From Josiah Harmar (unpublished)
Fort Harmar at the Mouth of the Muskingum,
December 23d,1787.
Sir,
I have the honor to enclose to your Excellency & the Honorable
the Coucil, a Return of the Pennsylvania Troops in the Service of
the United States, dated this day.
The Secretary at war informs me that Congress, by their Act of
the 3d October last, have been pleased to call upon the same
States to raise the same number of men for three years, in order
that the present officers might be retained in service.
By Mr. Melchior your Excellency’s Letter was received, likewise
one from the honorable, the Vice president, General Mifflin, &
the honorable Charles Biddle, Esq., the Secretary; all in favor of
this young Gentleman for the appointment of an Ensigncy. Previous
to the receipt of these Letters I was induced in my Letter of the
7th August to recommend to your Excellency, Mr. Robert Thomson, a
Son of the late General Thomson’s, to fill the first vacancy. He
was warmly recommended to me by General Irvin & several others of
his acquaintance.
From the powerful recommendations in favour of Mr. Melchior, it
would be presumption in me to urge the matter further, as the
appointments rest solely with our honorable body.
If it meets the approbation of your Excellency & the honorable
Council, the following is the new arrangement which I wish to take
place in our State, for the 1st United States Regiment, viz.
| Brigadier General by Brevet. |
| Captain William Ferguson, Artillery. |
| Captain David Zeigler, Infantry. |
| Captain William M’Curdy, ditto. |
| Daptain Joseph Ashton, Infantry.—Vice Captain Finney resigned 1st |
| Lieutenant Ercurius Beatty, Infantry. |
| Lieutenant Thomas Doyle, ditto. |
| Lieutenant John Armstrong, ditto. |
| Lieutenant Edward Spear, Art’y, Vice Lt. Aston promoted. |
| Ensign Evenezer Denny, Infantry. |
| Ensitn Nathan M’Dowell, ditto. |
| Robert Thomson, Jacob Melchior. One of them to be Ensign in the |
| Infantry. Vice Ensign Spear promoted. |
| John M’Dowell, Surgeon, It is uncertain whether he will continue |
| Richard Allison, Surgeon’s Mate. |
Either Mr. Thomson or Mr. Melchior, which ever your Excellency
& the Honorable Council shall judge most proper, will fill the
vacancy occasioned by Captain Finney’s resignation. If Doctor
M’Dowell declines the service, Doctor Allison, the mate, is, I
believe, in every respect qualified to succeed him.
I have the honor to be, With the highest esteem & respect, Your
Excellency’s & the honorable Council’s most h’ble & obt. Ser’t,
| Lt. Col. Com. 1st U.S. Reg., & Brig. Gen. by Brevet. |
Return of the Pennsylvania Troops in the Serivce of the
United States, Commanded by Brigadier Genral Josiah Harmar, 1787.
Companies at Fort Harmar:
| Capt. Zeigler’s, | 1 | | Lieut. Colonel Commandant |
| Total | 62 | | including non-commissioned and privates. |
| Total | 51 | | including non-commissioned and privates. |
Company at the Rapids of the Ohio, return dated 28th Oct.,
| Late Capt. Finney | 1 | | Lieutenant |
| Total | 59 | | including non-commissioned and privates. |
Company at Venango, McIntosh and Post Vincennes, return dated, 1st
Oct.
| Total | 50 | | including non-commissioned and privates. |
| Total. | 1 | | Lieut. Colonel Commandant—Field Officers |
| 3 | | Captains—Commiss’d. Officers |
| 4 | | Lieutenants—Commiss’d. Officers |
| 3 | | Ensigns—Commiss’d Officers |
| 13 | | Serjeants—Non Com’d Officer |
| 13 | | Corporals—Non Com’d. Officers |
| 8 | | Music—Non Com’d. Officers |
| Total | 222 | | including Non-commissioned and privates. |
| 1 | | Lieut. Colonel Commandant |
| Total | 260 | | including non-commissioned and privates |
| Jos. Harmar, Lr. Col. Com. |
Attest, E. Denny, Ens’n and Adj’t
n.b. Forty of Capt. Furguson’s Company are at Post Vincennes.
Directed,
His Excellency, Benjamin Franklin, Esq., President, & the
honorable, The Supreme Executive Council Pennsylvania.