Petition signed in ink by three influential officers in the Continental Army, regarding pay and compensation due to the soldiers. In part: 'To the United States in Congress assembled, the memorial and petition of the Officers of the Massachusetts Line of the Army, humbly showeth. That the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, agreeable to the recommendations of Congress, has settled with their Line and adopted measures for the payment of all arrears, due to them by reasons of the depreciation of the currency, from the first day of January, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-seven, to the Thirty-first of December one thousand and seven hundred and eighty, so far as it respects their monthly pay. But with regard to such arrears as are due to the officers on account of retained rations, or subsistance, and the non-commissioned officers and privates, for deficiency of clothing, the Commonwealth has not, as yet, taken them into consideration... Impressed with a sense of the goodness of Congress, and considering that...the accounts of all advances, in behalf of the United States are in the hands of agents immediatley under their direction, the Massachusetts Line have therefore thought proper to lay the matter before this honourable Body...."