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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 --WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 1777
A letter, of the 28, from General Washington, at Morristown, with a copy of a letter to him from Brigadier General M'Dougal, and sundry other intelligence respecting the enemy's marching into Danbury, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, IV, folio 117. It is printed in Writings of Washington (Ford), V, 345.]
Resolved, That a committee of four be appointed to confer with the commissary general, on the means of obviating any ill consequences that may ensue from the loss of the provisions at Danbury:
The members chosen, Mr.[William] Duer, Mr.[Thomas] Nelson, Mr. S[amuel] Adams, and Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry.
Resolved, That four hundred dollars be advanced to Captain John Hunter, the same being in full of an order in his favour drawn by General Washington on William Palfrey, Esqr. pay master general, for recruiting a company on continental establishment, dated the 26 April, 1777, and that the same be charged to the account of the said William Palfrey, Esqr.
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to prepare an address to the inhabitants of the thirteen United States, on the present situation of public affairs:
The members chosen, Mr. [James] Wilson, Mr. [William] Duer, and Mr. [Thomas] Burke.
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to confer with the executive power of the State of Pensylvania, upon the general situation of affairs in that State:
The members chosen, Mr. [William] Duer, Mr. J[ohn] Adams, and Mr. [Benjamin] Rumsey.
Resolved, That 100,000 dollars be advanced to the State of Pensylvania for public service, the said State to be accountable.
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The committee appointed to confer with the commissary general brought in a report, which was read; Whereupon,
Resolved, That a copy of the said report be sent to General Washington by General Schuyler, with the reasons on which the same is founded; and that so much of the said report as relates to the removal of provisions from Derby, Salisbury, Canaan and Sharon, and the magazines from which the armies are to be supplied, be delivered to the quarter master and commissary general, with orders to take measures for carrying the same into execution, if approved by General Washington.
The Committee this Day appointed to confer with the Commissary General beg Leave to report that the Resolutions hereafter mentioned appear to them most eligible to be adopted for establishing Magazines of provisions in such places as may best secure them from falling into the Hands of the Enemy, and to facilitate the Transportation thereof for the use of the Armies of the United States.
Resolved, that the salted pork and Beef now at Derby, Salsbury, Canaan, and Sharon in the State of Connecticut be removed into Ulster County in the State of New York and to the Distance of twenty Miles from Hudson's River, provided the enemy are not in possession of Hudson's River to the Northward of the Highlands. If they are, that all the provisions and other Stores at the first mentioned place be removed farther from the Sound and those at the other places further from Hudson's River.
Resolved that the Quarter Master General be directed to Send forthwith an active Deputy to Derby, to remove the Stores from thence, agreeable to the first Resolution: that another Deputy be sent to remove the provisions from Canaan, Sharon and Salsbury, in like manner; that particular Instructions be given by the Quarter Master General to remove those provisions by such Routes as least to endanger their falling into the Enemy's Hands.
Resolved, That the Troops now under the Command of General McDougal and such others as may join him, be supplied with provisions from Derby, Canaan, Sharon or Salsbury, until the Commissary General can procure a Supply of fat Cattle from Connecticut for which he is to take order immediately.
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Resolved, that one hundred thousand Bushels of Wheat purchased by Deputy Commissary Avery in the Eastern parts of the County of Albany and in the Western parts of the Massachusetts Bay be not removed to Hudson's River.
Resolved, that Magazines of Flour be immediately established in different parts of Ulster County at a Distance of twenty Miles from Hudson's River, and that the Commissary General take immediate order therein.
Resolved, that the army under the Command of General Gates be supplied with Flour out of that part of the County of Albany which lays on the West Side of Hudson's River, and on the East Side as far down as to Kinderhook District, and also out of the County of Tryon.
Resolved, that one thousand head of fat Cattle be immediately purchased in the Eastern States, and sent without delay into Ulster County to be there dispersed amongst the Inhabitants with orders to keep up their flesh with Hay corn or otherwise until they can be turned to grass.
Resolved, That one thousand head of fat cattle be immediately purchased in the eastern states, and sent, without delay, into Ulster county, to be there dispersed amongst the inhabitants, with orders to keep up their flesh with hay, corn or otherwise, until they can be turned to grass.
Resolved, That if the enemy attempt to penetrate up Hudson's river, all the wheat that can be collected in Duchess county, and in the manor of Livingston, Claverack and Kinderhook districts, be removed into the north-western parts of Connecticut, and the western parts of the Massachusetts bay; and that it be recommended to the convention of the State of New York, to direct the mode of doing it.
Resolved, That the legislatures of the eastern States be desired to recommend, and point out to the inhabitants thereof, such mode as to them shall seem best calculated to afford the most early supply of grass-fattened cattle, for the use of the armies of the United States.
Resolved, That the commissary general be directed to deliver 500 bushels of salt to such person as the quarter
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master general shall appoint to receive the same, and that it be immediately sent into Ulster county, to be divided and lodged at the different magazines of provisions to be formed there.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of John Lansing, Jr., is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 29, folio 55.]
Resolved, That Major General Schuyler be directed to send a proper officer, to hasten the march of the Carolina continental troops, supposed to be now on their way to head-quarters; that they halt at Dumfries, Colchester, and Alexandria, in Virginia, there to pass through inoculation; which the hospital surgeons, lately despatched from this city to Dumfries, are directed to see effected, with the greatest despatch.
The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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