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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, FEBRUARY 2, 1778
A letter, of the 31 January, from the Board of War, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
A letter, of this day, from General Gates, was read:2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 154, I, folio 324.]
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three.
The members chosen, Mr. [Thomas] M'Kean, Mr. [James] Forbes, and Mr. James Smith.
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The Board of War brought in a report, which was taken into consideration: Whereupon,
Resolved, That General Washington be informed that in compliance with the request of the Marquis de la Fayette, Congress are willing that Major General McDougal should proceed on the intended incursion into Canada, if his state of health will admit of it; but if not, that the Baron de Kalb be directed to follow the Marquis on the said expedition in case General Washington shall judge it proper. That it is not, however, the intention of Congress that the Marquis should be detained till General McDougal's intention can be known, as the success of the expedition depends upon its being executed without loss of time.
That in compliance with the request of the Marquis de la Fayette, commissions be granted to the following French gentlemen, who have produced to the Board of War credentials of their rank and military merit in the French service, and are moreover recommended by the Marquis to be employed under him, agreeable to their respective ranks in the intended incursion into Canada; [the said officers to be appointed to the command only of such Canadians as may be embodied in Canada,]1 viz:
[Note 1: 1 The words in brackets were added by another hand in the original report.]
[Note 2: 2 A letter of Lafayette, dated January 31, 1778, on the Canadian expedition, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 156, folio 5. It was referred to the "old Board of War."]
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Resolved, That Mons. des Epiniers, now a captain in the service of these states, be advanced to the rank of major, in consideration of the services rendered by his uncle, Mons. de Beaumarchais, and of his having served with reputation in the American army.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, I, folio 469. The members present were Gates, Francis Lightfoot Lee, William Duel and Peters.]
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of Jacob Rush, for 125 dollars, for his pay as deputy secretary, from the 7th November to the 28 January, deducting one month that he was absent, at 75 dollars a month.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 51.]
In consequence of an adjustment by the commissioners of claims, at the treasury, the auditor general reports,
That there is due, on a pay roll of a company of guards stationed at Carlisle for the purpose of guarding stores, &c, commanded by Major James Armstrong Wilson, commencing the 6th day of October, 1777, and ending the 31 January, 1778, inclusive, the sum of 1,149 30/90 dollars:
That there is due to a detachment of continental troops belonging to Brigadier General Wayne's division, stationed at Carlisle, under the command of Major Wilson, for guarding stores, &c. from the 8 December, 1777, to the 31 January, 1778, inclusive, the sum of 135 dollars, both which sums, amounting to 1,284 30/90 dollars, should be paid to Major Wilson:3
[Note 3: 3 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 53.]
Ordered, That the said sums be paid accordingly.
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Three o'Clock, p. m
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on Joseph Clark, Esq. commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Rhode Island, for sixty thousand dollars, in favour of James Mease, Esq. cloathier general, to be transmitted by him to Samuel A. Otis, for the payment of cloathing purchased for the use of the army:
That a warrant issue on Nathaniel Appleton, Esqr. commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Massachusetts bay, in favour of James Mease, Esq. cloathier general, for one hundred thousand dollars, to be transmitted by him to his deputy, Samuel A. Otis, for the payment of cloathing purchased for the use of the army; for which two sums the cloathier general is to be accountable.
Resolved, That a set of Bills of Exchange be drawn by the President on the Commissioners in France for six hundred Postponed. Livres Tournois, in favor of Lieutenant Fouquet, one of the officers of the late Mons. Du Coudray's Corps, it being for his gratification, allowed by Mr. Deane in France, and not included in the settlement with Mons. Le Brun on the 13th November last.1
[Note 1: 1 See under February 4 post.]
Ordered, That the warrant on the treasurer of the 22d January, in favour of the Board of War, for two hundred thousand dollars, to be sent to Ebenezer Hancock, Esqr. deputy pay master general of the eastern district, be returned by the Board of War to the Treasury Board and cancelled, and that a warrant issue in favour of the said Ebenezer Hancock, on Joseph Clarke, Esqr. commissioner of the continental loan office in the State of Rhode Island, for one hundred thousand dollars; and a warrant
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in favour of the Board of War, to be drawn on the treasurer, for one hundred thousand dollars, to be transmitted to the said deputy pay master general, who is to be accountable.
That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of the Board of War, for two hundred thousand dollars, to be transmitted by them to Jonathan Trumbull, Junr. deputy pay master general for the northern district, which sum the treasurer is directed to have in readiness on Monday next; the said deputy pay master general to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 55.]
A letter from the president of the Board of War, was read:2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, I, folio 477.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
A letter from Mons. la Neuville, and one from Charles Frederick Bedaulx, were read:
Ordered, That they, together with the letters of Mons. la Neuville, read on Tuesday last, be referred to the Board of War.
A letter, of the 20 January, from Governor Henry, of Virginia, was read.3
[Note 3: 3 The letter of Bedaulx is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, II, folio 375; that of Henry is in No. 71, I, folio 131.]
The committee to whom was referred the letter from the commissioners for Indian affairs in the northern department, together with the papers enclosed, and the opinion of the Board of War thereupon, brought in a report; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the commissioners be instructed to speak to the Indians at the intended treaty at Johnstown, in language becoming the representatives of free, sovereign, and independent states, and in such a tone as will convince them that we feel ourselves to be so; but whether
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it will be prudent to insist upon the Indians taking an active part in behalf of these states, must depend upon the temper they shall appear to be in; that this particular, therefore, be submitted to the discretion of the commissioners.
That an addition of one commissioner be made, and it is expected by Congress that General Schuyler attend this treaty.
That Governor Clinton, of the State of New York, be empowered and requested to appoint a suitable person to be the commissioner for Indian affairs in the northern department, and direct him to attend the treaty above mentioned.
That the commissioners speak and act in such a manner as they shall think most likely to obtain the friendship or at least the neutrality of the Indians, and that the Congress will support the commissioners in any measures they shall conceive best calculated to answer these ends:
That the commissioners be authorized to purchase five or six hundred blankets, or to order that number to be sent to Johnstown, from any of the public stores to the eastward, if to be had there, to be given as presents to the Indians:
That the commissioners be informed, that the hard money in the military chest at Albany, is already appropriated.
A letter, of the 31 January, from General Washington, was read; together with a memorial from Colonel Forman, requesting a company to guard his salt works, on condition of furnishing for the use of the army, at a reasonable price, the salt made at the said works:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, V, folio 275. The memorial of Forman is with it.]
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Ordered, That the consideration thereof be postponed till to morrow.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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