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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 --FRIDAY, MAY 9, 1777
The Board of War brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
Resolved, That a reward of 24 dollars be paid to every non-commissioned officer or soldier who shall come over with his arms from the enemy.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, dated May 6, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, I, folio 159.]
Resolved, That the remainder of the report be re-committed.
Resolved, That an order for 22,336 2/3 dollars be drawn on Joseph Clarke, Esqr. commissioner of the loan office for the State of Rhode Island, in favour of Colonel D[aniel]
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Tillinghast, and charged to the account of James Mease, Esqr. cloathier general; the same being in full for cloathing purchased by the said Colonel Tillinghast for the use of the army.1
[Note 1: 1 A letter from James Mease, calling for this sum, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XV, folio 185.]
Resolved, That the sum of £869 17 6 equal to 2,319 2/3 dollars be advanced to Samuel Ewing, pay master of the 2d Maryland batallion of continental troops, for the use of the said batallion, he to be accountable.
Resolved, That Mr. president write to the executive powers of each of the thirteen ∥United∥ States, requesting them to transmit to this Congress, with all convenient despatch, authenticated copies of all the petitions, memorials, and remonstrances, that were sent to the king and parliament of Great Britain, respecting American grievances, between the 1st of January, 1764, and the 1st of September, 1774, inclusive, with the answers to such, if any have been received.
The Committee of Treasury reported,
That there is due to John Jarvis, for the pay of a company of Bucks county militia in Colonel Kirkbride's batallion, between the 28th of December and 27th of March, the sum of 461 67/90 dollars:
That there is due to Captain Stephen Porter, for balance of payment and mileage of a company of Philadelphia county militia, between the 17 December and 4 February, the sum of 79 81/90 dollars:
That there is due to Captain Francis Nichols, for difference between the pay of a lieutenant and captain, from 1 January to 15 November, 1776, the sum of 109 dollars:
That there is due to James Millegan, John Carter, and John Wells, for their pay as commissioners for settling the army accounts in the northern department, from 26
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July to 9th May, inclusive, 287 days, at four dollars each per day, is 3,444 dollars:1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, I, folio 157.]
Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.
The Board of War brought in a report, which was taken into consideration: Whereupon,
That the Proposals made by Monsieur Bajeu Laporte, for raising a Regiment of Frenchmen in Martinique and Saint Domingo, to be taken into the service of the States, are worthy of the Attention Postponed of Congress; and that a Committee be appointed to settle the Terms on which the said Regiment shall be raised, and complete the Comtract with Monsieur Laporte.
Resolved, That General Washington be informed, that Congress are deeply concerned at the many reports they constantly receive of the misbehaviour of great numbers of the officers of the army in neglecting to settle with, or designedly withholding the pay of the soldiers, whereby the greatest injuries accrue to our cause, by occasioning discontents and desertions among the soldiery; and that it be recommended to the General, to establish a court of enquiry, to examine into the conduct of the officers as to the payment of their men, to consist of general officers only; and that the pay masters furnish the said court, or any person or persons authorized by them, with accounts of all moneys paid to officers for the payment of their regiments, troops or companies; and if any officer or officers shall be found delinquent in the payment of the men under their command, such officer or officers be dismissed with infamy, and accounts of their misconduct transmitted to the States wherein they were appointed; in order that the said officers be prosecuted at law, as peculators and public plunderers, for any sum or sums they may be found in arrear.
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That it be recommended to the legislatures of the several States, to observe great caution in settling the terms on which the militia shall be excused from personal service, agreeable to the resolve of Congress of the 14 day of April last; the measure therein recommended having been found, by experience, subject to great abuses and inconveniencies.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, I, folio 161.
In the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, I, folio 8a, is the following motion in the writing of Richard Henry Lee, with the last three lines in that of John Hancock:
"That Mr. President write a letter to Governor McKinley expressing the sense this Congress entertain of the spirited alacrity shewn by the Militia of the State of Delaware, to comply with the Resolve of Congress of the 25th of April last; and to inform Governor McKinley, that from present appearances, Congress are of opinion there is no immediate necessity for the Militia of Delaware to be called into the field, and therefore desire the execution of the said resolve may be suspended until the further Request of Congress thereupon; and that the said Militia hold themselves in readiness to take the Field on the Shortest notice."
"May 10, postponed to Wednesday next."]
A petition from Francis Wade, and a petition from John Lawrie, Michael Mount, and Jacob Hendrickson, were read:
Ordered, That they be referred to the committee on the commissary's department.
Congress proceeded to the election of a Commissioner for the courts of Berlin and Vienna, and the ballots being taken,
William Lee, Esqr., was elected for the court of Berlin and for the court of Vienna.
Ordered, That Mr. [Daniel] Roberdeau have leave of absence for a few days for the recovery of his health.
The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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