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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 --WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 1776
Colonel Roberdeau, in behalf of the owners of the privateers which have taken some prizes, on board of which is a quantity of dollars to the amount of 22,000, having tendered to Congress the moiety belonging to them, in exchange for continental dollars [bills of credit,]
Resolved, That their offer be accepted, and that application be made to the agent for the men, for the moiety belonging to them, and that continental money be given them in lieu thereof.
The Congress proceeded to the election of a deputy pay master general for the eastern department, and, the ballots being taken,
Ebenezer Hancock was elected unanimously.
Resolved, That the sum of 150,000 dollars be sent to Mr. E. Hancock, deputy pay master general, for the use of the continental troops in the eastern department.
The committee, to whom Colonel Hand's letter, of the 3d of May last, was referred, brought in their report, which was taken into consideration: Whereupon,
Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committe thatdollars be advanced to Colo, Hand for purchasing the Riffles of such men as will not re inlist in the Riffle Regiment.
Resolved, That General Washington be directed to order the riffles of such men belonging to the riffle regiments as will not re-inlist, to be purchased, and that the General order the payment out of the military chest.1
[Note 1: 1 This paragraph, in the writing of John Hancock, was to be substituted for that struck out.]
That the riffle regiment be allowed a drummer and fifer to each company:
That 9,000 dollars be advanced to Colonel Hand, to purchase an uniform for the riffle regiment, the said sum to be stopped from the pay of the said regiment.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Jonathan Dickinson Sergeant [?], is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, III, folio 21.]
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Resolved, That Captain Grier, who is returned from Virginia with his detachment, and a number of recruits, be directed to join the batallions on their march to New York, and that Carpenter Wharton be directed to supply them with rations.
Resolved, That the Secret Committee be directed to deliver to Colonel Magaw, for the use of his batallion, the 191 arms sent up by Captain Berry.
The Congress then proceeded to the appointment of the committees voted.
Resolved, That the committee to prepare and digest the form of a confederation to be entered into between these colonies, consist of a member from each colony:
Resolved, That the committee to prepare a plan of treaties to be proposed to foreign powers, consist of five members:
The members chosen, Mr. [John] Dickinson, Mr. [Benjamin] Franklin, Mr. J[ohn] Adams, Mr. [Benjamin] Harrison, and Mr. R[obert] Morris.
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The Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on a war office: Whereupon,
Resolved, That a committee of Congress be appointed by the name of "A Board of War and Ordnance," to consist of five members.1
[Note 1: 1 In the original report the committee recommended the name "Board of War," and left the number of members blank.]
That a secretary and one or more clerks, be appointed by Congress, with competent salaries, to assist the said board in executing the business of their department:
That it shall be the duty of the said board, to obtain and keep an alphabetical and accurate register of the names of all officers of the land forces in the service of the United Colonies, with their ranks and the dates of their respective commissions; and also regular accounts of the state and disposition of the troops in the respective colonies; for which purpose, the generals and officers commanding in the different departments and posts, are to cause regular returns to be made into the said war office:
That they shall obtain and keep exact accounts of all the artillery, arms, ammunition and warlike stores, belonging to the United Colonies, and of the manner in which, and the places where, the same shall, from time to time, be lodged and employed; and that they shall have the immediate care of all such artillery, arms, ammunition, and warlike stores, as shall not be employed in actual service; for preserving whereof, they shall have power to hire proper magazines at the public expence:
That they shall have the care of forwarding all despatches from Congress to the colonies and armies, and all monies to be transmitted for the public service by order of Congress; and of providing suitable escorts and guards for the safe conveyance of such despatches and monies, when it shall appear to them to be necessary:
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That they shall superintend the raising, fitting out, and despatching all such land forces as may be ordered for the service of the United Colonies:
That they shall have the care and direction of all prisoners of war, agreeable to the orders and regulations of Congress:
That they shall keep and preserve, in the said office, in regular order, all original letters and papers, which shall come into the said office by order of Congress, or otherwise, and shall also cause all draughts of letters and despatches to be made or transcribed in books to be set apart for that purpose, and shall cause fair entries, in like manner, to be made, and registers preserved, of all other business which shall be transacted in the said office:
That before the secretary, or any clerk of the war office shall enter on his office, they shall respectively take and subscribe the following oath, a certificate whereof shall be filed in the said office:
I, A. B. do solemnly swear, that I will not directly or indirectly, divulge any matter or thing, which shall come to my knowledge, as (secretary) of the board of war and ordnance, for the United Colonies, (or clerk of the board of war and ordnance,) established by Congress, without the leave of the said board of war and ordnance, and that I will faithfully execute my said office, according to the best of my skill and judgment. So help me God.
That the said board of war be authorized to hire suitable apartments, and provide books, paper, and other necessaries, at the continental expence, for carrying on the business of the said office.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of James Duane, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 27, folio 1.]
The committee to whom the several letters, from the commissioners in Canada, and Major General Schuyler, with the papers enclosed therein, were referred, brought in their report, which was read:
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The commissioners to Canada also brought in a report in writing, which was read:
Resolved, That the said two reports be referred to the committee of the whole Congress.
Congress then resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration the several reports to them referred; and, after some time spent thereon, the president resumed the chair, and Mr. [Benjamin] Harrison reported, that the committee have taken into consideration the matters to them referred; but, not having had time to go through, desired him to move for leave to sit again.
Resolved, That this Congress will, to morrow, again resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to take into their farther consideration the reports referred to them.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.1
[Note 1: 1 "Richard Smith, Esquire, one of the Delegates for this Colony, in the Continental Congress, asking leave to resign his seat there on account of indisposition;
"Ordered, That his resignation be accepted."Journal New Jersey Convention.]
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