Nathanael Greene to John Jay, 18 January 1779

Philadelphia 18 th . Jan y . 1779

Sir

It cannot be unknown to Congress that in the different Departments of the Army there are many Persons employed in the Character of Officers who have no other Commission than a kind of Warrant or Appointment from the Head of the Department in which they serve. They consequently have no Rank in the Army, but are left on the Footing of private Soldiers as to Arrests, and Modes of Trial. Amongst these there are many who from their Abilities and good Conduct are respectable Characters; their Feelings are therefore sensibly touched by being placed in a Situation which subjects them to Confinement in the common Guard Houses at the Will of even the lowest commissioned Officer in the Army for an Offence of a trivial Nature, or perhaps for a Supposed Offence. The present Situation of Affairs affords so many Opportunities of acquiring Money in a private Capacity, and the publick Service requires the Employment of so great a Number of Men of Abilities for Business, that with all the Encouragement in our Power to give, it is found not a little difficult to fill the different Stations in the Staff Departments with Men of Suitable Talents; it therefore seems requisite to remove from their View every Discouragement which can be laid aside without injuring the Publick in a greater Degree in some other Way. If Congress would be pleased, by a publick Resolution, to put these Warrant Officers on the same Footing with the Officers in the Line of the Army with respect to Arrests, Trials, and Punishment, it would probably have a good Effect on their Minds without working any Injury to the commission–€™d Officers or to the Publick. 1 I have the Honour to be, with great Respect, Sir your most obedient & most humble Servant

Nathe l . Greene QMG 2

Hon ble . The President of Congress