Revolutionary War Bounty https://libraries.psu.edu/about/collections/unearthing-past-student-research-pennsylvania-history/pennsylvania-line-mutiny-0 The Continental Army had 26,000 men in July 1779, but less than 15,000 by the following summer.(9) Some states vigorously sought to maintain enlistment by offering huge cash bounties to soldiers who reenlisted. Pennsylvania was conspicuously stingy in this endeavor. To placate the army and the Pennsylvania troops in particular, Washington convinced the Continental Congress in 1779 to give serving soldiers a $100 bounty.(10) Meanwhile, new soldiers were receiving a bounty of $200. In February of 1780, Connecticut and Rhode Island were offering $300 to new enlistees, and New Jersey was offering $1,000.(11) By 1781, many soldiers in the Pennsylvania Line had served for three years, having received from the state only a $20 bounty at enlistment. Furthermore, the real value of the soldiers’ bounty pay was depreciating significantly.(12) (10) Van Doren, Carl. Mutiny in January. New York: The Viking Press, Inc., 1943. p. 17. (11) Van Doren, p. 19. (12) Van Doren, p. 16. https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/463137?availability=Family%20History%20Library Index/Journals of the Continental Congress 1774-1789 Statement of Responsibility: compiled by Kenneth E. Harris and Steven D. Tilley https://dcms.lds.org/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?from=fhd&dps_pid=IE7471782 [51/444] p 36 Bounties 1775 Northern Army 340, 448 Navy 387 Reenlistment 393 Rhode Island 408 1776 For Canada service 110 Enlistments 483, 565, 620, 722, 874, 1043, 1125 Money for 870 By Maryland 912 For making muskets 478 Salt 398 1777 New levies 28, 576 Land 171n Ohio Garrison 231 To crew Andrew Doria 292 Clothing 716 Virginia troops 1038 1778 To seamen 29 To militia drafts 202 Pulaski's Legion 312 Clothing 573 Armand's Legion 644 Additional 889 Galleys 1119 1779 108, 298, 758, 1348 Rhode Island 471, 476, 504, 546 1783 286, 955 Export 927 [124/444] p 109 Enlistment ... 1776 Bounties 483, 620, 762, 932, 944, 947 ... 1778 Bounties 889 ... [See Also Army, Continental [26/444]] https://www.constitution.org/uslaw/cont-cong/journals.html Full Journals https://www.constitution.org/uslaw/cont-cong/05_journals_continental_congress.pdf Volume 5 p 483 Wednesday 26 Jue 1776 Resolved, That a bounty of ten dollars be given to every non-commissioned officer and soldier, who will inlist to serve for the term of three years. p 565 Tuesday 16 July 1776 That General Washington be informed, that the bounty granted by the resolution of Congree of the 26 June, was intended as a general regulation, and to extend to all such men, now in the continental service, and all others, who will inlist for the term of three years, to be computed from and after the expiration of the term of their present inlistment. p 620 ... Resolved, That the resolution of the 17th of January last, allowing to officers 1 dollar and 1/3d of a dollar for every man they inlist, be extended to officers who inlist for the new army for three years: https://www.constitution.org/uslaw/cont-cong/06_journals_continental_congress.pdf Volume 6 p 874 That the allowance to officers of 1 1/3 dollars for enlisting soldiers be not extended or given on the reinlistment of the soldiers in camp. https://www.constitution.org/uslaw/cont-cong/07_journals_continental_congress.pdf Volume 7 p 28 Friday 10 January 1777 ... Resolved. That 300,000 dollars be sent to Eb Hancock Esq the deputy pay master general in the eastern department, for the purpose of paying the bounties and defraying the expences of raising the new levies in that department. ... https://www.constitution.org/uslaw/cont-cong/13_journals_continental_congress.pdf Volume 13 Tuesday March 9 1779 p 298 Whereas Congree by an act of 23 January last, did among other things, authorize the Commander in Chief to take the most effectual measures to inlist for the continuance of the war new recruits in the United States, to compleast the battalions to their proper complement; and for this purpose to grant to each new recruit who should inlist in any of the continental battalions during the war, such a bounty as the Commander in Chief should think fit, but not to exceed 200 dollars; and it being apprehended that the said provisions will not answer the good purposes thereby intended: Resolved, That eh above recited clause of the said act of Congress be repealed; and that it be earnestly recommended to the several states to make up and compleat their respective battalions to their full complement by draughts, or in any other manner they shall think proper; and that they have their quotas of deficiencies ready to take the field, and to march to such place as the Commander in Chief shall direct, without delay; That a bounty of 200 dollars, out of the continental treasury, shall be granted to each recruit, who, after the 23 day of January last, hath inlisted, or shall inlist durin the war; [or in case the State shall have granted as great, or greater bounty, the said 200 dollars, for every recruit, shall be passed to the credit of the State respectively for whose quota he shall be raised]