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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, FEBRUARY, 27, 1777

Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY, 27, 1777

A letter, of the 17, from George Morgan, Esqr. at Pittsburg, was read;¹

[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 163, folio 249.]

Ordered, to be referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs That the messenger² who brought the letter be introduced.

[Note 2: 2 Mr. Anderson.]

Resolved, That 10,000 dollars be advanced to Mr. John Boreman, and charged to ∥the account of colonel∥ George Morgan, Esqr. for the purpose of laying in provisions for the public service at Fort Pitt, Mr. Morgan to be accountable.

The Medical Committee, to whom the report on the hospital was re-committed, brought in a report, which was read:

The Medical Committee having taken into their consideration a plan³ for establishing Military Hospitals, transmitted to Congress by General Washington agree to report--

[Note 3: 3 This plan, in the writing of William Shippen, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 22, folio 9. It was prepared by Doctors Shippen and John Cochran, and was transmitted to Congress by Washington, February 14, 1777.]

• Section 1. That the Continent be divided into three districts. The Middle to extend from Hudsons river to Potomac. The Southern to

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  extend from Potomac to Georgia, and the Northern from Hudsons river to Quebec or Crown Point.

• 2. That there be a Surgeon and Physician Genl, with a suitable number of Senior physicians, Senior Surgeons and mates to each district. That the sick be taken care of by the physicians, and the wounded by the Surgeons in different apartments.
• 3. That there be a physician and Surgeon General with the main army whose business it shall be to attend the general and principal Officers of the Army, to enquire into the quality of the food of the Soldiers to superintend the regimental Surgeons and Mates, and to attend when called upon in consultation with them in all extraordinary cases.
• 4. That there be an Apothecary General whose business it shall be to purchase such medicines and instruments as shall be judged necessary by the Surgeons and physicians general of the Army. That he have the liberty of appointing three assistant Apothecaries in different parts of the United States, in order to supply with the more convenience the several hospitals, and regimental and Naval Surgeons with medicines and instruments.
• 5. That there be an Inspector General of the Army of the United States whose business it shall be to visit the Military hospitals and Apothecaries Shops in every part of the Continent; to examine the medicines and instruments belonging to the States; to enquire into the conduct of the several Officers in the medical department and report to the Congress, and Commander in chief at least once a month.
• 6. That the Surgeons and Physicians General of the hospitals have the liberty of appointing hospital Apothecaries, senior Physicians, and Surgeons, Mates, Purveyors, Clerks, Commissaries, Wardmasters, Servants, Washerwomen, Nurses, Cooks, and all such Officers as shall be necessary for the accommodation of the sick and wounded in the hospitals.
• 7. That the business of the Commissaries shall be to provide provisions, and liquors, also straw, hay and fuel for the hospitals. Also to bury the dead. He shall likewise provide, and superintend the waggons employed in transporting the sick, and wounded, and the baggage of the hospitals.

  The business of the Purveyors shall be to take care of, and distribute the provisions, and other Articles provided by the Commissaries for the sick and wounded both in the camp and hospitals.

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• 8. The business of the Wardmaster shall be to take care of the Arms, Accoutrements, and clothes of the sick and wounded, and to take care that proper attention is paid to the cleanliness of the patients, and their respective wards, rooms, or tents.
• 9. That one Clerk be allowed to every general hospital, and one Nurse to every ten sick. That each military hospital be furnished with a number of shirts, sheets, blankets and cases for straw for the accommodation of the sick.

  That each regiment be furnished with a number of hospital tents according to their number of men, a full regiment not to have more than six tents.

• 10. That the pay of the Surgeons and physicians Generals, be four dollars and six rations a day. That the inspector General have five dollars and 12 rations a day. That the pay of the Apothecary General be 3 dollars, and 4 rations a day. That the assistant Apothecaries appointed by the Apothecary General have one dollar and 1/3 per day. That the Purveyors of the hospitals have 2 dollars and 3 rations per day, and that the pay and rations of the hospital Apothecaries, senior Surgeons and Mates of the hospital be the same as formerly established by Congress. That the pay and rations of the senior physicians of each hospital be the same as those of a senior Surgeon.
• 11. That the pay and rations of the commissaries of the hospitals be the same as the deputy commissaries in the Army.
• 12. That the pay and rations of the Wardmasters be the same as that of a Commissary.
• 13. That the pay of the Clerks, Cooks, Nurses, Washerwomen, Servants &c be regulated by the Physicians and Surgeons General.
• 14. That the pay and rations of a regimental Surgeon be the same as those of a Captain and the pay and rations of a Mate be the same as those of a 1st Lieutenant.
• 15--16. That no senior Physician, or Surgeon, no hospital Mate, nor shall any regimental Surgeon or Mate be appointed in the Army who has not previously undergone an examination before one or more of the Physicians and Surgeons General, or before the Inspector General of the medical department.
• 17. That a Sergeants guard be constantly placed at each general hospital to prevent the unnecessary visits of Strangers, and the desertion of convalescent patients, and to assist, if necessary in enforcing the rules, and orders of the Surgeons, and physicians of the hospitals.

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• 18. That the Officers of the several regimental companies to which the sick and wounded belong be ordered to concur by means of their Authority with the Surgeons and physicians in taking care of their respective Soldiers.
• 19. That the physicians and Surgeons General with the Inspector General of the medical department be authorized to make such further improvements in this plan for regulating the medical department as the exigencies and situation of the Army may make necessary, and that they report the same when made to Congress for their Approbation.
• 20. That it be recommended to each of the States to make suitable provision for the maintainance of such maimed, and incurable Soldiers and Seamen as shall be discharged from the service of the united States.¹

  [Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Benjamin Rush, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 22, folio 1. Against paragraphs 1, 2, and 4 is written "Query if necessary."]

Ordered, To lie on the table.

Resolved, That when Congress adjourns this evening, it be adjourned to meet at Philadelphia, on Wednesday next.²

[Note 2: 2 The following motion, in the writing of Samuel Chase, was laid before the Congress on this day, and consideration postponed. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, I, folio 5a.
"Resolved, That all the proceedings of Congress be entered on the Journal, and that the same except such parts which a majority shall order to be kept secret, be immediately published, and that on every important Question agitated and debated in Congress the yeas and nays of every member be entered on the Journal if required by any one of the States."]

Resolved, That 40,000 dollars be paid to the delegates of Maryland, for the use of the State of Maryland, the said State to be accountable:

That 3,000 dollars be advanced to the delegates of Pensylvania, for the purpose of recruiting Colonel Hand's batallion, and that the said sum be charged to the account of the State of Pensylvania.

Whereas the sum of 2,000 dollars was ordered on the 9th of December last, to be advanced to the delegates of New Jersey, for the public service, for which they were

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to be accountable; and whereas, the said sum has not yet been advanced, and the business for which it was intended, is performed:

Resolved, That no warrant be drawn in pursuance of the order aforesaid.

Resolved, That 500,000 dollars be advanced to the State of South Carolina, for public service; the said State to be accountable.

Mr. Anderson, the messenger, who brought the letter from Mr. Morgan, being introduced, gave an account of the state of Indian affairs to the westward of the Ohio, and withdrew.

Resolved, That it be recommended to the several legislatures of the United States, immediately to pass laws the most effectual for putting an immediate stop to the pernicious practice of distilling grain, by which the most extensive evils are likely to be derived, if not quickly prevented.

The Committee of Treasury reported,

That there should be advanced 533 30/90 dollars to John Griffith, for sundry provisions, and other necessaries furnished by him for the use of the hospital in Baltimore.¹

[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, I, folio 45.]

Ordered, That the said sum be paid.

The Board of War brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,

Resolved, That two months' pay be advanced by Jonathan Hudson, Esq. to a detachment of the Virginia 2d and 7th regiments, under the command of Captain Joseph Spencer.

The committee, to whom a motion of Mr. [Abraham] Clark was referred, brought in a report, which was read:

Resolved, That General Washington's proclamation of theday ofdoes not interfere with the Laws or Civil Government of

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any State; but considering the situation of the Army was prudent and necessary.¹

[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of John Adams, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, I, folio 5.]

Ordered, To lie on the table.

The Committee on Indian Affairs, brought in a report, which was read:

That the Treaty said to be entered into at Easton the 30th day of Jany, 1777, between George Walton and George Taylor Esqrs in behalf of the United States, and certain Indians pretending to be a Deputation from the Six Indian Nations, be disapproved of, as no Powers did exist in either of the Partys to enable them to engage in such Treaty.

That Copys of said Treaty together with the Resolutions of Congress and all other papers relative to said Negotiation be transmitted to the Commissioners of Indian Affairs in the Northern Department, who are directed to take such steps as to them shall appear prudent to prevent any ill effects which may result from said Transaction.

That the said Commissioners make such Enquiry as they shall judge proper, whether any real Uneasiness does exist amongst the Indians of the Six Nations respecting any settlements which they may suppose have been made upon their Lands by the People of these United States, as mentioned in said treaty, and transmit the Result of such Enquiry to Congress.²

[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Oliver Wolcott, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 30, folio 167. It is endorsed as "postponed."]

Ordered, To lie on the table.

Resolved, That the governor and council of Virginia be desired to consider of the propriety of ordering an expedition from the western frontier of that State against the settlement of Indians west of the river Ohio, commonly known by the name of Pluggy's town, and if the said governor and council shall be of opinion, that such an expedition is proper and conducive to the public weal, they are desired to direct the same to be undertaken and executed by their frontier militia, on terms the most frugal and effectual, taking the best precaution in conducting

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this expedition, not to give offence to any nations of Indians, in friendship with the United States:¹

[Note 1: 1 See Pennsylvania Archives, First Series, V, 258, 260.]

That a copy of the information from Colonel G. Morgan, concerning Indian affairs, be transmitted to the governor and council of Virginia.

The Committee on the Treasury, reported,

That there is due to James Long, for attending as door keeper to Congress, from the 23d of December, 1776, to this day, the sum of 67 dollars.²

[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, I, folio 43.]

Ordered, To be paid.

Resolved, That the sum of £2,859 2 9, dollars at 8s each, be paid to Messrs. Graverod & Visgar, the same being in full of an order in their favour, drawn by Colonel G. Morgan, for goods purchased from them by order of Congress, dated Fort Pitt, February 8, 1777.

Resolved, That William Lux, James Colhoun and David Stewart be appointed to appraise the woollens brought into the port of Baltimore, by the privateer belonging to the State of New York:

That the cloaths and linens when appraised, be delivered to Messrs. Samuel & Robert Purviance, who are directed to have them made up, and to deliver 200 suits of cloaths, and 693 shirts, to the delegates of Maryland, to be charged to that State, and the residue to the Virginia troops, transmitting an account to the cloathier general.

Resolved, That 20,000 dollars be advanced to Jonathan Hudson, Esq. for public service, he to be accountable.³

[Note 3: 3 "In the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, I, folio 6, is the following motion in the writing of Charles Thomson. It is endorsed: "Motion made and seconded, February 27, 1777. Ordered to lie for consideration."
"As the support of the liberties of America and the credit of the paper currency greatly depend upon raising yearly supplies by taxes, and an immediate execution of that measure;
Resolved, That it be recommended to the several States, to raise by an immediate taxation and remit to the Treasury, as much as the circumstances of their respective inhabitants will possibly admit; that it be submitted to the serious consideration of the legislative bodies of the several States, whether larger sums, and with greater ease may not be raised on their inhabitants by assessment every 6 months, and by taking produce or cash as shall best suit the payer.
"That each State shall have credit in the continental treasury books for the sums remitted, and in the settlement of the continental accounts and establishing the quotas, interest at 6 per cent per an. on the sums remitted shall be taken into the account."
In the same volume, folio 7, is the following motion, in the writing of Samuel Chase. It is endorsed: "A motion made and seconded February 27, 1777. Ordered to lie on the table."
"Resolved, Thatbe authorized to lay up in safe Granaries under the care and management of trusty persons at or near Merchant Mills, convenient to Water Carriage, a Quantity of good, clean, sound and merchantable wheat, not exceeding one hundred thousand bushels, and that the saidbe allowed at the rate of 2½ per cent for his trouble in purchasing and collecting the same, besides the Charge of Collecting, the expense of Granaries and the wages of the proper persons to take care of the grain."]

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The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,

Adjourned to ten o'clock on Wednesday next, to meet at the State House in Philadelphia.

∥During the adjournment,∥ the Board of Treasury report ∥to the president,∥ there should be paid to captain William Galbrith, for expenses of a guard to the Carolina prisoners, &c. the sum of £72 16 10, equal to 194 22/90 dollars:

Ordered, Payment of a bill drawn by the committee ∥of Congress∥ in Philadelphia, dated February 18, 1777, in favor of Stephen Moylan, 3,000 dollars for the service of recruiting his regiment, agreeable to a warrant from General Washington; to be charged to Colonel Stephen Moylan (p'd Mr. [William] Lux). ∥which bill was endorsed to and presented by Mr. W. Lux:∥

Ordered, Payment of a bill, drawn by committee at Philadelphia, dated February 18, 1777, in favor of Colonel Stephen Moylan, for the service of recruiting his regiment,

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agreeable to a warrant from General Washington, to be charged to Colonel Moylan (pd. to Captain David Plunket) for 3,000 dollars ∥and the same being endorsed to, and presented by captain David Plunket, the president ordered the payment, and reported the same to Congress on the 24th of March, and the same was confirmed.∥

Passed in Congress at Philadelphia March 24, 1777.

J H¹

[Note 1: 1 These recess entries are in the writing of John Hancock.]

Congress being adjourned ∥on the 4th, and from thence,∥ from day to day, met March 12.

PHILADELPHIA.

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