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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 --MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 1777
A letter, of the 1st, from General Washington;
One, of the 2d and 3, from the committee of Congress, in Philadelphia;
One, of the 1, from W. Palfrey to R[ichard] Peters, secretary of the Board of War; and one, of the same date, from Mr. Palfrey to Congress;
One, of the 31 of December, from C[arpenter] Wharton;
One, of the 3d, from General Putnam, with a letter to him enclosed from Adjutant General Reed; and one, of the 4, from G[eorge] Morgan, with sundry papers enclosed, ∥were read:∥1
[Note 1: 1 The letter of Washington is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, III, folio 429. It is printed in Writings of Washington (Ford), V, 139. That of the Philadelphia committee is in No. 133, Appendix, folios 57 and 61; that of Putnam is in No. 159, folio 25.]
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Ordered, That the letters from Mr. Palfrey be referred to the Board of Treasury.
Resolved, That 70,000 dollars be advanced to Joseph Pennel, for the purpose of laying in magazines of provisions, and charged to the account of Carpenter Wharton; and that Mr. Pennel be directed, in making the purchase, so to conduct himself, as not to bid upon others purchasing for the Continent.
Ordered, That the letter from G[eorge] Morgan, with the papers enclosed, be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. R[ichard] H[enry] Lee, Mr. S[amuel] Adams, and Mr. [Matthew] Thornton, who are directed to confer with Mr. Morgan.
Resolved, That the committee on General Schuyler's letters be authorized to employ persons to contract with the owners of founderies for a sufficient quantity of cannon, for the fortresses at or near Ticonderoga.
Resolved, That the Board of War be directed to send an express, to hasten the march of Colonel Mackay's batallion, and the troops who have joined him, to Philadelphia, or to General Washington's army; and also to send an express, to hasten up the light horse from Virginia, desiring the commanding officer not to delay their march on account of any prisoners he may have with him; but, leaving them in some secure place, to proceed with his troops, with all possible despatch, by forced marches, to join General Washington.
Resolved, That the president of the council of Massachusetts bay be desired to administer an oath to Samuel Downe, Esq. one of the commissioners for adjusting the accounts of the army, under the command of General Washington, for the faithful discharge of his duty, and give him a certificate thereof.
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Congress being informed that Major General Lee hath, since his captivity, been committed to custody of the provost, instead of being enlarged upon his parole, according to the humane practice that has taken place with officers of the enemy who have fallen into the hands of the American troops; a treatment totally unworthy of that gentleman's eminent qualifications, and his rank in the service of these united States, and strongly indicative of farther injuries to his person:
Resolved, That General Washington be directed to send a flag to General Howe, and inform him, that, should the proffered exchange of General Lee for six Hessian field officers not be accepted, and the treatment of him, as above mentioned, be continued, that the principles of retaliation shall occasion five of the said Hessian field officers, together with Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell, or any other officers that are, or shall be, in our possession, equivalent in number or quality, to be detained, in order that the same treatment which General Lee shall receive, may be exactly inflicted upon their persons.
Ordered, That a copy of the above resolution be transmitted to the council of Massachusetts bay, and that they be desired to detain Lieutenant Colonel Campbell, and keep him in safe custody till the farther order of Congress; and that a copy be also sent to the committee of Congress, in Philadelphia; and that they be desired to have the prisoners, officers and privates, lately taken, properly secured in some safe place.
Resolved, That two months' pay be advanced to the seamen who will engage to serve on board the continental frigate Virginia, the same to be deducted out of their share of the prizes taken by the said frigate.
Congress being informed that an officer in the service of this state has used the president with great insolence
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and availing himself of his not being in the service of the united states has dared to extend it to threats of violence,
Resolved, That the president address a letter to the Council of Safety of Maryland informing them of the particular circumstances of this affair and that they be requested to take such measures therein as shall put an effectual stop to such practices.1
[Note 1: 1 In the margin is written the word "accommodated," in the writing of John Hancock.]
The Medical Committee brought in a report, which was read:
Ordered, That it be referred till to Morrow.
The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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