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Morgan, Daniel, 1736-1802 to Nathanael Greene re: lack of pay and hardship due to army service

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC07137 Author/Creator: Morgan, Daniel, 1736-1802 Place Written: Saratoga [Winchester, Virginia] Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 1782/07/28 Pagination: 4p : address : docket ; Height: 33.6 cm, Width: 21 cm Order a Copy

A letter to his former commander concerning his situation and back pay owed to him and to the Continental soldiers who served under him. He thanks Greene for the recommendation of a Captain Osborn. He complains about the compensation from the state of Virginia: "Our assembly gave the officers certificatyes [sic] for two years pay, which was to be paid out of the money arising from the sales of the confiscated property [of Loyalists]...[.]" Morgan writes that the Assembly had made an act to raise 3,000 men with a bounty and clothing, which he remarks "would have been sufficient to have raised the men, could they have any hopes of being cloathed and paid, but being so strongly deceived, that they have no faith in publick promises, and the officers spirits are so much broken that they dont make any progress toward it." Morgan writes that he will soon "totally exhaust my fund[s]... I find myself going very thirsty, my cloath[es] are nearly wore out, and my laurels fade." On hearing that Greene is to receive clothing he ends"could I not be considered as part of that army; and be equipt with a suit of cloath, it would be needless [to] mention particulars for I [need] everything from top to toe."

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