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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, NOVEMBER 4, 1777
The Marine Committee brought in a report, which was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue in faveur of Thomas White, for five hundred dollars, in discharge of John Ashe, provincial treasurer of North Carolina, his following drafts on the continental treasurer, in favour of the said T. White, expressed for the service of the United States, for which sum the said State is to be accountable, and is to be considered as part of the five hundred thousand dollars heretofore appropriated for the use of the said State, viz. one dated 9 May, for 100 dollars, one, dated 10 May, for 100 dollars, and one dated 11 May, for 300 dollars.
Ordered, That a warrant issue in favour of Robert Morris, Esqr. for the sum of 12,2211/3 dollars, being for the payment of ninety-five barrels of powder and one hundred muskets purchased of him by the order of the Board of War and Ordnance:
Ordered, That a warrant issue in favour of Richard Bache, Esqr. post master general, to be paid to James Bryson, one of the surveyors of the post office, the sum of three thousand dollars, for the use of the post master general's department, who is to be accountable:
Ordered, That a warrant issue in favour of Colonel Nathaniel Gist, to be paid to Lieutenant Francis Nure, of Captain Joseph Smith's company, of the said regiment, and for the use thereof, the sum of 350 dollars, the said Colonel Gist to be accountable.
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Ordered, That a warrant for two hundred dollars issue in favour of Colonel Josias Carvil Hall, to be paid to Captain John Sulman, of his regiment, for the use of a party under his command, the said Colonel Hall to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, I, folio 459.]
A letter, from Colonel Sheldon, of the 25 October, with sundry papers enclosed, was laid before Congress:
Ordered, That the same be referred to the Board of War.
Resolved, That his excellency Governor Caswell of North Carolina, be requested to erect a monument of the value of 500 dollars, at the expence of these United States, in honor of the memory of Brigadier General Francis Nash, who fell in the battle of Germantown, on the 4 day of October, 1777, bravely contending for the independence of his country.
Resolved, That the thanks of Congress, in their own name, and in behalf of the inhabitants of the thirteen United States, be presented to Major General Gates, commander in chief in the northern department, and to Majors General Lincoln and Arnold, and the rest of the officers and troops under his command, for their brave and successful efforts in support of the independence of their country, whereby an army of the enemy of 10,000 men has been totally defeated, one large detachment of it, strongly posted and entrenched, having been conquered at Bennington, another repulsed with loss and disgrace from Fort Schuyler, and the main army of six thousand men, under Lieutenant General Burgoyne, after being beaten in different actions and driven from a formidable post, and strong entrenchments, reduced to the necessity of surrendering themselves upon
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advantageous to these states, on the 17 day of October last, to Major General Gates; and that a medal of gold be struck under the direction of the Board of War, in commemoration of this great event, and in the name of these United States, presented by the president to Major General Gates.
Resolved, That Congress have an high sense of the merit of Colonel Green, and the officers and men under his command, in their late gallant defence of the fort at Red Bank, on Delaware river; and that an elegant sword be provided by the Board of War, and presented to Colonel Green.
Resolved, That Congress have a high sense of the merit of Lieutenant Colonel Smith, and the officers and men under his command, in their late gallant defence of Fort Mifflin, on the river Delaware; and that an elegant sword be provided by the Board of War, and presented to Lieutenant Colonel Smith.
Resolved, That Congress have an high sense of the merit of Commodore Hazlewood, the commander of the naval force in Delaware river, in the service of the commonwealth of Pensylvania, and of the officers and men under his command, in their late gallant defence of their country against the British fleet, whereby two of their men of war were destroyed, and four others compelled to retire; and that an elegant sword be provided by the Marine Committee, and presented to Commodore Hazlewood.
Adjourned to 4 o'Clock.
Four O'Clock, p. m.
Met.
The proceedings of a general court martial, held at the German Flats, August 20, 1777, by order of Major General
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Arnold, on the trial of Walter Butler, an ensign in the king's or 8th regiment, being transmitted to Congress:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
The committee to whom was referred the motion for directing the future operations of the army under the command of General Gates, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; and, after debate,
Resolved, That General Gates be directed to make a proper disposition of the army under his command for reducing forthwith the posts of the enemy on the North or Hudson's River, keeping in mind the importance of regaining the possession of Ticonderoga and Mount Independence, at such time as he shall judge most convenient.
Resolved, That it be re-committed, and that Mr. [William] Duer be added to the committee.
A letter, of the 3d, from the president of the council of Pensylvania, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 69, I, folio 429. It is printed in Pennsylvania Archives, First Series, V, 738.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
The Marine Committee reported, "that they have received a letter from the navy board at Bordentown, dated the 27 October last, informing them of orders given by General Washington to scuttle the frigates in the river Delaware, in order to prevent their falling into the hands of the enemy, and that having taken the same into consideration, they are of opinion, that the frigates should be lightened as much as possible, and either run into some adjacent creek or hauled as high upon shore as may be without ballast, and a battery constructed with the guns of the Washington on the most convenient ground, to cover the frigates from the enemy; that the frigates should be charged properly with combustibles, and a careful watch employed under a vigilant officer to
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burn them rather than let them fall into the hands of the enemy; and lest this should fail, that a sufficient number of small craft should be sunk in the channel below the frigates, effectually to obstruct the enemy from moving them down the river, if they should happen to gain possession of them; and a battery constructed in the most convenient manner to cover the obstructions and prevent the enemy from removing them; that all the vessels, of whatever kind, should be run up as high above the batteries and obstructions aforesaid as possible, and the most effectual precautions taken immediately on the approach of the enemy;" Whereupon,
Ordered, That a copy of the said report be sent to General Washington for his approbation, and if he approve the same, that a detachment of troops be sent to assist in the construction and management of the batteries aforesaid.
∥The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,∥
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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