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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, JANUARY 14, 1778
Resolved, That two members be added to those who at present conduct the business of the Board of War, till the commissioners for that purpose appointed can meet: the members chosen, Mr. [Edward] Langworthy, and Mr. J[onathan] B[ayard] Smith.
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Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on the letters from W. Buchanan, and E. Blaine, Esqrs.; Whereupon,
That it is duty of the commissary of prisoners to purchase previsions by himself or deputies, to answer the demands of his department.
Resolved, That the order of the commissary of prisoners shall be a sufficient voucher to the commissary, or deputy commissaries general of purchases, for the delivery of provisions for the use of prisoners of war.
Resolved, That by the resolution of October 22, 1777, the commissary general of purchases is invested with powers adequate to, and sufficient for, the purpose of importing salt for the use of the army.
Resolved, That the powers and directions contained in the resolution aforesaid, for procuring salt, be extended to the article of rum for the army.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of William Ellery, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, I, folio 439. The amendments are on folio 443.]
Ordered, That the farther consideration of the report be postponed to the afternoon.
Adjourned to 3 o'Clock.
Three o'Clock, p. m
Resolved, That the Board of War of the State of Massachusetts bay be requested to import from the middle or southern department fifteen thousand barrels of flour, to supply the magazines of the eastern district for the next campaign, over and above what may be imported by the deputy commissary general of purchases for that purpose; and deliver the same to the deputy commissary general of issues or his deputies, there to be deposited agreeably to the orders of the commanding officer in that
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district, and that compensation be made to the Board for their trouble herein:
That the Board be empowered to purchase, charter or hire on freight, as they may judge most for the interest of these states, vessels for this purpose, and draw on Congress for the money to purchase the flour, or on William Aylett, Esqr. deputy commissary general of purchases in Virginia, for so much of the flour as they may order to be shipped from Virginia; that if the whole quantity of flour cannot be readily obtained, the Board be empowered to make up the deficiency by importing rice from South Carolina.
Ordered, That a warrant for 50,000 dollars be drawn on the commissioner of the loan office in the State of Massachusetts bay, in favour of the said Board of War, for the purpose mentioned in the foregoing resolution.
In consequence of an adjustment by the commissioners of claims, the assistant auditor general reports,
That there is due to Dr. John Houston, for his and his assistant's pay, while they acted in a batallion of York county associators, commanded by Colonel Donaldson, as per General Mercer's orders to Pay Master Dallam, the sum of 63 45/90 dollars:
That there is due to the Hon. Eliphalet Dyer, for the expences of a committee of Congress, sent to the assembly of the State of Pensylvania on public business, the sum of 127 39/90 dollars:
That there is due to the Hon. Elbridge Gerry, Esqr. for the expences of himself and Mr. Jones on a committee to confer with General Washington, the sum of 145 78/90 dollars:
That there is due to Captain Ephraim Pennington, for the pay of a detachment of York county militia, raised for the purpose of guarding public stores in this place ∥town
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of York,∥ by direction of the Board of War, the sum of 646 67/90 dollars:1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 15.]
Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.
Whereas the Baron Steuben, a lieutenant general in the armies of the King of Prussia foreign service, has, the armies of the King of Prussia foreign service, has, in a most disinterested and heroic manner, offered his services to these states in the quality of a volunteer:
Resolved, That the president present the thanks of Congress, in behalf of these United States, to the Baron Steuben, for the zeal he has shewn for the cause of America, and the disinterested tender he has been pleased to make of his military talents; and inform him, that Congress cheerfully accept of his service as a volunteer in the army of these states, and wish him to repair to General Washington's quarters as soon as convenient.
Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee on the letters from Mr. Buchanan and Mr. Blaine; Whereupon,
Resolved, That a deputy commissary general of purchases be appointed for the middle district, in addition to Ephraim Blaine, Esqr., deputy commissary general for the said district [and that the commissary general of purchases, after consulting with Mr. Blaine, be directed to assign that part of the district in which the additional deputy commissary general shall act.]2
[Note 2: 2 The words in brackets were an amendment. Francis Dana offered the following: "That no Commissary of Prisoners, appointed by or acting under General Howe, shall be permitted to reside within any part of the United States of America and if any such commissary" [incomplete].]
That the present commissariate system, having by experience proved insufficient for supplying the Army with Provisions, it is therefore the Opinion of your Committee, that said system be referred to a special committee, to examine and made such Alterations, and Amendments therein, as may remove the difficulties which at present obstruct the business of the commissariate department.
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Resolved, That the commissariate system be referred to a committee of three, who are directed to revise the same, and to report such alterations therein as they shall deem best calculated to answer the end of its institution: the members chosen, Mr. [Abraham] Clark, Mr. J[onathan] B[ayard] Smith, and Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry.
Resolved, That General Heath be directed to appropriate to the use of the troops in the continental service, and of the prisoners in the eastern district, such of the salted provisions there, belonging to the United States, as cannot be preserved for the next campaign.
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the commissioner of the loan office in the State of Maryland, for 10,000 dollars in favour of the Marine Committee, to answer a demand made by Samuel and Robert Purviance, continental agents in Baltimore; the said committee to be accountable:
Resolved, That Ebenezer Hancock, Esqr. deputy pay master general of the eastern district, be directed, forthwith, to appoint an assistant pay master, constantly to attend and pay the army stationed in or near Providence, for the defence of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, applying to Congress, from time to time, for the necessary supplies of money for the same; and that the commanding officer in the said State be fully empowered to draw on the said assistant pay master for the necessary supplies of the army aforesaid.
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasury in favour of the Board of War, for 350,000 dollars, of which 100,000 dollars to be by them transmitted to Ebenezer Hancock, Esq. deputy pay master general at Boston, and 250,000
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dollars to his assistant, in the State of Rhode Island; the said Ebenezer Hancock to be furnished with a copy of this resolution, and to be accountable for the whole sum.
Resolved, That General Heath be directed to appropriate to the use of the Troops in the Continental service, and of the Prisoners in the Eastern District, such of the Salted Provisions there belonging to the United States as cannot be preserved for the next campaign.
That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of the Board of War, for 700,000 dollars, of which 200,000 dollars to be transmitted by them to William Bedlow, assistant pay master, at Peekskill; and 500,000 dollars to William Palfrey, Esqr., pay master general, who is to be accountable for the whole sum.
Resolved, That General Heath be informed, it is the intention of Congress that officers in the commissary, quarter master, and cloathier general's departments should receive the money required by them to make the necessary purchases, by applying to the officers at the head of the respective departments, and that he make no advances in future to any of them, unless it shall be absolutely necessary, in which case, he is to inform the Board of Treasury of the sums advanced, and the particular circumstances of the case.
Resolved, That a warrant issue on Nathaniel Appleton, Commissioner of the Continental Loan Office for the State of Massachusetts Bay, for Fifty thousand Dollars in favour of the Hon. Board of War of said State, to be appropriated to the purpose of importing flour and rice, agreeable to a resolution of Congress of this date.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 17.]
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of William Palfrey, Esqr. pay master general, for four thousand dollars, to be advanced by him to the pay
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master, and for the use of the North Carolina light horse; the said pay master general to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 19.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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