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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, OCTOBER 9, 1776
Two letters from General Schuyler, of the 3d, with sundry letters enclosed, were laid before Congress, and read:1
[Note 1: 1 These letters are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 153, II, 427, 433.]
Resolved, That they be referred to the Board of War, and that the letters heretofore received from General Washington, General Schuyler, and all other general officers, with the papers enclosed, be lodged in the War Office.
Resolved, That two months' pay be advanced to Major Pierre François de Bois, he to be accountable.
A petition from Jean Baccarère and his partner, was presented to Congress, and read.
Resolved, That it be referred to the Marine Committee.
Application being made in behalf of Captain Dirks, late from Surinam, to be taken into the service of the Continent, as an engineer,
Resolved, That he be referred to the Board of War.
The committee appointed to prepare the form of a bond to be given by Charles Lee, for the 30,000 dollars advanced to him, brought in the same, which was agreed to.
Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee who went to the camp;2 Whereupon,
[Note 2: 2 See note under October 3, p. 844, ante.]
Resolved, That no regimental hospitals be, in future, allowed in the neighborhood of the general hospital:
That John Morgan, Esqr. provide and superintend a hospital, at a proper distance from the camp, for the army posted on the east side of Hudson's river.
That William Shippen, [Jun.] Esqr. provide and superintend and hospital for the army, in the state of New Jersey:
That each of the hospitals be supplied by the respective directors with such a number of surgeons, apothecaries,
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surgeons' mates, and other assistants, and also with such quantities of medicine, bedding, and other necessaries, as they shall judge expedient:
That they make weekly returns to Congress and the commander in chief, of the officers and assistants of each denomination, and also the number of sick and deceased in their respective hospitals:
That the regimental surgeons be directed to send to the general hospitals such officers and soldiers of their respective regiments, as, confined by wounds or other disorders, shall require nurses or constant attendance, and, from time to time, to apply to the quarter master general, or his deputy, for convenient waggons for this purpose; also, [that they apply to the directors in their respective departments, for medicines and other necessaries:]1
[Note 1: 1 This sentence is in the writing of John Hancock.]
That the wages of nurses be augmented to one dollar per week:
That the commanding officer of each regiment be directed, once a week, to send a commission officer to visit the sick of his respective regiment in the general hospital, and report their state to him:
That a commissary of cloathing be appointed for each of the armies of the United States, whose duty shall be to make constant returns to the assemblies or conventions of the respective states, of the cloathing wanted for their several regiments, to receive and pay for the same, to deliver it to the pay masters of the respective regiments, to be by them distributed to the non-commissioned officers and soldiers, and deducted from their wages respectively, unless allowed as a bounty by order of Congress:
Resolved, That for ye immediate Relief of ye Army it be recommended to ye Assemblies, and Conventions from Virginia, to New Hampshire inclusively, to employ a suitable Number of persons to
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apply to each of ye Inhabitants of their respective States and purchase such Articles of Cloathing and Blankets as they can spare for ye Service, and that ye same be sent with Invoices of ye Cost to ye Commissary of Cloathing at New York, the Amount thereof to be by him discharged, and it is also recommended to ye sd Assemblies and Conventions to send to ye Commdr. in Chief at N. York such a Number of Flints as they can supply for ye use of ye Army.
Resolved, That ye Continental Agents of ye States from Pennsylvania to New Hampshire inclusively be directed to purchase all ye Salt offered for Sale in their respective States, and deliver ye Same w'th such other Quantities belonging to ye Continent, as they now have or hereafter may have in their Hands, to ye Commissary General or his order, who is hereby impowered to draw for ye Same, and employ suitable persons to import such other Quantities as he shall judge necessary.
That the commissary general be empowered to employ suitable persons to import such quantities of salt as he shall judge necessary, on account and risque of the United States.1
[Note 1: 1 This paragraph is in the writing of John Hancock.]
That for promoting health in the army, the commissary general be directed to cause the same to be well supplied with Indian meal and vegetables.
Resolved, That a Disciplinarian with yeDollars per Month and ye Rank of Major General be appointed for ye Army of N. York, whose Duty it shall be constantly to discipline ye Corps of Officers of each Brigade, and report to Congress ye plans adopted for this purpose.
That the commander in chief be empowered to appoint as many conductors for the commissary of stores, and assistants to the commissary of cloathing, as he shall, from time to time, judge necessary, and report their names to Congress:
That there be a deputy commissary of stores for the army at New York, with the pay of thirty dollars per month.
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Resolved, That ye Board of War be directed to send to ye Commissary of Stores at New York, 10 Tons Musket and Rifle powder, 20 Tons Buck shot, a Quantity of Tin, as many brass Field peices, 6 and 3 pounders, as they can procure, and that they employ ye overseer of ye Foundry in this place to cast eighteen brass Field peices, 6 pounders and eighteen three pounders, as soon as may be, and order Carriages to be compleated for ye same.
Resolved, That Mr. Maize [Mease] be directed forthwith to send to ye Colo of Artillery at New York 1,000 Yds of fine white Flannel.
Resolved, That ye Board of War be directed to prepare a plan for establishing a continental Laboratory and a military Academy, and providing ye same with proper Officers, also for establishing a suitable Number of Artillery Regiments and a Corps of Artificers for sd Regiments.
Resolved, That the farther consideration of the report be postponed till to Morrow.
Resolved, That the Board of War send 300 lb. of gun powder to Colonel Mark Bird, to prove the cannon he has made for the United States.
The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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