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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 --FRIDAY, JANUARY 19, 1776
Resolved, That five new members be added to the Committee of Claims, in the room of so many absent.
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The members chosen, Mr. [Oliver] Wolcott, for Connecticut, ∥in the room of Mr. [Silas] Deane;∥ Mr. [William] Floyd, for New York, ∥in the room of Mr. [Francis] Lewis;∥ Mr. [Thomas] M'Kean, for the 3 lower counties on Delaware, ∥in the room of Mr. [Cæsar] Rodney;∥ Mr. [John] Rogers, for Maryland, ∥in the room of Mr. [Thomas] Johnson;∥ Mr. E[dward] Rutledge, for South Carolina, ∥in the room of Mr. [Christopher] Gadsden.∥
The Committee to whom the letters from Lancaster were referred, brought in an answer, which being read was approved:1
[Note 1: 1 A letter from Lancaster, signed by J. Yeates, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 69, I, folio 51.]
Ordered, That the same be transcribed and forwarded.
Gentlemen:
The Congress have received your several letters of December 21st, January 3d, and 10th. A multiplicity of important business has retarded their answering them sooner.
Your civility to the officers who are prisoners, in giving them time to make choice of their places of residence, and permitting them to remain with you till their baggage shall arrive, is approved. Their complaint, that a separation from the soldiers is a breach of General Schuyler's solemn engagement, we apprehend not to be well-founded. All the stipulations of a capitulation ought, undoubtedly, to be held sacred, and faithfully fulfilled, because something is then given up or received, as a condition or equivalent; but no such stipulation is to be found in the capitulations upon which those gentlemen surrendered; nor had General Schuyler a right to make fresh terms with his prisoners, after they were in his power, without the consent of the Congress. Nevertheless, we should have paid a respect to his opinion and advice in the matter, had he given it, but we have not heard a word from him on the subject.
We have no objection to your permitting two or more of the officers to come, at proper times, from their places of residence to Lancaster, for the purpose of settling with, and paying their soldiers. Major
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Preston, being applied to, absolutely refuses to supply the soldiers with clothing or blanketing. We must, therefore, desire you will take care that they do not suffer for want of those articles, nor any other that are necessary for their comfortable subsistence in this inclement season. What you have already done of that kind, in furnishing them with firing, bedding, &c., is well approved, and the expenses will be defrayed. The inhabitants are at liberty to purchase bills drawn by the officers for their support and accommodation; but this is to be at the risk of the purchasers, and not to exceed what is, evidently, necessary for these purposes, wherein it is to be considered the Congress advances each officer two dollars a week for his subsistence.
We approve of your regulations for preserving the peace of the Borough, and of your placing a guard and ordering a patrol for that purpose, the expense of which will be paid.
The agent of the Army's Contractor refusal to supply the soldiers' wives and children with any meat or bread, surprises us. We know not the motives of such conduct, but we must approve of those humane sentiments which induced you to provide for them in their distress. The expenses will be allowed in your accounts.
Upon the whole, gentlemen, you have judged rightly in supposing that every measure you have taken, to render the situation of our prisoners as comfortable as possible, would be agreeable to us. As men, they have a claim to all the rights of humanity; as countrymen, though enemies, they claim something more. You have, therefore, the thanks of the Congress; and I am, in their behalf, gentlemen, &c.,
John Hancock,President.
To theCommittee of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.1
[Note 1: 1 From Force,American Archives, Fourth Series, IV, 762.]
The Congress took into consideration the report of the Committee on the matter of South Carolina, respecting seamen; Whereupon,
Resolved, That it be recommended to Captain [Robert] Cochran, who is arrived here for the purpose of recruiting seamen, to pursue the following plan in the inlisting service in which he is employed by the province of South Carolina.
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That he offer to each able bodied seaman the wages of eight dollars per month, and that he pay to them upon inlisting nine dollars bounty, and, upon their arrival in South Carolina, the farther bounty of five dollars.
That Captain Cochran repair immediately to the camp at Cambridge, and take the advice and direction of General Washington on this affair, and proceed to inlist his seamen in such parts of the country as will be the least prejudicial to the continental service.
That the president write to General Washington, acquainting him with the situation of South Carolina, the necessity that colony is in for seamen, and desiring that he will please to forward this service.1
The Committee of Claims reported, that there is due,
To the committee of Berks county, for provisions, ammunition, &c. furnished the riffle companies, £11 14 10, and for necessaries furnished the prisoners from St. John's, the sum of £8 13 11; amounting, in the whole, to £20 8 9, ∥equal to 54.5 dollars,∥ which ought to be paid to Dr. Jonathan Potts.
Ordered, That the same be paid.
Resolved, That an order be drawn on the treasurer in favour of the delegates of South Carolina, for the sum of ten thousand dollars, which was ordered to be advanced to the Commissioners for Indian affairs in the Southern department, the said delegates to be accountable.
The council of safety of the three lower counties on
"The colony of South Carolina has been so fortunate as to oblige Lord William Campbell, with the vessels of war, to quit their harbor. Being earnestly desirous of providing for their defence, they have resolved to fit out some armed vessels, but not having seamen among themselves, they have despatched Captain Cochran to the northward, to inlist a number of seamen for the service of that colony. Lest the offers he was empowered to make might prejudice the service, the Congress have chalked out a plan for him to go by, as you will see in the enclosed extracts, and I am directed to desire you will please to forward this service."John Hancock to Washington, 20 January, 1776.
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Delaware, having recommended sundry gentlemen for field officers, of the batallion ordered to be raised in said colony, the Congress proceeded to the choice, when the following gentlemen were chosen:
John Haslet, Esq.r Colonel,
Gunning Bedford, Esq.r lieutenant Colonel.
The Congress resuming the consideration of the report of the committee on the state of the colonies: whereupon,
Resolved, That four batallions be raised in the colony of New York, for the defence of that colony, upon the same pay with those directed to be raised in the province of Pensylvania; and that they be stationed as the commanding officer of the New York department shall think best, to garrison the several forts in that province, from Crown Point to the southward, and to prevent depredations upon Long Island, and to promote the safety of the whole.
Ordered, That a copy of the above ∥resolution∥ be transmitted to the council of safety of New York; and that they be requested, with all possible expedition, to transmit to Congress, the names of a number of gentlemen, at least two for each command, out of whom the Congress may elect field officers for said batallions.
The Committee on Qualifications brought in their report, which was agreed to as follows:
That Roger Stayner, and George Jenkins, be appointed first lieutenants in Colonel Bull's ∥the first Pennsylvania∥ batallion.
That the two eldest ensigns in the said batallion be second lieutenants in the said batallion in the room of the above.
That Robert Allison of Chester county be appointed an ensign in the said batallion.
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That Jacob Shallus be appointed quarter master to said batallion.
The Committee appointed to hear the complaints of the officers of the first Pensylvania batallion, against Colonel Bull and Colonel Bull's defence, brought in their report, which, after debate, was referred till to morrow.
The Committee to whom General Schuyler's letter ∥of the 13th of January,∥ with the ∥papers and letters∥ enclosures, was referred, brought in their report, which was taken into consideration: Whereupon,
Resolved, That the American army in Canada be reinforced with all possible despatch, as well for the security and relief of our friends there, as for better securing the rights and liberties not only of that colony, but the other United Colonies.
That an express be sent to the committee of safety of New Jersey, and an application made to that of Pensylvania, immediately to quicken the officers employed in levying the forces directed to be raised in those colonies, and marched to Canada, and do all in their power to forward the service. And that the committee of inspection of the city and liberties of Philadelphia, be requested forthwith to use their utmost endeavours to aid Mr. James Mease in procuring of the householders therein, such blankets as may be spared from their respective families, for the use of the batallions, destined for this important expedition, at so severe a season; for which the owners shall be allowed the value of such blankets, according to the estimation of the said committee of inspection. And that Colonels Bull and Maxwell, do, without delay, march such of the companies of their batallions as are now ready, to General Schuyler.
That General Washington be requested to detach from the camp at Cambridge, one batallion, if the service there
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will permit him to spare one, with orders to march with the greatest expedition possible to Canada.
That for the more speedy raising the batallions, ordered on the 8th of January, to be raised in the colonies of New Hampshire, Connecticut, New York, and Pensylvania, for the defence of Canada, it be recommended to the general assembly, convention, or council, or committee of safety, of those colonies respectively, to exert their utmost endeavours in raising the said batallions, upon the same pay and subsistence as the army at Cambridge, and. to furnish them with provisions, ammunition, and other necessaries,ordered by this Congress,for expediting their march to Canada. And, for farther encouraging the men more cheerfully to enter into the service of their country, to give a bounty of six dollars and two thirds of a dollar, to every able bodied effective man, properly cloathed for the service, and having a good fire lock, with a bayonet, and other accoutrements; and four dollars to every soldier not having the like arms and accoutrements; the arms to be supplied by the colony, and the cost to be deducted out of the soldiers' pay; and also to provide a blanket and haversack for every inlisted soldier, and, moreover, to advance one month's pay to every officer and soldier before their march, that they may be able to purchase necessary cloathing.
That the first two companies which shall be compleat of every batallion, directed to be raised for the service in Canada, do march to that country so soon as they shall be ready, and be followed in the same numbers, with like expedition, by the rest of the corps. And that it be recommended to the general assemblies, conventions, and councils or committees of safety, of the colonies in which the batallions are directed to be raised, that they respectively attend to this business.
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Resolved, That the remainder of the report be recommitted.
The committee desired leave to sit again, which was granted.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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