Delinquent Officers
Document 1793Swan has received letters from Joseph Howell, Accountant of the War Department, directing him to make stoppages of the pay of several delinquent officers, particularly of Capt. Joseph Brock, whose accounts he will not approve because of defects in the vouchers.
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[Legion Ville 12 April '93 / Calls from / Swan / [to] Howell Esqr]
Legion Ville April 12th 1793.
Sir,
Your favors, one of the 29th and two of the 30. Ultimo, together with the schedules and charges enclosed Were duly received on the 8th instant.
In answer to which I refer you to the enclosed Copy of my report to General Wayne dated the 8th instant Marked No 1. and its appendage dated 21 January 1793 No 2. — Which you will please to consider as copies of my proceedings on the Subject of accounts and monies directed to be received by me from accountable officers. In doing this, I conceive I have complied with my instructions — In addition to the applications contained in No. 2. I have to inform you that I authorized and requested Lt Daniel Britt Paymaster &c, by letter dated 21 January 1793. to call on the following officers who are under General Wilkinson's orders, for their accounts, and the balances of unexpended public money in their hands; but have had no returns from him.
Viz. Capt. Thomas Doyle Lieut William A Lee
Capt Alexander Gibbon Lieut Benj. Strother
Capt Howell Lewis Cornet S. Webb
Capt Thomas Lewis Ens. J. Kreamer
Capt William Preston Ens. Wm Mills
Capt William Winston Maj. J.F. Hamtramck.
Capts Mahlon Ford
It is a circumstance by no means favorable to the officers, that their public accounts are not yet handed in — but if I am to proceed immediately to make Stoppages of their pay it will be considered as an ex-parte business. While the officers are here they cannot be heard before you as the arbiter of their accounts. — And at this season they Cannot obtain furloughs — Some of them assert that they have never been instructed in what Manner to take Vouchers or render their accounts.
Your last instruction to stop the officers Pay is so unqualified as to embarrass me. It would authorize me to stop all the pay that is due and growing due until their accounts are Settled; But I expect I shall be justified in waiting for further instructions on the Subject.
If I were to suggest any thing on this head it would be that no more Stoppages be made at the present moment, than can well be dispensed with — As the officers will probably be continued some time longer in Service it will be best to fix on some given Sum to be stopped from each, as May be proportionate to, and indemnify the United States, for their advances.
I am Sir
your obedient Serv[ant]
Caleb Swan Pay Master
of the troops of the U. Stat[es].
P.S. Howell Esqre
P.S. I wish to be instructed on what principles the Cavalry officers have heretofore drawn forage money from you; And as the law is silent on that head, what allowance is to be made in future, or whether any. Please to let me know by the next post. Y[ou]rs C. Swan
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[Copy No 1.] Legion Ville April 8th 1793.
Sir. The following quotation is extracted from the instructions of the Comptroller of the Treasury of the United States, directed to me and dated July 26. 1792.
"If any officer to whom money shall appear to have been advanced, shall neglect to exhibit an account of the application thereof so that the proper deductions may be made from the pay Roll, You will report their delinquent to the Commanding Officer." "And transmit Copies of your proceedings to the office of the accountant of the war department."
"The accountants of the war department will transmit to you a list of advances to sundry officers for the recruiting Service, you will apply to such officers for their accounts, and will receive any balances, which shall appear to be in their hands, for which, as also for the accounts, which they shall deliver to you, you will pass receipts."
"For the monies you will pass credits in your books, and the accounts you will herewith transmit to the accountant of war department."
I now conceive it to be my duty to inform You Sir, That, in pursuance of the foregoing instructions, I addressed a circular letter, dated 21 January 1793. (of which the enclosed is a Copy) to the several officers therein named, and some that time have made personal application to Major John Clark, Captain Uriah Springer and Ensign John Steele whose accounts are of a familiar nature with the others. — That in Consequence of these applications, I have received and forwarded the account and Vouchers of Capt. Joseph Brock of the Infantry, and of Joseph Elliott of the artillery: And none of Others. — That no balances of Cash have been refunded to me on the occasion. —
That I received letters last evening from Joseph Howell accountant of the department directing me to make Stoppages of the pay of the several delinquent officers, and particularly from Captain J. Brock, whose accounts have not pass in his office, from some defect in the Vouchers.
I submit the following Statement to your Excellency, that such order may be taken thereon as will bring the business into a proper train, and will more fully authorize me to make Stoppages from the pay of the Officers doing which I should be as anxious to avoid any Odium from them, as I am Solicitous to fulfil my duty. I have the honor to be
Sir, Your Most obedient
Servant
Caleb Swan Paymaster
of the troops of the [U.] Stat[es].
Maj.r Genl Wayne
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[Circular (Copy)] Pittsburg January 21. 1793.
[No 2]
Sir. The comptroller of the treasury and the accountant of the department of war, have directed me to make application to you for your account and vouchers for the expenditure of the monies charged to you for the purposes of [underline: recruiting, Contingent expenses of Marching companies or detachments,] (and for the pay due to your late Company of Davies)
They have directed that each officers accounts and Vouchers, now unsettled, shall be regularly [strikethrough: fitted] and lodged with me to secure them from accident, and for which I am directed to give a receipt as a security to the parties, until the accounts can be finally adjusted at the accountants office — I am also directed to Call on you for the balance of public money intended for the above mentioned objects which may remain in your hands unaccounted for, for which I am also directed to give you a receipt.
The Adjutant General will furnish you with a copy of a form which has been commonly used in making up a recruiting account.
I have enclosed a transcript of the several Charges exhibited against you that such of them as are not already Settled, may be Accounted for agreeably to this request as soon as is Convenient.
I am very respectfully
Sir your obedient Serv[ant]
Caleb Swan Paymaster of the
Troops of the U[nited] States
To. Capt. Richard Sparks
Capt William Faulkner
+ Capt Joseph Brock
Capt William Eaton
Capt Edward Butler
Capt John Pierce artill[ery]
Capt Robt Mc Campbell Pay[master]
Capt Henry Carberry
Capt William Lewis
Capt William Buchannan
Capt Nicholas Hannah
Capt Jacob Slough
Cap. John Cummins
Lieut William Devin
Lieut David N. Jenifer
Lieut Ebenr Massey artill[ery]
Lieut Percy Pope d[itt]o
+ Lieut Joseph Elliott d[itt]o
Lieut Benjn Price
Ensign Nat. P. Gassaway
Ensign John Micheal
Ensign Samuel Drake
[Called Swan Lette[r] / related to his & Howell's [accounts] / April 12. 1793]
Type
Autograph Letter Signed
Description
Swan has received letters from Joseph Howell, Accountant of the War Department, directing him to make stoppages of the pay of several delinquent officers, particularly of Capt. Joseph Brock, whose accounts he will not approve because of defects in the vouchers.
Date
04/08/1793
Author
Recipient
Sent from
Legionville
Document number
1793040815001
Page start
6
Note
Enclosed in Swan to Howell, 12 April 1793.
Notable persons
Anthony Wayne
Caleb Swan
Accountant of the War Department
Joseph Howell
Captain Joseph Brock
delinquent officers
Notable locations
Legionville
Notable items
vouchers
stoppages

