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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 --FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1777
A letter, of the 11th, from General Washington, at White Marsh, with copy of a letter of the 7, from General Putnam, and a report of a board of general officers on the subject of rations, and a memorial from Monsr. du Portail inclosed, was read; also, a letter of the 11, from W. Palfrey, Esqr. pay master general, with sundry papers enclosed, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 The letter of Washington is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, V, folio 187. It is printed in Writings of Washington (Ford), VI, 184.]
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Major General Schuyler having greatly suffered in his private affairs by the barbarous ravages of the British army, under the command of Lieutenant General Burgoyne, on their retreat from Saratoga:
Resolved, That General Schuyler be at liberty to attend to his private affairs until the committee appointed to enquire into the causes of the loss of Ticonderoga and Mount Independence shall make their report, and he shall have notice to attend at head quarters, in order to an enquiry into that event.
Whereas, the committee appointed to enquire into the causes of the loss of Ticonderoga and Mount Independence, have not yet been able to collect materials and make their report:
Resolved, That Major General St. Clair be at liberty to attend his private affairs until he shall have notice to repair to head quarters, in order to an enquiry into his conduct.1
[Note 1: 1 " The liberty granted to Major General Schuyler followed a motion founded on a Letter received by a Member of Congress [Duer] from the general; that to Major general Sinclair proceeded from the appearance of his name subscribed at a meeting of a board of officers." Henry Laurens to Washington, 13 November, 1777.]
Ordered, That a warrant issue in favour of the Board of War, for 150,000 dollars, to be forthwith transmitted, agreeable to the request of William Palfrey, Esqr. pay master general, to William Bedlow, his deputy at Fish kill; the said William Palfrey, Esqr. to be accountable; and that the Board of War direct the commanding officer at Fish kill to inform the troops there, that money shall be sent as soon as possible to discharge the arrearages due to them.
Ordered, That the letter from General Washington, with the papers enclosed, be referred to the Board of War:
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That the letter from W. Palfrey, Esqr. with the papers enclosed, be referred to the Board of Treasury:
The committee appointed to revise and arrange the articles of confederation, made their report, which was read and agreed to.
Ordered, That they be engrossed a fair copy thereof be made out accordingly.
Adjourned to 4 o'Clock.
Four O'Clock, p. m.
The committee appointed to take into consideration the application of the commissioned and non-commissioned officers who accompanied Monsr. du Coudray from France, to revise the report of the treasury and the resolutions of Congress thereon respecting those officers, and as soon as possible to report to Congress what farther sums, if any, they shall apprehend it is just and expedient Congress should grant them. and also to take into consideration the memorial of the Chevalier Dorset and the application of any other foreign gentlemen now attending Congress; report, that they have upon mature consideration of the premises agreed upon the following report, which they beg leave to submit to Congress:
Your committee find by the representation of Monar. le Brun, that among the officers of the late General du Coudray's corps, there are six gentlemen who have received no part of the gratifications allowed to the other officers of that corps out of the 26, 541 livres granted by Mr. Deane, which sum of 26, 541 livres has been otherwise expended, as aprears from an account presented to Congress by General du Coudray before his death: that the reason of these officers being formerly omitted, except Monsr. Touzard and Monsr. Epiniers, who received part of their gratifications, arose from its being more agreeable to them to receive
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their portions in America than in France, having money sufficient for immediate use in that country, prior to their embarkation; your committee therefore are of opinion, that it will be equal and right to allow the gentlemen formerly omitted, gratifications proportionable to what have already been made to others of similar rank in the same corps, as follows, viz. To Monsieur des Espiniers, 900 livres, Monsr. Romanett, 1,500 livres, Monsr. Touzard, 450 livres, Monsr. Matigny, 600 livres, Monsr. l'Enfant, 600 livres, Monsr. Ganot, 600 livres, amounting in the whole to 4,650 livres.
Your committee also think it reasonable, that provision be made for the travelling expences and the passages of twelve serjeants belonging to General du Coudray's corps, who are likewise returning to France, in proportion to the allowance already made the commissioned officers which proportionate allowance the committee estimate at 60 dollars each, for travelling expences to Boston, and 450 livres each, for passage and travelling expences to Paris, amounting to 720 dollars and 5,400 livres.
Your committee likewise find on examination, that in the former settlement a ballance of travelling expences, accruing on the journey from Boston to Philadelphia, was omitted to be credited, which ought to be allowed, amounting to 1,004 dollars.
Your committee are farther of opinion, that the inconveniences of dissimilar pay to persons of similar ranks serving in the same army, being no bar at present, since the officers under consideration are returning to France, it will be expedient and proper that they be allowed their pay in livres, by which it appears that a ballance should be paid to Monsr. le Brun, to be distributed among the respective officers and non-commissioned, amounting to 14,580½ livres; that the livres allowed by this report be paid in the
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same manner as those lately reported by the Committee of Treasury for the same corps.
Your committee are of opinion, that no settlement of General du Coudray's affair can properly be made but with his legal representatives, and that Monsr. le Brun may, if he desires it, be furnished with a certificate of this opinion, as well as that it is deemed unnecessary to comprehend Monsr. Fleury in this settlement, since that gentleman is now engaged in the continental service, and that Monsr. le Brun be furnished with a copy of this report, attested by the secretary of Congress.
Your committee are farther of opinion, that the two servants of Monsr. du Coudray be furnished each with a draught on the commissioners for 450 French livres, to pay their passage to France; which sum is to be charged in account with General du Coudray.
On a motion to agree to the report of the committee:
{table}
So it was resolved in the affirmative.
Resolved, That the additional allowances now made shall be deemed and considered to be in full satisfaction
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of all claims which the said gentlemen, or either of them, have against the United States or against Mr. Deane.
Resolved, That General Washington be informed that Congress have long since written to the commissioners in France for cloaths complete for eighty thousand men, and have received for answer that they might be expected here by the setting in of winter; in consequence of which, Congress have reason to hope for this necessary arrival in a short time: that Congress have also adopted various other means for importing cloathing, which they have reason to expect will be successful; and, on the 16th day of October, ordered a copy of the General's return of articles wanted for the army to be transmitted to the respective assemblies of the eastern and middle states, with a pressing recommendation to them to use their utmost endeavours to collect the same without delay, and send them to the army. But, since the wants of the army are immediate, Congress wish the General may avail himself of the powers vested in him for obtaining these necessary supplies from the disaffected inhabitants, Congress being of opinion that the well disposed people of these states will rather be pleased than dissatisfied with a procedure, by which their enemies shall be compelled to supply those things that are essential to the support and comfort of the army; and the more especially as even the disaffected will be paid a reasonable price for what is demanded of them;
Resolved, That the powers with which General Washington was invested by a resolution of Congress of the 17 September, and another of the 8th of October last, be continued till the first day of March next, unless sooner revoked.
Resolved, That Mr. President write a letter to the Honorable Thomas M'Kean, speaker of the house of assembly of the State of Delaware, requesting him to exert his
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utmost endearours effectually to prevent the disaffected inhabitants of that State from furnishing the enemy's fleet or army with provisions or supplies of any kind, and if he shall be of opinion that the strength of the well disposed people is not sufficient for the purposes above mentioned, that he inform Congress thereof, and what additional aid it may be necessary to send for effectually preventing the enemy getting supplies from the Delaware State; and that Mr. Speaker be informed a representation in Congress, from that State, is immediately wanted.
The delegates from New York produced credentials of their appointment made in assembly and council October 3, 1777, whereby it appears that the honorable Philip Livingston, James Duane, Francis Lewis, William Duer, and (Gouverneur Morris, or any two of them, are empowered to represent that State in Congress.
∥the several matters to this day referred, being postponed,∥
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.1
[Note 1: 1 "It is a Rule in Congress to commit Letters to the consideration of particular Boards these being dispersed in different parts of the Town and governed by Rules of their own for meeting, it is not always, or I should rather say, it is seldom in the Power of the President to answer with that despatch which may seem necessary." Henry Laurens to Washington, 13 November, 1777.]
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