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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 --SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 1778
A letter, of the 10 January last, from Colonel William Cook, of the 12 Pensylvania regiment, was read, praying for leave to resign his commission:
Resolved, That his resignation be accepted.
The Board of War laid before Congress the following instructions to Colonel Nathaniel Gist:
March 6, 1778.
Sir: You, being designated by his excellency General Washington, to go with a talk to the Indian nations, on the borders of Virginia and the Carolinas, with a view to secure them in the interest of these states, are hereby authorized and empowered to proceed therewith, and to engage in the service of these states, for the next campaign, any number of Indians, not exceeding two hundred, also fifty of the inhabitants of the countries bordering on the Indian settlements, to serve with them, under officers whom they shall choose with your approbation; selecting for this service, as far as possible, such men as understand the Indian languages: but besides these, you are to engage so many interpreters as you shall judge necessary, not exceeding one to every fifty Indians; these interpreters should be men proper to go with the Indians upon any military services in which they shall be employed; and engaged on the best terms in your power, to serve as long as the Indians remain in service. As an encouragement to the inhabitants to inlist, and to enable them to equip themselves for the campaign, you are to give each non-commissioned officer and soldier, a bounty of twenty dollars: they are to be inlisted to serve six months after their arrival in camp; and during their time of service, which is to commence five days before they march from home, the officers and soldiers shall receive the same pay and rations as officers of the like ranks and soldiers in the continental army. And you are authorized to engage to the Indians, who shall enter into the service of these states, a proper supply of provisions, and such allowances, in goods and necessaries, as shall be in the power of the states to furnish, and their bravery and services shall merit.
To enable you to conduct this business with more despatch and advantage, and in order to supply the Indians and others whom you
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shall engage, with provisions and other necessaries, you are to get an assistant on the best terms you can. That you may accomplish this business with the greater ease and certainty, the agents from the different states, residing in the Indian countries for the managing of Indian affairs, are desired and directed to give you all possible assistance.
In order to fulfil your promises to, and satisfy the reasonable expectations of the seventeen Indians employed last summer on the eastern shore of Maryland, you are hereby empowered to purchase and deliver to each of them, such articles of cloathing, &c. as you shall judge indispensably necessary.
You will receive herewith five thousand dollars, for defraying the expences which you shall necessarily incur in the prosecution of the business above committed to you. You are to keep an account of your expenditures of money, and as far as may be, get proper vouchers for the same.
Resolved, That Congress agree to the said instructions.
The committee appointed to prepare a recommendation to the several states, for setting apart a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer, brought in the same; which was read and agreed to as follows:
Whereas, Almighty God, in the righteous dispensation of his providence, hath permitted the continuation of a cruel and desolating war in our land; and it being at all times the duty of a people to acknowledge God in all his ways, and more especially to humble themselves before him when evident tokens of his displeasure are manifested; to acknowledge his righteous government; confess, and forsake their evil ways; and implore his mercy:
Resolved, That it be recommended to the United States of America to set apart Wednesday, the 22d day of April next, to be observed as a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer; that at one time, and with one voice, the inhabitants may acknowledge the righteous dispensations of Divine Providence, and confess their iniquities and transgressions, for which the land mourneth; that they may implore the mercy and forgiveness of God; and beseech him that vice, prophaneness, extortion, and every evil, may be done away; and that we may be a reformed and happy people; that they may unite in humble and earnest supplication, that it may please Almighty God, to guard and
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defend us against our enemies, and give vigour and success to our military operations by sea and land; that it may please him to bless the civil rulers and people, strengthen and perpetuate our union, and, in his own good time, establish us in the peaceable enjoyment of our rights and liberties; that it may please him to bless our schools and seminaries of learning, and make them nurseries of true piety, virtue and useful knowledge; that it may please him to cause the earth to yield its increase, and to crown the year with his goodness.
And it is recommended to the inhabitants of the United States to abstain, on that day, from labour and recreations.
Resolved, That the Commander in Chief, or commander of a department, shall have full power and authority to suspend or limit the power of granting furloughs or leave of absence, and to reserve it wholly to himself, or impart it to such officer or officers, under him, as he thinks fit, according as he shall judge the good of the service requires; and that no officer, under colour or pretence of authority, to him granted, by the 2d article of the 4th section, or any other article, in the rules and articles of war, presume to grant any furlough, or leave of absence, contrary to the orders of the Commander in Chief, or commander of a department, on pain of being punished for disobedience.
The Medical Committee report, "That they have carefully examined and considered the several allegations and testimonies for, and against, Dr. William Rickman, deputy director general in the southern department; that, notwithstanding, it appears the North Carolina and Virginia troops, inoculated by the said Dr. Rickman at Alexandria, suffered, in general, more in the course of the disease than is usual, and that a number of them did die; yet, as the committee are convinced that it was impracticable for the director to obtain, in season, a variety of articles for their due accommodation in the hospitals, as many of them were badly cloathed, and all
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had, immediately before the operation, undergone a long and fatiguing march at a season of the year when putrid diseases generally prevail most; as from a regular return it appears that most of those who were lost, died of a putrid fever; as the director really had not sufficient assistance, and lastly, as one of the assistants, of the name of Parker, who was employed from the necessity of the case; appears to have greatly abused the confidence and trust reposed in him by the director; whence a great part of the evils complained of by the patients may have arisen; the committee are of opinion, that Dr. Rickman ought to be acquitted of the charges exhibited against him; that the resolution of the 20th day of December last, for his suspension, be repealed, and that Dr. Rickman be directed to repair immediately to his department, and resume the exercise of his duty there:"1 Whereupon,
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Nathan Brownson(?), is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, V, folio 249.]
Resolved, That Congress agree to the report of the committee.
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of Dr. William Rickman, for one hundred and forty dollars, in discharge of Governor Caswell's draught on the treasurer, dated North Carolina, the 11 June last, in favour of Arell, Copper & Arell, for that sum, it being for the hire of horses, carriages, and other necessaries furnished to Colonel Derford and his party on their journey from that State to Philadelphia; the said Colonel Derford to be accountable:
That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of the president, Henry Laurens, Esq. for 2,147 60/ 90 dollars, being the balance of his account of money advanced to a
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number of expresses, and a further sum of 2,000 dollars, advanced for the pay of expresses and other contingent expences; for which sum he is to be accountable.
The Board of Treasury report, that they have considered the memorial of Thomas Leaming referred to them, and are of opinion, that the said memorial be referred to his excellency the governor and supreme executive council of the State of New Jersey, and that they be requested to ascertain the quantity of salt taken by the assistant commissary of the United States, or lost in consequence of the seizure, and the sum that ought to be allowed for the same; and that Ephraim Blaine, Esq. deputy commissary general of purchases, be directed to pay Mr. Leaming the amount of the said salt, upon his producing a certificate from the governor and council aforesaid, specifying the sum to be paid:1.
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 135.]
Resolved, That Congress agree to the report of the committee.
The President laid before Congress sundry bills of exchange, drawn by the late William Kennon, on J. Hancock, Esq. president of Congress, and moved that an order pass for the payment of the same:
Resolved, That the consideration of this matter be postponed to Wednesday next, and that the Board of Treasury report thereon.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock on Monday.
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