On August 14, 1775, Washington appointed him to become the army's first quartermaster general, under order of Congress.[2] Even though he preferred to be on the front line, people said he was good at his job. Because he failed to properly supply Washington and the troops at Valley Forge, questions were raised. People said he had warehoused and sold supplies, instead of bringing them to Washington and his troops. After a talk with Washington,[3] Mifflin asked to be relieved as quartermaster general but was persuaded to resume those duties because Congress did not find a replacement.
Mifflin's leadership in the Battle of Trenton and the Battle of Princeton led to a promotion to major general.[4] In Congress, there was debate regarding whether a national army was more efficient or whether the individual states should maintain their own forces. As a result of this debate the Congressional Board of War was created, on which Mifflin served from 1777 to 1778. He then rejoined the army but took little active role, following criticism of his service as quartermaster general. He was accused of embezzlement and welcomed an inquiry; however, one never took place. He resigned his commission, but Congress continued to ask his advice even after accepting his resignation.
Although Mifflin's family had been Quakers for four generations, he was expelled from the Religious Society of Friends when he joined the Continental Army, because his involvement with the military contradicted that faith's pacifistic doctrines.[5] Mifflin became a member of the American Philosophical Society in 1768 and served for two years as its secretary.[4] He served from 1773 to 1791 as a trustee of the College and Academy of Philadelphia (now the University of Pennsylvania), including two years as treasurer (1773–1775).[6]
↑Risch, Erna (1981). Supplying Washington's Army. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Army Center of Military History. pp. 30–31. Archived from the original on 2010-06-17. Retrieved 2022-06-29.
↑Unger, Harlow Giles (2010). Patrick Henry, Lion of Liberty. Da Capo Press.
↑"Thomas Mifflin". Adherents.com. Archived from the original on April 22, 1999.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) Citing Ferris, Robert G., ed. (1976). Signers of the Constitution: Historic Places Commemorating the Signing of the Constitution (revised ed.). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. pp. 193–94.
