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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, NOVEMBER 3, 1777
Prayers.
A letter, of the 24 October, from R. Bache; one, of the 20th of the same month, from Governor Trumbull, enclosing a resolution passed in the house of assembly of Connecticut, 11 of the same month; one, of the 25 of the same month, from General Sullivan, with sundry papers enclosed, were read:1
[Note 1: 1 The letter of Bache is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 61, folio 5; that of Trumbull, in No. 66, I, folio 349.]
Ordered, That the president return an answer to Major General Sullivan, and enclose him a copy of the resolution passed the 20th October last:2
[Note 2: 2 See note under October 20, 1777, ante.]
That the letter from Governor Trumbull, with the papers enclosed, be referred to the committee appointed to confer with the commissary general of purchases, and that they be directed to confer farther with the commissary general on the subject, and bring in a report this afternoon:
That the letter from Mr. Bache be referred to the Board of Treasury.
Ordered, That Colonel Wilkinson be admitted to lay before Congress ∥this afternoon∥ sundry papers relative to the affairs in the northern department.
Adjourned to 4 o'Clock.
Four O'Clock, p. m.
According to order, Colonel Wilkinson attended and delivered a message from General Gates, in the words following:
I have it in charge from Major General Gates to represent to the honble. the Congress, that Lieutenant General Burgoyne, at the time he
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capitulated, was strongly entrenched on a formidable post, with twelve days' provision; that the reduction of Fort Montgomery, and the enemy's consequent progress up the Hudson's river, endangered our arsenal at Albany, a reflection which left General Gates no time to contest the capitulation with Lieutenant General Burgoyne, but induced the necessity of immediately closing with his proposals, hazarding a disadvantageous attack, or retiring from his position for the security of our magazine; this delicate situation abridged our conquests, and procured Lieutenant General Burgoyne the terms he enjoys. Had our attack been carried against Lieutenant General Burgoyne, the dismemberment of our army must necessarily have been such as would have incapacitated it from further action. With an army in health, vigour, and spirits, Major General Gates now waits the commands of the honble. Congress.1
[Note 1: 1 The original, in the writing of Wilkinson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 57, folio 23.]
He then laid before Congress sundry original papers, relative to the convention, which were read, viz.
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[Note 1: 1 Some of these papers, in the writing of Charles Thomson, are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 57, folio 96. A list of twelve of the papers, and some notes evidently of Wilkinson's testimony, in the writing of Charles Thomson, is in No. 59, II, folio 69.]
After which Colonel Wilkinson withdrew.
The committee to whom was referred the letter from Governor Trumbull, with the enclosed resolution of the general assembly of Connecticut, brought in a report, which was read and considered; Whereupon,
Resolved, That a copy of the resolutions of Congress of the 4th of October last, relative to the department of the purchasing and issuing commissaries, be forthwith transmitted by express to the governor and council of safety of Connecticut, who are authorized and requested to appoint a deputy commissary general of purchases, and a deputy commissary general of issues for the eastern district, provided the appointments of Congress to the respective offices aforesaid are not accepted, and General Putnam has not made such appointments, agreeable to the powers given him by the resolution last mentioned, or that the officers so appointed should appear to the said governor and council incompetent to the business:
That a copy of the preceding resolution be transmitted by the express aforesaid to Major General Putnam, who is directed to inform his excellency Governor Trumbull of his conduct relative to the premises, and to direct the officers who may have accepted the appointments aforesaid, forthwith to apply to the governor and council of safety for instructions, and that General Putnam cease to proceed further in the business aforesaid:
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That a duplicate warrant for two hundred thousand dollars, on the loan office of the State of New York, be issued by the president in favour of William Buchanan, Esqr. commissary general of purchases, to serve, in case a warrant of the 10th of October last, drawn for the same sum in favour of him on the loan office aforesaid, by the hon. John Hancock, Esqr. late president of Congress, in pursuance of a resolve of Congress of the said 10 day of October, should have miscarried; and that the commissary general of purchases be directed to transmit the same to the governor and council of Connecticut for the deputy commissary general of purchases of the eastern district:
That the governor and council aforesaid be requested to afford such assistance to the officers in the purchasing and issuing departments of the eastern district, as shall be requisite for obtaining the necessary supplies of provisions for the army, and furnishing them therewith, and that they be farther requested to advance such supplies of money as may be immediately wanted by the deputy commissary general of purchases aforesaid, and take his order therefor on the commissary general of purchases.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Elbridge Gerry, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 20, I, folio 253.]
A motion being made for directing the future operations of General Gates:
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. R[ichard] H[enry] Lee, Mr. J[ohn] Adams and Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry.
∥The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,∥
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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