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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 --TUESDAY, JULY 22, 1777
Mr. Henry Laurens, from South Carolina, and Mr. Cornelius Harnett from North Carolina, attended and took their seats.
A letter, of the 20th, from Brigadier Forman; one, of the 11th, from Governor Henry; one, of the 15, from Brigadier Conway and the field officers of his brigade; one, of the 18, from Alexander [Allen] M'Donald of Kingsborrow; one, without date, from William Edmeston, major of the 48 regiment, and sundry other officers, prisoners at Reading; and one, of the 8, from Brigadier R. Howe, were read:1
[Note 1: 1 The letters of Conway and the field officers are in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 59, folio 449; that of McDonald, in No. 78, XV, folio 231; and that of Howe, in No. 160, folio 360.]
Ordered, That the letters from Alexander M'Donald and from the prisoners at Reading, and that from Brigadier Howe, be referred to the Board of War:
That the letter from Governor Henry be referred to the Board of Treasury, and that Colonel W. Finnie, lay his accounts before the said Board, who are to proceed to the liquidation and settlement of the said accounts.
A letter, of the 5, from Dr. W. Rickman to Mr. [Benjamin] Harrison, was laid belore Congress and read:2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XIX, folio 97.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Medical Committee.
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The Board of War brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; and after debate,
That Genl Washington be empowered to Negotiate an Exchange of Prisoners with Genl Howe for such Prisoners as are now in Captivity not having any respect to the present Dispute, relative to the Privates who died upon the Road before they reached the place of their Destination, which for the present is to be suspended, and that such Exchange be made without any Exception of Lieut Colonel Campbell or the Hessian Field Officers, General Prescott to be treated in the manner pointed out by the Resolves relative to Lieut. Colonel Campbell and the said Field Officers.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, I, folio 281. It was prepared by John Adams, James Wilson, and William Duer. It is endorsed: "Referred to 23d. Passed in the negative, 4 ayes, 6 noes, one divided."]
Resolved, That the farther consideration thereof be postponed till to morrow.
The order of the day, for appointing three gentlemen to conduct the business of the Board of War, was read:
Ordered, That the appointment of the said gentlemen be postponed till Tuesday next.
Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the Committee on Foreign Applicatons; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the Chevalier du Portail, now colonel of engineers, take rank and command of all engineers heretofore appointed.2
[Note 2: 2 The report originally read: "should receive a Commission as Colonel in Chief of Engineers." It is in the writing of James Lovell, and is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 25, I, folio 16.]
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report, which was taken into consideration: Whereupon,
Resolved, That there be advanced to Mons. du Coudray 2,666 2/3d dollars, for the support of himself and the gentlemen who came with him from France; for which Mons. du Coudray is to be accountable:
That a warrant issue to the treasurer to transmit, from
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Maryland to the auditor general, one million of dollars, for which the auditor general is to be accountable:
That a warrant issue on the auditor general in favour of the Board of War, for 200,000 dollars, to be transmitted to the deputy pay master general for the use of the northern department, for which the said deputy pay master general is to be accountable.
That a warrant issue on the commissioner of the loan office for the State of Pensylvania, for 50,000 dollars, in favour of the auditor general, for which he is to be accountable:
That there be advanced to Colonel Augustus Mottin de la Balme, inspector general of cavalry, claimed for his and Monsieur Ricault's expences to America, in the service of the United States, 736 dollars, for which Colonel de la Balme is to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, 1, folio 315.]
The several matters &c. ∥to this day referred, being postponed,∥
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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