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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 --SATURDAY, MAY 25, 1776
A letter of the 18 from Colonel William Winds, of the New Jersey forces:
A petition from the committee of the county of Lincoln, was presented to Congress; also,
A petition from John Wilcocks, and John and Peter Chevalier, was presented and read.1
[Note 1: 1 The letter of Winds, dated from Still Water, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XXIII, folio 281.]
Resolved, That the Secret Committee be directed to sell to the above petitioners, ∥John Wilcocks, and John and Peter Chevalier,∥ 75 lb. of gun powder.
That the said committee be directed to deliver to the committee of safety of Pensylvania, half a ton of powder, in order to prove cannon, the said committee to be accountable.
Resolved, That an order for 20,000 dollars be drawn on the treasurers, in favour of James Mease, commissary, for the use of the Pensylvania batallions, he to be accountable:
That Mr. J. Mease be directed to lay in a stock of shoes, hats, and stockings for the use of the troops in the continental service, on the most reasonable terms.
A petition from James M'Knight was presented to Congress and read.
Ordered, To lie on the table.
A memorial from the committee of inspection and observation of the city and liberties of Philadelphia, was presented to Congress and read:2
[Note 2: 2 This memorial is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, II, folio 9. It is printed in thePennsylvania Gazette, 29 May, 1776.]
Ordered, To lie on the table.
Ordered, That a copy of said memorial be delivered to Mr. R[obert] Morris, who desires the same in behalf of the Assembly of Pensylvania.
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Resolved, That an order be drawn on the treasurers in favour of the delegates of Virginia, for the sum of 65,000 dollars for the use of the batallions raised in that colony, the said colony to be accountable.
General Washington having attended, agreeable to order, and after some conference with him,
Resolved, That committeeto consist of a member from each of the colonies, be appointed to confer with General Washington, Major General Gates, and Brigadier General Mifflin, and concert a plan of military operations for the ensuing campaign.
That the committee consist of the following members: Mr. [Benjamin] Harrison, Mr. R[ichard] H[enry] Lee, Mr. J[ohn] Adams, Mr. [James] Wilson, Mr. R[obert] R. Livingston, Mr. [William] Whipple, Mr. [Roger] Sherman, Mr. [Stephen] Hopkins, Mr. W[illiam] Livingston, Mr. [George] Read, Mr. [Matthew] Tilghman, Mr. [Joseph] Hewes, Mr. [Arthur] Middleton, and Mr. [Lyman] Hall.
The committee of safety of Pensylvania, to whom were delivered the letter from the convention of North Carolina, ∥and the list of the prisoners sent from thence,∥ having appointed Colonel Roberdeau to inform the Congress that the prisoners sent from North Carolina being arrived, are ordered to be closely confined, in Philadelphia gaol, and an officer's guard ordered for their better security; and to enquire whether they are to have the allowance ordered to officers:
Resolved, That the disposition of the prisoners, made by the committee of safety, is approved, and that they have the allowance ordered to ∥other∥ officers ∥who are prisoners.∥1
[Note 1: 1 A list of these prisoners is in theColonial Records of Pennsylvania, X, 581.]
The Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on the letter from General Washington, of the
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11 of May, the letter from General Schuyler, of the 3, and the letter from Captain Daniel Robertson, of the royal Highland Emigrant regiment, of the 9th, ∥which was in part agreed to:∥ Whereupon,
Resolved, That Lieutenant Colonel Burbeck be dismissed from the continental service.
That a letter be written to the president of the convention of Virginia, requesting that they will immediately forward to Philadelphia such quantity of lead as can be spared from that colony:
That one batallion of Germans be raised for the service of the United Colonies:
That General Schuyler be empowered to increase the number of betteaus to two hundred:
That four of the prisoners taken at St. Johns, and suggested, by the letter from Captain Robertson, to have inlisted in the continental Army, to wit:
William Roughhead and Elisha Grisler, in Captain Hubley's company; John Santon, in Captain Browhe's company; and John Mayor, in a company unknown, be dismissed the service and return to their corps at Lancaster.
That the consideration of the first paragraph in said report be postponed, and that the third and fifth paragraphs be committed to the committee appointed to confer with the generals.
A number of Deputies, from four of the Six Nations of Indians, having arrived in town, and notified Congress that they are desirous of an audience,
Resolved, That they be admitted to an audience on Monday next, at 11 o'Clock.
Resolved, That notice be given to the colonels of the Association ∥of the city and liberties of Philadelphia,∥ that it is the desire of Congress they would draw out their
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batallions in general review, on Monday morning, as early as possible; and that the Congress, with the generals in town, propose to attend the review at 9 o'Clock.
Resolved, That the arms, ammunition, and military stores, taken by the armed schoonerFranklin, or any other of the armed vessels in the pay of the United Colonies, be at the disposal of the General or commander in chief of the American forces.
The committee, to whom the resolutions of the Convention of South Carolina, respecting the batallions raised in the colony of South Carolina, were referred, brought in their report, which was read.
Resolved, That the several reports on General Washington's letters, not yet considered, and the General's letters which were referred to a committee of the whole Congress, be committed to the committee appointed to confer with him [the generals.]
As two of the committee to whom the letter from Colonel Hand, of the riffle batallion, was referred, are absent,
Resolved, That two members be chosen in their room:
The members chosen, Mr. [James] Wilson and Mr. [Oliver] Wolcott.
The committee to whom was referred the letter from Charles Miller to the commissary general, brought in their report, which Was agreed to: Whereupon,
Resolved, That the commissary general be directed to order so much of the provisions stored in the continental magazines in Massachusetts bay, to be delivered, for victualling the five ships of war, now building at Ports-mouth, Newburyport, and Providence, as the Marine Committee shall direct; and to keep the residue for the use of the continental army, that are or may be stationed in the eastern department.
That the commissary general be directed to receive the
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amount of the pork, beef, and fish, supplied the colony of Massachusetts bay, and credit the same in his account with the United Colonies.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Elbridge Gerry, is inPapers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, IV, folio 77.]
The committee appointed to confer with his Excellency General Washington, Major General Gates and Brigadier General Mifflin, touching the most proper posts and measures to be taken for preventing the enemies communication with the upper country from Canada, and such other measures as tend to secure the frontiers, brought in their report, which was taken into consideration, Whereupon,
The Commee appointed to confer with his Excy General Washington, Major General Gates and Brigadier General Mifflin, touching the most proper Posts and Measures to be taken for effectually preventing the Enemies communication with the, upper Country from Canada, and such other Measures as shall tend to secure the Frontiers, beg leave to report
G. 9.2 That from a thorough Consideration of the Subject Matter refer'd to them they are of Opinion it is of the highest Importance that Post be taken at Do Chambeaux and that the same be fortified,--that; Works be likewise erected on the Islands in the River St. Lawrence at the Mouth of the River Sorrel as well to keep open the Communication between De Chambeaux and St. John as to prevent the Enemy's passing to the Upper Country should the Forces of the United Colonies be compell'd to retreat from De Chambeaux.3
[Note 2: 2 These side letters and figures were inserted by Jefferson, and correspond with those used in the paper printed p. 448,post.]
[Note 3: 3 See p. 395.]
That it is highly expedient to engage the Indians in the Service of the United Colonies. The above agreed to 25 May, 1776.4
[Note 4: 4 This sentence is in the writing of John Hancock.]
R. That the Commrs. at Albany be directed to use their utmost Endeavours to procure, the Assistance of the Indians to actoffensively against the Enemies of these Colonies, that they apply themselves particularly to induce the Indians to undertake the Reduction of Niagara, and that as an Enducement so to do they engage in Behalf of the Congress to pay them £50 Pennsylvania Currency for every
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Prisoner [Soldier of the Garrison]1 they shall take and bring to head Quarters or to the said Commissioners, and the free plunder of the Garrison. Refer'd.2
[Note 1: 1 These words were interlined in pencil.]
[Note 2: 2 In the writing of John Hancock.]
R. 2. That the Commissioners in the Middle Department be directed to use their best Endeavours to procure the Assistance of the Indians under their Care, that they prevail upon them if possible to undertake the Reduction of Detroit upon the same Terms as the Commers. at Albany are directed to engage the Indians agt. Niagara. Refer'd.2
R. 3. That the Commrs. in each of these Departments be directed to employ one or more able Partisans, whom the Congress will liberally reward for their Exertions in the Business to be committed to them. Refer'd.2
That the Commander in Chief be authorised and instructed to employ in the Continental Armies a Number of Indians not exceedingto be upon such Terms as he shall think most beneficial for the United Colonies.3
[Note 3: 3 This report, in the writing of Edward Rutledge, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, VI, folio 173. It is endorsed: "Bro't in May 25, 1776. partly agreed to. remainder postponed till Monday next." See p. 452,post.
The paragraphs numbered R, R 2 and R 3 were placed first in a report presented by Jefferson, without date but probably prepared in the Committee appointed June 15; to digest and arrange the several resolutions agreed to in Committee of the Whole. The first resolution differs in the reward for prisoners, reading: "Engaging on behalf of Congress to pay them 1331/3 dollars for every prisoner they shall take and bring to heart quarters, or to the said Commissioners." Nothing is said about plunder. Against these three paragraphs Harrison, as chairman of the Committee of the Whole, has written "postpon'd."
The next paragraph in this Jefferson paper reads: "Resolved, that it is the opinion of this Committee that there be raised for the service of the United colonies one batalion of Germans." It has been struck out by a pen, and in the margin Harrison has written: "referred to N. J. and P. for the mode," evidently the first form of the resolution printed under May 25th, p. 892,ante, and June 17th, on p. 454,post.
The Jefferson paper then continues with the resolutions printed on June 17th, p. 452,post, with the variations there noted.]
Resolved, That it is of the highest importance that post be taken at Dechambeau and that the same be fortified; that works be likewise erected on the islands in the river St. Lawrence at the mouth of the river Sorrel, as well to keep open the communication between Dechambeau and
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St. Johns, as to prevent the enemy's passing to the upper country, should the forces of the United Colonies be compelled to retreat from Dechambeau.
That it is highly expedient to engage the Indians in the service of the United Colonies.
Resolved, That the farther consideration of the report be postponed till Monday next.
The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to 9 o'Clock on Monday next.
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