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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 --WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1777
Prayers.
Resolved, That the president issue his warrant on the treasurer for four thousand dollars, in favour of George Ross, Esqr. and Company, owners of the Mary Ann Furnace, in part of payment of cannon ball made by them for the use of the navy, agreeable to contract with the Navy Board for the middle department, which is to be charged with this sum, and the said George Ross and Company to be accountable to them for the same.
The Board of War brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the case of John More, a private in the 4th Virginia regiment, tried and condemned to be shot for desertion, together with the proceedings of the court martial, be referred to General Washington for his determination thereupon.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, dated October 21, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, I, folio 371. It contains the following:
"Ordered, That the Chairman lay the letter from Daniel Clymer, Esqr., relative to Governor Franklin's Situation, before Congress for their Determination thereon."]
A petition, from Daniel Shelly, a prisoner in the gaol of Carlisle, in the state of Pensylvania, together with a copy of his examination, were laid before Congress and read:2
[Note 2: 2 This petition is printed in Pennsylvania Archives, Second Series, III, 136.]
Ordered, That the same be referred to the executive council of the State of Pensylvania.
A letter from Daniel Clymer to R[ichard] Bache,
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respecting the confinement of Mr. W[illiam] Franklin,was laid before Congress and read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, V, folio 111.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
A petition and memorial of Cumberland Dugan, of Baltimore, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Commerce.
A petition from John Kerr was read.
Ordered, That it be referred to the Marine Committee.
Congress took into consideration the report of the committee appointed to confer with the commissary general of purchases, on the measures adopted by him for obtaining the necessary supplies of provisions for the ensuing year, together with a letter from the said commissary to the Committee, and an estimate of the necessary quantities of the respective species of provisions &c., for the support of the army. and on a proposed alteration in the rations; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the commissary general of purchases be authorized and empowered to apply to the governor and council of safety of Connecticut, or to the board of war of the Massachusetts bay, or to empower the deputy commissary general of purchases for the eastern district, to import (or contract with persons who shall import and supply, on reasonable terms) a sufficient quantity of salt, for the army of the United States, in the middle district; that the masters of the vessels to be employed for this purpose, be severally directed to deliver their cargoes of salt at such ports in the middle or southern districts as the commissary general shall think most convenient, and that he order cargoes of flour or grain, on the arrival of these vessels at the ports aforesaid, to be provided and shipped in them for the army in the eastern district:
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And the said governor and council of safety and board of war are severally requested to assist the commissary in accomplishing these purposes, and to grant or procure permits for exporting cargoes to purchase the salt.
And, whereas, there is an immediate demand for the article aforesaid in the middle district:
Resolved, That the supreme executive authorities of the states of Massachusetts bay and Connecticut, be respectively requested to assist the commissary general of purchases in procuring waggons or teams for removing 12,000 bushels of salt from the eastern to the middle district, that the said commissary be directed to employ the waggons or teams procured in the Massachusetts bay, to remove the salt from thence to Connecticut; and those procured in the state last mentioned in removing the salt from thence to such places on the North River as he shall judge most convenient; and the said commissary general is directed to procure waggons or teams in the middle district, and load them with flour, to be delivered at the North River, and sent by the teams bringing the salt from Connecticut to the magazines of the army in that State; and that the waggons or teams from the middle district be employed to bring from the North River the salt to be deposited there as aforesaid:
That the commissary general of issues be directed to apply to General Washington for a certificate of the provisions allowed for each ration drawn by the army, previous to the appointment of himself to the office aforesaid, and to direct the several issuing commissaries under him to deliver provisions to the army agreeable to the said certificate, till the further order of Congress, any resolution of Congress to the contrary notwithstanding; and that the commissary general of issues transmit to Congress by the earliest opportunity, a copy of the certificate which he shall receive from General Washington.
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Resolved, That the alteration proposed by the commissary general of purchases in the ration at present ordered by Congress to be issued to the army, be transmitted to General Washington, and that he be desired to communicate to Congress his sentiments on this subject as soon as possible.
That a Committee be appointed to enquire into the Conduct of Colonel Morgan, agent of Indian Affairs; that they correspond with General Hand and such other persons as they may think capable of giving them Information, relative thereto, and that in the Interim the Business of the Commissary's Department be conducted, as heretofore, by Colonel Morgan.
Ordered, That the committee who brought in the foregoing report prepare a plan for establishing a board to superintend the departments of the commissaries and quarter master general.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Elbridge Gerry, with amendments by William Duer, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 29, folio 95.]
Adjourned to 4 o'Clock.
Four o'Clock, p.m.
Whereas, reports injurious to the character of Colonel George Morgan, agent for Indian affairs at Fort Pitt, have prevailed, representing him as unfriendly to the cause of America:
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to enquire into the conduct of Colonel Morgan; and that he be required forthwith to repair to Congress for that purpose; and that a proper person be appointed to perform the duties entrusted to Colonel Morgan until the event of such enquiry:
The members chosen, Mr. R[ichard] H[enry] Lee, Mr. [Daniel] Roberdeau and Mr. [Richard] Law.
Ordered, That to morrow be assigned for appointing a
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proper person to perform the duties entrusted to Colonel Morgan until the event of the enquiry ordered to be made into his conduct.
The Committee of Treasury brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
Ordered, That there be advanced to Lieutenant Colonel Levin Powell, for the use of part of the Virginia regiment, now on their march to join the main army, which regiment is under the command of Colonel William Grayson, the sum of 400 dollars, the said Colonel Grayson to be accountable:
Ordered, That there be advanced to Major James Armstrong Wilson, 520 dollars, to purchase blankets for the use of two companies under his command, stationed at Carlisle, to guard the public stores deposited there.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, I, folio 451.]
The Board of Treasury farther reported, that they have reason to think, from the best information they can obtain, that Mr. Robert Ritchie, one of the commissioners of claims, has not removed from the city of Philadelphia, and find that the private concerns of Mr. Fitzsimons, another of the commissioners, has prevented his necessary attendance to the business of the said office;" Whereupon,2
[Note 2: 2 This report, dated October 18, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, I, folio 447.]
Resolved, That two commissioners of claims be appointed to supply the places of the gentlemen aforesaid:
Ordered, That to morrow be assigned for nominating the commissioners aforesaid, and also of a commissioner for auditing and settling accounts in the northern department, in the room of Mr. Robert Carter, who has resigned.
∥The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,∥
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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