The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1779-07-17 00:00:00, page 4

DOCTOR ISAAC LEDYARD, now Assist
ant ,'epuy Director General, in his certificate dated at
Danbury April % th, 17 7, amongst other general matters,
teflifi . in particular,
' r rat when ~e arrived at Hackinfack at the rime the
' fic< nd wounded were removed ver Huif>ul River,
< (in October i 6.) he found Dr Morgan ufily c%ag.
'el in providing f< r the fi k, w'ich at tha time were
' comin. in from all parts, in th # utmost con ufion, want
' ing quarters, provisions, dressing nd med ernes, rt toe
< fame instant, the Regimental H fpitis be ng routed'
' their sick came in vast numbers without timer Surgeon,
' Mate, Quarter Matter, or my < fficer whatever to 111 ft
' 0 them. I came in, (fays r. Ledy r.) with several
6 loads of wounded bI n,ng to the G rerl H pit 1;
' which after we had provided for Dr Morgan took me
' with him, and went from b use to house, for a indyup the
' road, procurin quarters for the Regimental sick, 111-
' Aruß/o the country pe pie, and being t' em set about
' pro;i iiny 'uppers for their immediate wants, and m k
'me \ir:h r prov fijiifor the u ure who for wact 0. tois
< care night nave perilled in tee Greets, as I have region
< to runkmmy died bet re they got in ; tnat after tne
' fi.k wer got into a fettled state Dr. Morgan attended
6 it person on those c;.fes which were most al rn.ing and
' dangerous, and prtfi led in di m serial <ptrations.
'ISAAC LEDYARD?
JU r GE LABR ISKfE,ont elame fubjeß, in
a certificated lit to Dr. Morgan,dated Hackinfack,March,
20, 17/ , declares thus:
'I can cert yon my part, and canalfo answer for a
' number of t e inhabitants of this place, t^at your af
'fi uiy and atten laace on the fi ka id wounded under
< y ur charge in tins p ice, w isf ch as to deserve ap
< p use I have often eird you ftrcngly recommend to
6 Surgeons mJ Mates, a fulfilment of their duty towards
< tntfik. PETERLABRISKIE?
Eatn and every one of the particular faffs fpet.fied in the
foregoing, and many others, omitted to avoi. jprolixity,
that would do a Dirtd r General equal honour, are fur
ther c rtified and enlarged upon in other er ifi.ates fr©m
the H dpital Mates and others, accompanied with the
ftrongeit proofs of attach nent, expressions of ^ reat affecti
on, reverence, esteem nd gratitude for theAlliance af
forded them ivy Dr Morgan, when under ids direction,
particularly from Frederick Rid ely, h beoezar Crosby,
Barnabas Binney, Samuel BI iv hird, Abfilom Russell,
James Miler Church, Sa. u<i K Glover, Jolin Q. Blan
*At and near New Rochell, East and West-Chester,
Frogs- Point, &c. by the landing of the enemy.
' to assist with his presence and advice, in cases difficult
s and hazardous; that on account of the many movements
£o the troops, during the Lift Campaign, it has been ne
c Cclfary to nave Hospitals provided in places unexpected,
< and upon short notices. Add tot is, toe fluctuating
< state of the army has at times made it impoifible for
< other departments to furnhh that assistance which could
< have been wished, and therefore it will appear why the
< fish and wounded could not' be provided for in that re
rgular and fatisfaCtory way whic they have been, when
£ the General Hospital has been fixed.
' With regard to the Hospital under my own care at
' Norwalk, I an very ready to declare, that I was iur
-6 nifhed with ample and good inftrudions, medicines pro
* visions and every necessary for the support of the sick and
' wounded ; tuat by Dr. Morgan's personal attendance on
' the spot, feekiug out quarters for the patients, I was en
' abled to attend several hundreds for near three months,
' much to their fitisfa&ion ; that, in the course of my re
' maining at Norwalk, upwards of seven hundred sick and
' wounded were provided for by means with whicu Dr.
6 Morgan had futficiently urnifhed me; an I that when I
' left Norwalk in Maren 1777, their numbers were re
* duced to eight or ten. These are facts which I appre
-6 head will redound to is honour.
'WILLIAM EUSTIS?
In a letter wrote by Dr. Eudis to Dr. Morgan, dated
Eofton, April 24th, 1 77, are these words.
6 As every thing of this kind, (viz in the way of certi
-6 ficate) may be made public, and will be co^fi lured by
6 Congress, I think it my duty to be cautious how I uni
' verfally applaud teat conduct which by their resolve,
' they have oeen pie tied to censure; but I can and have
' and will with pleasure, teflifv to your cnarafter and con
-6 duff, wherever it is thefubjeft of conversation, in which
'ycu may rely 011 my doine you juflice.
WILLI AM EUSTIS?
DOCTOR BURNETT, now P yfician and
Surgeon General to the army, in his certificate, dated
Peeks kill December Sth, X 778, teftifieq
' That a few days before the evacuation of New-York,
' in September 1/ 6, Dr Jhn M >rgan, 1/ir« Ctor Gentr
' al of the Continental Hospitals, came to Newark in N w
-6 Jersey to eftabhfh an Hsfpit d there for the aCrummoda.
'tion of the fi knd wounded of the army to be fen here
' from Ne York, and made applications to me as Cuair
' man of the Committee, in carrying that defi'gn into txe
-6 cw^n . and tha* he obtained the use cf the episcopal and
' P Ibyterian C lurches, the Court House and Academy
' for t purpfe that he applied to me to recommend
'to ra faithful and . edquihfie I performs to aft°s a Cbm
-6 miffary and W ri M fter, and I recommended Mr.
' D .11 Bank* ' r Cemnmffiry and Mr Simu°! B Idwin
'for ard Master w o undertook thus offices- and dis
' c?arge tnedutiesmt <m, much to the farisfaaYn of II
' concerned ;tht he a'fo ppied to ne toaffiftD. Ff
< ter, thenafmior Surgeon int e management and ere -
' tion o' tl e fail Hbpital, to which I conferred and to
' recommend 0 101 an additional number 0 Mates, fuf
-6 ficient to itten I toe sick and wounded that might be sent
' there, wic^ Idi I, and they were appointed. That
' Dr. M rgan apppired to be diligent an 1 faith ul in dif
' ch^r iq. r .e dudes of Director General, and t at the
' sick anl wutinde 1 there, under his -; e, did not fuff r,
' mat I know of, for want of any assistance, which h ,
' or ny of the gentlemem employed could ivetorm, but
' on the< ontrary, were as well attended, accomodated and
4 provided as is common in Hospitals, and I believe with
' as much success 1
'WILLIAM BURNET T.'
PHILADELPHIA'. Printed and Sold by JOHN DUNL AP, in Market-free^
Brethren and Felloe Citizens,
MY vindication is now brought to a close, from
ah nc it must be obviou to you, how cruel and
u j. It a proceeding it was in a former Congress, cn the
clamors ana wicked practices or cefagning men, to dif
m s ae_ unheard, from all further service. Had only
a fufp.nfi n from Office taken place, till my supposed
crimes or ,al innocence could have been established cn
proper rvid.me, which is all that of right cculd have
be-n elk d, 01 with juttice granted, 1 should then have
be n deprived o ? no claim which I had not forfeited by
mi con ett ; and so focn as the sentence of a Court au
tl orbed to inquire into the fa&s, had pronounced me
innocent of the charges imputed to me, that moment I
fheu d have been restored to my rank ^nd the rights of
my station with unsullied and undiminished honor. But
far different is a sentence qf difmiffion. A prefuniption
that the sup me power cannot do wrong, carries away
the judgment of the Public, by th weight and influence
of its authority, againit which it is seen that innocence
is not a fuffitient shield, nor virtue a sure prote&or. To
degrade an Officer from bis rank, however lightly it may be
efletmed by vulgar minds, is tberejore an art 0, the bigbeft
rigor. What reparation then can be made tor such a
hasty judgment, when it is found to have been ill
gro nded? Does an after inquiry, or a declaration of
innocence, extinguish the fatal influence ? Although it
chard, Daniel Jenifer, junior. Joseph Loring, MaTmus
Willet and Josiah Bartlett, also by John De la Mater,
Clerk, and James Davidson, Store keeper, from which it
would be fuperfluous to add to the extracts already given
in proof of his attention and humanity towards the sick
and his care to furnifh the General Hospital abundantly
with every t. ing necessary and suitable for their comfort
able accommodation.
To close the lift, it will not be amiss to adduce the tef
tim my of the Reverend Mr. N^ah Cook. Chaplain to
the General Hospital on the East fide of Hudson's river.
'SIR Danbury, December ig, 1778.
'Think it not flrange that you have a correspondence
' entirely new. Your can lour needs no apology. Every
' man is concerned to crulh the envious, the calumniator,
' and the secret assassin, by whose weapons the most re
'fpefted of characters has fuifered, before there was notice
' given of an assault. Self preservation mus talone dictate
' that a train 'of cir< umftanc.es since your difmiffion took
' place has confirmed me in this; and from the little ac
' qulintance I had in the Hospitals, as Chaplain, the
' office of DirtctorUip could not possibly be difeharged
' with more honour, under the fame circumftan es. Why
' do I mention honour. There was no honour to be cb
' tained in your post, at that time, in the Army. Order
' and regularity were foreign maters, the more urged for,
' the more was the perfoo hated and clamours would fooii
' rife.
' But, Sir, why do those persons rife, whose very mif
' condua (if there was any) was the cause of your fuffer
' ings. Bw Sir, I congratulate you, with the moil feel
' ing fenfib'iiity -ofa generous mind that long urged for
' day, is G near, when calumny and detraction shall hide
' their head, integrity and honour thine in their native
' luftre.
'I must inform you, that I have seen your publicati
' ons and regret that the last has not as yet been pub
' lilhedat Fiih-Kll,for I most heartily w sh they might fly
' from pole t pole; I asa quainted with those published
' at Boftoti at the time, anl 1 nave the fatisfaHion to fay
' all were un nimbus excepting t^e interested, in con
' derailing the featence aglinft you as ^bdrar,.t,ranni<al,
and crua t^ the left degree. A . f fay who would he
'litate in d p .l irm t that pr ' arbitrary and cruel,
teat judged, > onlemr^ 4to p:.t. fa^d a person unheard,
'or wood n<t give him an apportunity of defence? If
' thes is just the war is unjust for on this basis alone is
' sou, de t is tint atur.l war , and the person so fuffering
' is un^cr greater disadvantages even in eftablifliing a
' character, a ter fur it a feet' nee, according to the impro
' bability of being restored, and the delays after sentence
' before a hearing, jor be does not rerri^ve bis character,
<uni # js the £ua:u! reflGration, and the longer the de
' by, tin more is the danger.
' Permit me. Sir, to observe, that at Cambrid e the
I aft mheondua, even down to the nurses of the Hofpi
' tal, w 3by you attended to on application. Particular
' ly while I was a u jess of the small pox Hospital there,
' some disorders taking place, on ourml rining you there
' ", you Sir, immediately direfled Dr R nd, who bad
' the more immediate nfpeHion of the Hospital, to dismiss
' them, and wr-a e us letter accordingly
' At New-York, while there and after our evacuating
' the city, tie H spirals were in as good a fituatmn as
' rinumflances would possibly admit of Semetimes the
' Regimental Hoipi als in vogue and Regimental Sur[ e
' ons raifib- an but and cry against theGeneral Hospital,
' aid the ^ ffi ers for this purpose, ignorant of their own
' line of duty, without dif< ip ne, without order or regu
' larity in tie. rny. You, Sir flr virg for order and
' fyfumatu mode, without any t ftab' fhment and without
' ffff nee, but every one ready to oppoie ; that it is my
'fi rn I^o+ltaa r tifere wis mere Gone by t e Director
1 11101, ten times told, than has been performed by all the
' Urt', s since.
6 Once more, how easy is it now for every one to know
' in a very onfiArable degree, the line of bis duty ? much
' e-'fier, I cord fs, than to perform it. And I want to
' kn w Ail the imatters are conducted better, allowing for
'difiipi r am txperien e, than when you, Sir, had the
' DirNiorfh p? It ink not, It my be, because I know
' nerr roped ng the Hospitals now than I did before,
avmg been in this department the yerpaft But I must
'affurt yu, Sir. ttat I fee no one check provided against
' the must profufe expence of stores.
'Now, Sir, wishing you success, and every profped in
' view answered, begging to offer my mite, and assuring
' you ot my readiness to answer ^y commands. I am,
' Sir with the greatest refped,
' Your obedient and very humble servant,
'NOAH COOKE, Caplin
' To the Honorable to the General Hospital.
'John Morgan, Esq ,
miy restore a oKiun to hia former fair ch^a&r, tvhat
ledrtus is given for the countless lufTrings and injuries
which th^t innocent pedon must have undergone, so long
as his disgrace continued, which makes the delay of jus
tice in some Ardtanecs little let's detrimental than the de
nial of a; especially when it leaves a man flipped of his
rank, and the well-gained fruit of a life devoted to the
public service?
?23 this proceeding confident with that spirit with
which you, my Fellow-Citizens, and I, (ter I may
boTt tne honor 0: being one of the forcmort amongst my
countrymen who flood torth in the cause cf freedom) at
the hazard of cue lives and fortunes, and under every
t'e of honor, and every confiderution that is deemed sa
cred and honorable amongit men, associated in the de
fence of liberty, ana>or toe preservation of the rights of
Ameri.a, whici, ;we engaged to lupport wl h thelaft drop
of our blood? Ths I ih u';d have deemed it a privilege
and glory to have shed, not only unpolluted with real
offences agaii ft my country, but untainted by ground
left charges and calumnies. To this day, the vote of
Congrel, January 9 h, 1777, dismissing me from all fu
ture fervic , (how justly is left to yrur decifmr,) conti
nues unrep.aied, ano my poor abilities, such as the, are,
ever faithfully deviled to your interests, doomed to lan
gum in indcleme and im&ivity. Arid I know not,
wh .ther, Hom being thus confined to oblivion, as a re
dvard cf the many important services which I zealously
exerted my 5 ft en favours to tender to the threatened
and 'h m almost expiring liberties of my country, I may
not so e that confidence, afßaicn, and good opinion of
my Felkw-Citizens which 1 h^ve ever prized more than
lite, and whch in times past I always experienced, al
though the lore of liberty has never ceased to beat in
every pude, und .o make my bofem glow as warmly as
eves Er the proip^ity of America. But I will not do
you, my Couitiyta.n, the injutice to believe, that ycu
have been titn;r indiffmrnt or inattentive to my loud
calk for ^^^ y<ril and impa/tilj ft ce, oriufetfibie
thit my luff i n ..' a nd my perfeverame to demand the
i hrs due to in. as a Ire#man powerful y tend to tha
Hird Ih uent and fim support of jour civil liberties, by
(hiring he neceffi y w ke^in. .the ountain f jfti4
clear anu fiee from pollution, and d monftrating that in
a wel constitute I government, 6 No man, 01 body of
' men, houev. rt and powt ful, can it jure one w iio
6 is 0^ ient to r.. hw% and <on u&s himself upright
'l, either in his prion, property or reputation ' if
my f'crifice confirm you in yew rights, and every other
oJic nthe*f my, in their ) uft ci ims to e dtmed in
nocent, till gui.t is proved on a fair tria, and tenures
th m from ^ing fa r Sc-d to tb trearbe, y and . mi i.ion
0 undermiog inferior < fficers, 1 (hall kill be ha py.
Wiibt the receipt ev (fence of my go^d conduct lyes
b-foie you, a? well as the dark arts 0 my -ucceffor, 'by
when, rega. dkkHwLt was due to hit c<u ty. and to
one wh rt m thrtcountry h.d mde hislupe im in die,
he Did the foundat on d myruo , on which to build the
fup^ftru&ure ot has am» i u pursuits; from v hich it
is m?.mfeft thcr 1 was ma te the vi&im of his insufficiency
ant m ro'd & I h r g have, as you have jaft Seen the
1 .Emony of tin General an I ether officers o the arniy,
vou in y § io h ve at th? fame time under jour view
that of the Com ittee, and of CongreE ; all uniting to
declare rav anility ^nd f iUrulnefs. T e'a-et I con
fiber as a prooj no leh hotio ale t< >th« present Con^rei^
than favorable to mys If, of the difyojition of this House
to tend i jufti e to all men and to m ke me adequate
reparation, to the 11 nr ft ot their po ^r, for the com
pleated injuries 1 have fuft ined from preferring the
Iffrul discharge of my duty, in a very d ffi ult and im
p rtant Ration, to my own private emolument and ad
vantage.
Rest ng on those adamantine monuments raised to my
honor, the unbiaffed testimony both ot C\ ngrefs rd the
army; and canfeious of the reditude of m. public con
dud, as well as confining in jour candour 3n d fellow
fe ling for my unjust (offerings, ' I now t^ke my le^,
wilhing you, my d ar Ccurtpmen, the ful attai rent
of that freedom, .pea^e ans in^ep^nden-e wich o<ly
true virtue and justice can either merit or procure, and
the undisturbed enjoyment of th t profperiry and hap
piness which are the legitimate efffpri g of civil and re
ligious liberty, exercised without partiality or corru tion.
JOHN " MORGAN.
In CONGRESS, June 12, 17 9.
'CONGRESS took into consideration the report
' of he Com ittee to whom was r-fe red the memorial
'<f D dor John Morg n, lat? D &r General and
' Phvfiian in Chief in the General Hospitals of the
' United Stites, and thereupon came to the following
' reoution :
'Werees bv the report of the Medical Committee,
' confirmed by C n,r,fs on the 9 th of Au t ft, 1777, it
' appears that Dr. John M rgan, late Dir & r Genera!
' and Chief Phyfi.in of the General H fpitals ot the
' United Sta es, had been removed from <ffi e on the
' 9th of January, 1777, by reason of the general com
-6 plaint of performs of ail ranks in the army, and the
' critical ft ^e 0 affairs at that time; and th t the laid
' Dr&or John Morgan requesting an inquby irro his
' condu&, it was thought proper that a Committee of
' Cengrep th uli be appointed fur that purpose :
' And Whereas, on the iSth of S ptember last, such
' a Commi tee was appointed, before whom tl Did
' D &or John M gun hath, in the most fitis &ry
' manner, vindicated hi* condu& in every refpe&, as
' Dir<&o r General and Pinfician in Chief, upon the
' testimony of the Commander in Chief, General Offi.
' cers, Officers in the G neral Hospital Department, and
' other Officers in the army, Viewing that the laid Di
' r&r Gneiai did cenduft himfelf a 1 ly and Li hhilly
' in the difeharge of the duties of bis office.; Therefore
' Relolved, Th:.t Congress are fatisfi d with the c n
'du& of Do&or J< hn Morg n, while a&ing as Diie&or
' General and Physician in Chief, in the General Hofpi
' tris of the United States, and that th ; s resolution be
' published. Extrafl from the Minutes,
' CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary,