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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 24, 1777
A letter, of the 9, from Brigadier General Hand, at Fort Pitt, to the secretary of the Board of War. A letter of the 11, from Colonel Mason, at Williamsburgh; one from Brigadier de Roche Fermoy, with sundry papers enclosed; two letters from Brigadier General Conway, one of the 15, enclosing his commission, which he begs leave to resign, and another directed to Cha. Carroll, or, in his absence, to the secretary of Congress, were read:2
[Note 2: 2 The letter of Mason is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XV, folio 283; that of Fermoy, in No. 78, IX, folio 129; and that of Conway, in No. 159, folio 461.]
Ordered, That the same be referred to the Board of War.
A letter from Preeson Bowdoin, enclosing a bill of exchange drawn by W. Kennon, with a letter of advice from J. Rutledge, Esqr. president of South Carolina, was read:
Ordered, That the same be referred to the Board of Treasury.
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The Board of War reported,
"That they have had a conference with General Mifflin on the late establishment made by Congress for conducting the war department, and are unanimously of opinion, that a sufficient number of commissioners have not been appointed for giving due weight to the execution of the regulations which may be recommended by the Board, and adopted by Congress, and particularly for enabling one of the board of commissioners to visit, from time to time, the different armies, posts, or garrisons, in order to see that the regulations adopted by Congress are carried into execution, and to examine what are the wants of the army, and what defects or abuses prevail, from time to time, in the different departments;" Whereupon,
That it would further greatly tend to facilitate the Business of the Department, especially at the commencement of the new Establishment, Prio Qu. to secure the Continuation of the Services of the Secretary of the late Board of War, who in their opinion has discharged the Duties of an arduous and complicated Department in its infant Stage, with Honour to himself, and much Disinterestedness, and with Fidelity and advantage to the Public.
The Board further beg leave to represent that General Mifflin has expressed a warm Sollicitude that Major General Gates should be appointed President of this Board, from a Conviction that his Military Skill would suggest Reformations in the different Departments of the Army essential to good Discipline, Order and OEconomy, Postponed. and that his Character and Popularity in the Army would facilitate the execution of such Reformations when adopted by Congress; a Task in the opinion of this Committee more arduous and important, than the formation of any new Establishment, however wise it may be in Theory!
On these principles your Committee are of opinion That two additional Commissioners should be appointed to execute the Department of the War Office in pursuance of the resolution of Congress of the 17th. of Octr. and that any three of the said Commissioners should be a Quorum to transact business, any thing in the former resolutions respecting the Board to the contrary notwithstanding.
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The Board are further of Opinion that the Resolution passed on theInstt. relative to the Execution of the War Agreed. Department should be annulled; and that the former Board of War should be authorized to proceed on the Business of that Department, 'till such Time as a Quorum of the Commissioners of the War Office shall attend.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, dated November 21, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, I, folio 389. The members of the Board present were: Francis Lightfoot Lee, William Duer, Joseph Jones, John Harvie, William Williams, and Francis Dana. The name of Major General Mifflin was placed first, but struck out. The last paragraph is in the writing of William Duer.]
Resolved, That two additional commissioners be appointed to execute the department of the war office, in pursuance of the resolution of the 17 October last, and that any three of the said commissioners be a quorum to transact business, any thing in the former resolutions respecting the Board to the contrary notwithstanding.2
[Note 2: 2 From a memorandum in the writing of Henry Laurens, in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, III, folio 165, Gates and Peters were nominated this day.]
The committee to whom was referred a letter from William Buchanan, Esqr. commissary general of purchases, dated York Town, 21 November, 1777, report:
That on conferring with the commissary general upon the supplies of flour for the army in the middle district, he informed the committee, that he knew of no other magazines established for this purpose than those at Lancaster and York Town; that he could not ascertain the quantity of flour therein, but supposed the former contained 1,000 and the latter 5,000 barrels; that to transport these to the camp some teams were provided, and persons employed to procure as many more as were necessary; that these magazines would soon be exhausted, the consumption of the army being about 200 barrels a day; that if by stormy weather or any accident the teams employed in this business were interrupted, he imagined the army would want bread; that he knew not where to purchase
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flour, as a scarcity had taken place in Pensylvania from the backwardness of farmers to thresh out their wheat, or from the want of casks by the draughts of coopers in the militia for reinforcing the army; that from the middle district he had his present supplies of beef for the army; that this resource could not be lasting, and he had no expectation of immediate supplies from the eastern or northern districts; that he had employed some coopers to make barrels for salting pork, but that he was not able to assure the committee that a sufficient number by these means would be procured, and that no pork was yet engaged, as the season was not yet arrived for this business; that he could not inform the committee what, or whether any, measures were taken by the governor and council of safety of Connecticut, or executive council of Massachusetts bay, to send salt to the North River, agreeable to the request of Congress, of the 22 of October last, having received no letter from them on the subject; that if salt should be sent to the North River, he did not know where to obtain teams to transport it from thence, as some that he had sent to camp, and ordered on to the river, were employed in the army: from all which circumstances your committee apprehend that the present prospect of supplies of provision for the army in this district is very precarious, and, unless more effectual measures are speedily adopted, disagreeable consequences must necessarily follow. They are, therefore, of opinion, that the immediate attention of Congress to this business is necessary; and, to remedy present inconveniences, have recommended to the commissary the advice of General Mifflin, namely,
To proceed to head quarters, and hire 12 or more mills within six miles of, and covered by the army, to purchase
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or impress wheat in the sheaf; if the farmers cannot be prevailed on to thrash for the troops, to solicit the General to spare 150 men from the army for that purpose, and set the mills to work.
By these means, a present supply may be obtained, which bad weather cannot prevent, and time will be gained for establishing at Pottsgrove, Reading, Lancaster, &c. magazines of flour for three months, in which time the new Board of War will probably take up the business, and give proper orders for the supplies of the next campaign.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Elbridge Gerry, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 29, folio 87. The advice of General Mifflin is summarized from a memorandum, in the writing of Daniel Roberdeau, on folio 89.]
The committee farther reported, that the commissary general was gone to camp on this business, and that they have recommended to him, on his way, to apply to the executive council or assembly of this State ∥Pennsylvania∥ for such assistance as shall be necessary: all which they submit to Congress: Whereupon,
Resolved, That Congress concur with the committee, and approve the advice given and measures taken for the supply of the army.
Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed, to devise ways and means for providing a sufficient supply of provisions for the army.
The members chosen, Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, Mr. [Daniel] Roberdeau, Mr. [Eliphalet] Dyer, Mr. [John] Harvie, and Mr. [William] Smith.
The committee appointed to prepare a plan for establishing a board to superintend the departments of the commissaries and quarter master general, report,
That as a Board of War, consisting of persons not members of Congress, has been lately established, and
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the late quarter master general is a member thereof, the committee are of opinion, that a considerable expence may be saved by adding to the board a person acquainted with the commissarial business, and authorizing it to superintend each of the civil departments of the army:1 Whereupon,
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Elbridge Gerry, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 29, folio 93.]
Resolved, That Congress agree to the report of the committee.
∥The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,∥
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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