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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, NOVEMBER 5, 1777
A letter from Monsieur de la Balme, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, VII, folio 143.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
The Board of War brought in a report, which was read:
Ordered, That the consideration thereof be postponed.
The committee to whom was re-committed the report for directing the future operations of the army under the command of General Gates, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
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Resolved, That General Washington be informed that it is the earnest wish of Congress to regain the possession of the forts and passes of the North or Hudson's river, and to secure the communication thereof; and for that purpose, that General Gates should remain in command in that quarter; and that General Putnam be called upon to join the main army with such a detachment from the army under the command of General Gates, as General Washington may think can be spared, not exceeding the number of two thousand five hundred men, including Colonel Morgan's corps:
That a copy of the foregoing resolution be sent to General Gates, and that he be directed to make a proper disposition of the army under his command for reducing, forthwith, the posts of the enemy on the North river, and that he order such of the continental troops and militia, in the service of the United States, as are posted on or near the said river, to join him for the services aforementioned:
That General Gates be empowered to apply to the respective states of Massachusetts bay, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey, for such a number of their militia as he shall judge necessary to maintain the posts which he shall order to be taken on the said river, to the end that his army may be in readiness to pursue such operations as Congress shall direct; and that the said militia be inlisted to serve until the fifteenth day of March next, unless sooner discharged by Congress or the commander in chief:
That General Washington be directed to order one or more able engineers to the North river, to attend the army under the command of General Gates:
That General Gates be empowered to order such a
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number of gallies, gunboats, fire-rafts, chains, cassoons, and chevaux-de-frize to be provided, and such fortifications to be erected, for obstructing and keeping possession of the North River, as he shall judge necessary:
That the governor and council of the State of New York be furnished with a copy of these resolutions, and requested to appoint a committee of three active and judicious persons, to assist General Gates in obtaining such artificers and materials for accomplishing these purposes as he shall direct; and the said committee are empowered to apply to the several states of New Hampshire, Massachusetts bay, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey, for their assistance, who are requested to afford the same by furnishing the said committee with such artificers and materials as they, by direction of General Gates, shall apply for; and the said states are respectively requested to furnish such a number of men as General Gates shall require, to accomplish the important and salutary purpose of maintaining the communication between the northern and southern states, by keeping possession of the North river:
That General Gates be authorized and directed to apply to the State of New York, and the states eastward of North River, for such aids as he shall judge necessary for the reduction of Ticonderoga and Fort Independence, if not reduced by General Stark, at such time as he shall deem best adapted for that expedition; and that the said states be requested to supply General Gates with such a number of their militia as he shall judge necessary for the purposes intended:
That General Gates be directed to take effectual care that the fortifications which shall be erected on the North river be not too extensive, and that each be compleated
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with a well, magazines, barracks, bomb-casements, &c. sufficient for a determined defence:
That if General Washington, after consulting with General Gates and Governor G. Clinton, shall be of opinion, that a reinforcement exceeding the number above-mentioned can be detached to the main army, consistent with the attainment of the objects specified in the preceding resolutions, in such case he be directed to order such further reinforcements to the main army as may be thought conducive to the general welfare, any thing in the preceding resolutions to the contrary notwithstanding.
In debating the last resolution, it was moved after "directed" to insert "with their concurrence;" and the yeas and nays being required:
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So it passed in the negative.
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The question being put on the resolution, and the yeas and nays required;
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∥So it was resolved in the affirmative.∥
The Board of Treasury brought in a report: Whereupon,
Ordered, That there be paid to John Conner, late a fifer in the invalid regiment, 14 60/90 dollars, for two month's pay due to him before his being discharged, as per Colonel Lewis Nicola's certificate, the said sum to be charged to the colonel:
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of William Buchanan, Esqr. commissary general of purchases, for fifty-two thousand dollars, for the use of his department; he to be accountable:
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Belcher P. Smith, for 205 48/90 dollars, being for his services as a clerk in the secretary's office, from 1 July to 5 November, and for sundry contingent expences:
Ordered, That a warrant issue on Joseph Borden, Esqr.
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commissioner of the continental loan office in the State of New Jersey, in favour of the continental navy board, for forty thousand dollars, for the use of the navy department, the said board to be accountable:
Ordered, That a warrant issue in favour of the delegates for the State of North Carolina, for the use of that State, for one thousand dollars, it being advanced on application of the honble. Cornelius Harnett, Esqr. the said State to be accountable, and the money to be considered as part of the five hundred thousand dollars appropriated for the use of that State:
Ordered, That a warrant issue in favour of Abraham Clark, Esqr. to be delivered to Doctr. [Jonathan] Elmer, for 205 30/90 dollars, it being the amount of eleven barrels of pork he paid for in New Jersey, which were delivered to Captain Francis Wade, who was directed to purchase provisions in that State, the said F. Wade to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, I, folio 461. The last paragraph providing for an emission of bills of credit is printed under November 7, 1777, post.]
At a Board of War, Nov. 5, 1777.
Agreed to report to Congress,
That Elisha Sheldon, Esq, have a Commission of Colonel of Horse dated the 12th Day of December, 1776, and that General Washington be desired to commissionate the Officers of Colonel Sheldon's Regiment as speedily as possible according to the Rules established as to the relative Rank of Officers.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Richard Peters, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, I, folio 379. The paragraph was struck out, and the second paragraph was added by Charles Thomson.]
That General Washington be directed immediately to settle the relative ranks of the officers of the cavalry and to issue their commissions accordingly; and that he be furnished with copies of the several resolutions of Congress on that subject.
∥The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,∥
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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