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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, JANUARY 8, 1776
A letter from General Schuyler, dated 26 December, enclosing a copy of a letter from General Montgomery,
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dated 5 December, and a list of the ordnance sent to Cambridge; also a letter from the committee of Baltimore, enclosing an affidavit of Capt. Horn, being received, were read.1
[Note 1: 1 Schuyler's letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 153, I, folio 370. The letter from Baltimore is from Samuel Purviance, Jun., and is in No. 78, XVIII, folio 21. The affidavit of Captain John Horn is with it.]
The Congress, taking into consideration the report of the Committee on General Schuyler's letters, thereupon came to the following resolutions:
Resolved, That shipwrights be immediately sent from New York and Philadelphia to General Schuyler, or the Commander in chief of the forces at Ticonderoga, to be employed by him in constructing a number of batteaus, not exceeding one hundred, for transporting troops, with their baggage, from that place into Canada, whenever it may be found necessary.
That a sufficient number of suitable men be engaged for rowing said batteaus; and that a large quantity of provisions and stores be sent this winter to fort George.
That General Schuyler be desired to have the river St. Lawrence, above and below Quebec, well explored, and to determine upon proper places, for opposing, by armed boats or otherwise, any attempts of the enemy to penetrate that country by the river; and that he give order for constructing speedily as many such boats as he shall judge necessary.
That two shipwrights be immediately sent from Philadelphia, to be employed under the direction of the committee of inspection at Albany, in constructing scows for facilitating the passage over Hudson's river.
Resolved, That the provisions heretofore made for an hospital in the northern army, when it was more numerous than it is now, is sufficient.
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Resolved, That the convention of New York be desired to send three thousand bushels of salt, besides what General Schuyler hath already ordered to be brought to Ticonderoga.
Resolved, That the Governor of Connecticut, the general Assemblies of Massachusetts bay and New Hampshire, and the convention of New York, be wrote to forthwith, by the delegates of the said colonies respectively, to furnish General Schuyler with the account of money paid to any persons in the army under his command, specifying the names of those to whom the money was paid by their order.
Resolved, That the contract made by General Schuyler, to allow one twelfth part of a dollar per day, for billeting money to every one of the men, who reinlist in the northern army, until they can march to the place where provisions may be delivered to them, be made good.
Resolved, That the officers of the northern army, be accountable for such public stores issued to them, as may be lost, through carelessness by their respective corps, and that the value thereof be deducted out of the pay of those who have embezzled or wasted the same.
Resolved, That this Congress does approve of the raising a batallion of Canadians, and of the appointment of James Livingston, Esqr. colonel thereof.
Resolved, That nine batallions, including that of Canadians under Colonel Livingston, be kept up and maintained the present year for the defence of Canada.
Resolved, That the first Pensylvania batallion, under Colonel Bull, and the second New Jersey batallion, under Colonel Maxwell, be ordered to march immediately to Albany, and there put themselves under the command of General Schuyler, and that the orders given for the
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march of three companies of Colonel Bull's batallion to Accomack and Northampton be countermanded.
Resolved, That, to make up the rest of the batallions voted for the defence of Canada, that one batallion be raised in New Hampshire, one in Connecticut, and one in New York; that two batallions be formed out of the troops now in Canada, and that General Montgomery be desired to recommend proper persons for officers in said batallions; and that one of the five batallions, lately ordered to be raised in Pensylvania, be destined for Canada.
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to devise ways and means for furnishing the batallions destined for Canada, with necessaries, and for expediting their march thither.
The members chosen, Mr. [William] Floyd, Mr. [Silas] Deane, and Mr. [Thomas] M'Kean.
Resolved, That the farther consideration of the report of the Committee be deferred till to Morrow.
Information being given to Congress, that about 57 tons of salt petre were arrived in Philadelphia, and about 15 tons of powder at New York, for sale:
Resolved, That the Secret Committee be directed to treat for the purchase of the salt petre, and enquire how it may be ∥most speedily∥ manufactured into powder, and report to Congress.
That Mr. P[hilip] Livingston, Mr. [John] Alsop, Mr. [John] Jay, and Mr. [Francis] Lewis, be directed to purchase, on the best terms they can, for the use of the United Colonies, the powder arrived at New York, and forward the same, with all possible expedition, under guard, to the camp at Cambridge.
Resolved, That the convention or committee of safety of Maryland, be desired to order three companies of the
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minute men in the service of that colony, to march immediately from thence to the counties of Accomack and Northampton, in Virginia, instead of the forces directed to go thither from Pensylvania, and to lay before Congress the accounts of their subsistence and pay, which shall be paid out of the continental treasury.
Resolved, That the committee of safety of Pensylvania be desired to send five hundred pounds weight of powder to the colony of Virginia, for the use of the forces to be employed in the counties of Accomack and Northampton.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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