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Dr. John Morgan defends himself as Surgeon General of the United States... Silas Deane's letter in defense of himself...
Dr. John Morgan defends himself as Surgeon General of the United States... Silas Deane's letter in defense of himself...
Item # 701323
December 09, 1778
THE NEW JERSEY GAZETTE, Trenton, Dec. 9, 1778 New Jersey was the last of the 13 original colonies to have a newspaper. This is the volume 1, number 53 issue.
The entire front page and a portion of page 2 are taken up with a lengthy & detailed letter: "To the Citizens and Freemen of the United States of America" signed in type at the end: John Morgan, October 1, 1778.
This letter was in defense of his services as director-general of the hospitals, and physician-in-chief to the American Army. He served as the second chief physician and director general of the Continental Army, an early name for the Surgeon General of the United States. He was empowered by the Continental Congress to inspect regimental hospitals and transfer patients if warranted and to examine regimental surgeons. Rancor among the regimental surgeons became so extensive that Morgan quit following the Continental Army's move from Boston to New York City.
Pages 2 and 3 contain a very lengthy letter signed in type: S(ilas) Dean, Philadelphia, November, 1778.
Silas Deane was shocked when Congress accused him of financial impropriety on the basis of reports by his fellow commissioner Arthur Lee. Because Deane had left his account books in Paris, he was neither able to properly defend himself nor seek reimbursement for money he had spent procuring supplies in France.
Silas Deane was shocked when Congress accused him of financial impropriety on the basis of reports by his fellow commissioner Arthur Lee. Because Deane had left his account books in Paris, he was neither able to properly defend himself nor seek reimbursement for money he had spent procuring supplies in France.
In a long and bitter dispute over the charges, Deane was defended before Congress by John Jay. He published a public defense entitled "The Address of Silas Deane to the Free and Virtuous Citizens of America", in which he attacked Arthur Lee, other members of the Lee family, and their associates. Arthur's brothers Richard Henry Lee and Francis Lightfoot Lee both denounced Deane's accusations as libelous and injurious to the American cause.
This is that letter, taking most of page 2 and a portion of page 3.
Four pages, in great condition.
This is that letter, taking most of page 2 and a portion of page 3.
Four pages, in great condition.
Category: Revolutionary War
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