On this day 250 years ago in Philadelphia, the Continental Congress authorized the first medical department for the Army consisting of

One Director general and chief physician, Four surgeons, per diem each, one and one third of a dollar, One apothecary, Twenty mates, One clerk, Two storekeepers, One nurse to every 10 sick, Laborers occasionally.

Unfortunately, Congress unanimously chose Dr. Benjamin Church of Massachusetts, who would soon be identified as a traitor spying for the British, as director and chief physician of the medical corps.

On that day the Congress also unanimously elected James Warren of Massachusetts as paymaster general and

Resolved, That the sum of twenty five thousand dollars be paid by the continental treasurers [to designated agents for] the purpose of importing gunpowder for the continental armies, and that they be allowed out of the same five per cent for their trouble and expenses therein, that they keep all their proceedings as much as possible a secret from every other person but the Congress and the general of the continental forces for the time being.  

Warren would prove a dedicated Patriot who would serve in multiple roles throughout the Revolution, never wavering in his commitment to American Liberty.

Source:

Second Continental Congress: July 27, 1775