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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, JULY 23, 1777
A letter, of this day, from Captain Thomas Dorsey, was read:2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, VII, folio 109.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
Resolved, That the committee appointed to contract for the casting of cannon, be directed to deliver to the Board of War and Ordnance, all the contracts they have made, together with an account of the advances made and cannon received in consequence of such contracts; and that then they be discharged from proceeding farther in that business, and that the Board of War and Ordnance be
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vested with the powers granted to the aforesaid committee. and that they be directed to attend to the execution of the said contracts, and to take such measures as they shall judge proper and effectual for procuring a sufficient supply of cannon for the land and sea service, and that the Marine Committee apply to the said Board for such cannon as they may want for the continental ships of war, raider their direction.
The Marine Committee having laid before Congress a petition1 from sundry lieutenants of the navy, which had been some time under the consideration of the said committee, and represented, that before any determination was had thereon, a number of the said lieutenants refused to proceed in the execution of their duty, until what they call their grievances should be redressed, as more fully appears by a paper now produced to Congress, dated 21 July, directed to John Barry, Esqr. senior commander of the navy in the port, of Philadelphia, and signed by twelve of the said lieutenants, viz. Robert French, Robert Martin, Robert, Hume, John Fanning, Matthew Tibbs, George Batson, Luke Matthewman, William Gamble, Thomas Vaughn, Joseph Greenway, R. Pomeroy, James Armitage; and whereas such combinations of officers to extort increase of pay and allowances from the public, are of the most dangerous tendency, it is necessary for the public service to make examples of such offenders; therefore,
[Note 1: 1 This petition is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, IV, folio 116.]
Resolved, That the said Robert French, Robert Martin, Robert Hume, John Fanning, Matthew Tibbs, George Batson, Luke Matthewman, William Gamble, Thomas Vaughn, Joseph Greenway, R. Pomeroy, and James Armitage, be dismissed the continental service, and they are hereby severally dismissed accordingly, and their commissions rendered void and of none effect.
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Resolved, That the said Robert French, Robert Martin, Robert Hume, John Fanning, Matthew Tibbs, George Batson, Luke Matthewman, William Gamble, Thomas Vaughn, Joseph Greenway, R. Pomeroy, and James Armitage, be, and they are hereby, rendered incapable of holding any commission or warrant under the authority of the United States, and that it be recommended to the several States not to employ any of them in any office civil or military.1
[Note 1: 1 In margin is written, "Ordered to be published."]
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report, which was taken into consideration: Whereupon, Congress came to the following resolutions:
Whereas, no continental general officer is at present stationed in or near the commonwealth of Virginia, which prevents the issuing of money for the public service out of the military chest in the southern department: Therefore,
Resolved, That Colonel David Mason be authorized to draw warrants upon the deputy pay master general of the said department, for public services, arising in the said commonwealth, until a general officer be stationed there, always specifying in such warrants the particular uses for which the money so drawn shall be intended or applied for.
Resolved, That there be advanced to Colonel Lewis du Portail, Chevalier D'Erford, the sum of 375 dollars; to Lieutenant Colonel la Radière Bailleul, 300 dollars; and to Major Gouvion Obry, the sum of 250 dollars; for which sums they are respectively to be accountable.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, I, folio 317.]
Resolved, That the Secret Committee be empowered to contract with bakers to bake into bisket, for the use of the army, the flour which they were ordered to sell:
That the commissary general of purchases be directed to have the flour stored at Yorktown, Lancaster, Downingstown,
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and Valley Forge, in Pensylvania, which is in danger of perishing, baked into bisket for the use of the army.
A letter, of the 19, from General Greene,
Ordered, To lie on the table.
A letter of the same date, from Joseph Trumbull, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 The letter of Greene is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 155, I, folio 39. That of Trumbull is in No. 78, XXII, folio 265.]
Ordered, That it lie until the Committee sent to the camp return and make report.
Christopher Ludwig, superintendent of bakers, being sent by General Washington to Philadelphia to procure a number of journeymen bakers; and it being represented by him that he cannot be supplied, by reason that they are most of them engaged in the militia,
Ordered, That Mr. Ludwig apply to the supreme executive council of the State of Pensylvania, and that it be recommended to the said council to furnish him with such a number of journeymen bakers, out of the militia employed in the service of the Continent, as he may want.
Ordered, That the letter from General Washington to the Baron d'Arendt be referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs ∥Applications.∥
The Marine Committee brought in a report.
Ordered, To lie ∥on the table∥ till to morrow.
The Board of War brought in a report, which was read:
That General Robert Howe's appointment of Mr. Henry Purcell to be deputy Judge Advocate General for the States of South Carolina and Georgia, be confirmed by Congress.
That General Robert Howe's appointment of Mr. Nicholas Eveleigh, to be Deputy Adjutant General for the States of South Carolina and Georgia be confirmed by Congress.2
[Note 2: 2 A copy of this report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, I, folio 283. It was passed February 17, 1778.]
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Ordered, That the consideration thereof be postponed till to morrow.
Treasury Office Philada. July 23d. 1777
The Committee on the Treasury beg leave according to order to Report the following Instructions to the Pay Master General and Deputy Pay Masters of the respective departments, for regulating the advance of the Bounties to the New Levies raising for the Continental battalions.
Instructions to the Pay Master General and Deputy Pay Masters Generals of the respective Departments for regulating the Advance of Bounties to the Officers appointed to Recruit, for the Battalions in the Continental service.
[Note 1: 1 "Ordered to lie." This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, I, folio 319.]
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The several matters &c ∥to this day referred, being postponed,∥
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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