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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, AUGUST 5, 1777
In consequence of all adjustment by the commissioners ∥of claims,∥ the auditor general reports,
That there is due to Major William West, for his pay and rations as captain in the 3d Pensylvania regiment, from 1st September to 25 October, 1776, and for his pay and rations as major, from the 25th October, 1776, to the 13 July, 1777, the sum of 540 56/90 dollars:
That there is due to Cornelius Robinson, for his service as an express from Brigadier Dagworthy to this place, and for the hire of horses pressed on the road, and his expences, the sum of 34 30/90 dollars:
That there is due to William Hurrie, for his attendance as door keeper to Congress, for candles, &c. he bought between the 1st May and 31 July, and for nine days' attendance
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omitted in his last account, the sum of 90 72/90 dollars:1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, I, folio 333.]
Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.
The Board of Treasury brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
Resolved, That two thousand dollars be advanced to John Cheeseborough, pay master of the 6 regiment of North Carolina continental troops, for the pay of the said regiment, the said pay master to be accountable.
Resolved, That the same allowance be made to Bryan Lefferty, one of the hostages from Tryon county, for the good behaviour of the inhabitants of the said county, as is ordered by Congress to be made to the M'Donalds, and that 257 30/90 dollars be paid to Mr. Lefferty accordingly, in full for his subsistence to the 1st inst. inclusive.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, dated August 1, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, I, folio 331.
In thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, II, folio 133, is found the following motion, in the writing of [?]
"Resolved, That Silas Deane Esqr. one of the Commissioners of Congress at the Court of France, be forthwith recalled, and he is hereby recalled; and that from the Instant he shall receive this resolution, All and every power with which he hath been vested by Congress cease and determine, and that be take the earliest opportunity to embark for North America and repair to Congress."
It is endorsed by Charles Thomson, "Motion Aug. 5, 1777. Ordered to lie."
An undated motion, in the writing of James Lovell, is in No. 36, IV, folio 179, and embodies the words of this resolution:
"Whereas, Silas Deane Esqr., when agent under the Committee of Secret Correspondence entered into Conventions with several foreign Officers, which Congress have declared themselves not bound to ratify, and which in the present Situation of Affairs, they could not comply with without deranging the Army, and thereby injuring, at this critical Juncture, the American Cause; And, whereas the Credit, Reputation and Usefulness of Silas Deane Esqr., now one of the American Commissioners in France, will be greatly impaired by the Consequences of his Indiscretion in having entered into such Conventions, his Recall becomes necessary for the Interest of these United States; Therefore
"Resolved, That Silas Deane Esqr., now one of the American Commissioners in France be forthwith recalled; and, that from the day of his receiving this Resolve, all and every Power with which he hath been vested by Congress do cease and determine; and that he take the earliest Opportunity to embark for North America and repair to Congress."]
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Resolved, That there be advanced to Mons. du Coudray, for the use of the, following gentlemen, who came over with him to America:
Captain Rogers and Capt. Fleury, each 200 dollars;
Capt. Le Brun, Capt. Vareigne, and Capt. Tousard, each 250 dollars;
Capt. Loyauté and Capt. Pierre, each 200 dollars;
Lieut. Le Blanc, 250 dollars, and Lieut. Matthio, 150 dollars;
Lieut. Rivau and Lieut. Fonfredi, each 250 dollars;
Lieut. Ganot, 150 dollars, and Lieut. Matigny, 250 dollars;
Lieut. Coyete, Lieut. Parisy, Lieut. Begard, each 150 dollars;
Lieut. Pommereul and Lieut. Boshard, each 150 dollars;
Amounting, in the whole, to three thousand six hundred dollars, to be charged to account of Mons. du Coudray, being advanced on his application.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, dated August 2, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, I, folio 335.]
Resolved, That the million of dollars to be emitted by a resolution of Congress of the 1st instant, for the purpose of redeeming the certificates and bills of credit issued by the state of Georgia for the use of the United States and for the support of the continental forces in that State, be of the same tenor and date as the emission ordered by Congress the twentieth day of May last, and that a warrant issue on the treasurer for four hundred thousand of the said dollars to be paid the delegates of that State and another2 [warrant to the Deputy Paymaster General in Georgia for 600,000 Dollars to be paid to
[Note 2: 2 The entry the Journal runs only to this point. What follows is taken from the report of the Committee on the Treasury, in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, I, folio 337.]
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him or the Delegates aforesaid, the said State and Deputy Paymaster General to be respectively accountable.]
Resolved, That a commissary of hides be appointed in the room of Peter Philips, Esqr. who declines acting; the ballots being taken,
George Ewing was elected.
On motion by the Committee on Appeals,
Resolved, That Thursday next be assigned to take into consideration the propriety of establishing a court of appeals.
Congress proceeded to the election of officers in the commissary's department; and the ballots being taken,
William Buchanan, Esqr. was elected commissary general of purchases.
A motion was made and seconded to postpone a farther election untilMr. Buchanan is consulted to morrow. Question put. Carried in the affirmative.
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to take into consideration the letter from B. Franklin and S. Deane, Esqrs. to Lord Stormont, and the depositions therein referred to, and report thereon to Congress:
The members chosen, Mr. [John] Witherspoon, Mr. [Samuel] Chase, and Mr. [William] Duer.
A deposition of John Barret, 1st lieutenant of the armed brigRaleigh, late commanded by Edward Travis, Esqr. fitted out by and belonging to the State of Virginia, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the committee last appointed.
The Committee on Foreign Applications brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the Chevalier de Failly have the rank and pay of major in the army of the United States.
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The committee appointed to repair to the camp, brought in a report, which was read.
The Committee appointed to inquire into the State of the Army under the Command of General Washington, "particularly into the Causes of Complaints in the Commissary's Department," having proceeded to the Camp in New Jersey and at Peekskiln, and conferred with Generals Washington and Putnam, and also with the principal officers of the Staff beg Leave to report,
That by the Adjutant General's Return herewith delivered, the army appears to consist of
making in the whole 17,949 privates, exclusive of the Virginia and North Carolina Troops, commanded by General Nash, Col. Morgan's Corps of Light Infantry, Colonel Proctor's regiment of Artillery, Col. Moylans Regiment of Horse, and four troops belonging to Col. Sheldon's and Col. Bland's Regiments.
That of the above number there are fit for duty
making in the whole 16,920Combatants
That there are sick in the Hospitals and Army 3,745 soldiers, the number of which has been greatly increased by the Use of bad Bread, and the Want of Vinegar, Vegetables and Soap as particularly set forth in General Washington's Letter to the Committee.
That several of the States have prohibited or discouraged the recruiting Officers of some of the Battalions appointed by the General from enlisting Soldiers therein; which if not remedied will defeat the Intention of Congress with respect to the raising such Battalions.
That some Difficulties have arisen in the mind of the Commissary General of issues, relative to the number and pay of his Deputy Commissaries General, and pay of his Clerk, and the Apprehensions of the issuing Commissaries that by the new regulations, they must account for all the Stores they may receive without reasonable allowances for Leakage and Wastage. The remarks of each of the Commissaries
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General relative to their respective Departments are herewith reported to Congress.
That some Difficulties have taken place in the Paymaster General's Department from the Want of timely supplies of Money, an establishment for his Deputies, and Authority to appoint an additional Clerk.
In the Muster Master General's, from the pay of the officers, and the returns of Muster Rolls made to the Paymaster and Deputy Paymasters General.
In the Cloathier General's from the Want, of Assistants in the several Camps and detached posts and of sundry Articles of Cloathing mentioned by the general.
In the Hospital Department from the Want of Authority in the Director and Deputy Directors General to draw Supplies from the Commissary's Stores.
That the General officers as well as the Staff complain of their not receiving regularly the resolutions of Congress relative to their several offices.
That the Complaint of the General upon the bestowing of rank on the inferior officers of the civil Departments of the Army, corresponds with the Opinion of the Officers in general, and there is too much Reason to apprehend great inconveniences from such Measures if not rectified in future.
That an Auditor of accounts for each Army and also a travelling Press for the army under the Command of General Washington appears to be necessary.
That the appointment of Brigade Chaplains has in some measure been suspended until the Sense of Congress is more fully known on the Matter.
Your Committee beg Leave further to report as their Opinion on the preceding State of Facts,
That the Deputy Commissaries General of purchases be respectively directed forthwith to appoint one or more assistants to procure or manufacture Vinegar, a suitable Number to procure Vegetables, and others to procure or manufacture Soap in each Department, until the Board of War shall have contracted for supplying the said Articles, and the several issuing Commissaries are respectively directed to deliver to the Order of the Commissary General of purchases or of his Deputy Commissaries General in their respective Districts, such
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Quantities of the Molasses in their possession, for manufacturing Vinegar, and of Tallow for making Soap, as the said Commissary or several Deputy Commissaries General of purchases shall judge necessary, who are also authorized to make further purchases of Molasses for this and other purposes.
Aug. 6, 1777 Agreed. That an additional Deputy Commissary General of Issues be appointed.
That the pay of the Deputy Commissaries General of Issues be increased to 100 Dollars per Month and of the Clerks ofAgreed the Commissaries General to 50 dollars per month.1
[Note 1: 1 These paragraphs are not in the Journals under August 6,post.]
That reasonable Allowances be made to the issuing Commissaries for Wastage and Leakage, and that the Commissaries General be severally directed to inform themselves as soon as may be, by Experiment of the average Loss that attends the issuing each Article which composes a ration, and report the same to Congress.
That a Warrant issue in Favor of the Board of War forAug. 6, 1777 500,000 Dollars to be delivered to the Paymaster General for the Use of the army, he to be accountable.
That the Reports of the Board of Treasury relative to the Appointment of an additional Clerk for the Paymaster General, the pay of his Deputies, and the Mode of Sending the resolutions of Congress to the Departments or persons who are to carry them into execution be as soon as may be considered by Congress.
That the Commissary General of Musters be hereafter allowed the pay and Rations of a Colonel, that the pay of his DeputyAgreed Aug. 6, 1777. Commissaries General be increased to 60 dollars per Month and of the Muster Masters to 45 dollars per Month.
That the several Muster Masters be directed to omit making theAgreed Aug, 6, 1777. returns to the Paymaster and Deputy Paymasters General, which have been heretofore ordered by Congress.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Elbridge Gerry, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 21, folio 121.]
The Committee appointed to enquire into the state of the Army under the Command of General Washington beg Leave further to report,
That the Commissary General of Purchases be furnished with a Copy of Mr. Trumbull's Letter to his Committee, dated the 22d of July last, at Newborough, so far as it respects the procuring of Salt, fat Beef and Pork, Casks, &c. for the next Campaign.
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That General Washington be directed to apportion to the several States, the Continental Battalions which by order of CongressPostponed he has appointed; and it is earnestly recommended to the said States to take the most effectual Measures for raising their Quota's of the Sd. Battalions, as well as to complete the Continental Battalions which they have officered.
That the Cloathier General be directed, forthwith to inform himself as nearly as may be of the Number of Blankets, Shoes, Hose and Shirts that will be wanted for the Troops of the United States in the fall and winter next ensuing, exclusive of those now in Store, or for which he has contracted; that he apply for the same to the severalAgreed Aug. 28. Assemblies or executive Authorities of the States of New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware, in proportion to the Number of Inhabitants of each State, and scud to each an attested Copy of this Resolve; and it is earnestly recommended to the several States aforesaid, to call on the Inhabitants of their respective Counties, Cities, Towns or Districts to manufacture or furnish their proportions of the said articles and the said States are desired to appoint suitable persons to inspect the quality of the Articles thus supplied and to order them to be delivered to the Cloathier's Agent in each State, who is hereby directed to pay for the same on the Delivery thereof.
That the Cloathier General be directed forthwith to apply to the Commander in chief, and Commander of each ContinentalAgreed. District, and inform himself of the Number of Assistant Cloathiers necessary for the Army and detached Posts within their several Commands; that he appoint without Delay as many Assistants as they may respectively judge necessary, and report their Names to Congress, that he take effectual Care to send to each Assistant a proportion of the Cloathing on hand, and full Supplies as soon as may be, ordering the said Assistants to give receipts therefor, that he be careful to direct the several Assistants to give to each non commissioned Officer and Soldier the Cloathing due to him by the Articles of Enlistment, and to take Receipts, and that they supply the Army with such other Cloathing as shall be necessary, at the average Cost and Charges thereof, that he furnish each Assistant with the Names of the non Commissioned Officers and Soldiers of the Divisions or Corps to which he may be assigned, who have received the Bounty of Cloathing or any Part thereof; and also with the Account of each Officer and Soldier in such Division or Corps who is indebted to the United States for Articles of Cloathing; that he direct each Assistant, on the first Day
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of every Month to render to the respective regimental Paymasters in the Division or Corps to which he is assigned particular Accounts of all the Cloathing for which the Officers and Men are respectively indebted; and the several regimental Paymasters are hereby directed to make the proper Stoppages from the pay Rolls for discharging the said Accounts, and to deliver the Money to the assistant Cloathiers respectively taking their Receipts therefor and delivering them to the paymaster or Deputy Paymaster General to be filed in his Office, until required by the Commissioners of Accounts or other proper Authority; that the several Assistants deliver the Money so received to the Cloathier General and Account with him for all the Cloathing which they may receive as aforesaid.
That each assistant Cloathier be alloweddollars pr. Month andRations per day.
That the several Boards, Committees and persons employed or that hereafter may be employed, to import or procure military Stores for the United States, be directed from Time to Time to take the earliest Opportunities of reporting to the Board of War the several Quantities thus imported or procured, and to deliver the same to the order of the said Board.
That the several Boards Committees and persons employed or that hereafter may be employed to import or otherwise procure Articles of Cloathing, Medicine or other hospital Stores for the United States, are directed from Time to Time to take the earliest Opportunities of reporting to the Cloathier General or to one of his Agents the Cloathing, and to the Director or Deputy Directors General, or one of their Agents respectively the Medicine or other Hospital Stores imported or procured as aforesaid, ascertaining the quantity of each Article; and they are also directed to deliver the same to the order of the Sd. Cloathier, Director or Deputy Directors General or their Agents respectively, and take duplicate Receipts therefor, one of each of which to be transmitted to the Board of War and the others to serve as their Vouchers.
That the Adjutant and Deputy Adjutants General be respectively directed hereafter, to make particular Returns of the Regiments of each State, as well as of the Brigades and Divisions to which they belong, and the Secretary of War is directed from Time to Time to transmit to the Several States the number of Officers and Men contained in each Return of their Regiments aforesaid.
That the Commander in Chief, and the Commanding Officer of each continental District, be severally directed, forthwith to order monthly
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Returns, to be made to the Adjutant or Deputy Adjutant General of all publick Arias or Accoutrements in the Hands of the Soldiers of the several continental Battalions and Corps, and of all military stores whatever, in the, care of the Commissaries of Military Stores or other Officers of the Army within their respective commands and the Adjutant and Deputy Adjutants General are severally directed to transmit to the Board of War monthly returns of all such Arms Accoutrements and other military Stores, specifying the particular Quantities of each, and the Battalions; Corps and Names of the Commissaries and other Officers holding the same.
That all other persons entrusted with the care of military stores belonging to the United States, be respectively directed to make monthly Returns to the Board of War specifying the particular Quantities of each Article in their Possession, the Condition thereof and names of the Places in which the same are deposited, and that such of the said Persons as shall refuse or neglect to make the said Returns be dismissed from the Service.
That the Commissary General of Musters be directed to order the several Muster Masters to include in their respective Returns, the Number of Arms and Accoutrements belonging to the United States, in each Battalion or Corps of Troops which they shall muster, and that he transmit to the Board of War, monthly Abstracts of all such Returns regimentally digested.
That the Director and each of the Deputy Directors General be severally authorized to empower the Surgeon and Physician General of the Army within his respective District, to draw on the issuing Commissaries for such Articles of Provision in gross Quantities as the said Surgeon and Physician General Shall require for supporting the Sick in the flying and temporary Hospitals; and the said issuing Commissaries are respectively directed to charge such Provisions to the Director or Deputy Director General of the District, and to keep the Vouchers in separate Files in order for Settlement with the Officers aforesaid.
That the Quarter Master General be directed forthwith to contract with a Printer, who is provided with Types, and other Implements for Printing, and with a suitable Number of Journeymen, to attend the Army under the Command of General Washington, and that he procure convenient Waggons for transporting the Press and necessary Baggage of the printer aforesaid.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Elbridge Gerry, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 21, folio 115.]
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Congress took into consideration the report of the Board of War of the 25 July; and thereupon,
Resolved, That Captain Dorsey's resignation be accepted.
That it be recommended to the Legislative, or in their Recess, to the Executive e Powers of the several States. to afford every possible assistance to the Clothier General in the purchasing and conveying to such Places as he shall require, all kinds of Cloathing for the Army, and particularly Shirts, Shoes, Stockings and Blankets.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, I, folio 293. The members present were: John Adams, Francis Lightfoot Lee, Samuel Adams, William Duer, and James Wilson.]
The committee on the northern department, to whom General Washington's letter [of the 3d instant] was referred, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the commanding officer in the northern department be directed to apply to the executive powers of the respective States of New Hampshire, Massachusetts bay, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Pensylvania, for such a number of their respective militia as he shall judge sufficient to reinforce the armyin the said Department, and repel the Invasion under his command:
That such militia be entitled to continental pay and rations, and be continued in service until the last day of November next, unless sooner relieved by continental troops, or discharged; and that it be earnestly recommended to the executive powers of the said States, to exert their most vigorous efforts in complying with the requisition of the said commanding officer, without delay, that a speedy and effectual stop may be put to the progress of the enemy in that quarter.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of James Duane, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 21, folio 115.]
The several matters &c ∥to this day referred, being postponed,∥
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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