Letterbook

Joseph Howell discusses army accounts with Colonel Samuel Miles

Joseph Howell supplies Samuel Miles with confirmation that officers in captivity were paid and promoted.

1788

01

07

Office of Army Accounts, New York

Joseph Howell

Samuel Miles

Samuel Miles

Joseph Howell

Samuel Miles

officers in captivity

Colonel Beatty

5th Pennsylvania Regiment

prisoners

Captain Lawrence

Captain Helms

Mr. Nicholson

Captain Richardson

Captain Phile

Captain Priestly

Office of Army Accounts, New York

depreciation

pay

rations

certificate

specie

supernumerary pay

accounts

1788010721055

325

325

Col Samuel Miles

Office of Army Accounts New York Jany 7th 1788

Dr Sir

I was honoured with your letter the 11th inst bearing post office date the 20th (undecipherable) enclosed is a copy of a certificate given by Col Beatty in favour of Sunday Officers of the old 5th Pennsy Ret who were prisoners; the accounts of three of those officers have come immediately under my notice and they have been allowed their pay and rations as Captains from the day the certificate specifies they were entitled to promotion. I have also granted them the years supernumerary pay in specie, which the act of Congress of the 26th May 1787 directs to be paid in the new emissions which were considered as such; Captain Lawrence and Holme were settled with at the treasury and received the balance due them in old emissions, their settlements taking place previous to the army settlements was the cause - if the business of the office would permit a minute investigation of the prisoners accounts that have been settled, I should be able to prevent you with the names of many more that have been allowed pay in consequence of their being entitled to promotion while in captivity. I however flatter myself those now sent will answer your purpose - Mr Nicholson has I believe allowed those officers their appreciation on pay as Captains from the
326

same time.

I am with great respect yo ob servt Joseph Howell

I do hereby certify that in pursuance of the annexed certify I have settled the accounts of Capt Richardson Phile and Priestly and have allowed them their pay and rations as such from the periods specified in said certificates and that I have further allowed them then years pay admitted to Supernumerary officers who were deranged in pursuance of the acts of congress of the 24 Nov 1778, 22 May 1779 and 26th May 1981.

I yo