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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 --THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 1776
A letter, of the 27th, from R. H. Harrison, secretary to General Washington, was laid before Congress, and read.
Also, a letter of the 28th, from General Mercer, both giving an account of an action on Long Island, and referred to the Board of War.1
[Note 1: 1 The letter of Harrison is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, II, folio 499. That of Mercer is in No. 159, folio 178.]
A letter, of the 28, from Richard Dallam, deputy pay master general for the flying camp, was read; Whereupon,
Resolved, That an order for 10,000 dollars be drawn on the treasurers, in favour of Gustavus Risberg, and the same charged to the account of Mr. Dallam:
That the letter [from Mr. Dallam] be referred to the Board of Treasury.
It being represented by Dr. B[enjamin] Franklin, one of the late commissioners to Canada, that Mons. Bernard Mousac de la Marquisie had a commission given to him by the said commissioners, to be a captain and engineer in one of the regiments to be raised there, but that he lost his commission, with his baggage, at Chambly; it was, thereupon,
Resolved, That a new commission be granted to him.
A letter of the 3d, from Lord Sterling, was read.
Resolved, That it be referred to the Cannon Committee.
The Marine Committee having recommended Alpheus Rice to be first lieutenant of marines, on board the brigHampden, commanded by Hoysted Hacker, Esqr,
Resolved, That he be accepted, and that a commission be granted to him accordingly.
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The committee appointed to consider the claims of Canadians, who have been in the service of the continent, reported,
That Samuel Morrison, who appears, by the certificates of lieutenant colonels Williams and Brown, to have been at the siege of Quebec two months and six days, and to have rendered essential service in several capacities, and had been promised a commission of captain, which he never received, be allowed the sum of 40 dollars, in full for his said services:
That the petition of Hardouin Merlet, for a pension, in consideration of his services, not being supported by any certificate, or voucher relating to such services, we do not see that, at present any allowance can properly be made to him:
That there be paid to Francis Bourignon, the sum of 45 1/3 dollars, due him for his service, as a private, three months, and as a serjeant, four months, in Colonel Hazen's and Colonel Brown's regiments:
The said report being read, was agreed to.
A letter of the 2d, from General Lee, at Charleston, with an intercepted letter enclosed, was laid before Congress, and read.
Resolved, That Mr. J. Mease be directed to provide proper cloathing for the German batallion, and also for the two batallions of Virginians on their march to New York, the cost of the same cloathing to be deducted out of the pay of the men by stoppages.
Resolved, That the Secret Committee be directed to provide proper arms for the German batallion; and, in case they cannot otherways provide arms, that they be empowered to apply to this purpose the arms ordered to be put into the hands of the marines:
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That the said committee be directed to deliver to Mr. James Mease the one bale of cloth in their possession, for the public service, he to be accountable.
That the said committee be directed to import the medicines ordered by the Medical Committee.
The Board of Treasury reported, that there is due,
To Joseph Sheerer, for account of Captain Cowden, for 608 rations due to his company of militia, at the time of their march from Lancaster county, on their way to New Jersey, fifty four dollars and 4/90 of a dollar.
To Joseph Sheerer, for account of Captain James Murray, for 700 rations due to his company of militia, at the time of their march from Lancaster county, on their way to New Jersey, 61 20/90 dollars:
To Richard Cheney, for 1,311 meals victuals, supplied the militia on their march to New Jersey, 122 66/90 dollars:
To David Jones, for his pay as chaplain to the 3d and 4th Pensylvania batallions, from the 13th of June to the 29 of August, inclusive, 84 40/90 dollars:
To Josiah Fessenden, for services as an express, twice, once to Virginia, and once to, including horse hire and travelling expences, 89 dollars:
Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.
The Board of War brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
Resolved, That George Measam, Esqr. be continued in the office of superintendent, commissary of stores, except artillery stores, for the northern army, with the pay of thirty three dollars and one third of a dollar per month.
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to devise ways and means of regulating the post office, and of establishing advice boats between the southern colonies
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and Philadelphia, so as to facilitate and expedite the conveying of intelligence from one part of the continent to another:
The members chosen, Mr. [Thomas] Heyward, Mr. [Thomas] Jefferson, and Mr. [Robert] Morris.
Resolved, That the letter enclosed in General Lee's, of the 2d, which was found on Long Island, in South Carolina, be published.
Resolved, That the letters received and read this morning, be referred to the Board of War.
A letter from Monsieur Le Chevalier Sauralle was laid before Congress, and read.1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, IX, folio 1.]
Resolved, That it be referred to the Board of War.
Resolved, That the committee to whom the plan of treaties, as amended, was re-committed, be empowered to prepare such farther instructions as to them shall seem proper, and make report thereof to Congress.
The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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