The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. By Jared Sparks.

286 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS. [AET. 26.
thought proper to discontinue this allowance to the
companies that remained in Virginia, at the same time
that he allowed it to those who went to Carolina, although I produced evidence under General Stanwix's
hand, that all officers were entitled to'it, and that it was
essential to enable them to take the field. General
Forbes has obtained this allowance for the Pennsylvania
troops, and desired Sir John St. Clair to urge it strongly
on this government also.
Thirdly, the unequal pay of the two Virginia regiments will, I conceive, if a stop is not put to it, be productive of great discontent, and many evils. For the
soldiers of the first regiment think their claim upon the
country equally as good, if not better than that of the
second, because their services are not limited.* They
have lacked the great bounty, which the others have received, and have had no clothes for almost two years,
although they have an annual call for clothes, and in
strictness the same right to expect them.
Fourthly, as our regimental clothing cannot possibly
last through the campaign, will it not be advisable to
obtain a supply for next winter? I have sent to Philadelphia for one thousand pair of Indian stockings, or
leggins, the better to equip my men for the woods; and
I now inquire whether I am to pay for them in behalf of
the country, or deduct the cost out of their pay. As
they have not received the clothing, to which they are
entitled, they may think this latter a hardship.
Fifthly, should not the pay of the surgeon's mates in
the first regiment be equal to that of those in the
second? The latter have four shillings and the former' The second regiment was raised only for the campaign, and, by the
terms of the act of Assembly, it was to be disbanded, and the men discharged on the first of December; whereas the soldiers of the first regiment were enlisted to serve during the war.