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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 --SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1776
A letter, of the 19 and 21, from General Washington, ∥was read:∥1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, III, folio 265. It is printed in Writings of Washington (Ford), V, 41.]
Resolved, That 500,000 dollars be sent to the pay master general:
That 250,000 dollars be sent to Richard Dallam, Esqr
Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed, with full powers, to devise and execute measures for effectually reinforcing General Washington, and obstructing the progress of General Howe's army; and they are ordered to proceed immediately on this business.
The members chosen, Mr.[James] Wilson, Mr.[James] Smith, Mr.[Samuel] Chase, Mr.[George] Clymer, and Mr.[Richard] Stockton.2
[Note 2: 2 This committee does not appear formally to have laid the results of its deliberations before the Congress; but they were issued by the Council of Safety of Philadelphia, in the form of a broadside. A copy is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 69, I, folio 265. The committee report is as follows:
"The Committee before mentioned have come to the following Resolutions--
"Resolved, That it be recommended to the Commanding Officers of the several battalions of Associators in Pennsylvania immediately to call together the battalions respectively under their command; and to select out of each battalion one company, or, if possible, two companies of Volunteers.
"That Each company consist of seventy-six privates, one Drummer, one Fifer, four Corporals, and four Serjeants, under the command of a Captain, two Lieutenants, and one Ensign.
"That the field officers of each battalion, or such of them as shall be present, with the approbation and concurrence of the Volunteers, appoint the commissioned and non-commissioned officers of each company.
"That the companies be engaged in the service of the United States till the tenth day of March next, unless sooner discharged by Congress; and be entitled to a pair of shoes and stockings, and to the same rations and the same monthly pay with the other troops on the Continental Establishment, to commence from the time of their enrolment.
"That the form of the enrolment be as follows: Ihereby promise and engage to enter into the service of the United States, and to serve them till the tenth day of March next, unless sooner discharged by Congress; and to observe and obey the orders of Congress, and the orders of the Generals and Officers set over me by them.
"That in order to supply the companies with arms, accoutrements, and other necessaries, the field officers of each battalion, or any of them, be empowered and directed to purchase, and, if they cannot purchase, to impress arms, cartouch-boxes, blankets, shoes, stockings, and other necessaries for the use of the said companies.
"That the articles impressed be appraised by persons to be appointed by the field officers or any of them for that purpose.
"That the field officers or any of them give certificates of the value of the articles so purchased or appraised, which certificates shall be deemed sufficient vouchers to the persons to whom they shall be given, or to their assigns, for the respective sums therein mentioned, and shall be paid at the Continental Treasury.
"That the Captains march their companies with the utmost expedition, and join the army under General Washington.
"That the Council of Safety of Pennsylvania be empowered and directed to form the said companies into battalions; and to adopt such farther measures as they may find necessary for the march and equipment of the said companies; and particularly to collect, in the city of Philadelphia and its neighbourhood, blankets and other necessaries for their use, and to seize such articles, paying the value of them, if they cannot otherwise be procured.
"That one month's pay be advanced to each Volunteer upon his enrolment; and that the Council of Safety be supplied with money for this purpose.
"That the Council of Safety be requested to forward by express the foregoing Resolutions to the Commanding Officers of the several battalions of the State of Pennsylvania.
"Philadelphia,
November 24, 1776.James Wilson
George Clymer
James Smith
Samuel Chase."
See also Colonial Records of Pennsylvania, XI, 14.
The resolutions and report were printed in the Pennsylvania Gazette, 27 November, 1776.]
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Resolved, That the Board of War be directed to order the battalion, on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, ∥and the two Pensylvania battalions,∥ commanded by Colonel Mackay and Colonel Cooke, to march, with all possible expedition; the former to Philadelphia, and the two latter by the directest rout to Brunswick, in New Jersey, or to join General Washington ∥wherever he may be;∥ and the said Board is empowered to use every means to expedite their march; and they are ordered to attend immediately to this business.
In order the better to oppose the progress of General Howe's army,
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Resolved, That General Washington be directed forthwith to order, under his immediate command, such of the forces, now in the northern department, as have been raised in the states of Pensylvania and New Jersey, and that the commanding officer in the northern department, be directed to apply to the legislatures of the eastern states, to afford him such assistance as he may stand in need of.
That General Washington be directed to propose to General Howe, an exchange of William Franklin, Esqr. late governor of New Jersey, for Brigadier General Thompson.
The Committee of Treasury reported, that there is due,
To the committee of Northampton county, and to be paid to Jesse Jones, for sundry supplies of provisions, waggons, &c. to the militia on their march to New Jersey, and for supplies to prisoners and continental troops, the sum of 1,337 54½/90 dollars:
To John Ashbe, for a waggon, horses, and a negro man, his property, lost in the service of the states at New York, the sum of 786 60/90 dollars.
To John Cox, for eight rifle guns, supplied by Edward Snicker, for the use of Captain Gabriel Long's company, of Virginia rifflemen, 146 60/90 dollars:
To Lieutenants Bogart and Ball, two prisoners of the British navy, and to be paid to James Smith, Esqr. for their allowance, from 9 July, to 19 November, 1776, inclusive, 19 weeks, at 2 dollars a week, 76 dollars:
To Brigadier General Armstrong, for his pay and rations, from 1 March, to 23 November, instant, inclusive, his travelling expences to and from South Carolina, 1,781 63/90 dollars:
To Dr. David Jameson, for sundry medicines and
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attendance to sick soldiers of Captain Grier's company, and Captain Nelson's companies, in the continental service, the sum of 290 24/90 dollars:
To Colonel Jeremiah Dugan, for sundry supplies to the army in Canada, for which he has now produced a voucher, the want of which prevented the same being reported the 19 August last, the sum of 484 73/90 dollars:
To the Board of War, for Richard Dallam, Esqr. deputy pay master general, his draft, dated New Brunswick, the 21 instant, in favour of Colonel Clement Biddle, deputy quarter master general, the sum of ten thousand dollars:
That there should be paid to Richard Bache, Esqr. post master general, as an advance, for the use of the post office, 2,666 60/90 dollars:
Ordered, That the same be paid.
Resolved, That by any thing heretofore done, it is not intended to prejudice or strengthen the right or claim of the United States, or any of them, to any lands in America, nor to determine in what proportion or manner the expences of the war shall be raised or adjusted, except as to the first three millions of dollars emitted by Congress, and a farther emission of three millions of dollars, on December 26, 1775.1
[Note 1: 1 "In my last I expressed some hopes of prevailing on Congress to give our State some satisfaction as to the back lands, and the mode by which the proportion of the expenses of the war was to be paid by each State. In this expectation I was delayed and disappointed for two days, by Mr. Jenifer's mentioning that our Commissioners had your orders to proceed. By an obstinate perseverance the enclosed resolution was obtained last Saturday." Samuel Chase to Maryland Council of Safety, 26 November, 1776.]
Resolved, That 20,000 dollars be advanced to the commissioners appointed by the convention of Maryland, to raise their quota of troops; they to be accountable.
∥The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock on Monday.∥
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