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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, JANUARY 19, 1778

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Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789
MONDAY, JANUARY 19, 1778

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A letter, of the 18th, from W. Shippen, Jun. director general, and one, of the 12, from Jonathan Hudson, at Baltimore, were read:1

[Note 1: 1 The letter of Shippen is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XX, folio 171.]

Ordered, That the letter from J. Hudson be referred to the Board of Treasury.

Resolved, That Mr. [James] Forbes be added to the Committee of Commerce.

Resolved, That a member be elected from the delegates of Maryland, to be added to the Marine Committee: The member chosen, Mr. [James] Forbes.

Resolved, That four members be added to the Board of Treasury, and that any three of the members form a board, and be empowered to proceed to business: the members chosen, Mr. [Abraham] Clark, Mr. J. B. Smith, Mr. [Daniel] Roberdeau, Mr. [James] Forbes and Mr. [Edward] Langworthy.

A petition from Captain Durkee, Lieutenant Spaulding, and Timothy Pierce, was read:

Ordered, That it be referred to the committee appointed to repair to the army.

The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report; Whereupon,

Ordered, That a warrant issue on the Treasurer in favour of the Board of War for 500 dollars, advanced at their request, to enable them to send off the several sums of money ordered by Congress to camp, Albany, and Boston; the said Board to be accountable.2

[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 25.]

In consequence of an adjustment by the commissioners of claims, the assistant auditor reports,

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That there is due to a detachment of York county militia, commanded by Captain Ephraim Pennington, appointed as guards to the public stores, &c. in this place ∥the town of York,∥ for parts of rations retained by the issuing commissary, the sum of 73 66/90 dollars:1

[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 23.]

Ordered, That the said account be paid.

Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the Marine Committee of the 8 January; Whereupon,

Resolved, That officers of the navy, not in actual service, be entitled to their pay, but not to rations, nor to the subsistance money allowed by the resolution of the 25 July, 1777.

Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on the allowance to be made to officers captured by the enemy: Whereupon,

Resolved, That all continental officers in the land service, who are or may be captured by the enemy, be allowed their pay while in the enemy's possession, and also when admitted on their parole, for so long time as they continue to be officers of the United States, and liable to be called into service upon being released from their captivity; and that their rations be allowed them during the term of their captivity; deducting therefrom such supplies as they may, in that time, have received from the enemy, [or from the commissary of prisoners:]2

[Note 2: 2 Words inserted by Henry Laurens.]

That all flying camp and militia officers captured by the enemy, while in the service of the United States, be allowed their pay while in the enemy's possession; and also their rations during the term of their captivity, deducting therefrom such supplies as they may, in that time, have received from the enemy, or from the commissary of prisoners; and also that pay be allowed to such flying camp and militia officers, who have been or may be admitted

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to their parole for so long time as the soldiers under their respective commands were ordered into service.1

[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of William Ellery, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 21, I, folio 137. It was read in Congress, December 23, 1777.]

Adjourned to 3 o'Clock.

Three o'Clock, p. m

The Board of War, to whom the memorial from William Buchanan, was referred, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration: Whereupon,

Resolved, That copies of the proposals of William Buchanan Esqr., commissary general of purchases, for establishing a communication to transport provisions from South Quay, on Albemarle Sound, in the State of North Carolina, to Elkridge Landing, at the head of Patapsco, in the State of Maryland, be transmitted to the governors of the States of North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland, and that it be earnestly recommended to them forthwith to establish a sufficient number of waggons and boats, under the direction of active and careful persons, for transporting weekly five hundred barrels of meat across the communication in their respective states, as specified in Mr. Buchanan's proposals,2 or on such other as they shall deem more eligible, and to open proper roads, if necessary, for such purpose.

[Note 2: 2 "From the best information I can give on the subject, the inland route from N. Carolina is as to the shortest land carriage as at foot. As considerable supplies of pork, salt and other articles are to be looked for not only from Carolina but from the different rivers mentioned in the route, permit me to suggest to Congress the propriety of establishing boats and waggons at the several stages to be used at such times as the mouths of the rivers are in possession of the enemy.
"This communication being in the hands of the public would, if aided by the respective states effectually stop all pedling injurious to their service."
"Will. Buchanan C. G. P.
"York town 15 Jany. 1778.

"Thence to the head of Chesapeak bay is very rarely interrupted by the enemies ships.
"The waggons above mentioned would bring on stores equal in wt. to 500 bbs pork weekly wch with the use of the bay when safe wd I expect answer the purpose in view."--Note in the MS. Journal.]

Resolved, That the said governors be desired to cooperate with each other in this matter, and to communicate, from time to time, to the Board of War, their opinions and proceedings relative thereto:

That the governors of the respective states above mentioned, be authorized to draw bills on the continental

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treasury, for such sums of money as may be necessary for procuring waggons and proper boats for the purposes specified in the foregoing resolution.1

[Note 1: 1 This report, dated January 17, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, I, folio 443. The Members present were Francis Lightfoot Lee, William Duer, John Harvie, Jonathan Bayard Smith, and Edward Langworthy.]

A letter, of the 6th, from Brigadiers M'Intosh, Knox, Maxwell, Poor, Weedon, Huntington, Scott, Paterson, and Varnum, and

A letter, of the 12, from Major General Greene, respecting the promotion of General Conway, were read:2

[Note 2: 2 The joint letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 162, folio 276; that of Greene is in No. 155, I, folio 51.]

Ordered, To lie on the table.

A letter, of the 31 October last, from Monsr. Ferd. Joseph Sebast. de Brahme; one, of the 20, and one of the 31 December from Governor Clinton, ∥of New York,∥ and one, of the 7 and 8 inst. from Governor Livingston, of New Jersey, were read:3

[Note 3: 3 The letter of Clinton is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 67, II, folio 98; those of Livingston are in No. 68, folios 317 and 321.]

Ordered, That they be referred to the Board of War.

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A letter of 23 December from John Adams, was read, informing Congress of his accepting the office of commissioner to the court of France.1

[Note 1: 1 This letter is printed in the Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence (Wharton), II, 458.]

Also a letter, of the 13, from General Washington, was read,2 wherein he recommends "the Chevalier de Mauduit du Plessis to be promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel," and mentions that "the gallant conduct of this young gentleman, at Brandywine, Germantown, and his distinguished services at Fort Mercer, where he united the offices of engineer and commandant of artillery, entitle him to the particular notice of Congress;" that "he made several judicious alterations in the works at Red Bank, shewed great good conduct during the action, in which the Hessians were repulsed;" that "after the evacuation was determined on, he became the means of saving some valuable artillery and stores, and cheerfully undertook, as volunteer, the hazardous operation of blowing up the magazine, &c. without the apparatus usually provided upon such occasions;" adding in Mr. du Plessis's favour, "that he possesses a degree of modesty not always found in men who have performed brilliant actions:" Whereupon,

[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, V, folio 271.]

Resolved, That a brevet of lieutenant colonel be granted to the Chevalier de Mauduit du Plessis, as a reward for his services and an encouragement to merit; and that his commission bear date the 26 November, 1777, in order that the recompence may more immediately follow the services which he has done.

Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.

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