| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |
A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 1777
A letter, of the 18th, from General Washington, was read.2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, IV, folio 501.]
Resolved, That the Hessian field officers and Colonel Campbell, be admitted to their parole, on the terms prescribed for officers who are prisoners.
The committee "appointed to digest and report the mode of conducting the, enquiry into the reasons of the evacuation of Ticonderoga and Fort Independence, and into the conduct of the general officers of the northern department, at the time of the evacuation," brought in a report, which was read:
Ordered To lie for consideration.
Page 654 | Page image
Congress resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration the report of the Board of Treasury, on ways and means of raising supplies ∥for carrying on the war.∥
The president left the chair. Mr. [Benjamin] Harrison took the chair of the committee. The president resumed the chair. Mr. Harrison reported, that the committee have had under consideration the matter to them referred, but not having come to a conclusion, desire leave to sit again.
Resolved, That Congress will, to morrow, resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to consider farther the report, of the Board of Treasury to them referred, ∥on the ways and means of raising supplies for carrying on the war.∥
The committee of the treasury brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
Resolved, That there be advanced to Captain William Peery, of an independent company, stationed at Lewistown, in the State of Delaware, 500 dollars, for the pay and subsistence of the said company, for which he is to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, I, folio 369.]
In consequence of an adjustment by the commissioners ∥of claims,∥ the auditor general reports,
That there is due to Captain William Peery, of an independent company, appointed by Congress to guard Lewistown, and the pilots and others in that quarter, on a pay-roll due to a company of militia which he commanded, also on a pay and subsistence roll due to his independent company to the 1st inst. also a doctor's and blacksmith's bills, amounting, in the whole, to 3,542 63/90 dollars, of which he received of Governor M'Kinley, of the State of Delaware, 1,500 dollars; the sum of ∥a balance of∥ 2,042 63/90 dollars:
Page 655 | Page image
That there is due to James Hopkins, his account of eight men's services for 30 days each, by order of General Washington, on a secret expedition down the Delaware the sum of 491 75/90 dollars:
That there is due to Robert Lunn, late a serjeant in Captain Vernon's company of Colonel Wayne's batallion, 10 months and 26 days half-pay, being from the time he was regularly discharged to the time of his inlisting in Colonel Nicola's corps of invalids, amounting, in the whole, to the sum 43 42/90 dollars, of which he received, from Mease and Caldwell, 4 dollars; the remainder 39 42/90 dollars.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, I, folio 367.]
Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.
The Board of War brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
Congress taking into consideration the letter from Governor Henry, of Virginia, to the delegates of that state, in Congress, [representing the behaviour of Lieutenant Colonel Carrington, of Colonel Harrison's corps of artillery]2,
[Note 2: 2 The brackets are in the MS. journals.]
Resolved, That any officer now in Colonel Harrison's regiment of artillery, shall have liberty to leave the said regiment on being appointed to any office or command in the corps of artillery raising, or to be raised in Virginia, by the said State, and that the said Colonel Harrison's regiment be under the direction of his excellency Governor Henry, during the time of its stay in that State.
Resolved, That the behaviour of Lieutenant Colonel Carrington towards Governor Henry, as set forth in the governor's letter of the 8th instant to the delegates of Virginia, is highly indecent and reprehensible, and that unless the said Lieutenant Colonel Carrington in the
Page 656 | Page image
space of five days after being notified of this resolution make such concessions to the Governor as he and the council of the said State shall approve of, Colonel Carrington be dismissed from the service of the United States.1
[Note 1: 1 In the margin is written "Not to be printed. See 23 May, 1778."]
Resolved, That this Congress will, on all occasions, discountenance and punish any indecent behaviour of any officer or officers in the continental service, towards the civil authority of the several states.
The Board taking into Consideration General Washingtons Letter of the 16th instant,
Resolved, That General Washington be informed thatTo Lie Mr George Ewing is appointed Commissary General of Hides, with full power to carry into execution the several matters mentioned in the Generals letter relative to hides and Tanneries.
That the Commissary General of Purchases be empowered and directed either to set up a sufficient number of Distilleries for distilling strong Liquor from grain, or exchange grain for distilled liquor for the use of the Army, as he shall think most prudent and conducive to the public Interest.
That the sum ofdollars be allowed to every OfficerTo Lie of Cavalry who shall lose his horse in actual Service, or by unavoidable accident.2
[Note 2: 2 To this point the resolutions are based upon a report of Board of War, dated August 18, with John Adams, Samuel Adams, Francis Lightfoot Lee and James Wilson present.]
Resolved, That a copy of General Lincoln's letter be forthwith transmitted to the council of New Hampshire, and that they be informed that the instructions which General Stark says he has received from them, are destructive of military subordination, and highly prejudicial to the common cause at this crisis; and therefore that they be desired to instruct General Stark to conform himself to the same rules which other general officers of
Page 657 | Page image
the militia are subject to, whenever they are called out at the expence of the United States.1
[Note 1: 1 This report was dated August 19, with John Adams, George Clymer, James Wilson and William Duer, present. The two reports are in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, I, folio 321.]
Ordered, That the rest of the report lie for consideration.
The several matters to this day referred being postponed,
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |