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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, AUGUST 17, 1776
A letter of the 13th, from General Washington, being received, was read.2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, II, folio 393.]
The delegates of New Jersey laid before Congress a resolution of their convention, empowering any one of them to represent the said state in Congress, in these words:
In Provincial Congress, New Jersey,
Burlington, June 22d, 1776.
Upon the Question, whether one or more Delegates shall be a Quorum to represent this Province in Continental Congress, it was carried in Favour of one.
Extract from the Minutes,
William Paterson,Secretary.3
[Note 3: 3 The original is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, New Jersey,Credentials of Delegates.]
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The Board of Treasury reported, that there is due,
To John Bates, for 187 camp kettles, delivered to Colonel Clement Biddle, deputy quarter master general, 249 dollars:
To George Bunner, for a riffle purchased by Lieutenant Moses Rawling, from John Piper, in Maryland, for the use of Captain GrieFs riffle company, and to be charged to the said company, 10 60/90 dollars:
To Messrs. Gibson and Aston, for 5 riffles furnished Captain Morgan's company of rifflemen, by persons in Frederick county, Virginia, and certified by the committee there, and to be charged to the said Morgan, 65 30/90 dollars:
To James Mercer, for furnishing 597 meals of victuals to the militia on their march to New Jersey, 59 63/90 dollars:
To William Clayton, for furnishing 454 meals of victuals supplied the militia on their march to New Jersey, 45 36/90 dollars:
To William Allibone, for his expences in search of flint stones, by direction of the Board of War, 6 dollars:
To Joseph Hinzey, for 7 chairs and a stool, for the use of the treasury office, 15 18/90 dollars:
To William M'Carroll, for the passage of prisoners taken by Captain Barry from Egg Harbour to this city, with their maintenance on the road, 4 56/90 dollars:
To Colonel Henry Haller, 425 dollars and 39/90 of a dollar, of which sum 20 dollars is to be charged to Captain Nelson, for two riffles delivered to him by David Miers; fourteen dollars 54/90 of a dollar to the army, for rations supplied Captain Nelson's company; twenty four dollars for contingent charges of three expresses; and 366 75/90 dollars for provisions for the prisoners at
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Reading, with fire wood, salt, straw, &c. including 39 days' service of said Haller:
To George Struyly's, for entertainment of the militia on their march to New Jersey, 78 64/90 dollars:
To Robert Jewell, for sundry bills for the repair of the old gaol in Philadelphia. and work done at the new gaol, 178 53/90 dollars.
Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.
The committee on Indian affairs, to whom sundry letters and papers from Pittsburg were referred, having examined them, laid the same on the table, and desired they might be read, which was done.
Resolved, That an order for 50 dollars be drawn on the treasurer, in favour of G[eorge] Morgan, for the use of P[eter] Long, for his services in the Indian country.
Resolved, That the accounts of G[eorge] Morgan, Esqr. be referred to the Board of Treasury.
A letter of this day, from Martin Johnson, lieutenant of artillery, was laid before Congress and read; wherein he desires Congress to enquire into the circumstances of Mr. Anstruther's diamond ring, which he acknowledges he has; that he never made a secret of it; that he did not break open Mr. Anstruther's trunk, that he found the ring sometime after the garrison capitulated, and thought it to be a prize; and, for the truth of what he asserts, refers Congress to the certificates of several principal officers.
Resolved, That Lieutenant Martin Johnson be directed to deliver the ring to the secretary of the War Office, who is ordered to send the same to Mr. Anstruther, the owner.
The Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee to whom was referred Brigadier General Wooster's letter, requesting an enquiry into his conduct while he had the honour of commanding the continental forces in Canada, which was read, as follows:
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That Brigadier General Wooster produced copies of a number of letters which passed between him and General Schuyler, and of his letters to Congress; from which it appears that he, from time to time, gave seasonable and due notice of the state of the army under his command, and what supplies were, in his opinion, necessary to render the enterprize successful; that a number of officers and other gentlemen from Canada, who were acquainted with his conduct there, and who happened occasionally to be in this city, were examined before the committee; to which letters, and the minutes of the examination of the witnesses herewith exhibited, the committee beg leave to refer Congress for further information, and report, as the opinion of the committee, upon the whole of the evidence that was before them, that nothing censurable or blameworthy appears against Brigadier General Wooster.
The report being again read, was agreed to.1
[Note 1: 1 Printed in thePennsylvania Gazette, 9 October, 1776. See John Adams, Autobiography,Works, III, 67.]
The Board of War brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
Resolved, That Gustavus Risberg be appointed assistant quarter master to Clement Biddle, deputy quarter master general to the flying camp, and that he reside at Philadelphia.
Resolved, That General Washington be desired to propose an exchange of his Britannic majesty's prisoners, captivated at St. Johns and Chambly, for those in the service of the United States, taken in Canada:
That Major Meggs [Meigs] be exchanged for Major French, and Captain Henry Dearborn for an officer of his rank:
That in case a general exchange of prisoners should not be agreed to, that provision be made for supplying our
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prisoners in Canada with necessaries, by procuring andsending bills of exchange, drawn by British officers, prisoners in these states; or, if such cannot be obtained, that cash be sent to them.
Resolved, That it be recommended to the convention of Maryland, to raise and arm two batallions upon the continental establishment:
That the men for the said batallions be inlisted to serve during the war, unless sooner discharged by Congress:
That the said convention recommend to Congress suitable persons for field officers of the said batallions, and appoint all the other officers:
That the said batallions be taken into continental pay so soon as they are armed and accoutred for service, and accordingly mustered:
That 20,000 dollars be sent to the said convention, to defray the expences of raising the said batallions; to be accounted for to Congress
Colonel [Biddle having, by order of General Mercer, applied for the following articles, viz. 500 firelocks with bayonets, 500 bayonets with scabbards of different sizes, 200 spare ramrods, 4,000 priming wires, and 20,000 flints:
Resolved, That Mr. James Mease, commissary, be directed to provide and deliver to Colonel Biddle, or his order, the above articles, or as many of them as can be procured.
The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock on Monday.
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