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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, SEPTEMBER 25, 1776
Two letters from General Lee; one to the president of the 24 of August, the other to the Board of War of the 27th of the same month, both dated from Savannah, being received, were read.
The Committee on the Treasury reported, that there is due,
To John Bates, for 212 camp kettles delivered to Gustavus Risberg, adjutant [assistant] to the deputy quarter master general, two hundred and eighty two dollars and 60/90 of a dollar.
To Melchior Meng, for waggon hire, carrying money to Albany, with expences, going and returning, one hundred and seventeen dollars and 7/90 of a dollar.
To Samuel Johnson, for 1,047 meals supplied the militia on their march to New Jersey, 104 63/90 dollars:
To John Kerlin, for entertaining militia on their march to New Jersey, 55 27/90 dollars:
To Messrs. St. Luke la Corn, Major Campbell and Captain Frazier, prisoners from Canada, for their allowance of two dollars per week each, and for their three servants at one dollar per week each, from the 8th of July to the 23d of September, 1776, inclusive, being 11 weeks, 90 dollars.
To Peter Mathers, for entertaining militia on their march to New Jersey, 32 72/90 dollars.
To Samuel Pews, for supplying the militia with 269 meals of victuals, on their march to New Jersey, 26 81/90 dollars:
To Francis Lee, for the hire of a stage coach, agreeable to a certificate of Richard Peters, Esq. to convey General Prescot and General M'Donald, with their guard, 26 60/90 dollars.
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To Jacob Henkles, for supplying troops with provisions, on their march to New Jersey, 215 52/90 dollars:
To Robert Tolbert, 18 18/90 dollars, and to Joseph M'Kellup, 45 18/90 dollars, for entertaining troops on their march to New Jersey, both sums amounting to 63 36/90 dollars, to be paid to the said Joseph M'Kellup:
To Colonel Allen M'Donald of Kingsborough, and his son Alexander M'Donald, for their allowance of two dollars per week for 21 weeks, and for their servants' allowance, 21 weeks, at one dollar per week, settled to the 17 September, 105 dollars:
Ordered, That the above accounts be paid.
Resolved, That an order for 40 dollars be drawn on the treasurer in favour of Mons. P. Govert, as captain lieutenant of artillery; the same being two months' pay advance, for which he is to be accountable.
A letter from General Washington, enclosing a letter from Brigadier General Greene, and a return of the Army, was laid before Congress, and read.1
[Note 1: 1 This letter, with enclosure, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, III, folio 23.]
Resolved, That the captains, or commanding officers of the companies of the militia of Pensylvania, make up the pay rolls of such companies as have been regularly discharged from the camp, in New Jersey, from the time of their being last paid, with the addition of a day to each man, for every twenty miles between the camp and his respective place of abode; for which an allowance of one penny per mile is to be made, without rations or subsistence. The sums due on the said rolls to be attested by the oaths or affirmations of the respective captains or commanding officers, and certifyed by one of their field officers. And the pay master in Philadelphia is hereby directed to discharge the said rolls, on certificates being
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produced from the commissary of stores at the flying camp, and in this city, of the re-delivery of such of the public stores as have been received by the companies aforesaid, or the regiments to which they respectively belong, or upon deducting the amount thereof from the pay of those who have not returned them:1
[Note 1: 1 In the margin is written, "To be published."]
That the captains or commanding officers of such of the said militia, as are not yet returned from the camp, be directed, when discharged, to procure from the commanding officer of the camp, certificates of the sums due in their respective rolls; and in every other respect, the said captains or commanding officers, and the pay master aforesaid, are to observe the rules prescribed in the foregoing resolve for payment of the said militia.1
Resolved, That three gentlemen be appointed to audit and settle the accounts of the Pensylvania militia:
The ballots being taken, the following gentlemen were chosen, viz. Mr. P. Chevalier, Mr. J. Wilcox and Mr. James Mease.
The committee appointed to devise ways and means for providing cloathing, and other necessaries, for the army, brought in their report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
Resolved, That it be recommended to the general assemblies and conventions of the United States, to forward to head quarters, the cloathing, blankets and necessaries, which they may have provided in consequence of the resolution of Congress of the 19th of June last, drawing on the president for the cost and conveyance thereof; in which it is hoped the utmost diligence and expedition will be used, that those who expose themselves to danger in defending and protecting their fellow citizens, may suffer as little as possible from inclement seasons:
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That a committee of Congress, consisting of one delegate from each state, be appointed, with authority to employ proper persons to purchase, in their respective states, a sufficient number of blankets and woollens fit for soldiers' cloaths, and that they take the most effectual and speedy methods for getting such woollens made up, and distributed among the regular continental army, in such proportion as will best promote the public service: And that they also purchase all other necessary cloathing for the soldiers, in such proportion, as they judge, upon the best information, will be wanted; And that the said committee be authorized to draw on the president of Congress, for the sums necessary to execute this business; they to be accountable for the amount of their draughts and disbursements:
That Mr. Mease be directed to send immediately to General Gates, all the white shirts, shoes and stockings, he now has in his possession, and which are unappropriated, for the use of the northern army; and that he use the utmost diligence in buying, collecting and getting made, immediately, as many more of those articles as possible, making weekly reports to Congress of what he obtains:
That General Schuyler or the commanding officer at Albany, be desired to employ proper persons, immediately, to make up into soldier's cloaths, the woollens mentioned in General Schuyler's letter of the 29 of August last, and transmit the same, without delay, to the general commanding the northern army, for the use of such of the troops in that army, as have inlisted for three years, or will inlist during the war.
Resolved, That the commissaries and quarter master general, and deputy quarter masters general and their assistants, in the several departments, be directed to apply
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to Mr. Mease for such articles of cloathing, camp equipage, and other utensils, which they may want to purchase in the state of Pensylvania for the use of the army.
Congress then proceeded to the appointment of the committee, when the following gentlemen were chosen, viz.
Mr. [Josiah] Bartlett, Mr. [Robert Treat] Paine, Mr. [William] Ellery, Mr. [William] Williams, Mr. [William] Floyd, Mr. [Richard] Stockton, Mr. [George] Ross, Mr. [Thomas] M'Kean, Mr. [William] Paca, Mr. [George] Wythe, Mr. [Joseph] Hewes, Mr. [Arthur] Middleton, and Mr. [Lyman] Hall.
Resolved, That Lieutenant Boger and Lieutenant Ball be released from prison, on signing the like parole, as the other officers, prisoners at York Town, in Pensylvania.
Resolved, That the committee to whom was entrusted the care of publishing the journals of this house, be empowered to collect from the several printers, such parts of the said journals as they have printed, and lodge them with Robert Aitken, for sale; the several printers to be paid out of the sales, in such manner as the committee shall find just and equitable; and that the said committee make a publication of the journals as far as printed, as soon as possible.
The committee appointed to devise ways and means for providing the northern army with provisions, medicines and other necessaries, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
Resolved, That a committee be immediately sent to Ticonderoga; that they give orders that a number of sheep, and a quantity of Indian meal, rice, oatmeal, and molasses, be immediately sent to Lake George and Ticonderoga; that they endeavour to contract for the provisions for the northern army, by the ration, the particulars of which to be valued, and any part not supplied, to be paid
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for in money by the contractor; and that such contract be made, as far as may be, agreeable to the mode recommended by General Schuyler in his letter to Congress of the 25th of August: that the committee consult with the commanding officer in the northern department, and such other of the general officers as may be thought proper, on the best mode to re-inlist the army there, and to provide Barracks and cloathing for the troops, and especially that they engage the goods mentioned by General Schuyler, and apply such of them as may be necessary for the northern army:
That the committee be empowered to make regulations for the hospitals in the northern department, and to remove or suspend any person employed therein, and to employ such as they may think necessary and proper; and that they report to Congress the state and condition of the army, and any further regulations which they may think necessary, for the better government and supplying the said army:
That the committee consist ofthree two, and that to Morrow be assigned for electing the said committee.
Congress took into consideration the report of the Board of War: Whereupon,
Resolved, That Mr. J. Mease be directed to purchase as many tents, camp kettles, canteens, and other camp furniture, and as much cloathing as he can possibly procure, for the use of the army under the command of General Washington:
That Captain James Ross be appointed major in Colonel Hand's regiment, and that the other vacancies in that batallion be filled up as recommended by the colonel, in manner following.
1st Lieutenant John Halliday to be captain, vice James Ross, promoted:
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2d Lieutenant William Wilson to be 1st lieutenant,
3d Lieutenant John Dougherty to be 2d lieutenant, and
Benjamin Lyon to be 3d lieutenant;
3d Lieutenant John Dick to be 2d lieutenant, vice Jacob Zanch, resigned; and
Robert Cunningham to be third lieutenant, vice John Dick:
That the vacancies in Colonel Ward's regiment of the Massachusetts State be filled up in the manner recommended by the colonel, viz.
That Leonard Gansevoort, Junr. be appointed pay master to Colonel Van Schaick's regiment;raised in the state of New York
That Richard Varick, late captain in Colonel M'Dougal's regiment, which orifice he resigned, secretary to the honorable Major General Schuyler, be appointed deputy muster master general to the northern army: and
That Major Henry Brockholst Livingston, aid de camp to General Schuyler, be provided for by Congress in a station equal to his merit, when a proper vacancy happens, he being recommended by the general as a very deserving officer:
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That the part of General Schuyler's letter, referred to the Board of War, which relates to Indian affairs, be referred to the committee for Indian affairs:
That the commissary general be directed to procure such quantities of salt, and to buy, cure, and lay up, in proper places, such quantities of provisions as he shall judge necessary for the next campaign:
That the commissary general's letter relative to his having drawn an order on Mr. president Hancock, in favour of Colonel Lowry, for 60,000 dollars, be referred to the Treasury Board:
That Monsieur Devourouy's petition be referred to the Marine Committee:
That the letter from his excellency Governor Livingston, of New Jersey, respecting the payment of the militia, be referred to the Treasury Board:
That so much of General Arnold's letter to General Schuyler, as relates to cloathing, be referred to the committee for providing cloaths for the army.
The committee appointed to settle the rank ∥of the captains and subalterns in∥ of the German batallion, brought in their report; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the rank of the captains be as follows:
Daniel Burkhart, Philip Graybill, George Hubley, Henry Fister, Jacob Bonner, George Keeports, Benjamin Weiser, William Keyser, and David Woelpper.
First lieutenants, Frederick Rolwagen, John Lora, Peter Boyer, Charles Baltzel, William Rice, Jacob Kotz, Jacob Bower, Samuel Gerock, and Bernard Hubley.
Second lieutenants, George Hawbacker, Christian Meyers, John Landenberger, Michael Bayer, George Schaeffer, Adam Smith, Frederick Yeiser, William Ritter, and Philip Schrawder.
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Ensigns, John Weidman, Martin Shugart, Christian Helm, Jacob Crummet, Jacob Cramer, Paul Christman, Christopher Godfrey Swartz, and John Landenberger.
The Committee of Treasury farther reported that there is due,
To John Pluckrose, for going express from Congress to Charleston, South Carolina, one hundred and thirty two dollars:
To the steward of the Pensylvania hospital, for boarding William Whiting, a wounded soldier, four weeks, by order of Congress, 5 30/90 dollars:
To Jacob Peterman, to be paid to John Ebert, for 83 meals of victuals supplied the troops of the flying camp, on their march to New Jersey, 8 22/90 dollars:
To Gunning Bedford, Esqr. for his pay and rations, from the 17 June to 17 September, 1776, being three months, 152 64/90 dollars.
Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.
The said committee farther reported, that they have considered the petition of Captain James Ross to Congress, and are of opinion, that he should be credited with the following sums charged in his account; he not having received the accounts in time, to make the stoppages, viz.
For sundry articles supplied by Mr. Slough, amounting to £182 10 5 ∥=486 65/90 dollars:∥
For drums, &c. by Simons & Henry, £6 9 6 ∥=17 24/90 dollars:∥
For cash, by committee of Lancaster county, to a waggoner, £25 0 0 ∥=66 60/90 dollars:∥
For part of an account of expences of his company, on their march to Cambridge, £6 14 0 ∥=17 78/90 dollars:∥
The whole amounting to £220 13 11, equal to 588 47/90ths dollars:
Ordered, That the said sum be passed to his credit.
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The committee appointed to hear and determine upon the appeal against the sentence of condemnation passed upon the schoonerThistle, having reversed the decree,
Resolved, That a passport and safe conduct be granted to Charles Roberts, master of the schoonerThistle, for himself and the said schooner, for the space of 60 days.
The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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