Garrison of West Point, June 21st 1784

Sir We the late Officers of the American Army, deranged by the Resolution of Congress of the 2nd instant having been reduced to the necessity of adopting a measure which may possibly by some be thought unjustifiable without the motives and reasons of our conduct being fully explained have thought proper in this collective manner to communicate the transaction and the Reasons on which it is grounded.

From the assurances of the Commander-in-Chief and the other characters who were intrusted by Congress to arrange the troops who were to remain in service after the 1st of January 1784 and in whom we placed the fullest confidence, we had every prospect of punctual payment for our service. With this view we gave up every Idea of business and [illegible] [illegible] very great Expence in making our [illegible] as military Characters, Having made every [illegible] for the pay. The Resolution of Congress which dismissed us [occured?] at a very unexpected period. [Illegible] made however by the Sovereign power of the Country we acquiessed [sic] with that chearfullness [sic] and obedience which becomes Servants of the public. The same Resolution of Congress by which we obtained our dismission granted us only two months pay on notes of the Financier, and directed final settlement Certificates for the discharge of the other four - upon an adjustment of our Accounts we found this sum by no means sufficient to satisfy those demands which had necessarily incurred during a service of six months.

In a situation so distressing we looked around for a possibility of Relief. Nothing presented itself but an Order on Mr. Lovell which you had placed in the hands of the Pay Master for the Officers subsistence. after deducting three months subsistence for those who were to remain in service, including the Invalids we found there was a sufficient sum to furnish us with six weeks pay and on an application to the person with whom it was intrusted for the purpose of exchange he delivered the money taking our receipts to that amount received of the Regimental Paymaster on account of our four months pay for the year 1784.

Thus Sir have we stated to you in the [illegible] [illegible] the reasons we have [illegible] and the necessity which induced them - We fully persuade ourselves they will be considered as perfectly just on our part and meet the approbation of all Concerned.

We are Sir With great regard and Esteem Your most Obedient humble servants - [Signed:] Nat. Stone [Tob.?] Sumner [?][?] Nathan Leavinworth John Mills Jon. Haskell [Saml.?] Wadford James Surrye C Feloin Joseph Potter [?] Henry Nelson [?] Cunningham [?] F. Reed [Torn] [?] Lt. [?] [?] Wm. Hull G.T. Bauman [?] [?] [?] E. Fenno William Richard Joseph Bliss Caleb Swan [?] [?] James Sever [?] Haskell J. [Lord?]

Outside of the letter is marked “From the late officers of the garrison at West Point”