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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 --MONDAY, JUNE 19, 1775
The Congress met according to adjournment.
The president laid before the Congress sundry letters
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from the conventions of Massachusetts bay and New York, which were read.
Upon motion Ordered, That Mr. [Patrick] Henry, Mr. [Thomas] Lynch, and Mr. J[ohn] Adams, be a committee to wait upon Genl Lee, and to inform him of his appointment, and request his answer, whether he will accept the command.
Committee returned and reported, that they had waited on Genl Lee, and informed him of his appointment, and that he gave for answer: That he expressed a high sense of the honour done him and assured them he was ready to render America all services in his power, but desired as the situation of his affairs was peculiar, to have an opportunity of had the highest sense of the honor conferred upon him by the Congress; that no effort in his power shall be wanting to serve the American cause.--But before he entered upon the service he desired a conference with a committee to consist of one delegate from each of the associated colonies, to whom he desired to explain some particulars respecting his private fortune.
Where upon Mr. [John] Sullivan, Mr. S[amuel] Adams, Mr. [Stephen] Hopkins, Mr. [Eliphalet] Dyer, Mr. P[hilip] Livingston, Mr. W[illiam] Livingston, Mr. [George] Ross, Mr. [Cæsar] Rodney, Mr. [Thomas] Johnson, Mr. [Patrick] Henry, Mr. [Richard] Caswell and Mr. [Thomas] Lynch were appointed a committee to confer with Genl. Lee.
The committee returned and reported that they had conferred with Genl. Lee, who had communicated to them an estimate of the Estate he risqued by this service; Whereupon,
Resolved, That these colonies will indemnify General Lee for any loss of property which he may sustain by entering into their service, and that the same be done by
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this or any future Congress as soon as such loss is ascertained.
Upon motion, resolved una:
∥The letters from Massachusetts bay being taken into consideration, the Congress come to the following resolve:∥
That the governor of Connecticut be requested to direct all the forces raised in that Colony, not employed at Ticonderoga and Crown Point, or recommended by this Congress to be marched into the province of towards New York, to be immediately sent to join the combined army before Boston: And it is earnestly recommended to the colony of Rhode island, and the provincial Convention of New Hampshire, to send immediately to the Army before Boston, such of the forces as are already embodied, towards their quotas of the troops agreed to be raised by the New England Colonies.
Resolved, That Mr. [Richard Henry] Lee, Mr. E[dward] Rutledge, and Mr. J[ohn] Adams, be a committee to prepare the form of a commission for the Major generals, and also for the brigadier generals, and other officers in the army.
Resolved, That there be four Major generals.
The Congress then proceeded to chuse the two remaining Major generals, when upon taking the votes Philip Schuyler. Esq. was chosen third Major General.
Israel Putnam, Esq. was unanimously chosen 4th. Major General.
The committee appointed to prepare the form of a Commission reported the same, which was read and agreed for the major generals and brigadier generals, and ordered to be engrossed.
(Here insert the commissions.1)
[Note 1: 1 None of these commissions were entered upon the Journals.]
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Ordered, That the secretary get a number of commissions printed, with proper blanks, for the other officers.
The committee appointed to prepare a petition to the king, reported the same.
Resolved that this Congress will to Morrow resolve itself into a committee of the whole to take under consideration the state of America1
[Note 1: 1 Some of the resolutions of this day were printed in the Pennsylvania Packet, 11 December, 1775.]
Adjourned till to Morrow 9 o'Clock.
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