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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 26, 1777
A letter, of the 25, from General Washington, at Wilmington, with a copy of a letter from H. Hollingsworth; one, of the 24, from Colonel H. Hollingsworth; one, of the 13, from Lieutenant Colonel Carrington, at York garrison, Virginia; and all application from Molls. du Coudray, were read.1
[Note 1: 1 The letter of Washington is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, IV, folio 541. That of Hollingsworth is in No. 78, XI, folio 231; that of Carrington, in No. 78, V, folio 95, and that of Du Coudray is in No. 156, folio 548.]
Ordered, That so much of Monsieur du Coudray's application as relates to money, be referred to the Board of Treasury, and the remainder to the Board of War:
That the copy of the letter from Colonel H. Hollingsworth be referred to the Committee of Intelligence.
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The delegates of Georgia laid before Congress a letter from Ebenezer S. Platt, dated Newgate, in London, May 16, 1777, directed to Seth John Cuthbert, merchant in Georgia, representing that he had been apprehended and imprisoned on account of having acted under the authority of Congress, and requesting to be supplied with a sum of money, and that he might be demanded in exchange; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the American commissioners at the court, of France be directed to supply the said Ebenezer S. Platt with a sum not exceeding one hundred pounds sterling; and that they demand his person in exchange for some person in our power:
Resolved, That the sum so to be advanced be charged to the State of Georgia.
A memorial from Colonel A. Spotswood, of the 2 Virginia regiment, with sundry papers therein referred to, was ∥laid before Congress and∥ read:1
[Note 1: 1 This memorial is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, IX, folio 26]
Ordered, That the same be referred to the Board of War.
On motion "to order the 1st and 3d batallions of New Jersey troops, to be stationed in New Jersey, until the further order of Congress, and to take such posts as will be most effectual for securing the parts of the Jersey, lying to the northward of Amboy, from the frequent excursions of the enemy from Staten Island; and that General Washington be informed of said batallions being detained for the above purpose:"
On the question put, carried in the negative.
On motion,Resolved, That if any member chooses to have the ayes and nayes taken upon any question, he shall move for the same previous to Mr. president taking the sense of the house on such question,and if the
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motion be seconded, individual members of each State shall be called upon to answer aye or no to the question, which answer shall be entered on the journal, and the question be determined by the majority of states, as the majority of votes in each shall make appear.
On motion,Resolved, That it be recommended to his excellency the president and the honourable executive council of the State of Pensylvania, to lend the commander in chief two brass twelve pounders belonging to the said State.
On report from the Board of War,Resolved, That the supreme executive council of Pensylvania be requested to order all the leaden spouts in Philadelphia to be taken down for the use of the laboratory.1
[Note 1: 1 This paragraph was a report from the Board of War, August 26, John Adams, Samuel Adams, Francis Lightfoot Lee, and James Wilson, present. It is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, I, folio 329.]
A petition from Charles Craig and Thomas Dorsey, was read:2
[Note 2: 2 This petition is in thePaper of the Continental Congress, No. 42, II, folio 34.]
Ordered, To lie on the table.
A motion was made "That General Sullivan be directed to march the division under his command by slow and easy marches to Trenton where vessels will be provided to bring them forward. That the quarter master general be directed to order a sufficient number of boats to Trenton there to take in the troops under the command of General Sullivan." To this an amendment was moved, "That the quarter master general or his deputy be directed to send vessels to Trenton to transport the division of continental troops under the command of Major General Sullivan down the Delaware to join the main army if [it] shall be consistent with the disposition of the commander in chief, and that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to General Sullivan." To both these motions, sundry
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objections were made: Whereupon, another amendment was offered, "That General Sullivan be informed that it is the wish of Congress that the division under his command should proceed on their rout to join General Washington by slow and easy marches." On this the question being put, carried in the negative, and the other two motions were suffered to drop.1
[Note 1: 1 In the margin is written: "by general consent expunged."]
Congress resumed consideration of the memorial of Colonel Hazen, the report of the Board of Treasury, and the report of the commissioners of claims on the account of Colonel Hazen; and, ∥after debate,∥ thereupon,
Ordered, That the said reports be re-committed.
Resolved, That the commissioners for auditing accounts &c. be instructed to distinguish between the sums due to Colonel Moses Hazen for hard money advanced by him, and those due to him for commodities furnished By him for the use of the army in Canada.
That the former sums be repaid to him in hard money, with interest, at six per cent. from the 1st of May, 1776.
Resolved, That ten thousand dollars be advanced to the delegates of Maryland, for the use of that State, the said State to be accountable.
Whereas, the states of Pensylvania and Delaware are threatened with an immediate invasion from a powerful army, who have already landed at the head of Chesapeake bay; and whereas, the principles of policy and self preservation require that all persons who may reasonably be suspected of aiding or abetting the cause of the enemy, may be prevented from pursuing measures injurious to the general weal:
Resolved, That the executive authorities of the states of Pensylvania and Delaware, be requested to cause all persons within their respective states notoriously disaffected,
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forthwith to be apprehended, disarmed, and secured, till such time as the respective states think they may be released without injury to the common cause.
Resolved, That it be recommended to the supreme executive council of the State of Pensylvania, to cause a diligent search to be made in the houses of all inhabitants of the city of Philadelphia, who have not manifested their attachment to the American cause, for fire-arms, swords, and bayonets; that the owners of the arms so found be paid for them at an appraised value, and that they be delivered to such of the, militia of the State of Pensylvania who are at present unarmed, and have been called into the field.
Ordered, That the Board of War furnish the State of Maryland with as many arms as can be spared for arming their militia now called into service.
The Board of Treasury brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
Resolved, That there, be advanced to Lieutenant Colonel baron de Holtzendorff three hundred dollars, for which he is to be accountable.
Resolved, That there be advanced to Colonel G. Morgan twenty thousand dollars, for the use of his department, and for which he is to be accountable.
Resolved, That there be advanced to Lieutenant Colonel the chevalier de Failly one hundred and eighty dollars, for three months' pay from the 1st instant.
Resolved, That there be advanced to Major de Bois one hundred and fifty dollars, for three months' pay, commenting the first of August.3
In consequence of an adjustment by the commissioners ∥of claims,∥ the auditor general reports,
[Note 1: 1 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, I, folio 385.]
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That there is due to James Mitchel, late a serjeant in Colonel Stewart's regiment, three months' half-pay, being from the 1st day of May last, the time he settled with the pay master, to the 1st inst. at which time he inlisted in Colonel Nicola's corps, he being all invalid, 12 dollars:
That there is due to the commissioners of claims eight dollars, which they advanced to Samuel Hamel, James M'Callister, &c. for taking up a certain Robert M'Cann, a deserter from Captain Robert Smith's company of Colonel Feebucker's regiment, and delivering him to Robert Jewell, keeper of the state prison, viz: 5 dollars for taking him up, and 3 dollars for expences:
That there is due to Nathaniel Jones, a balance for the hire of his waggon impressed to bring money from Baltimore, 11 days out and home, at 27/6 per day, £15 15 0 ∥42 dollars,∥ of which he received from M. Hillegas, Esqr. £7 10 0 ∥20 dollars;∥ balance is £8 5 0 equal to 22 dollars:
That there is due to sundry persons of Northumberland county, belonging to Colonel Potter's batallion of militia, for rifles, guns, blankets, taken and appraised for the use of Captain William Gray's company of the said batallion, some time in December last, which articles were not returned to the owners, but delivered up to the continental store, as appears by certificates, 1,208 12/90 dollars, and that the same ought to be paid to Brigadier Potter, or his order.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, I, folio 387.]
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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