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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 --MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1777
A letter, of the 30th of last month, from General Washington, at Wilmington; one of the 25 of the same month, from General Gates, enclosing a copy of a letter from General Arnold, at, Mohawk river, ten miles above Fort Dayton, August 23d; and one, from Colonel Gansevoort, at Fort Schuyler, 22 August; also another letter, of the 28, from General Gates, enclosing one of the 24 from
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General Arnold, giving an account that the enemy have retreated from Fort. Schuyler with the greatest precipitation, leaving their tents standing, their provisions, ammunition, &c. were read.1
[Note 1: 1 The letter of Washington is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, V, folio 9. It is printed inWritings of Washington (Ford), VI, 56. Those of Gates are in No. 154, I, folios 236, 242]
Another letter, of the 28 August, from General Gates, with a paper enclosed, respecting the cloathing granted to soldiers; and one, of the 1st, from General Arthur St. Clair, dated this day; one, of the 27 of August, from Jonathan Hudson, at Baltimore; and one, of the 28, from Robert White, deputy commissary general of issues, respecting the rations claimed by the soldiers; and one, of the 31 August, from General Sullivan, giving an account of his expedition on Staten Island, were read:
Ordered, That the letters from the northern department, be referred to the Committee of Intelligence:
Ordered, That the letter from General Sullivan of yesterday be referred to the Committee of Intelligence, to extract such parts thereof as they may think proper for publication, and to report the same to Congress.
Ordered, That the letter of the 28 August, from General Gates, with the paper enclosed, respecting cloathing, be referred to the Board of Treasury.
Ordered, That a copy of Brigadier de Roche Fermoy's letter of the 25 July, be made ont and delivered to General St. Clair.
Ordered, That the letter from Jonathan Hudson be referred to the Board of Treasury, and that from R. White be referred to the Board of War.
Resolved, That General Washington be directed to appoint a court of enquiry relative to the late expedition by General Sullivan against the British forces on Staten Island.
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Resolved, That 10,000 dollars be advanced to the Marine Committee for public service at Baltimore, the said committee to be accountable.
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to devise a plan of supplying the army with necessaries on the most reasonable terms, and that they sit on this business, and report as soon as possible:
The members chosen, Mr. [Robert] Morris, Mr. [Samuel] Chase, and Mr. [William] Duer.
Resolved, That three commissioner's be appointed immediately to consider of the practicability of burning the enemy's fleet in Chesapeake bay; that they consult with General Washington on this subject, and, if it appears likely to be effected, that they proceed with all diligence to the execution thereof; that, they be authorized to purchase, on the most reasonable terms they can, or employ any vessels that may be convenient for the purpose of fire ships, and that they have power to make use of any continental merchant ships or vessels that may be near the place for the same service; and that they have authority to pursue all such measures as may be effectual to the right execution of this important business; and, in case it shall be judged proper to undertake the project, that the same rewards be given to those employed in the execution as are offered for the same purpose in Delaware river and at Rhode Island.
Ordered, That the appointment, of commissioners be postponed till to morrow.
The Committee on the Treasury reported the following resolutions:
Resolved, That the president issue his warrant to the treasurer to transmit to John Gibson, Esqr. auditor general, 884,000 dollars, for which the said auditor general is to be accountable:
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Resolved, That there be advanced to Matthew Irwin, agent to Joseph Trumbull, Esqr. late commissary general, fifty thousand dollars, which Mr. Trumbull represents to be necessary to discharge contracts he is engaged in for provisions, and for which he is to be accountable.
Whereas two bills have been presented to the delegates of Georgia, drawn on them by the governor of the State of Georgia, and both dated the 12 day of July last; by one of which the said delegates are requested to pay to Thomas Scott, Esqr. or order, the sum of fourteen thousand dollars, for the purpose of recruiting men for the third batallion of continental troops in that State; and by the other to pay Captain Clement Nash, or order, five thousand dollars for the same purpose; and the said delegates having applied to Congress to advance the said money on account of the said State, to enable them to discharge those bills:
Resolved, That the amount of the said two bills, being 19,000 dollars, be accordingly advanced to the delegates of Georgia, for which that State is to be accountable, and that the same be considered, and charged as part of the money agreed to be transmitted to Georgia, for the use of the continental troops in that State.
Resolved, That there be advanced to Captain D'Antignac 120 dollars, for three months' pay, for which he is to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136 I, folio 403.]
Resolved, That Congress agree with the committee in the foregoing resolutions.
In conformity to the order of the day, Congress resolved itself into a committee of the whole. The president left the chair. Mr. [Benjamin] Harrison took the chair of the committee. Mr. president resumed the chair, and Mr. Harrison reported, that the committee have had under
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consideration the matters 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 treasury, on the ways and means of raising supplies, &c.
The several matters, &c. ∥to this day referred, being postponed,∥
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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