Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1777-04-15 00:00:00, page 2

In CONGRES S, Aprils, 1777.
Resolved,
THAT there be one Director General of all the
Military Hospitals which Shall be ere&ed for the
Continental army in the United States, who Shall par
ticularly Superintend the Hospitals between Hudson and
Potowmack rivers.
That there be one Deputy Dire&or General, who,
in the absence of the Director General, Shall superin
tend the Hospitals to the Eastward of Hudson's river.
That there be one Deputy Dire&or General, who,
in the absence of the Dire&or General, Shall superin
tend the Hofpitalsin the Northern department.
That, when the circumstances of the war Shall re
quire it, there be one Deputy Director General, who,
in the absence of the Director General, Shall superin
tend the Hospitals in the Southern department.
That the Director General, or, in his absence, the
Deputy Dire&or General, in each refpe&ive depart
ment, be empowered and required, with the advice and
consent of the Commander in Chief therein, to esta
blish and regulate a fufficient number of Hospitals, at
proper places, for the reception of the sick and wounded
of the army; to provide medicines, instruments, dress
ings, bedding, and other necessary furniture, proper
diet, and every thing requisite for the sick and wounded
soldiers, and the Officers of the Hospitals, to pay the
salaries and all other expences of the fame.
That there be Assistant Deputy Directors to super
intend the Hospitals committed to their care, and assist
in providing the articles before fpecified, under the or
ders and controul of the Director, or Deputy Dire&or
General of the refpe&ive diftri&s.
That there be one Apothecary General for each di
ftria, whose duty it Shall be to receive, prepare and de
liver medicines and such other articles of his depart
ment, to the Hospitals and Army, as Shall be ordered
by the Director General or Deputy Dire&ors General
refpe&ively.
That the Apothecaries General be allowed as many
Mates as the Dire&or General, or refpe&ive Deputy
Dire&or General Shall think necessary.
That there be a Commissary of the Hospitals in each
of the aforefaid diftri&s, whose duty it Shall be to pro
cure, store, and deliver provisions, forage, and such
other articles as the Director or Deputy Director Ge
neral Gall judge necessary for the use of the Hospitals;
though you kn^w him to be an officer in our army at the
t me, and long before, the agreement was entered into,
made it my duty to alfert his right in an explicit manner,
and to endeavour to put the matter on L unequivocal a
footing as to insure his enlargement, whenever an officer
of equal rank, belonging to your army, thould be in our
power. This was attempted by the article, and nothing
more—nor is any other inference to be drawn from it.—
It is true a proportion was made since his captivity, to
give a certain number of officers qf interior rank in ex
change for him, but it was not claimed as a matter of
right. What name then does that proceeding merit, by
which it is fuegefted that the immediate release of Gen.
Lee had been demanded, without having an officer of equal
rank to give for him ? The luggeftion cannot be support
ed by the molt tortured exposition, nor will it have ere
dit where candor isdeemed a virtue, and words preserve
their form and meaning.
As to the charge of delay in not returning the prifon
crs in our hands—the departed tituation of those taken at
a more early period of the war, through the different
States, anting from the circumstances of their captivity,
and a regard to their better accommodation, made their
detention for a considerable time unavoidable. When the
agreement subsisting between us took place, the speediest
dire&ions were given to have them collected, that an ex
change might be effected. This was done in part, and at
a juncture when motives of policy opposed the measure,
but were made to yield to rigid maxims cf good faith.
We were pursuing the exchange, and continued our ex
ertions to accompiifh it, till the mifeable appearance, in
dicating an approaching cataltrophe, ofthofe sent out by
you, made it improper. For feeing that a difficulty might
arik, and that it might be expected I fliould account for
the whole of them, which 1 by no means thought equit
able, it became necessary that the matter should be ad
jured, and the due proportion fettled, for which I ought
to be responsible, before any thing farther could be done
on my part. Upon this ground stands also the detention
of those who have been since captured.
Added to these con fiderations —the diferimination set
up in the instance of Gen. Lee, is to be regarded as ut
terly irreconcileable to the tenor of our agreement, and
an insurmountable obstacle to a compliance with your
demands.
Thus, Sir, have I explained the motives of my conduct,
and, I trust, vindicated myfelf, in the eye of impartiali
ty, from the improper and groundless charge which you,
and the gentlemen acting by your authority, have been
pleased to alledge against me.—ls in doing this, I have
departed in the smallest degree from that delicacy, which
I always wished Should form a part of my character, you
will remember I have been forced into recrimination, and
that it has become an aft cf necessary justice.
I Shall now declare it to be my ardent with, that a ge
neral exchange may take place on generous and liberal
principles, as far as it can be effeded, and that the agree
ment subsisting between us for that purpose Should be in
violably observed ; and I call upon you, by every obliga
tion of good faith, to remove all impediments on your
part to the accomplishment of it. If however you do
not, I coafole myfelf with a hope, that those unfortu
nate men, whose lot it is to be your prisoners, twill bear
their Sufferings with becoming fortitude and maganimi
ty. l am, Sir, with due refpe&, your most obedient
humble Servant,
GEORGE WASHINGTON.
His Excellency Gen. Sir William Howe. (Copy.)
Published by order of Congress,
CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.
in the purchase of which he shall frequently consult
with the Commissary and Quarter Matter General, and
be regulated by the prices which they give.
That the Commissary be allowed such Assistants and
Storekeepers as the Dire&or or Deputy Dite&or Ge
neral of the diftri& Shall judge necessary.
That a Steward be allowed for every hundred sick
or wounded, who fliall receive provisions from the Ccni
miffary, and distribute them agreeable to the orders of
the Dire&or General, or in his absence, of the Deputy
Director General, or Physician or Surgeon General,
and be accountable to the Commissary for the fame.
That a Matron be allowed to every hundred sick or
wounded, who fliall take care that the provisions are
properly prepared, that the wards, beds and utensils
be kept, in neat order, and that the most exa& (economy
be oblerved in her department.
That a Nurse be allowed to every ten sick or wound
ed, who Shall be under the direction of the Matron.
That an hostler or stabler be allowed to each Hospi
tal, to receive the horses frpm the Commissary, and to
take care of the waggon and other horses belonging to
the Hospital, pursuant to orders from the Dire&or Ge
neral, or in his absence, the Deputy Dire&or General,
or such other officer as he Shall appoint.
That there be a Clerk in each diftri&, whose business
it Shall be to keep the accounts of the Hospitals, and to
receive and deliver the monies agreeable to the orders
of the Director, or Deputy Director General.
That a fufficieat number of assistant Clerks be allowed.
That such Officers and Soldiers as the General Shall
order to guard the Hospitals, and to condu& such as
shall be weekly difeharged the Hospitals, to their re
fpe&ive regiments, Shall, while on this duty, obey the
Dire&or or Deputy Dire&or General, or the Physici
ans and Surgeons General.
That the Director and Deputy Director General, be
refpe&ive!y empowered to appoint and discharge their
Assistant Deputy Directors and other said Officers and
attendants of the Hospitals, in such numbers as the ne
cessities of the army may require, and the Command
er in Chief of the department Shall, in writing, approve.
Report of which to be immediately made to Congress,
as hereafter directed.
That there be also one Physician and one Surgeon
General in each diftri&, to be appointed by Congress,
whose duty it Shall be relpe&ively to Superintend the
practice of Phyfick and Surgery in all the Hospitals of
the diftrid to which they Shall he appointed; and, in
the absence of the Director or Deputy Director Gene
ral, they Shall have power to order the Physicians,
Surgeons, and other Officers of the several Hospitals to
such duty as they Shall think proper; and Shall report
weekly to the Dire&or General, or in his absence to
the Deputy Director General, or in his absence, to the
Assistant Deputy Director, theftate and number of the
sick and wounded in the Hospitals, and the delinquent
Officers of the fame, and fee that such as may be fit,
be delivered every week to the Officer of the guard, to
be conduced to the Army.
That there be allowed also Senior Physicians and
Surgeons, who fliall attend, prescribe for, operate up
on, and fee properly treated, such sick and wounded
as Shall be allotted them by the Director General, De
puty Director General, or Assistant Director, or Phy
sician or Surgeon General ; the number for the diftrid
to be determined by the Director or Deputy Dire&or
General, and appointed by the Surgeon and Physici
an General.
That there be also such a number of Second Surge
ons as the Director, or Deputy Dire&or General for
the diftrid shall judge necessary, to assist the Senior
Surgeons, and be under the fame direction, and to be
appointed by the Physician and Surgeon General as
aforefaid.
That there be also such anumber of Mates as the
Director General, or Deputy Director General ofthe
diftrift Shall dire&, who Shall assist the Surgeons in the
care of the wounded, and fee that the medicines are
properly and regularly administered. To be appointed
in the manner before directed, for Senior and Second
Surgeons.
That a Suitable number of covered and other wag
gons, litters, and other necessaries for removing the
sick and wounded, Shall be supplied by the Quarter Mas
ter or Deputy Quarter Master General, or, in cases of
their deficiency, by the Dire&or or Deputy Dire&or
General.
That there be one Physician and Surgeon General
for each separate army, who Shall be fubjed to the
orders and controul of the Director General and Deputy
Director General of the diftrift wherein he ads. That his
duty Shall be to superintend the regimental Surgeons and
their Mates, and to fee that they do their duty, to hear
all complaints against the said regimental Surgeons and
Mates, and make report of them to the Dire&or Gene
ral, or in his absence to the Deputy Director General, or
in their absence from the said army, to the Commanding
Officer thereof, that they may be brought to trial by
Court-Martial for misbehaviour; to receive from the Di
rector General or Deputy Director General, a Suitable
number of large Strong tents, beds, bedding, medicines,
and Hospital stores, for such sick and wounded perfors as
cannot be removed to the General Hospital with fafety,
or may be rendered fit for duty in a few days ; and Shall
also fee that the sick and wounded, while under his
care, are properly attended and dreff^d, and conveyed,
when able, to the General Hospital, for which left pur
pefe he Shall be Supplied by the Director General, or
Deputy Director, with a proper number of convenient
waggons and drivers.
That each Physician and Surgeon General of the ar
mies Shall appoint such a number of Surgeons, Nurses,
and Orderly Men, as the Director General or Deputy
Director General fliall judge necessary for the more ef
fectual care and' relief of the sick and wounded under
the care of such Physician and Surgeon General, as
provided in the last foregoing faction, and the said Phy
sicians and Surgeons General Shall have under them
in each army, a Steward to receive and properly dis
pense such articles of diet as the Director General or
Deputy Director General Shall give, or order to be gi
ven him by the Commissary of the Army or Hospital
That whenever any regimental Surgeon or Mate fliall
be absent from his regiment, without leave from the
said Surgeon General or the Commander in Chief of
the army where his duty lies, the said Surgeon General
Shall have power to remove such Surgeon or Mate, acd
forthwith appoint another in his stead.
That the Dire&or, Deputy Directors, Physicians and
Surgeons General, and all other Officers before enu
merated, Shall he tried by a Court Martial for any mif
behaviour or negleC tof duty, as the Commander in
Chief of the several armies Shall dire Ct.
That the Physician and Surgeon General of each ar
my Shall cause daily returns to be made to him cf all
sick and wounded which have been removed to the Hos
pitals, all that remain in the Hospital Tents, all that
are become fit for duty, all that are convalefceot, and
all who may have died, Specifying the particular ma
ladies under which the sick and wounded labour.
That the said Physicians and Surgeons General fliall
cause weekly returns of the fame to be made to the Di
rector or Deputy Director General refpeftively.
That the Physicians and Surgeons General of the
Hospitals cause like daily returns to be made in every
Hospital, and return 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 Director
General, together with the names and denomination
of all the Officers in their refpe&ive Hospitals. And
That the Dire&or General Shall make a like return
for all the Hospitals and armies of these United States
once every month to the Medical Committee.
That the Medical Committee have power to appoint
any of their members to visit and infped all or any of
the Medical departments as often as they fliall think
proper, to enquire into the conduct of such General
Officers of the Hospitals as Shall be delinquent on this
or any parts of their duty, and to report their names
to Congress, with the evidence of the charges which
Shall be brought against them.
That in time of action, and on any other emergency,
when the regimental Surgeons are not Sufficient in num
ber to attend properly to the sick and wounded that can
not be removed to the Hospitals, the Dire&or or De
puty Dire&or General of the diftri& be impowered and
required, upon request of the Surgeon General of the
army, to fend from the Hospitals under his care, to the
assistance of such sick and wounded, as many Physici
ans and Surgeons as can possibly be Spared from the ne
cessary business of the Hospitals.
That the Dire&or, Deputy Dire&ors General, As
sistant Deputy Directors, Physicians and Surgeons Ge
neral are hereby required and dire&ed to employ such
parts of their time as may conveniently be Spared from
the duties before pointed out to them, in visiting and
prescribing for the sick and wounded of the Hospitals
under theircare.
That the establishment of the Officers of the Hospi
tal department be as follows:
, Dol, Rat.
Dire&or General, per day, 6 9
Deputy Dire&or General, 5 6
Assistant Deputy Dire&or. 3 6
Physicians General and Surgeons?
General, each ) '°
Physician and Surgeon General of?
the Army, J 5 6
Senior Surgeons, each 4 6
Second Surgeons, each 2 ? 4
Surgeons Mates, each 1 ig 2
Apothecaries General, each 3 6
Mates, each, 1 i-g 2
Commissary, 2 4
Clerk, who is also to be Paymaster, 2 4
Assistant Clerk, 23 1
Steward, I'2
Matrons, each, 12 1
Nurses, each 2/ 2
Stabler, 1 j
Regimental Surgeon, 2 4
Regimental Surgeons Mate, 1 13 z
APRIL T 2.
Resolved, That the Surgeons General and Phy
sicians General of the Hospitals (hall, each of them, re
gulate the pra&ice of both Physic and Surgery, and do
the duty of Physicians and Surgeons General io the
Hospitals refpe&ively committed to their charge, and
that the Dire&or and Deputy Dire&or General take
proper care to keep the sick and wounded fa fegaraie
apartments.
Extras from the Minutes.
Pubiifced b, Order of &ngreQ,
CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.