At the close of the American War of Independence it was the first care of Congress to cut down the country's expenses. On April the 26th, 1778, by a majority of one State, half-pay had been voted for life to the officers as a means of keeping the army together. In the four years following five different votes were passed, each annulling the former one. In 1782 it was proposed to remit the whole matter to the States. Finally in 1783, after the appearance of the Newburgh addresses, it was decided to commute the half-pay for life into five years' full pay in one gross sum, certificates to be issued therefore at six percent. This measure was unpopular. Research Half-Pay Question
The Newburg Addresses were two anonymous appeals issued in 1783 to the officers of George Washington's army, then encamped at Newburgh, to hold a meeting for the consideration of the question of the money then due them by Congress. The addresses were written by CaptainArmstrong, of Pennsylvania, and were supposed to have been instigated by the Gates faction. George Washington immediately denounced the meeting as subversive of discipline, and called a regular meeting of the officers for March the 16th. Gates was placed in the chair, and George Washington's friends carried motions declaring their unshaken confidence in Congress, and denouncing the 'infamous proposals' of the anonymous addresses. Research Newburg Addresses
Newburgh is a Royal Burgh town on the Firth of Tay in Fife, Scotland.
Newburgh is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
Newburgh is a village in Lancashire, England.
Newburgh is a city in Orange County, New York, USA. The city of Newburgh (formerly known as Newburg) was founded in 1708 by a band of Germans under a grant from Queen Anne who 'bought' the land from the Waoranek indians who inhabited the area - the Waoranek didn't recognise the concept of land ownership, and gave the land willingly to the settlers and moved on out of the way. The town was afterward settled chiefly by the Scotch and English, who gave it the name of Newburg in 1743. A new patent was obtained in 1752, and the town was systematically laid out. In 1782, after the defeat of Cornwallis, George Washington encamped his army at Newburgh. Here the army was disbanded on April the 19th, 1783.
Newburgh is a town in Warrick County, Indiana, USA.
Newburgh is a town in Orange County, New York, USA.
Newburgh is a township in Steele County, North Dakota, USA.
Newburgh is a town in Penobscot County, Maine, USA. Research Newburgh
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Research Half-Pay Question
