| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |
A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --MONDAY, MAY 19, 1777
A letter, of the 16, from General Washington, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, IV, folio 183. It is printed in Writings of Washington (Ford), V, 367.]
Resolved, That one hundred thousand dollars be advanced to Joseph Trumbull, Esqr. commissary general, for public service; he to be accountable.
Ordered, That Mr. [George] Clymer and Mr. [James] Wilson have leave of absence; the former for the recovery of his health, the latter to transact some private affairs.
Application being made in behalf of John Glover for leave to return home to his friends in England,
Resolved, That he have leave to return in a continental vessel by the way of France.
Resolved, That Mrs. Graydon be permitted to go to New York to have an interview with her son, a prisoner, at such time and in such manner as General Washington shall direct.
Resolved, That Captain Thomas Webb be considered as a prisoner of war; and that it be referred to the Board of War to deal with him accordingly as they shall judge consistent with the public weal.
A petition from Nathaniel Forster, of Cape May, in behalf of himself and divers other inhabitants of the said Cape, was read; praying to be supplied with a few pieces of cannon, and a suitable quantity of ammunition, for the defence of the inhabitants of the Cape, and protection of vessels that may be there driven ashore:2 Whereupon,
[Note 2: 2 This petition is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, III, folio 23.]
Ordered, That the Marine Committee supply the petitioners with six pieces of cannon, and that the Board of War supply them with a suitable quantity of ammunition.
Page 368 | Page image
The Committee for Foreign Affairs brought in a draught of commissions and instructions to the Commissioners to the courts of Vienna, Spain, Berlin and the Grand Duke of Tuscany, which were read; and after debate,
Resolved, That the same be recommitted.
A letter of the [15th] from Governor Johnson to the Marine Committee, with sundry papers enclosed, was laid before Congress ∥and read;∥ also,
One of the 9, from William Aylett, Esqr at Williamsburg;
One of the 17th, from Jonathan Hudson, at Baltimore; and one, of this day, from the board of war for the State of Pensylvania, were read:1
[Note 1: 1 The letter of Johnson is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 70, folio 191; that of Aylett, in No. 78, I, folio 81; that of Hudson, in No. 78, XI, folio 161; and that of the Pennsylvania Board of War, in No. 69, I, folio 359.]
Ordered, That the letter from the board of war of Pensylvania be referred to the Board of War; that the letter from Mr. Aylett be referred to Joseph Trumbull, Esqr. commissary general.
Resolved, That 20,000 dollars be advanced to Mr. Jonathan Hudson, Esqr. for public service; he to be accountable:
That Mr. J. Hudson, the pay master at Baltimore, be informed that the arrearages due to the troops on their march from the southward, will be discharged at Philadelphia or Bristol; and that it is not the intention of Congress that he should advance larger sums than are necessary to forward their march to head-quarters.
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to consider what honours are due to the memory of the late Brigadier Wooster, who died on the 2d day of May, of the wounds he received on the 27th day of April, in fighting against the enemies of American liberty:
Page 369 | Page image
The members chosen, Mr. [Thomas] Heyward, Mr. S[amuel] Adams, and Mr. [Mann] Page.
The Board of War brought in a report, which was taken into consideration: Whereupon,
Resolved, That no stoppages be made for the present from the pay of soldiers who were servants, for any moneys paid their late masters; and that it lie over for future consideration, whether such moneys be charged to continental account, or be borne by the particular States wherein the servants were enlisted.
That Governor Trumbull be requested to erect at the expence of the Continent, a Monument to the memory of General Wooster, the expence, for erecting the same, not to exceed the sum of five hundred Dollars.
That Mr. President M'Kinley be informed that the independent company ordered by Congress to be raised and stationed at Lewistown, and the places adjacent in the Delaware State, was intended as a relief to the militia of that State; and that Mr. Fisher being thought a proper person to command, had the offer of being appointed the captain; but, on his declining it for the sake of expedition, power was given him to nominate officers, measures of a similar nature having been repeatedly taken in other States especially for particular and local purposes, and no offence meant to or taken by the governments of such States:
That the commissary general has been directed to appoint a person to supply the company with provisions; and that orders are given to the captain to obey any directions he may receive from the government of the Delaware State: that the president be informed, that the captain of the company is directed to apply to him for the 1,500 dollars, agreeable to his request; and that he,
Page 370 | Page image
the president, be informed, Congress consent that the encampment of the militia for the present be in the Delaware State, at or near the place pointed out in his letter, below Chester; and that they be held in readiness to march out of that State, if the service shall so require it; but that, if no provision has been already made by law for that purpose, that it be recommended to the legislature immediately to make such provision.
Resolved, That the president be desired to write to the legislatures of the States of Pensylvania and Maryland, recommending to them to make provision by law to march their militia out of their respective States, when necessary for the common defence; and to authorize the executive powers, from time to time, to limit the continuance of the militia in service when called out, and to what distance they may be ordered to march.
Resolved, That Matthias Christman, an indented servant of John Bringhurst, inlisted in Captain Lang's company, in Colonel Hubley's regiment, be discharged by the commanding officer of the said regiment; and that Captain Lang be directed forthwith to repair with his company to head-quarters.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, I, folio 173.]
The Committee of Treasury laid before Congress accounts settled by the commissioners for adjusting accounts, to be presented to Congress for payment: Whereon they report,
That there is due to Christopher Patterson, who served in Colonel Wood's battalion of Pensylvania forces in Canada, five pounds, two shillings and six pence, this sum was due him before the batallion was paid off at the end of their inlistment, and which would then have been paid him, but, being sick in the hospital, his name was omitted in the muster roll; equal to 13 60/90 dollars.
That there is due to Captain William Houston, of Colonel
Page 371 | Page image
Frederick Watts's batallion, flying camp, for 27 rifles guns and one drum, lost at Fort Washington, the sum of 376 42/90 dollars:
That there is due to Lieutenant Colonel John Reiss, for the pay of the two following companies of the Berks county militia, viz. Capt. Farry's company, 683 8/90 dollars, Captain Hetrick's company, 535 4/90 dollars, the whole amounting to 1,218 12/90 dollars.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, I, folio 173.]
Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.
Resolved, That there be put into the hands of the commissioners of claims, for the purpose of paying the prisoners who were taken at Fort Washington, the sum of 1,000 dollars; they to be accountable.
That there be advanced to Lieutenant Samuel Cobbs, of the 2d Virginia regiment, and charged to the account of Alexander Spotswood, colonel of the said regiment, the sum of 100 dollars.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, I, folio 177.]
Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the Board of War of the 16, and, after debate,
Resolved, That the farther consideration thereof be postponed till to morrow.
The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |