance trans- 
 
 ^^^ This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 
 137, II, folio 607. The indorsement shows that it was read this 
 day and on July 16 referred to Mr. (Richard) Peters, Mr. (Abra- 
 ham) Clark and Mr. (Stephen) Higginson. 
 
 220
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 mlt to the commissioner for settling the accounts of 
 the hospital department, a copy of the memorial of 
 Mrs. Grace Mercer, and in the settlement of the 
 accounts of the late Mr. Mercer, due enquiry be 
 made by the said commissioner, into the causes of 
 the detention of the money therein mentioned; and 
 that the said commissioner report the result of such 
 inquiry to the superintendant of finance, who is 
 hereby authorised to take order therein as shall ap- 
 pear to him just, on such report being made.^^* 
 
 August 5, 1783. 
 
 The Superintendant of Finance to whom was re- 
 ferred the Petition of Grace Mercer, widow of Rich- 
 ard Mercer Esq^, Purveyor to the Hospitals of the 
 United States in South Carolina, begs leave to re- 
 port. 
 
 That if, as is alledged, the paper money therein 
 mentioned remained in the Hands of the said Rich- 
 ard Mercer from the time in which he received it 
 until his Death and from that time to the present in 
 the hands of his widow the Delivery of it ought to 
 discharge the said Richard Mercer's estate in ac- 
 count with the United States from the value which 
 so much money was of at the time it was received 
 by him — and the Delivery of the said money into 
 the State Treasury of South Carolina ought in like 
 manner to discharge the United States from the like 
 value in account with the said State. 
 
 That the commissioner for settling the Hospital 
 accounts will therefore on proper Proof made to 
 him of the facts above stated receive the said money 
 and Credit the same in the account of the said Rich- 
 ard Mercer and will transmit the money and the 
 
 1^* This report, in the writing of Richard Peters, is in the Pa- 
 pers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, IV, foliio 55. The in- 
 dorsement states that it was passed on this day 
 
 221
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 Proof to the commissioner for settling the accounts 
 of the United States with the State of South Caro- 
 lina who will enter it in these accounts to the Credit 
 of the United States. Office of Finance, 31 July, 
 1783.189 
 
 August 12, 1783. 
 
 The committee, consisting of Mr. (James) Mc- 
 Henry, Mr. (Hugh) Williamson and Mr. (Abraham) 
 Clark, to whom was referred a petition of Dr. Dirk 
 Van Ingen, praying that depreciation may be al- 
 lowed him in the settlement of his account, report, 
 
 "That as Dr. Van Ingen, who served for some 
 years as surgeon, in the continental hospital, ap- 
 pears by his petition to have [resigned or to have 
 been left out of promotion] been reduced as a super- 
 numerary before the loth of April, 1780, [deprecia- 
 tion, therefore, cannot be allowed him without de- 
 parting from the rule hitherto adopted and opening 
 an account which may occasion much trouble and 
 be a precedent for a variety of claims of officers in 
 different departments,] and as no depreciation [to 
 officers in every department] has been allowed to 
 officers who left the service before that period, [has 
 been constantly refused,] Dr. Van Ingen's claim can 
 not be admitted without infringement of the rule 
 established by Congress." ^^° 
 
 September 2, 1783. 
 
 The committee of the Week (Mr. Jacob Read, Mr. 
 Abiel Foster and Mr. William Ellery) on considera- 
 tion of the petition of Ebenezer Augustus Smith for- 
 
 **' This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 
 137, II, folio 731. According to the indorsement it was delivered 
 this day. It was ordered to be filed among obsolete reports. Mr. 
 Mercer's petition is on folio 735. 
 
 1'" This report, in the writing of James McHenry, is in the Pa- 
 pers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, VI, folio 109. 
 
 222
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 merly a Surgeon in the General Hospital praying 
 that depreciation may be allowed him, report as 
 their opinion that the request of the said Ebenezer 
 Augustus Smith being similar to that of Di" Dirk 
 Van Ingen lately determined by Congress can not 
 be granted without infringing the rule established 
 by Congress of the lo*? day of April 1780.^^^ 
 
 September 10, 1783. 
 
 The same reason which makes it proper to have 
 two Serjeant Majors &c. in each Regiment of In- 
 fantry, will make it equally necessary to have tw^o 
 Surgeon's Mates, 
 
 October 23, 1783. 
 
 No Regiment to be allowed to draw rations for 
 more than four women to serve as nurses in the 
 Regimental Hospitals and to receive four dollars per 
 month in addition to a ration per day. 
 General Hospital 
 
 A general hospital for the reception of the inval- 
 ids of the army and navy will be necessary to con- 
 sist for the present of the following persons: 
 I Director to have at the same time the Super- 
 intendance of the Regimental Hospitals . . 80 
 
 I Surgeon 50 
 
 4 Mates each 25 
 
 I Purveyor and Apothecary 50 
 
 I Steward 15 
 
 4 Nurses each 5 
 
 To be entitled to draw each a ration of provisions 
 per day, but to no other allowance. 
 
 The invalids to receive one dollar per month, and 
 
 ^'1 This report, in the writing of Jacob Read, is in the Papers 
 of the Continental Congress, No. 32, folio 517. According to the 
 indorsement it was agreed to on this day. Smith's petition, dated 
 Wilmington, April 10, 178.3, is in No. 42, VII, foho 161. 
 
 223
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 the provisions and cloathing of a common soldier 
 during life. 
 
 The total expence of this es- 359,530 
 tablishment [if complete] as 
 reduced in peace, would 
 amount to about . . . [531,950] 
 Deduct the product of the 
 the truth( manufactories which is esti- 
 mated at 131,950 
 
 Not quite 
 exact but 
 very near 
 
 $227,580 
 Balance an annual charge 
 ^ upon the United States^^^ . [400,000] 
 October 31, 1783. 
 
 The Secretary at War reported, that the following 
 lines, corps and individuals, have agreed to accept 
 the commutation of five years' pay, in lieu of the 
 half pay for , as appears by the papers ac- 
 
 companying his report: . . , . 
 
 . . . . hospital department, and Dr. Tilton, 
 Dr. Bodo Otto, Dr. Frederick Otto, Dr. Martin. 
 
 November 4, 1783. 
 
 The Committee to whom was referred the letter- 
 of Major General Lincoln of the have ex- 
 
 amined the list of bills drawn by him whilst com- 
 manding in the Southern Department, and find suf- 
 ficient vouchers to support charges against the Com- 
 missary of purchases, the Quarter Master, the Cloth- 
 ier, the Pay Master, Purveyor of the Hospital and 
 the Navy, for five millions four hundred and twenty 
 four thousand one hundred and nine dollars; and 
 that bills to a considerable amount are yet out- 
 standing, which when presented for payment ought 
 also to be charged to the Departments in whose 
 
 ^^^ This report, in the writing of Alexander Hamilton, is in the 
 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 38, Folios 413-442. 
 
 224
 
 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 
 
 favor they were respectively drawn. Wherefore your 
 Committee submit the following resolution: 
 
 Resolved, That Major General Lincoln be credited, 
 in the books of the treasury, the sum of five mil- 
 lions four hundred and twenty four thousands one 
 hundred and nine dollars, and that the several de- 
 partments be charged with the amount of the bills 
 drawn in their favor. And that all such bills as may 
 hereafter be presented for payment, be charged to 
 the departments in whose favor, from the face of 
 the bill, they shall appear to have been drawn; and 
 that Major General Lincoln be credited for the 
 amount thereof. ^^^ 
 
 June 2, 1785. 
 
 Resolved, That those officers of the hospital de- 
 partment in the southern army, who were detained 
 in Charleston, after its surrender to the British 
 troops, for the purpose of attending the sick and 
 wounded of the army of the United States, which, 
 in consideration of the extra expences which they in- 
 curred by the performance of the said duty, be al-* 
 lowed the sums affixed to their respective names con- 
 tained in a return deposited in the war-office, which 
 was transmitted and signed by David Oliphant, dep- 
 uty director of the southern hospital. 
 
 June 20, 1785. 
 
 On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. 
 Williamson, Mr. Stewart, and Mr. Howell, to whom 
 was referred the petition of Dr. J. Morgan, 
 
 Resolved, That when ever Dr. J. Morgan, shall 
 have accounted for the stores delivered to his care, 
 or when the several charges against his former de- 
 partment shall have been delivered in, and it shall 
 
 ^^* This report, in the writing of Samuel Osgood, is in the Pa- 
 pers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, III, folio 577. 
 
 225
 
 HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. 
 
 appear to the commissioner for settling the hospital 
 accounts, that the doctor's papers and books are un- 
 avoidably destroyed, or that he has rendered the 
 best account of the stores committed to his care, of 
 which the circumstances of the case would admit he 
 shall obtain a certificate for the balance due him. 
 May 8, 1786. 
 
 Resolved, That the powers and duties heretofore 
 exercised by the commissioners for the quarter mas- 
 ter's and the commissary's departments be exercised 
 by one commissioner, and that the powers and duties 
 of the commissioners for the hospital, marine and 
 clothier's departments be exercised by one other 
 commissioner, to be elected annually by Congress: 
 and that the salary of each of the said commission- 
 ers be at the rate of 1250 dollars per annum. 
 
 June 28, 1786. 
 
 The commissioner for settling of the accounts of 
 Robert Johnson, the commissioner for settling the 
 hospital accounts &c. be directed to examine strict- 
 ly into the propriety of all extra expenses incurred 
 in the executing their duties, and where it shall ap- 
 pear that such expenses were necessarily and un- 
 avoidably incurred, and that the subsistance allowed 
 was not adequate thereto, the surplus be allowed. 
 That, as it appears from the deposition of the said 
 Dr. Robert Johnson, that the sum of money and cer- 
 tificates stated in his memorial, were public monies 
 stolen from him, without any negligence on his part, 
 and that the balance of money remaining in his 
 hands has not been applied to any use since it came 
 into his possession, the commissioner for settling ac- 
 counts of the hospital department, be directed to 
 pass the amount of those sums to his credit, on his 
 returning to the commissioner the said balance and 
 a list of the certificates so stolen. 
 
 226