| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |
A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 1778
The commissioners of claims report,
That there is due to Moses Young, for his services as clerk in the secretary's office, from the 21 July, 1777, to the 28 August following, the sum of 52 dollars:1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 119.]
Ordered, That the said account be paid.
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Joseph Nourse, pay master to the Board of War and Ordnance, for one hundred thousand dollars, to be by him transmitted to Hugh Hughes, deputy quarter master general at Peeks Kill, for the use of the quarter master general's department; Major General Mifflin, late Q. M. G., to be accountable:
Page 220 | Page image
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of the honble John Harvie, for 70 17/90 dollars, being the amount of his expences as one of the commitee from Congress to head quarters.
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of the honble John Harvie for 1,800 dollars advanced upon his application; for which the State of Virginia is to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 121.]
A letter, of the 10 February, from Jeremiah Wadsworth to General Mifflin, also a letter of the 21 February, from H. Hughes to A. Butler, were laid before Congress, and read:
Ordered, That they be referred to the Board of Treasury.
The Board of War, to whom was referred the letter of the 20 February, from the committee at camp, having made a report thereon, Congress took the same into consideration; Whereupon,
War Office, March 2d, 1778.
Present: M. Genl Gates, Mr Peters, Colo. Pickering
Agreed to report to Congress:
The Board have considered the representation of the Honble Committee of Congress at Camp, respecting the employing 400 Indians with the grand army. Altho' the Board would have doubted the expediency of the measure, from the great difficulty and expense which will attend the raising them, and still greater in employing them to advantage, and satisfying their demands, Yet seeing those Gentlemen have fully discussed the matter with General Washington, and upon the maturest deliberation recommend it: As Genl Washington too, who is perfectly acquainted with the manners of the Indians, and the embarrassments they create in an army, yet judges these will be outweighed by their services, and appears very desirous that the measure should be adopted by Congress, the Board cannot but concur therein.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 33, folio 203.]
Page 221 | Page image
Resolved, That General Washington be empowered, if he thinks it prudent and proper, to employ in the service of the United States a body of Indians, not exceeding 400; and that it be left to him to pursue such measures as he judges best for procuring them, and to employ them, when procured, in such way as will annoy the enemy without suffering them to injure those who are friends to the cause of America.
The Board of War to whom was referred the letters and papers relative to the defence of the posts on Hudson's river, and the obstructions and works to be made and erected under the direction of Governor Clinton, having made a report thereon, the same was read; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the regulation of the wages of artificers not inlisted into the continental service, be left to Governor Clinton's discretion:
That the eight iron field-cannon mounted, and the twenty-three not mounted, with the sixty-six pieces of different calibres, brought and bringing from Ticonderoga, be subject to the orders of Governor Clinton, for the defence of the passes of Hudson's river:
That the governor be assisted by the artificers in Albany or elsewhere on that river, in stocking the guns, and that he have authority to purchase all other necessary cannon for the defence of the passes on the said river, wherever the same can be procured.
Resolved, That the cloathier general be directed to send an assistant cloathier to be stationed with the continental army on the North river, to superintend the procuring and distribution of cloathing, and, in the mean time, that the commanding officer take such order as to the cloathing the troops and artificers as exigencies require:
That the issuing commissary of the army stationed on
Page 222 | Page image
or in the vicinity of Hudson's river, for the defence thereof, have authority, with the concurrence of the commanding officer, to draw for supplies of provisions on the purchasing commissaries in the eastern or northern department, as exigencies and the position of the troops may, from time to time, require, taking especial care not to interfere with any supplies coming forward to, or intended for the grand army.
Resolved, That the other parts of the report be referred back to the Board of War, that they may give such orders thereon as they judge necessary and proper respecting the plans of the forts and batteries, and other matters incidental thereto; and also give such directions to Colonel Radière as the good of the service requires, agreeable to the rules established in the army.
The Board of War having sent a letter from A. Butler at Reading, directed to them, which was read,
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |