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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, DECEMBER 12, 1776
A letter, of the 11, from General Washington, was read, and referred to the Board of War.1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, III, folio 339. It is printed in Writings of Washington (Ford) V, 80.]
Resolved, That 20,000 dollars be advanced to Gustavus Risberg, and charged to the account of Richard Dallam.
That 50,000 dollars be advanced to the council of safety of Pensylvania, for the public service; the said council to be accountable:
That 5,000 dollars be advanced to Dr. Nicholas Way, ∥of Wilmington,∥ for the public service; he to be accountable.
Resolved, That the two companys raised in the town of Westmoreland, be ordered to march with all possible expedition and join General Washington.
Resolved, That the continental apothecary be directed immediately to pack up all the continental medicines, and send them to the quarter master general:
That the quarter master general be directed to remove all the medicines belonging to the continent in this city to a place of security:
That the frigate Randolph and the sloop Hornet be directed to act in such manner as the continental general commanding here may direct, for the defence of this city, in preventing the enemy from passing the Delaware.
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Resolved, That 53 1/3 dollars be advanced to Mr. Sproat, clerk at the war office, for his service; he to be accountable.
Mr. [George] Walton, a delegate from Georgia, attended, and produced a letter from the secretary of the convention ∥of that state,∥ informing him of his appointment, with others, to represent that state for the year ensuing:
Resolved, That he be admitted to a seat.
Resolved, That Elisha Sheldon be appointed lieutenant colonel commandant of a regiment of cavalry on the continental establishment, with the rank and pay of a colonel of foot; and that General Washington be authorized to appoint the other officers to said regiment; and that the colonel, with his officers, proceed, without delay, to raise and discipline the said regiment; and that they repair to and join the army under General Washington's command, by companies, as soon as each company shall be compleat:
That the General be empowered to advance to Colonel Sheldon such sums of money as may be necessary for the service.
Resolved, That the Marine Committee be directed to employ one or more fast sailing vessels, to proceed on a cruise immediately off the Capes of Delaware, to give notice to all ships or vessels inward bound of the state of this port, in order that they may proceed to some other place or places of safety.
Resolved, That General Putnam be directed to send John Connolly under guard to Baltimore, Maryland, there to be confined.
That General Putnam, or the commanding officer in Philadelphia, be desired to appoint suitable persons to make proper provision of combustibles, for burning such
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of the frigates and other continental vessels as may be in imminent danger of falling into the enemies' possession should this city come into their hands.
But when it shall happen that the General has no further occasion for the use of the frigate Randolph, for the defence of this city, if the same should fall into the enemies hands, should Captain Biddle in that case carry the said frigate safely to sea, and thereby save her from falling into the enemies' hands, this Congress will reward him and his people with a present of 10,000 dollars.
Resolved, That the continental general commanding in Philadelphia, be directed to defend the same to the utmost extremity, against the attempts of the enemy to get possession of it; and that, for this end, he apply, from time to time, to the council of safety of Pensylvania for their aid and assistance.
Resolved, That Mr.[Robert] Morris be empowered to borrow a sum, not exceeding 10,000 dollars, for the use of the Marine Committee; and Congress will indemnify him.
Resolved, That Timothy Dod be released from confinement.
Resolved, That the arms, ammunition, and cloathing, in or near the city of Philadelphia, be put under the direction of General Putnam; and that Mr. J. Mease, Mr. Towers, and all other persons having continental stores in care, make immediate return of the same to General Putnam, of the quantities and kinds of each, and where the same are placed, that the general may take proper order therein, whether for safety or use, as he shall judge proper.
Resolved, That General Putnam be authorized to employ all the private armed vessels in this harbour, for the defence and security of the city. And that he take the
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most effectual measures for manning them, and putting them in fit condition for the above purpose.
General Putnam and Brigadier General Mifflin being called to a conference, and having, by strong arguments, urged the necessity of the Congress retiring, it was, therefore,
Resolved, That Mr. Wilson be desired to inform the assembly and council of safety of Pensylvania of the ∥proposed∥ adjournment of Congress, and the place to which they have resolved to adjourn; and to inform them, that Congress will, at all times, on their application, be ready to comply with their requisitions for the security of this city and state against the common enemy.
Whereas the movements of the enemy have now rendered the neighbourhood of this city the seat of war, which will prevent that quiet and uninterrupted attention to the public business, which should ever prevail in the great continental council:
Resolved, That this Congress be, for the present, adjourned to the town of Baltimore, in the state of Maryland, to meet on the 20th instant, unless a sufficient number to make a Congress shall be there sooner assembled; and that, until the Congress shall otherwise order, General Washington be possessed of full power to order and direct all things relative to the department, and to the operations of war. That the several matters to this day referred, be postponed to the day to which Congress is adjourned.1
[Note 1: 1 "The near approach of the enemy to Philadelphia, the slowness of the militia, and the advice of friends, induced the Congress to adjourn to this town." Matthew Thornton to Meshech Weare, 25 December, 1776. Whipple intimates that a panic in all orders of people "seized the nerves of some members of Congress."
In the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, IV, folio 241, is an undated motion which probably belongs to this period of removal:
"Resolved, That it be recommended to the Council of Safety of this State to post at the different ferries on Skuylkill and Delaware and also at Shamany sentries, to be formed from the Associators of this province whose business it shall be to make particular enquiry of all persons attempting to cross such ferries and to prevent such passing who cannot give a good and sufficient account of themselves as friends to these States, or who have not a pass from the Congress or Council of Safety or Board of War, or are not in motion to join the Army of these United States, and that officers of discretion have the command at the several posts and that he [they] be instructed from time to time to transmit whatever may come to their knowledge, which they may deem interesting to these States."
On the back of the paper is noted by Charles Thomson the vote, eight ayes and three noes.]
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