By a committee chosen out of the brigade, Serg.t Majr. Smith in the chair, An address of the non-commission'd officers and soldiers belonging to your honors brigade : to his honor General Nixon ...A.D.S.

By a committee chosen out of the brigade, Serg.t Majr. Smith in the chair, An address of the non-commission'd officers and soldiers belonging to your honors brigade : to his honor General Nixon ...A.D.S.

A petition of the sergents of ye brigade to Gen Nixon.

Roxbury 1778

[4] p. ; 31 cm. (fol.)

Mss L1988.190.256

Signed on p. [3]: Wm. S. Smith, Thomas [Borden? Boyden?] Sgt., R Dockinson [i.e., Reuben Dickinson?], Josiah Convers, Oliver Bartlet, Thomas Tubes, [i.e., Tubbs?], Wm. St. Cl[air?], and Thos. Scott, all of Col.[John] Greaton's Regiment, the 3rd Massachusetts; Elepha. Norton, Daniel Goodridge, Asa [Church?], [James?] Williams, John Shard, {Maurice Hanly?], and Samuel [illegible], all of Col. Nixon's Regiment, the 6th Massachusetts; Elijah Hammond, Ephraim Potter, Jonathan Wing, and George Man, of Col. Putnam's Regiment, the 5th Massachusetts.
Attested at bottom of p. [3]: George [Onihill?] Clerk to ye Committee.
Docketed title: Petition of the sergents of ye Brigade to Gen Nixon. Roxbury ye 9th Nov. 1778
Above docketed title: "Somewhat mutinous"
On p. [4]: In Council Nov. 17 1778. Heard & ordered that William Leben, Artemas Ward and Jabez Fisher Esq. be a committee to consider this petition & heard Brigrl. [i.e. Brigade General?] Nixon and the chaplain of said brigade upon the subject matter thereof & report. [signed] Jno. Avery Depy.
Also on p. [4]: In Council Jany 7th 1779 read & sent down [signed] Jno. Avery
Also on p. [4]}: In the House of Representatives Jany 7. 1779, Read & thereupon ordered that Mr. Lowell, General Lovell, Col. Baldwin, & Capt [Joseph?] Hosmer with such as the Gen. Board may join be a committee to consider the state of the army at large & report what is proper to be done respecting the same, and that the siad address be committed to said committee. Sent up for concurrence [signed] John Pickering Spk.r
Finally, on p. 4: In council Jany. 7th 1779 read & concurred [by?] Artemas Ward, Oliver Prescot & Eleazer Brook..... [signed Jno. Avery D.Secy.
The petition describes "grievances" as "a burthen too heavy for a spirited soldier to bear" but claims that the petitioners do not intend to "raise a stampede in the brigade" but to acquaint Col. Nixon with their view that their "statesmen have in no manner fulfilled their obligations to these brave men who have ventured their lives ... and suffer'd under hardships impossible for any but a spirited soldier to bear. While they are indulging themselves in ease, and intirely forgetting the brave fellows that keep them so.
Their complaints: 1) "not being supplyed with necessarie [word torn away] sufficient to keep up the true spirit of men who are fighting ... in defence of the glorious cause of liberty. They believe that the politicians "imagine we are bound their slaves, but [we] are determined to convince them to the contrary. They need sufficient clothing and desire that the state will "make up to us either in money or some other necessary articles ..." that deficiency.
They close by appealing to their commander to convey "as quick as possible to the state" their grievances. "Permit us ... to say that should our grievances by redessed and should we be so happy to continue under yr honors command, we will then manifest to the world that we are not unworthy of their notice."
John Greaton, Nixon, and Putnam were original members of the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati.

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