The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-05
A RARE ARMY PARCHMENT.
The First Commission Issued by the
Continental Congress

The First Commission Issued by the
Continental Congress
What is believed to be the first com
mission as . N officer. in the United States
Army, issued by the Continental Con
gress, is in the possession of Captain J.
A RosecUans. of this city. commissioning
his grandfather, JacObus Rosekrans. as
captain Of the Fifth New York Regi-
ment in the Army Of the United States.
The commission is engraved on sheepskin,
and is numbered in both Arabic and Ro-
man numerals tNo. %" The commits
sion is dated June Is, I779. in the third
year of the Independence. and bears the
signature Of John Jay, President of the
Continental Congress. and is attested by
John Smith, Secretary of the Board OF
War
While the commission Is dated IT7g it
is retroactive. giving the officer the rank
Of captain. from August, g. IFS The
sheePskin is in the most perfect condt-
ton the engraving perfectly IeEible and,
though somewhat faded, is not difficult
TO decipher-
Captain Rosecrans, the grandson OF
the Revolutionary officer, and in whose
possession this document now is. has ex-
hibited ii to a number of army officers
and experts, and it is the consensus of
opinion that this commission is the first
regularly issued by the Continental Con
gress- Most of the officers in the regi-
ments which formed the United States
Army at that time drew their commits
sions and appointments from their re-
spective States, as members of the State
troops There were but four States. New
York, Virginia, Massachusetts and New
Jersey which issued parchment commits
sions- While the Continental Congress
recognized these titles as authentic, and
such officers were accredited to the same
rank in the United States Army, no off
cial commissions recognizing their posi-
ton were issued until the Congress pre-
sided over by John Jay
This view is substantiated in some de-
gree, by the fact that the commission
under discussion is retroactive. and as
such recognizes a condition which had
existed three years without previous Off
ciaI recognition.
The commission reads as follows:
No / Cd.
The United States OF America in Congress As
seInbled- To Jacobus Rosekrans, Esquire,
Greeting:
We, reposing especial trust and confidence in
your Patriotism, Ealour. Conduct and Fidelity
Do by these presents constitute and appoint you
to be Captain in the Fifth New York Regiment
IN the Army of the United States. TO take rank
as such from the Sd day OF August. A. D. lTT5:
You are therefore, carefully and diligently to
discharge the duty Of Captain by doing and
performing all manner Of things theTeUnto be-
longing And we DO strictly charge and require
all Officers and Soldiers, under your command TO
be obedient 10 your orders as Captain And
you are to observe and follow such orders and
directions, from time TO time, you shall re-
CeiTe from this, or q future Congress Of the
United States, Committee OF Congress, for
that purpose appointed, a Committee of the
States, or Commander in chief for the time being
OF the Army OF the United States, or any other
your superior Officer according 10 the rules and
discipline Of Var, in pursuance Of the trust
posed IN YOU This Commission 10 cOntine
II force until revoked by this. or future Con-
gresS. the Committee of Congress beforemen-
toned, or a Committee OF the STAKES
Witness his excellency. John JAY. President Of
the Congress Of the United StSTes Of America,
AZ Philadelphia the 2sth day OF June, l779,
and IN the third year OF our Independence
JOHN JAY
Entered in the War Office and examined By the
Board.
Attest:
P. SMITH,
Secretary OF the Board OF War.
A red seal, bearing the then United
States design, has been lost from the doc
ument. but the sheepskin bears the abra-
sions which were required 10 make the
sealing wax adhere
Capt. Jacobus Rosekrans was one of
tionary Army He rose to the rank Of
Ma jor- A second brother, Depew Rose
krans, was drummer boy. and was the
father OF Mrs Ben Wade and the grand
father of her son. Major General James
/. Wade Benjamin Rosekrans. the third
brother. was a captain in the Continental
Army, and after the Revolution served
thirteen consecutive years as q member
Of the New York Legislature The last
brother Henry ROsekraus. attained the
rank of lieutenant he was thrown from
his horse auG killed
Henry ROsekrans, a son of Captain ia
CObus ECSekrans, who was born in 1872.
enlisted IN the wa: OF 1872. at the age OF
- His father prevented his going to the
front. This Henry Rosekrans was the
father of Captain Jacobus a Rosecrars,
as the name is row spelled. the pOssessCr
OF the parchment commission Captain
Eosecrans was commissioned by Presi-
cent Lincoln. and was OF the staff Of
General Sullivan, General Siegel. General
EunteT. General Crook, and General Glib
hons at various times during the civil
war de was also the chief cOmmISsary
Of the TWeuIy-fGurth Army Corps from
he date Of its organization He has
been recOmme nded for the breNets OF ma
5Jr and OF lieutenant colonel, and is gen
orally addressed by the latter title.
General " illiam S RoSecrans. Of civil
war fame. considers himself TO be a mem
Der Of this family although lack OF fam
lily record has not Saa5led him 10 sub
stantiate what Is probably a fact The
EOsekranses OF ROsecranses are descend
ants Of early Dutch cOlOUiStS who settled
in New Amsterdam. They finally made
their home IN Duchess county n y. and
held at one time extensive possessions
there.