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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 --SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1777
A letter, of the 10, from General Washington, at White Marsh, was read.1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, V, folio 233. It is printed in Writings of Washington (Ford), VI, 237.]
Mr. [William] Smith, a member of the Committee of Commerce, informed Congress that, in pursuance of the orders of Congress, the committee have entered into an agreement with Mr. Gillon, and that he is desirous of having a draught on the loan office for the State of South Carolina, for the first year's advance; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the commissioner of the loan office for the State of South Carolina, in favour of Alexander Gillon, Esq. for the sum of 125,000 dollars, to enable him to execute the contract entered into with the Committee of Commerce; and that the said sum be charged to the account of the said committee, which is to be accountable:
Resolved, That three members be added to the Committee of Commerce:
The members chosen, Mr. [Francis] Lewis, Mr. [William] Ellery, and Mr. [Cornelius] Harnett.
The Board of War, to whom were referred the letters from Brigadier General Conway, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
Resolved, As the opinion of this Congress, that it is essential to the promotion of discipline in the American army, and to the reformation of the various abuses which prevail in the different departments, that an appointment
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be made of inspectors general, agreeable to the practice of the best disciplined European armies:
Resolved, That this appointment be conferred on experienced and vigilant general officers, who are acquainted with whatever relates to the general oeconomy, manoeuvres and discipline of a well regulated army.
Resolved, That the duty of these officers be as follows:
To review, from time to time, the troops, and to see that every officer and soldier be instructed in the exercise and manoeuvres which may be established by the Board of War: that the rules of discipline are strictly observed, and that the officers command their soldiers properly, and do them justice.
Resolved, That the inspectors general, respectively, shall give notice to the commanders of regiments, of the time which shall be fixed on for such reviews, who are to prepare the following returns, models of which are previously to be furnished by the inspector general, viz.
A return of cloathing;
A return of arms and accoutrements;
A return of recruits, with an account of the money laid out for that purpose;
A return of the number and names of the wounded men, distinguishing such as are fit for the corps of invalids, and such as are totally unfit for service;
A return of the loss sustained in the regiment by death, desertion, or otherwise;
A return of the pay and rations drawn by each regiment;
A return of all the officers of each regiment, with observations upon the behaviour, capacity and assiduity of every individual:
All the returns, when signed by the field officers of each regiment, are to be carefully scrutinized by the inspector
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general, who, after having made and added his remarks upon the same, is to sign and transmit them to Congress.
Resolved, That the inspectors general shall make these reviews in the beginning and at the latter end of every campaign, and at such other times as the commander in chief shall direct, or as they themselves shall severally judge proper, or shall receive orders for that purpose from the Board of War, first giving notice thereof to the commander in chief, and obtaining his leave for reviewing the said troops.
Resolved, That the inspectors general, respectively, shall make this review minutely, man by man, attending to the complaints and representations of both soldier and officer, and transmitting to Congress what petitions and grievances he shall think worthy of notice: that not depending solely upon the accounts and characters of officers as given him by the colonels of regiments, the inspectors general shall examine the said officers in person, direct them to command different manoeuvres, and take such measures as shall enable him to give an exact account to Congress.
Resolved, That these reviews, when closed, be transmitted to Congress by the inspector general making the review, who is to furnish the major of the respective regiments with a copy of the same, and to keep another for his own government and assistance in proceeding to the next reviews.
Resolved, That the inspectors general shall examine, from time to time, the pay-books of the respective regiments, which are to be kept in an uniform manner, agreeable to such regulations as may be established for that purpose, giving immediate notice to Congress of any malversation or mismanagement which he may discover.
Resolved, That it be referred to the commissioners of the war office to report such further regulations for this
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office, as they shall deem calculated to extend its utility, and to promote the end of its institution.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, I, folio 413. The members of the Board present were: Francis Lightfoot Lee, William Duet, Jonathan Bayard Smith, and John Harvie. The original report contemplated only one inspector general.]
Resolved, That two inspectors general be now appointed:
Congress proceeded to the election, and, the ballots being taken, Brigadier General Conway was unaminously elected.
Resolved, That the election of the other inspector general be postponed to Monday next.
Resolved, That General Conway be promoted to the another major general be appointed in the army of the United States.
The ballots being taken, Brigadier General Conway was elected.
∥The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,∥
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock on Monday.
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