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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, MAY 27, 1777
A letter, of the 24, from General Washington, at Morristown, with a copy of a letter enclosed from Generals Greene, M'Dougal, Knox, Wayne, and Clinton, dated Peek's Kill, May 17;
And one of the 16, from William Aylett, at Williamsburg, were read.1
[Note 1: 1 The letter of Washington is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, IV, folio 191. It is printed inWritings of Washington (Ford), V, 386.]
Resolved, That, General Washington be empowered and directed to assign to the command of the light horse one of the generals already appointed.
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Ordered, That the letter from General Washington, with that enclosed, be referred to the Board of War; and that they send a copy of so much thereof, as relates to cables, to the Marine Committee:
That the letter from Mr. Aylett be referred to the commissary general.
The Secret Committee having reported to Congress the circumstances of the shipMary, Captain Kennedy, and her cargo:
Congress took the same into consideration; and, thereupon,
Resolved, That the said committee make an advance of so much money to the owners of the said ship as may be unquestionably due to them; and that the said committee, in conjunction with the delegates of Connecticut, do finally settle all matters relative to the said ship, cargo and freight, in such way, as justice and equity shall demand.
The Committee of Treasury reported,
That there is due to Benjamin Randolph, for 18 boxes, for packing paper for continental bills of credit sent to Baltimore, the sum of 38 12/90 dollars:
That there is due to Colonel Robert Taylor, of the first batallion of Gloucester county militia in the state of New Jersey, for the mileage of the field officers, and part of three companies of the said batallion, the sum of 202 86/90 dollars:1
[Note 1: 1 This report, dated May 23, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, I, folio 191.]
That there is due to Samuel Fairlamb, upon a final settlement of his account for provisions, &c. supplied the troops at Chester and Marcus Hook, the sum of 235 47/90 dollars.2
[Note 2: 2 This formed part of a report from the Board of Treasury, dated May 24, in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, I, folio 193.]
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Ordered, That the above sums be paid.
Resolved, That a warrant issue in favour of the Board of War for 250,000 dollars, to be transmitted to the pay master general:
That a warrant issue in favour of Ebenezer Hancock, Esqr. deputy pay master general of the eastern department, on the loan office of Massachusetts bay, for 250,000 dollars; another on the loan office of the State of Connecticut, for 150,000, for the service of the United States; he to be accountable:
That, another Warrant be drawn on the Treasurer in favour of the Board of War for 500,000 Dollars to be paid out of the New Emission, and transmitted to Ebenezer Hancock, Esqr., for the service aforesaid, he to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, dated May 24, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, I, folio 193.]
That a warrant issue in favour of the Board of War for the State of Pensylvania for 50,000 dollars, for the express purpose of recruiting the army of the United States; the said State to be accountable.
The Committee of Treasury reported,
That there is due to John Young, saddler, for sundry saddles, carbines, pistols, &c. he furnished Captain Henry Lee, Jun. in Colonel Bland's regiment of Virginia light horse, the sum of £334 19 0 Virginia currency, equal to 1,116 45/90 dollars; the State of Virginia to be charged with the said sum:2
[Note 2: 2 These two paragraphs are in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, I, folio 195.]
That they have revised the accounts of James Warren, Esq.r late pay master general, and find, that, in July last, he rendered his account to Congress, by which there appeared to be due to the United States previous to the settlement, 28,216 70/72 dollars; that, of this sum, he had then in his hands but 26,320 67/72 dollars; that the residue,
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by sundry affidavits transmitted to Congress, appears to, have been lost in consequence of his keeping an additional office at the request of the General for the convenience of the army, amounting to 1,896 3/72 dollars: that, on adjustment of his account in July last, an allowance was made for his pay from the 31 March, 1776, to the 4 May following, and for assistance in his office, 494 34/72 dollars; that no allowance was then made for the loss of money, and the balance being struck, there appeared to be due to the United States, 27,722 36/72 dollars: that he afterwards paid to the order of General Ward, all the money that remained in the chest, being 26,320 67/72 dollars, without making any deduction for the aforesaid grant of 494 34/72 dollars: that in March last, Congress resolved to allow him the loss aforesaid, but that 1,401 33/72 dollars being then mistaken for 1,896 53/72 dollars, he was deprived of the grant aforesaid made in July last, being 494 41/90 dollars, which is now due to him; and therefore that a warrant should issue on the loan office of the Massachusetts bay, in favour of James Warren, Esqr. late pay master general, for 494 41/90 dollars.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, .No. 136, I, folio 185. It was dated May 21.]
Ordered, That the said account be paid, and warrant issue accordingly.
Resolved, That 3,765½ dollars, be advanced to Jacob Moon, pay master to the 14 batallion of Virginia forces, for the use of the said batallion; he to be accountable.
The Board of War brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
Resolved, That Mr. Warren, speaker of the assembly of the Massachusetts bay, be informed, that soldiers under the circumstances mentioned in his letter of the 2d
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instant, be allowed mileage as militia returning home: that Congress have allowed no compensation to any persons for losses they may have sustained by the enemy, and that it is recommended to the legislatures of the different States, by the resolutions of Congress of the 26th day of August, 1776, to make provision for the maintenance of disabled wounded soldiers, belonging to their respective States, and to keep a regular account of the expence attending the same, that, at a future day, the Continent may be charged therewith:
That a letter be written to Mr. President M'Kinley, acquainting him that Congress are highly pleased with the spirit and alacrity of the militia of Delaware as set forth in his excellency's letter, and depend upon their cheerfully turning out when it shall be necessary for the defence of their country, of which Congress will give them the earliest notice.
Resolved, That the general, and commander in chief, for the time being, shall have full power of pardoning or mitigating any of the punishments ordered to be inflicted for any of the offences mentioned in the rules and articles for the better government of the troops, raised or to be raised and kept in pay by, and at the expence of, the United States of America; the 4th article, resolved in Congress the 14 day of April last, notwithstanding.
Resolved, That for the future, there be only one chaplain allowed to each brigade in the army, and that such chaplain be appointed by Congress:
That each brigade chaplain be allowed the same pay, rations, and forage that is allowed to a colonel in the same corps:
That each brigadier general be requested to nominate and recommend to Congress a proper person for chaplain
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to his brigade; and that they recommend none but such as are clergymen of experience, and established public character for piety, virtue and learning.
Resolved, That from henceforward, no servant, employed by any person or persons in casting cannon or shot for the use of the United States, or any of them, shall be inlisted into the continental army.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, dated May 24, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 147,I, folio 181. The last paragraph is in the writing of James Wilson, being substituted or the following:
"That from henceforward no Servant belonging to any Person or persons employed by the United States in casting Cannon, shot, or other work, either public or by Contract, shall be enlisted into the Continental Army."]
Resolved, That a copy of that part of General Schuyler's letter of the 26 inst. which relates to the raising one or more troops of light horse in the vicinity of Albany, be referred to General Washington.
That Captain Stevens, of the artillery, have a brevet as major: he having had that rank before his present appointment as a captain, and being a worthy, good officer, as General Schuyler represents.
That, a copy of that paragraph of General Schuyler's letter which relates to the payment of the army by abstract, be referred to the Treasury Board.
That if General Gates, before General Schuyler's arrival at Albany, shall have appointed a deputy adjutant general, and deputy judge advocate for the northern army, the said appointments be confirmed; if not, that General Schuyler be empowered to make those appointments.
That the Committee of Indian Affairs, be directed to transmit to the commissioners of Indian affairs in the northern department, such Indian intelligence as shall be received, and copies of all treaties made with the Indians in the middle department.
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That General Schuyler be empowered to fill up the commissions for Colonel Livingston's regiment, agreeable to the ranks the officers respectively hold in the said regiment.
That the pay of the assistant deputy pay masters general in the northern army, be raised to 45 dollars per month.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, dated May 27, 1777, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, I, folio 185.]
The committee appointed to confer with a committee of the assembly of the State of Pensylvania, concerning a complaint by the Indians, report, "That they have conferred with the said committee, by whom they were informed, that a considerable number of the inhabitants of Pensylvania have seated themselves upon lands belonging to the Indians, without their leave or any authority from the State; and that the Indians are very uneasy on the account of such intrusion:" Whereupon,
Resolved, That the executive power, or legislature of Pensylvania, ought to take proper measures to quiet the minds of the said Indians, by assuring them, that they shall have full satisfaction, either by the removal of the intruders, or by allowing them an adequate consideration for the soil, at the option of the Indians.2
[Note 2: 2 The last six words were added by John Hancock. The report, in the writing of James Duane, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 20, II, folio 5.]
Ordered, That a copy of the foregoing report and resolve be transmitted to the commissioners for Indian affairs in the northern department.
The Committe of Treasury report,
That there is due to Thomas Dewit, for board of sundry prisoners in the gaol of Baltimore, and for fire-wood, candles, &c. from the 19 of December to 3 March, 333 39/90 dollars:
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That there is due to the Rev. Robert M'Murdie, for his services as chaplain for one month and one day, in Colonel Watt's batallion of the flying-camp, the sum of 34 40/90 dollars:
That there is due to George Graeff, and to be paid to William Govett, for pay due to part of his company of Colonel Cunningham's batallion of Lancaster county flying-camp, from the 10 of December to 1 January, the sum of 114 82/90 dollars:
That there is due to Captain Hand's company of Colonel Lawrence's batallion of flying-camp, for the balance of subsistence due on his pay roll, the sum of 86 41/90 dollars:1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, I, folio 197.]
That there should be paid to the Reverend James Caldwell, for the services of a company of light horse of Essex county, in the state of New Jersey, commanded by Captain Jacob Wynans, their horse hire and expences, the sum of 4,873 54/90 dollars:2
[Note 2: 2 This paragraph is based upon the following report of the Board of Treasury, May 27, 1777:
"That they took into Consideration the Petition of the Reverend James Caldwell, setting forth the services of a Company of Light Horse of Essex County, State of New Jersey, Commanded by Capt Jacob Weinans, raised the 25th December, 1776, and discharged the 17th March, 1777, And are of opinion that there should be paid to the said James Caldwell for the services of the said Company, this Horse hire and expences, the sum of Four thousand Eight hundred and seventy three Dollars and 541/2 90 of a Dollar."
It is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, I, folio 199.]
Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.
The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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