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A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
A letter, of 24, from Major General Heath, was read.1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 157, folio 351.]
The committee of the week was elected:
Mr. [Samuel] Osgood, Mr. [Nicholas] Eveleigh, Mr. [James] Madison.
The report of the Committee of Commerce on the memorial of D. Clarke in behalf of O. Pollock was taken into consideration, and after debate:
Ordered, That it be referred to the committee on the letter, of 17th September, from J. Seagrove.
On motion of Mr. [George] Clymer, seconded by Mr. [Samuel] Osgood:
Ordered, That the Committee of Commerce deliver the books and papers of their department to the comptroller of accounts; and that thereupon, they be discharged.
The committee of the week made report; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a letter, of 24, from G. Melven, with the accounts enclosed, be referred to the comptroller of accounts;
That a letter, of 24, from Jacob Schreiber, captain engineer, be referred to the Board of War;
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That so much of a memorial of James Willing as relates to the settlement of his accounts be referred to the comptroller, and so much as relates to a military commission be referred to the Board of War.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Samuel Osgood, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 32, folio 281. Schreiber's letter is in No. 78, XXI, folio 141; Willing's memorial is in No. 42, VIII, folio 237.]
A report of the Board of War on the petition of Joseph Traversie was read; Whereupon,
At a Board of War October 27, 1781.
Present Mr Peters
General Cornell
The Board on the reference of the letter from Joseph Traversier stiling himself Captain in the service of the United States on the Canadian establishment beg leave report,
That they are unacquainted with any such establishment as that recited in the petition of Mr Traversier whose claims to rank were formerly examined into and on the report of the Board on the 23rd. Nov. 1780 Congress were pleased to resolve,
"That it was inexpedient to give him any military rank in the army of the United States."
Mr Traversier is a Canadian Refugee and has the same merit with others of his Countrymen who have abandoned their possessions, superadded to which he has been employed on secret service and so far as we have heard has conducted himself with fidelity. He has drawn rations on this account by orders from Genl. Gates as we believe.
We presume however that it was the intention of Congress to comprehend the cases of all the Canadians in their resolve of the 18th instant wherefore we take the liberty to propose, that Mr Traversier be informed that his request for pay cannot be complied with, and that all the emoluments he derives from the United States are to cease after the first day of December next.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 148, II, folio 413.]
Resolved, That Congress agree to the said report, and that the Board of War take order thereon.
The committee, ∥consisting of Mr. Randolph, Mr. Boudinot, Mr. Varnum, Mr. Carroll,∥ to whom were referred the
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letters of 16 and 19, from General Washington, delivered in a report, which was taken into consideration; and Thereupon,
Resolved, That the thanks of the United States in Congress assembled, be presented to General Washington, for the expedition, eminent services which he has with which he led the allied forces of America and France against the British Army under Recommitted the command of the Earl of Cornwallis, for his arrangements, vigor, personal attention, and military ability in the course of his operations, and for the prudence and wisdom of the capitulation.
Resolved, That the thanks of the United States in Congress assembled, be presented to his excellency General Washington, for the eminent services which he has rendered to the United States, and particularly for the well concerted plan against the British garrisons in York and Gloucester; for the vigor, attention and military skill with which that plan was executed; and for the wisdom and prudence manifested in the capitulation:
That the thanks of the United States in Congress assembled, be presented to his excellency the Count de Rochambeau, for the cordiality, zeal, judgment and fortitude, with which he seconded and advanced the progress of the allied army against the British garrison in York:
That the thanks of the United States in Congress assembled be presented to his excellency Count de Grasse, for his display of skill and bravery in attacking and defeating the British fleet off the Bay of Chesapeake, and for his zeal and alacrity in rendering, with the fleet under his command, the most effectual and distinguished aid and support to the operations of the allied army in the reduction of the British Army under the command of the Earl of Cornwallis in Virginia:
That the thanks of the United States in Congress assembled, be presented to the commanding and other officers of the corps of artillery and engineers of the allied army, who sustained extraordinary fatigue and danger in their animated and gallant approaches to the lines of the enemy.
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That General Washington be directed to communicate to the other officers and the soldiers under his command, the thanks of the United States in Congress assembled, for their conduct and valor on this occasion:1
[Note 1: 1 The following paragraph follows this in the rough draft:
"Resolved, That the United States in Congress assembled entertain a proper sense of the readiness and attention exhibited by Lieutenant Colonel Laurens and the Viscount do Noailles in forming and settling the terms of capitulation."]
Resolved, That the United States in Congress assembled, will cause to be erected at York, in Virginia, a marble column, adorned with emblems of the alliance between the United States and his Most Christian Majesty; and inscribed with a succinct narrative of the surrender of Earl Cornwallis to the allied army under the command of general Washington and Count de Rochambeau, in conjunction with the fleet under the command of the Count de Grasse. [his excellency General Washington, Commander in Chief of the combined forces of America and France; to his excellency the Count de Rochambeau, commanding the auxiliary troops of his Most Christian Majesty in America, and his excellency the Count de Grasse, commanding in chief the naval army of France in the Chesapeake
Resolved, That two stands of colours taken from the British army under the capitulation of York, be presented to his excellency General Washington, in the name of the United States in Congress assembled.]2
[Note 2: 2 The draft presented this paragraph as an alternative proposition.]
Resolved, That two pieces of the field ordnance, taken from the British army under the capitulation of York, be presented by the Commander in Chief of the American army to Count do Rochambeau; and that there be engraved thereon a short memorandum, that Congress were induced to present them from considerations of the illustrious part which he bore in effectuating the surrender.
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Resolved, That the secretary of foreign affairs be directed to request the Minister Plenipotentiary of his Most Christian Majesty, to inform his Majesty, that it is the wish of Congress, that Count de Grasse may be permitted to accept a testimony of their approbation, similar to that to be presented to Count de Rochambeau.1
[Note 1: 1 The substance of the resolutions of thanks to Washington, Rochambeau and de Grasse were also entered in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs.]
Resolved, That the Board of War be directed to present to to Lieutenant Colonel Tilghman, in the name of the United States in Congress assembled, a horse properly caparisoned, and an elegant sword, in testimony of their high opinion of his merit and ability.2
[Note 2: 2 This report in the writing of Edmund Randolph, except the portion in brackets which is in Charles Thomson's hand, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, VI, folio 359b and 361--I. The rough draft, also in Randolph's hand, is on folio 359a.
The committee also made the following report. It is on folio 363 and is in Randolph's writing:
The Committee to whom the letter of Genl. Washington of the 19th. instant was, among other papers, referred, report the substance of a conference between them and Colo. Tilghman:
Colo. Tilghman having left the American Camp on the day succeeding the completion of the capitulation, could not render a precise answer to the several questions addressed to him. The information which he did give, was in general terms, and the Committee therefore report, that, as a more particular account may be soon expected nothing of the present communication should be noticed in the journal of Congress, or published.
Your Committee have learnt from that gentleman, who principally relies upon information received from others,
That altho' Count de Rochambeau is a party to the capitulation, he voted in the character of a general officer only: but that according to military rule, Count de Grease had the right of subscription.]
- Article 1. That the number of seamen was not ascertained at the time of his departure, but is probably small--that the vessels amount to about 100 Sail, fifty of which may be called transports: that among the shipping, are the Guadaloupe, a frigate of 28 guns, and the Bonetta Sloop of War, with two or three other armed vessels: that most of them are sunk, but can easily be raised: that the prisoners taken on the 14th. instant are considered as in the disposal of the United States
- Article 2. That the quantity of Artillery was not known, but is probably small; the heavy ordnance being only one 24 pounder, and eighteen 18 pounders, which were taken from the Charon: that it is not known whether there are any spare arms: that there is no reason to believe that there is any military chest: that he was informed by Col: Blaine, that he had inventoried fifty bushels of salt, 600 barrels of beef and pork, 500 barrels of bread, 400 barrels of flour and 1300 gallons of rum.
- Article 3. That the destination of the prisoners was not ascertained, but will probably be at Winchester in Virginia, and Frederick-Town in Maryland--that the Cavalry amount to about 280 including the officers' horses: that their accoutrements are ordinary: that the enemy killed about 1000 horses upon the appearance of investment; and 22 Stands of Colors have been received from them under the capitulation.
- Article 4. That this article was intended to include slaves principally, it being supposed, that the lesser plunder would be secreted, or had probably been sent off; that 2000 negroes had perished in the garrison, and the number surviving was not great.
- Article 5. That the provisions to be furnished to the British prisoners, are to be accounted for by the enemy, upon a general settlement, altho' no special stipulation is made to that effect.
- Article 6. That the intelligence of Digby's expedition reached the Count de Grasse on the 16th instant: upon which he wrote to the General that he was obliged to take his marines amounting to 700, and the Marquis St. Simon's corps amounting to 3000 rank and file: that the loss of these men would have too much weakened the allied army, and the removal of the fleet dispirited them--that the balance of captive officers was considerably against the United States before the capitulation--that a cartel and tariff have been already adjusted between Genl. Washington and Sir H. Clinton, and that it might be injurious to the American cause to scatter the British officers throughout the country.
- Article 7. That this article is agreeable to military custom.
- Article 8. That altho' deserters or traitors might be covered under the garb of soldiers, the opportunity would have been as great upon sailors only being suffered to go in the Bonetta
- Article 9. That by traders are meant the mercantile followers of the army, who are not citizens of the United States.
- Article 10. That there are very few disaffected refugees in York, and this article was answered as it was, merely to shew the confidence to be placed in the British by tories.
- Article 11. That the enemy have in their hospitals about 2000 sick and wounded.
- Article 12. That there is no baggage of consequence.
- Articles 13 and 14 speak for themselves.
- Colo. Tilghman added, that it is supposed that Lord Cornwallis had not at the time of capitulation above six hours' ammunition.
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The committee, ∥consisting of Mr. Varnum, Mr. Middleton, Mr. Atlee,∥ to whom were referred the letters from Major. General Greene, delivered in a report, which was taken into consideration; and Thereupon,
Resolved, That the thanks of the United States in Congress assembled, be presented to Major General Greene, for his
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wise, decisive and magnanimous conduct in the action of the 8th of September last, near the Eutaw Springs, in South Carolina; in which, with a force inferior in number to that of the enemy, he obtained a most signal victory over the British army commanded by Colonel Stewart:
That the thanks of the United States in Congress assembled, be presented to the officers and men of the Maryland and Virginia brigades, and Delaware battalion of continental troops, for the unparallelled bravery and heroism by them displayed, in advancing to the enemy through an incessant fire, and charging them with an impetuosity and ardor that could not be resisted:
That the thanks of the United States in Congress assembled, be presented to the officers and men of the legionary corps and artillery, for their intrepid and gallant exertions during the action:
That the thanks of the United States in Congress assembled, be presented to the brigade of North Carolina, for their resolution and perseverance in attacking the enemy, and sustaining a superior fire:
That the thanks of the United States in Congress assembled, be presented to the officers and men of the state corps of South Carolina, for the zeal, activity and firmness by them exhibited throughout the engagement:
That the thanks of the United States in Congress assembled, be presented to the officers and men of the militia, who formed the front line in the order of battle, and sustained their post with honor, propriety and a resolution worthy of men determined to be free.
Resolved, That two pieces of field Ordnance be presented to Major General Greene by the Commander in Chief, with a motte engraved "from the United States in Congress Assembled to Major Genl. Greene, in honour of the Victory obtained under his Command near the Eutaw Springs in So Carolina on the 8th. September A. D. 1781.
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Resolved, That a Sword be presented to Colo Williams of the Maryland line for his great military skill and uncommon exertions on this occasion.
Resolved, That a British standard be presented to Major General Greene, as an honorable testimony of his merit, and a golden medal emblematical of the battle and victory aforesaid:
That Major General Greene be desired to present the thanks of Congress, to Captains Pierce and Pendleton, Major Hyrne and Captain Shubrick, his aids de camp, in testimony of their particular activity and good conduct during the whole of the action:
That a sword be presented to Captain Pierce, who bore the general's despatches, giving an account of the victory, and that the Board of War take order herein.
Resolved, That the thanks of the United States in Congress assembled, be presented to Brigadier General Marion, of the South Carolina militia, and the officers and men under his Com for his wise, gallant and decided conduct, in defending the liberties of his country; and particularly for his prudent and intrepid attack on a body of the British troops, on the 30th day of August last; and for the distinguished part he took in the battle of the 8th of September.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of James Mitchell Varnum, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, II, folios 471 to 477.
A memorial from Bayard Ricard & Co. was read. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, I, folio 367.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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