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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, APRIL 23, 1776
A letter from Major General Ward of the 12, being received was read, repeating his desire for leave to resign,1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 159, folio 360.]
Resolved, That the resignation of Major General Ward, and of Brigadier General Fry, be accepted, and that the president inform them thereof by letter.
The Committee of Claims reported, that there is due,
To Robert Erwin for waggonage, the sum of £327 13 6, being 873.8 dollars:
Ordered, That the same be paid.
To John Dunn, the sum of 2,453.7 dollars, the ballance in full due to Colonel Heard's batallion, for their pay, subsistence, &c. on the expedition to Long Island.
∥Ordered, That the same be paid.∥
The Marine Committee having, agreeable to the orders of Congress, recommended gentlemen to be agents for prizes in the several colonies,
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Resolved, That Captain John Bradford be appointed for the colony of Massachusetts bay, Daniel Tillinghast for Rhode Island, Nathaniel Shaw, Jun.r for Connecticut, Jacobus Vanzantz for New York, John Nixon, and John Maxwell Nesbit for Pensylvania, William Lux for Maryland, John Tazewell for Virginia, Cornelius Harnet for Wilmington, Richard Ellis for Newborn, and Robert Smith for Edenton in North Carolina, with power to each, to appoint one or more deputies, if necessary.
The committee, to whom the letters from General Washington, General Schuyler, and the letters from Canada and Pittsburg were referred, having brought in their report, the same was taken into consideration:1 Whereupon,
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of John Jay, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 21, folio 21. Other paragraphs were adopted on April 29,post.]
Resolved, that no continental Troops are exempt from being sent into Canada; but that when so sent they will receive equal Pay with those raised in the Massachusetts.
Resolved, that an Expedition against Detroit be undertaken.
Resolved, that proper measures be taken to send Schoolmaster, and Clergyman, Farmer and Blacksmith, to the Delawares, agreeable to the Promise of Congress.2
[Note 2: 2 Against this paragraph is written the word "referr'd."]
Resolved, That the president signify the approbation of Congress, to Colonel Hazen for his letter, and attention to the public good.
Resolved, That three hundred thousand dollars be immediately sent to General Schuyler, for supplying and paying the army in Canada.
Resolved, thattons of Powder be sent to Gen. Schuyler.
Resolved, That the commissioners from Congress to Canada, be desired to publish an Address to the people of
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Canada, signifying, that Congress has been informed of injuries offered by our people to some of them: expressing our resentment at their misconduct, assuring them of our attachment to their security; inviting them to state their grievances to our commissioners, and promising ample redress to them, and exemplary punishments to the offenders.
Resolved, That instructions be sent to the commissioners, to cause justice to be done to the Canadians, agreeable to the tenor of the above resolve.
Resolved, That the commanding officer in Canada, be directed to be very attentive to military discipline, and inflict exemplary punishment on all who shall violate the military regulations established by Congress.
Resolved, That the said regulations are defective, and that many punishments thereby ordered, are inadequate to the ends proposed by them.
Resolved, That General Washington be directed to send six batallions into Canada from the army at Now York.1
[Note 1: 1 In the original report this sentence read: "as many regiments as he may think the security of the city will admit of."]
Resolved, That a letter be written by the president to General Washington, requesting his opinion whether any further additional troops are necessary to be sent for the reduction of Quebec, and for the security of Canada; and, if he shall think more troops necessary, whether they can, with safety, be spared from the army now in New York?2
[Note 2: 2 These two paragraphs were not in the original report, but were added in Congress.]
Resolved, That if any of the troops from New Jersey or Pensylvania, which were raised at five dollars a month, be sent to Canada, they shall be allowed at the rate of six dollars and two thirds of a dollar per month, from the time they begin their march.2
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Resolved, That the farther consideration of the report be postponed till to morrow.
The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,1
[Note 1: 1 A letter from Richard Butler to James Wilson, dated Fort Pitt, April 8, 1776, was read this day. It is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, II, folio 21.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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