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Continental Congress, June 5, 1782, Resolutions on German Prisoners
These pages set forth the policy on enlisting German prisoners at Frederick to increase the ranks of U.S. regiments. These are the actual photos copied from the Library of Congress website and among the George Washington papers.
Copyrights don't apply to U.S. government data and reports so I don't know where this falls.
Donated by Curt Larsen
a list member who extracted the information.
Continental Congress, June 5, 1782, Resolutions on German Prisoners
The Committee to whom were referred the letter of the 3d of May from the Secretary at War and the letter of the 27th of April from the Commander in Chief report as follows:
Whereas the events of war have put into possession of these United States great numbers of prisoners taken at different periods in the service of the King of Great Britain. And whereas the British commander in chief hath not yet concurred in any measures for liquidating & discharging the arrears due to the United States for the past subsistence of the said prisoners or providing for their future subsistence And whereas a considerable proportion of the said prisoners consists of Germans by nations many of whom from a dislike to the service into which they have been involuntarily hired upon a prospect of amending their condition have expressed a desire of entering some of them into the military service of the United States & others into a reasonable period of common service with a view of eventually becoming citizens and settle within the said States; and whereas the indulgence of the said prisoners in their respective desires will tend to counteract the unjust and cruel design of the Enemy and to aid the States in filling up the quotas of troops respectively required of them.
Resolved that the Secretary at War be authorized & directed to take immediate measures for enlisting into the Army of the United States for the term of three years or for the war at the option of the party enlisting so many of the German prisoners of war to the said United States as shall voluntarily agree thereto and take the Oath of fidelity prescribed by the articles of war. That the said secretary be authorized to allow to each recruit so enlisted a bounty of eight dollars to be advanced from time to time on his application by the superintendent of finance and to stipulate in behalf of the United States to all recruits the same pay & other provisions and on the conditions that have been stipulated to other soldiers enlisted for the same time into the service of the United States. That the recruits enlisted be placed by the said Secretary to the credit of the several States in proportion of their quotas of troops respectively required of them by Congress in the same manner as if the recruits had been raised by & received from them in performance of such requisition. That the said recruits as fast as they shall be enlisted shall be marched to such places as the Commander in Chief shall direct and shall be arranged in the army in such a manner as shall judge most conducive to the public service.
That the Superintendent of finance & the Secretary at war take order for the disposing of the services of such of the said prisoners as shall desire for such period as they shall deem reasonable not exceeding three years & on such conditions as will secure to the same a comfortable acquaintance and be most conducive to the public interest.
June 5, 1782. Ordered that the foregoing report except the last clause be referred to the Commander in chief and Secretary at War and the Superintendent of finance, to take order any action [?] to the contrary notwithstanding Ordered that the last clause be referred to the Superintendent of finance and Secretary at War to take Order so soon as order is taken on the former part.
Chas Thompson, secy
Resolve of the Congress relative to the enlistment of German prisoners- April 27, 1782
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