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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, JUNE 21, 1776
Resolved, That General Washington be directed to permit Brigadier General Wooster to return to his family in Connecticut.
Resolved, That the commanding officer of the Delaware batallion, be directed to send a proper guard, with the powder ordered to ∥Colonel Fleming's regiment, on∥ the Eastern Shore of Virginia.
Resolved, That an order for 300,000 dollars be drawn on the treasurers, in favour of the Delegates of South Carolina, for the use of the continental batallionsordered to be raised in that colony; the said delegates to be accountable:
The Committee of Claims reported, that there is due,
To Rowland Swan, a captain of his Britannic majesty's 7th regiment of foot, the sum of 36 dollars, for eighteen weeks' allowance, and 12 dollars for bringing his baggage from New York to Philadelphia, together with the baggage
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of Capt. Dundee, and three privates of the said regiment:
To Joseph Haight, for supplying the prisoners at Burlington with provisions to the 4 June instant, the sum of £89 5 0=238 dollars.
To Andrew M'Nair, the sum of £45 1 11=120 23/90 dollars for provisions, &c. for the 24 Indians, while at the state house, which was 20 days:
To Michael Clarke, for liquor for the above Indians, the sum of £10 8=27 66/90 dollars:
Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.
A letter of the 21, from the convention of New Jersey, was laid before Congress and read, together with sundry letters from the prisoners there ∥in Burlington.∥
Resolved, That the pay of the commissioner to be sent into Canada be four dollars per day.
The Board of War and Ordnance, ∥to whom was referred the case of the officers who served last winter in Canada,∥ brought in a report, which was taken into consideration: Whereupon,
Resolved, That the convention of New York be requested to set on foot the raising another regiment on continental establishment, to serve for three years, or during the war, unless sooner discharged by Congress; and that in forming said regiment, they commission such officers as served the last campaign in Canada, and have not been yet provided for:
That the said officers be informed that the commissions to be granted them, be on condition that they raise their companies to their full complement, or nearly thereto, and that their commissions be withheld from them until the said condition be complied with:
That it be recommended to the said convention to make suitable provision for Major Dubois, with whose good
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conduct Congress are well satisfied, and that they return his [name,] with the names of the other field officers, for the approbation of Congress.
That a commission of lieutenant colonel be given to Major John Vischer, in Colonel John Nicholson's regiment, in the New York forces.1
[Note 1: 1 George Clinton thought this regiment would not have been ordered, "were it not with a view of providing for those officers who have much merit, from reëngaging in the service of their country last fall, after the surrender of Montreal, and continuing through a most fatiguing and dangerous campaign in Canada during the winter." As to the recommendation of Major Dubois he said: "The Congress having heretofore left the appointment or recommendation of the officers of new levies with the Provincial Congress, in which the same are raised, and being therefore loath now to break through this rule, is (I am informed,) the only reason why the officers to this regiment are not appointed here." ToJohn McKesson, 25 June, 1776. InJournal of the Proceedings of the New York Provincial Congress. See note under June 26, p. 481,post.]
The Congress then resumed the consideration of the report from the committee of the whole: Whereupon,
Resolved, That General Washington be directed to order an enquiry to be made into thecauses of the miscarriages in Canada conduct of the officers heretofore employed in the Canada department; that the said enquiry be made at such times and places as, in his judgment, shall be most likely to do justice, as well to the public as to the individuals; and that the result of the said enquiry, together with the testimonies upon the subject, be transmitted to Congress: that, moreover, all officers accused of cowardice, plundering, embezzlement of public monies, and other misdemeanors, be immediately brought to trial: And whereas, Congress is informed that an opinion has prevailed that officers resigning their commissions are not subject to trial by a court martial for offences committed previous to such resignation, whereby some have evaded the punishments to which they were liable, it is hereby declared that such opinion is not just.2
[Note 2: 2 This paragraph includes W. 6, 7, and 8 of the Jefferson report, p. 451,ante.]
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The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to 9 o'Clock on Monday.
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