Rank Dispute between Captains Zeigler and Ferguson; Augmentation of Troops
Item
Type
Printed transcription/modern copy of letter
Title
Rank Dispute between Captains Zeigler and Ferguson; Augmentation of Troops
Description
Knox briefly touches on appointments and promotions. He discusses a dispute over relative rank between two Captains and proposes solutions for limiting such disputes. Knox suggests that commissions should be dated on the day that Congress approves them. Rank in the Revolutionary War should not be taken into account when determining current rank order. The Council has the ultimate authority to determine order of rank.
short description
Ltr, discusses relative officer ranks.
year created
1788
month created
02
day created
16
author
sent from location
War Office
recipient
in collection
in publication
note
Pennsylvania Archives vol. 11, p 240-241
notable person/group
Benjamin Franklin
Henry Knox
Lieutenant Ashton
Robert Thompson
Captain Zeigler
Captain Ferguson
Pennsylvania troops
Captain
Finney
Ensign
militia
board of field officers
Legislature of Pennsylvania
Congress
notable location
War Office
United States
Pennsylvania
frontiers
notable item/thing
dispute of rank
certificate of promotions
appointments
quota
resigned
relative rank
military establishment
resolves
original appointments
late war
temporary service
notable phrase
could not with military propriety be estimated as a counterbalance for the established relative rank which might have subsisted for several years of the late war
executive council possess the right on an original appointment to arrange their officers as they please
conduce to the harmony of the service to leave the decision of the present dispute to a board of field officers
direct the commanding officer
legislature of Pennsylvania
consequence of the requisitions of Congress
augmented the troops by which officers might be introduced on the same grades with those previously in service
officers in the service of the Union should in cases of original appointments take rank from the dates of the acts of congress by which they were raised, notwithstanding any difference of relative rank during the late war
militia
your letter contained the first intimation of the dispute
after the formation of the present corps, I directed the commanding officer to assemble the other field officers
board to settle the relative rank of all the officers of the regiment
dispersed and distant situation of the several companies prevented a compliance with my orders
considering the subject of rank ofhte officers on the present military establishment
l all the commissions should be dated on the day of the resolve of Congress which gave existence to the corps
unless this point were made a principle, officers might loose or gain what they regard as an essential right from the accidental circumstances of the legislature of the state to which they were attached
settlement of their relative rank was left to the judgement of the field officers
appointed to be an ensign
promoted to be a captain
senior ensign promoted to be an ensign
executive council
honor to acknowledge the receipt of your favor
stating the dispute of rank between Captain Zeigler and Ferguson
covering the certificate of the promotion and appointment in the quota of the Pennsylvania troops in the service of the United States
document number
1788021600000
Item sets
Document instances
| In image | In source | Location in source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| [view document] (0 pages) | [no image] | Collection: Printed Versions | [unknown] |
| [view document] (0 pages) | [no image] | Publication: Pennsylvania Archives vol.11 | [unknown] |
Document names
| Type | Name | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | Henry Knox | War Office | [n/a] |
| Recipient | Benjamin Franklin | [unknown] | [n/a] |