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A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 1778
A letter, of 28, from S[ilas] Deane, Esq. late commissioner at the court of France, was read:
Ordered, To lie on the table.
A letter, of 8, from B. Harrison, Esq. deputy pay master general in Virginia, with an abstract of his monthly account, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
A letter, of 25, from Jonathan Trumbull, Jun. Esq. pay master in the northern department, was read, requesting, as the northern and southern armies are joined, and for
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sundry reasons set forth, that Congress will be pleased to suffer him to resign his employment;1 Whereupon,
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XXII, folio 583.]
Resolved, That Jonathan Trumbull, Jun. Esq. pay master in the northern department, have leave to resign his employment.
Ordered, That Jonathan Trumbull, Jun. Esq. pay over the public monies in his hands, to Colonel William Palfrey, pay master general, taking duplicate receipts, and that he transmit one of them to the Treasury Board; and that Mr. Trumbull settle his accounts as soon as may be.
Two memorials from the Hon. the Sieur Gérard, one respecting a deserter from the frigate Chimère, and the other respecting the sailing of the said frigate, were laid before Congress and read:
Ordered, That they be referred to the Marine Committee.
The Marine Committee laid before Congress two letters, one dated 18 May, the other 1 June, from John Wereat, continental agent in Georgia, complaining of the conduct of Colonels White and Elbert, in the sale of three vessels captured from the enemy, and other papers relating thereto: Whereupon,
Ordered, That the Marine Committee take proper measures for referring to the governor and council of Georgia an enquiry into the conduct of Colonels White and Elbert, in the complaint against them by Mr. John Wereat, to give the said colonels an opportunity of being heard in their defence; and that the result of the said enquiry be reported to Congress as soon as may be.
A petition from Hector M'Neil was read:2
[Note 2: 2 This petition, dated July 25, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, V, folio 73.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Marine Committee.
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The Board of War, to whom the memorial of the Chevalier de la Neuville, inspector to the northern army, with sundry letters from General Gates and Brigadier Parsons were referred, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; after debate,
Resolved, That the consideration thereof be postponed.
The Board ∥of War∥ farther reported,
At A Board Of War, July 29, 1778
The Board of War, to whom the Memorial of the Chevalier de la Neuville, Inspector to the Northern Army with sundry Letters from General Gates and Brigadier Gen: Parsons were referred, beg leave to report,
That le Chevalier de la Neuville was in the mouth of May last recommended to Congress by a special Committee, to be appointed Inspector of the Northern army with the Rank of a Brigadier General.
That Congress not chusing at that Time to confer that Rank on a Person of whose Talents they had not sufficient Experience,
Resolved "That Mons de la Neuville be informed that Congress will be disposed after an Experience of his services of an Inspector to the Army under Gen. Gates for the Space of three Months to confer on him such Rank as his merits may justly entitle him to,"
That it appears from the Certificates of Major General Gates, dated White Plains the 24th July, and of Brigadier General Parsons, dated June 28th, 1778,
That le Chevalier de la Neuville has since his appointment as an Inspector to the Northern army discharged his duty with the utmost Diligence and Ability and to the great satisfaction of the officers and men who have received much useful instruction from him,
The Board therefore submit to the opinion of Congress.
That le Chevalier de la Neuville have the Rank of a Postponed 29 July. Brigadier General by Brevet in the American Army.
That Mons. Noirmont de la Neuville, since the month of December, has acted as aid de camp to Major General Conway, and since the appointment of his brother, as inspector to the northern army, has discharged the duties of deputy inspector with uncommon assiduity and much
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satisfaction to the officers and men of the northern army; Whereupon,
Resolved, That Mons. Noirmont de la Neuville have the rank of a major by brevet in the American army.1
[Note 1: 1 The original report added: "the rank to commence from the day he was appointed aid de camp to Major General Conway."]
The Board farther report, "that the reasons for which Mr. Bryan Lefferty was made a prisoner of war to the United States, appear to them no longer to subsist;" Whereupon,
Resolved, That Mr. Bryan Lefferty be discharged from his parole, and that the sum allowed him by Congress, heretofore for his support, be paid up to this time.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, II, folio 151.]
The Board of War brought in another report; the same was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
At A Board Of War, July 28th, 1778
Captain Bartholomew Van Herr, Captain of a Troop of Light Dragoons, appointed to act in the Department of Provost Marshal, having represented to the Board, that he has made repeated Endeavours to enlist Men into his Troop, but finds it impossible to do it at the Continental Bounty, and the Board being convinced of the great Utility of this Corps and that their Services are immediately wanted for the Support of the Discipline of the Army and Police of the Camp,
Resolved, That if any of the states, in which Captain Bartholomew Van Herr shall recruit, for his troops of marechasseurs, shall give to persons inlisting in the same, for three years, or during the war, the bounty allowed by the State, in addition to the continental bounty, the men so furnished, not being inhabitants of any other of the United States, shall be credited to the quota of the State in which they shall be inlisted.3
[Note 3: 3 This report, in the writing of Richard Peters, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, II, folio 149.]
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Resolved, That Caleb Gibbs, Esq. now commanding the corps of guards with the grand army, be promoted to the rank of a major in the service of the United States.
Whereas Mons. Francis Joseph Smith has requested a commission to be made use of in case of his being made a prisoner while serving as a volunteer in the American army:
Resolved, That Mons. Francis Joseph Smith have a commission of an ensign by brevet, in the armies of the United States.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Richard Peters, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, II, folio 147.]
Congress resumed the consideration of the answer to the intended speech of the Sieur Gérard, and after debate,
Resolved, That it be committed to three members;
The members chosen, Mr. [Joseph] Reed, Mr. [Francis] Dana, and Mr. [John] Witherspoon.
Ordered, That Mr. [John] Collins have leave of absence.
Adjourned to 9 o'Clock to Morrow.
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