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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 --TUESDAY, MAY 7, 1776
A letter of the 5 of May from General Washington:
A letter of the 14th April from John G. Frazer, with lists of the vessels, cannon, and ordnance stores left by the enemy at Boston:
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A letter from a number of prisoners at Hartford, in Connecticut, of the 21 March, 1776;
A letter from Le F. of St. Eustace, dated 5 [1] April, being laid before Congress and read:1
[Note 1: 1 The letter of Washington is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, I, folio 638. It is printed inWritings of Washington, (Ford) IV, 59. That of Frazer is in No. 78, IX, 17. That of the prisoners is in No. 78, XVIII, folio 55. That from Le F. is in No. 58, folio 349.]
Resolved, That the said letters be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. S[amuel] Adams, Mr. [Carter] Braxton, and Mr. [James] Duane.
A petition from John Bayard, P. Moore, and John Patton, was presented to Congress and read: ∥Whereupon,∥
Resolved, That the Secret Committee be directed to sell to the petitioners 600 lb. of powder, for the use of the privateer they are fitting out.
Resolved, That one hundred dollars be paid by the treasurers to Monsr. Giasson, a Canadian prisoner, upon his giving a bill upon his friend at Montreal for the like sum, payable on demand.
The Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on the papers laid before Congress by the delegates of North Carolina: Whereupon,
Resolved, That another batallion raised, in North Carolina, in addition to the five batallions already ordered for the defence of that colony, be taken into the pay and service of the United Colonies:
That a deputy quarter master general be appointed for the southern department, to be employed in North Carolina:
That the Secret Committee be directed to procure and forward twelve field pieces for the use of the troops in North Carolina:
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That the Secret Committee be directed to forward three tons of gun powder for the defence of the said colony:
That the Committee on Qualifications be directed to purchase a chest of medicines and instruments, equal in value to those furnished for the Pennsylvania regiments, and forward the same to North Carolina, for each of the six batallions raised in that colony.
The Congress proceeded to the election of a deputy quarter master general for the southern department to be employed in North Carolina; and the ballots being taken,
Nicholas Long, Esqr. was elected.
Resolved, That Nicholas Long, Esqr. have the rank of a Colonel in the army of the United Colonies.
The convention of North Carolina having recommended sundry gentlemen for field officers of the six batallions raised in that colony, ∥Congress proceeded to a choice,∥ and the ballots being taken the following gentlemen were chosen:
Francis Nash, Esqr. Colonel, Thomas Clarke, Esqr Lieutenant Colonel, William Davis, Esqr. Major, of the first batallion.
Alexander Martin, Esqr. Colonel, John Patton, Esqr. Lieutenant Colonel, John White, Esqr. Major, of the second batallion.
Jethro Sumner, Esqr. Colonel, William Alston, Esqr. Lieutenant Colonel, Samuel Lockart, Esqr. Major, of the third batallion.
Thomas Polk, Esqr. Colonel, James Thackston, Esqr. Lieutenant Colonel, William Davidson, Esqr. Major, of the fourth batallion.
Edward Buncombe, Esqr. Colonel, Henry Irwin, Esqr. Lieutenant Colonel, Levi Dawson, Esqr. Major, of the fifth batallion.
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Alexander Lillington, Esqr. Colonel, William Taylor, Esqr. Lieutenant Colonel, Gideon Lamb, Esqr. Major, of the sixth battalion.1
[Note 1: 1 "I urged the necessity of taking your light Horse into their service, but could not prevail on them to do it, no colonies having been yet allowed to raise any on Continental pay, it is said they are very expensive Troops and of little use in this Contest. I am informed a Company or two were raised in South Carolina, but being found by experience to be too expensive the Horses were discharged and the men turned into the ranks of foot Regiments. I had it not in charge from you to make application for any Powder or Medicines, but apprehending they would be wanted I took the liberty to apply for them, the three Tons of Powder in Twenty five barrels went off yesterday, in three Waggons for Halifax, the Medicines will be sent off next week. I hope these matters will meet the approbation of your Congress; should you want Drums, Colours, Shoes, Stockings and Blankets for your Soldiers I believe some might be procured here, Cannon fitt for field pieces cannot be purchased at any price, before the resolution passed in Congress to procure and send Cannon, or I had received your Orders, I had done my utmost to get them."Joseph Hewes to Samuel Johnston, 16 May, 1776.Colonial Records of North Carolina, X, 605.]
Resolved, That the letter received yesterday from General Lee, be referred to the committee to whom the letters received this morning were referred.
Resolved, That the committee appointed to purchase stockings for the troops in Canada, be directed to apply to the general assemblies of Massachusetts bay and Connecticut, and request them to assist in procuring said stockings.
The Congress took into consideration the memorial from the committee of safety of Pensylvania; Whereupon,
Resolved, That twenty of the heaviest cannon, taken by Commodore Hopkins, at New Providence, and brought from thence to New London, and since carried to Newport, be brought to the city of Philadelphia, and delivered to the committee of safety of Pensylvania, for the defence and protection of said city; to remain there during the pleasure of Congress.
William Peachy, colonel of the 5th Virginia batallion, having resigned, the Congress proceeded to elect a gentleman to supply his place; and, the ballots being taken,
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Charles Scott, Esqr. was elected; and,
Alexander Spotswood was also elected Lieutenant Colonel of the second batallion, in the room of Charles Scott, promoted.
Resolved, That such of the iron cannon, as were brought from Ticonderoga to Boston, and have not been removed by General Washington, be lent for the defence of the town and harbour of Boston, to remain there during the pleasure of Congress.
The order of the day and the matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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