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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 --THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1777
A letter, of the 23d, from General Washington, enclosing copies of letters that passed between him and General Howe, relative to the exchange and treatment of prisoners, and also extracts of sundry sentences of courts martial against officers, was read.1
[Note 1: 1 The letter of Washington is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, V, folio 199. It is printed in Writings of Washington (Ford), VI, 214.]
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Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee on the letter from S. Hopkins, Esqr &c. Whereupon,
8. Resolved, That it be earnestly recommended to the several states, as soon as may be, to confiscate and make sale of all the real and personal estate therein, of such of their inhabitants and other persons who have forfeited the same, and the right to the protection of their respective states, and to invest the money arising from the sales in continental loan office certificates, to be appropriated in such manner as the respective states shall hereafter direct.
∥Congress resumed the consideration of the reports and resolutions respecting the new Board of War and Colonel Harrison's letter; Whereupon,∥
Resolved, That the wish of Colonel Harrison be complied with, and that he be excused from serving as a member of the Board of War, ∥and that another be elected in his stead. ∥
Congress proceeded to the election of three additional members to the Board of War; and the ballots being taken,
Major General Gates, Joseph Trumbull, Esqr. and Richard Peters, Esqr. were elected.
Resolved, That Major General Gates be appointed president of the Board of War.
Resolved, That Mr. President be desired to inform Major General Gates of his being appointed president of the newly constituted Board of War, expressing the high sense Congress entertain of the general's abilities and peculiar fitness to discharge the duties of that important office, upon the right execution of which the success of the American cause does eminently depend; that he inform General Gates that it is the intention of Congress
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to continue his rank as major general in the army, and that he officiate at the board, or in the field, as occasion may require: and that the general be requested to repair to Congress with all convenient despatch, to enter on the duties of his new appointment.
∥The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,∥
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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