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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, OCTOBER 10, 1776
Sundry petitions and memorials were laid before Congress, and read.
One from Daniel Morgan, and one from Captain Smith, Lieutenant Steel and Lieutenant Nichols, ∥late returned from Canada.∥
Resolved, That the said memorials be referred to the Board of Treasury, who are directed to liquidate and settle the accounts enclosed in the said memorials, and to pay allow for such arms as were lost or taken by the enemy in the assault on Quebec.
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A petition from Frederick Seegar desiring leave to resign his office as quarter master of the German batallion:
Resolved, That leave be granted.
A petition of John Melchior Neff, and one from Paul Fooks,1
[Note 1: 1 The petition from Neff is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, VII, folio 1. That of Fooks is in No. 42, III, folio 1.]
Resolved, That they be referred to the Board of War.
The Marine Committee having recommended Captain Abraham Whipple, of the ship Columbus, to the command of the Providence frigate, at Rhode Island,
Resolved, That he be promoted accordingly.
The Committee farther reported on the rank of the captains of the navy of the United States, which was agreed to as follows:
Lieut. [John] Baldwin, Wasp, ... 8
Lieut. [Thomas] Albertson, Musquito, ... 4
Resolved, That the Marine Committee be empowered to settle the rank of the lieutenants of the navy.
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to prepare the form of an oath to be taken by the officers of the army and navy:
The members chosen, Mr. [George] Wythe, Mr. [Thomas] Stone, and Mr. [Robert Treat] Paine.
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The Board of War brought in a report, which was taken into consideration: Whereupon,
Resolved, That General Schuyler be directed to take such steps as are necessary, for procuring a sufficient number of as large vessels as the navigation of the lakes will admit of, for the service of the states the next campaign, that the command of the lakes may be effectually secured:
That William Patton be appointed third lieutenant in Colonel Hand's regiment, in the place of Lieutenant Clark, resigned:
That the regimental pay masters in the army of these United States, have the rank of first lieutenants, and receive rations as captains:
That General Washington be directed to negotiate with General Howe, an exchange of the officers returned from Canada, and that they have a preference to the officers taken on New York and Long Island:
That General Washington be directed, if he shall judge it necessary, to sink the new ships mentioned in his letter of the 5th instant.
Resolved, That the farther consideration of the report be postponed.
The committee to whom was referred the case of William Faulkner, brought in their report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
Resolved, That William Faulkner, a prisoner confined at Reading, be permitted to return to his family in Tryon county, upon giving his parole.
The committee appointed to devise a plan for providing carriages, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the quarter masters in every department be ordered to avoid pressing horses and carriages,
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as much as possible; and when it is necessary, that they be directed to go to the country houses for that purpose, and discharge, as soon as the service will possibly admit, such horses and carriages so impressed; and that no violence whatever be done to any persons, their horses or carriages, who go to the camp of their own accord, to sell provisions, or other necessaries of any kind.
An application from the council of safety of Pensylvania was laid before Congress, and read, desiring that a committee of Congress may be appointed to confer with a committee of their body, on the expediency of having troops stationed near the city of Philadelphia, for the defence of Pensylvania.1
[Note 1: 1 This application, dated October 8, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 69, I, folio 233. The Committee was David Rittenhouse, John Bayard, and Owen Biddle. In notifying the Council Benjamin Rush wrote on the 11th: "The board of war will set this morning at 9 o'clock at the war office, at which time and place they expect the pleasure of meeting your committee. I beg leave to inform the Council that such information was given yesterday in Congress respecting the designs of our enemies against this city, as makes the delay of a single day, or even an hour dangerous." Pennsylvania Archives, First Series, V, 38.]
Resolved, That the Board of War be directed to confer with the committee of the council of safety.
A petition of William Mackay was presented to Congress, and read, praying for liberty to return home:
Resolved, That the prayer of his petition be granted.
Resolved, That the following promotions and appointments be made in the Virginia batallions, viz.
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Taylor, captain of the 1st; his commission to be dated the 29th of April:[Note 1: 1 In the original Journal this was entered Richard.]
That commissions be granted to the following persons in the third Virginia Regiment.
Resolved, That commissions be made out to all the officers of the regiments in the service of the United States, who have been appointed in the places of others resigning and promoted, and bear dates on which the resignations and promotions were respectively made.
A memorial from George Measam was presented to Congress, and read:
Ordered, To lie on the table.
Resolved, That three members be added to the committee of cloathing, in the room of those who are absent:
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The members chosen, Mr. [John] Witherspoon, Mr. [Thomas] Stone and Mr. [John] Penn.
Congress took into consideration the report of the Board of War of the 19th of September; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the inhabitants of Canada, captivated by the United States, and not taken in arms, be released and sent home, except St. Luke la Corne and Mons. Rouville, the elder, upon this condition, that they sign a parole that they will not take up arms against the United States, nor give intelligence to the enemies of these states:
That a register be kept of their names.
Resolved, That the Board of War order gun powder to be delivered for proving cannon for the Unites States, upon application to them for that purpose.
The Board of Treasury reported, that there is due,
To Joseph Donaldson, for supplies to recruits to General Lee's guard, and provisions to Captain Grier's company, and a guard with powder to Virginia, 20 60/90ths dollars:
To William Faulkner, a prisoner, sent by General Schuyler to Reading, for his allowance from the 9th day of April to the 7th of October, inclusive, being 26 weeks, at two dollars per week, 52 dollars:
To Captain Hazlewood, Captain Green way and Mr. Bedford, a balance of 267 10/90ths dollars, their whole account of their charge for preparing six sail of fire ships at New York, and their expences going to, in, and coming from, New York to Philadelphia, being 392 10/90ths dollars; of which they have received from S. Moylan, Esqr. quarter master general, the sum of 125 dollars; the remainder is 267 10/90ths dollars.
Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.
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Resolved, That to Morrow be assigned for appointing the commissaries of cloathing and deputy commissary of stores.
The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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