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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, FEBRUARY 1, 1777
A letter, of the 28 January, from James Scott, captain of a company of volunteer militia from Fauquier county, in Virginia, was read, wherein he informs [Congress,] that he has raised a volunteer company, consisting of a captain, 2 lieutenants, an ensign, 4 serjeants, 4 corporals, one drum, one fife, and 64 privates, to serve where ordered, three months from the time of their march, and desires orders and a month's pay advance:
Resolved, That Captain Scott, with his company, be taken into continental pay on the terms proposed: that the money be paid to John Barker.
That 700 dollars be advanced to Captain James Smith Scott, for the use of his the said company; Captain Scott to be accountable:
That the Board of War direct Captain Scott to march immediately with his company and join General Washington.
The committee to whom was referred the petition ∥and remonstrance∥ from the inhabitants of Somerset and Worcester counties, ∥in the State of∥ Maryland, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the said memorial ∥petition and remonstrance,∥ with the depositions accompanying the same, be forthwith transmitted to the general assembly of the State of Maryland:
That the said general assembly be earnestly requested to send a sufficient number of their artillery and militia, effectually to suppress the tories in the counties of Somerset and Worcester, and to seize and secure the persons mentioned in a list to be transmitted with these resolves,
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and all others in the said counties who shall appear to have been the leaders of the tory faction there:
That it be recommended to the general assembly, aforesaid, to direct, that a day be given to all the inhabitants of the said counties, to assemble at appointed places, and take the oath of allegiance required by the said State, and that all who shall refuse or neglect so to do, be disarmed:
That General Smallwood and all other Continental Officers in the said State be, and he hereby is, required to assist in executing the orders of the said assembly for the purpose aforesaid;
That this Congress will afford one batallion, or more, if requested by the said assembly, for the said purpose:
That the said assembly be requested to cause all offenders, as aforesaid, to be brought to immediate tryal, agreeable to the laws of the said State.1
[Note 1: 1 At this point the original report has inserted by John Hancock "The foregoing agreed to."]
Resolved, That a Battalion be ordered to the County of Sussex, on Delaware with positive Instructions to the Commanding officer.--to disarm all such Persons of whom it may be proven that they are disaffected to the American Cause, and to apprehend such as have been or are their Leaders, returning the Names of those who may be thus disarmed, and the Persons of those apprehended, and the cause thereof to the general assembly of the State of Delaware.2
[Note 2: 2 Against this paragraph Hancock has written "postponed." The report, in the writing of Samuel Adams, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 20, II, folio 221.]
Ordered, That the president write to General Smallwood, and inform him, it is the direction of Congress, that he call to his assistance any continental officers and troops he shall think proper.
Resolved, That Charles Carman, Charles Walker, Saint George Peale be appointed signer of the bills of credit, in addition to those already appointed.
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Agreeable to the order of the day, Congress proceeded to the election of a commissary of military stores, in Maryland, and, the ballots being taken,
Mr. Saint George Peale was elected.
The committee appointed to consider the affairs in on the northern department, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
Resolved, That Congress approve of General Schuyler's proposal of purchasing the cloathing and arms of a troop of horse formerly raised in Shenectady, mentioned in his letter of the 13 January:
Resolved, as the opinion of this Committee that the loan officer in the State of New York be directed to pay the monies he Postponed may receive into the military chest in continental bills, as fast as they may be brought in; he taking the Paymaster's receipts and transmitting copies of the same regularly to the Board of Treasury.
Resolved as the opinion of this Committee, that the Committee of Congress now at Philadelphia be directed to procure and transmit to General Schuyler [] vermilion for the use of the Indians.
That the pay master in the northern department be directed to render a particular account to Congress of the sums of money in specie that have been paid into his hands, and of his expenditure of the same.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Samuel Adams, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 21, folio 51.]
Resolved, That the consideration of the second paragraph of the said report be postponed.
The Committee appointed to consider what honours are due to the memory of the late General Mercer, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration.
At a Board of War Jany. 31st. 1777
Agreed to Report to Congress the following Resolution, that of Yesterday on the same subject being recommitted.
That the several Councils of Safety, Governors, or Legislatures of the respective States, take the most effectual Steps to collect from the
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Inhabitants, not in actual Service, all Continental Arms, and give Notice of the Numbers they have so collected to General Washington.
That all Arms and Accoutrements belonging to the United States shall be stamped and marked with the Letters U: States. All Arms already made or purchased to be stamped on such Parts as will bear the Impression, and those to be hereafter manufactured to be stamped with the said Letters on every Part composing the Stand; and all Arms or Accoutrements so stamped or marked, shall be taken wherever found for the Use of the States, except they shall be in the Hands of those actually in Continental Service. That it be recommended to the Legislatures of the several States to make proper Laws for the punishment of those who shall unlawfully take, secret, refuse, or designedly neglect to deliver any Continental Arms or Accoutrements which they may have in their Possession.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, I, folio 61. It was read February 1, 1777.]
The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock on Tuesday next.
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