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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, JANUARY 15, 1778
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to take into consideration the State of Georgia: the members chosen, Mr. [Cornelius] Harnett, Mr. ∥F[rancis] L[ightfoot]∥ Lee and Mr. [Eliphalet] Dyer.
The committee appointed, by Congress, in addition to the Board of War, to take into consideration the necessity and propriety of laying up magazines of provisions for the army, brought in a report, which was read and debated, and sundry amendments made; after which,
It was moved, in lieu of the whole,
"That the Board of War be directed to write immediately to the president of the executive council of the State of Pensylvania on the subject of purchasing flour for the army, and laying up magazines, and if it should appear, that the said State have taken effectual measures for procuring the same, that the Board of War direct the transportation thereof to the army, or such magazines as they may think proper; but, if such measures have not been taken for that purpose, as the Board of War may think will be certain and effectual, then the Board of War to appoint suitable persons to execute that business."2
[Note 2: 2 This paragraph, in the writing of William Ellery, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 21, I, folio 139. The vote is endorsed on it by Charles Thomson.]
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So it passed in the negative.
Adjourned to 3 o'Clock.
Three o'Clock, p. m
Congress resumed the consideration of the report ∥ of the committee under debate in the forenoon; ∥ which was agreed to as follows:
Resolved, That one or more proper persons be immediately employed by the Board of War, on the best terms in their power, to purchase thirty thousand barrels of flour, or wheat equivalent, and have it ground into flour, and to deposite twelve thousand barrels, part thereof, at or near Lancaster, eight thousand barrels at or near Reading, six thousand barrels at or near Bethlehem, two thousand barrels at Downingstown, and two thousand barrels at Pottsgrove:
That the commissioner or commissioners employed to execute this business, have full power and authority to employ all mills, millers, and coopers necessary, on the best terms they can, to compleat the said quantity of flour with all possible expedition:
That the commissioner or commissioners be empowered to hire or impress waggons sufficient to make the necessary transportation of the flour to the places where it is
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to be deposited, and to pay the hire of the said waggons, at the same rate paid by the quarter master general:
That the Board of War be empowered to limit the prices to be given for the said wheat and flour, and to give such orders and directions to the commissioners as they shall think proper or necessary, from time to time: provided, that no limitation to be made by the Board of War, with respect to price, shall contravene any acts of the legislature of Pensylvania, or any of the regulations which may be made hereafter by the convention of committees which is to meet at New Haven, in Connecticut, on this fifteenth day of January:
That these magazines, being established without the interference of the commissary general, or his officers, shall, when necessary, be ordered under the direction of the issuing commissary general by the Board of War:
That General Washington be directed to support the commissioners in the execution of their duty, with military force, if necessary:
That the Board of War be empowered to direct the said commissioners to purchase any fat cattle and salted meat they meet with in their tours through the country, on the best terms in their power, and deliver the same to the commissary general of issues, or his deputies, taking their accountable receipts for what they so delivered:1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, I, folio 435. It is signed by Francis Lightfoot Lee as chairman of the committee It is endorsed: "Partially debated 13 a. m. and postponed. Passed January 15."]
That the Board of War enquire of his Excellency Thomas Wharton, Esqr., president of the council of the State of Pensylvania, what measures have been taken by the legislature of that State, for laying up magazines for the army; and if it should appear to the Board, after such enquiry, that measures for that purpose have been taken adequate to the present critical situation of the army with
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respect to supplies, they be authorized and directed to suspend the execution of the whole, or such parts of the foregoing resolutions, as they shall deem most conducive to the general weal.
The Board of War brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the Board of War be authorized to direct Colonel Flower to make a contract with Mr. Whitehead Humphreys, on the terms of the former agreement, or such other as Colonel Flower shall deem equitable, for making a quantity of steel, for the supply of the continental artificers and works with that necessary article; and as the iron made at the Andover works only will with certainty answer the purpose of making steel, Colonel Flower be directed to apply to the government of New Jersey to put a proper person in possession of these works, (the same belonging to persons who adhere to the enemies of these states) upon such terms as the government of the State of New Jersey shall think proper; and that Colonel Flower contract with the said person for such quantity of iron as he shall think the service requires.
Resolved, That a letter be written by the Board of War to the governor and council of the State of New Jersey, setting forth the peculiarity of the demand for these works, being the only proper means of securing iron for steel, an article without which the service must irreparably suffer; and that the said governor and council be desired to take such means as they shall think most proper for putting the said works in blast, and obtaining a supply of iron without delay.
Resolved, That the memorial of the Chevalier Armand be referred to the committee appointed by Congress to repair to camp for the reformation of the army:
That the letter from Colonel Alexander Scammell to
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General Folsom, which was referred to the Board of War, be referred to the committee appointed to reform the army; and that they be instructed to enquire, in their progress to camp, into the state of the cloathing department at Lancaster, and to take such measures for the relief of the New Hampshire troops as shall be consistent with regard to the general wants of the army.
The Board of War having reported, that, in pursuance of the resolution of Congress of the 8 November last, they have entered into articles of agreement with Monsr. Fouquet, the father and son, and have engaged them in the service of the United States; Whereupon,
Resolved, That in compliance with the said agreement, Monsr. Fouquet, the father, have the brevet rank of a captain, and Mark Fouquet, the son, the brevet rank of lieutenant of artillery in the army of the United States, and that their brevets bear date from the 17th of November last, the day the contract was entered into.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, I, folio 439, dated January 13. The members present were Francis Lightfoot Lee, William Duet, and John Harvie.]
A memorial from W. Buchanan, Esqr. commissary general, was read:2
[Note 2: 2 This memorial, dated January 15, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, I, folio 154.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
A proposition being laid before Congress for supplying the army with whiskey, &c. at certain stipulated prices,
Resolved, That the same be referred to the Board of War, who are directed to report thereon.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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