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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, MARCH 9, 1778
A letter, of the 3, from the council of Pensylvania, was read: 2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 69, I, folio 477.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
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A letter, of the 20th February, from Brigadier Parsons, at West Point, with the proceedings of a court martial on the trial of Thomas Doyle, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [Francis Lightfoot] Lee, Mr. [Abraham] Clark and Mr. James Smith.
A letter of 4 February, from the Board of War, of Boston, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, I, folio 491.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the committee on Governor Johnson's letter.
A letter, of the 1, from Jonathan Trumbull, Jun. deputy pay master general, northern department, with an estimate of cash wanted for that department, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
A letter, of 24 February, from Colonel W. Aylett, and one, of the 28 February, from Colonel Champion, both directed to W. Buchanan, Esq. commissary general of purchases, were laid before Congress, and read:
Ordered, That the letter from Colonel Aylett be referred to the Board of Treasury; and the letter from Colonel Champion be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [Oliver] Wolcott, Mr. James Smith and Mr. [John] Harvie.
A letter, [from] John Lawrance, Esq. judge advocate general, to James Duane, Esq., dated camp at White Marsh, 18 November, 1777, was laid before Congress, and read:2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XIV, folio 251.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
A letter, of this date, from Paul Turquand, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
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Four o'Clock, p. m
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 30,603 dollars, to be by him transmitted to his excellency the governor and council of the State of Virginia, to reimburse them that sum advanced to Alexander Rose, Esq. agreeable to the request of the Board of Treasury, by letter of the 24 January last; the said governor and council to be accountable:
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of Lieutenant Thomas Hunt, for 4,423 3/90 dollars, it being in discharge of William Palfrey, pay master general, his draft dated camp, the 4 instant, on the President of Congress, for the said sum, in favour of Captain Peter Dolliver, for the use of Colonel Jackson's regiment; the pay master general to be accountable:
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of Ananias Hudson, for 625 dollars, in discharge of John Ashe's three drafts on the treasurer, dated North Carolina, the 10 May last; one in favour of Captain Benjamin Stedman for 250 dollars, one in favour of Ensign John Williams, for 250 dollars, and the other in favour of Jahleel Smith, for 125 dollars; the State of North Carolina to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 139.]
The commissioners of claims report,
That there is due to John Benezet, Esq. thirteen hundred and fifty six dollars, for his salary as a commissioner of accounts to the 8 instant, included;2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 137.]
Ordered, That the said account be paid.
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A letter, of the 2, from Matthew Irwin, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
A letter, of the 2, from Captain W. Nichols, was read, praying for leave to resign his commission. One of the 9th, from Colonel Hartley, respecting the filling up his regiment. A letter from Dr. A[mmi] R[uhamah] Cutter to Mr. [George] Frost, praying for leave to resign, were read:1
[Note 1: 1 The letter of Nichols is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XVII. folio 37; that of Hartley is in No. 78, XI, folio 289.]
Ordered, That Dr. Cutter have leave to resign; that the letter from Captain Nichols be referred to the Board of War; and the other ∥from Colonel Hartley∥ to the delegates of Pensylvnia.
Resolved, That the Committee on Foreign Affairs be directed to make a reasonable allowance to the Baron de Holtzendorf for his expences to France.
The committee to whom was referred the letter from Colonel Champion, brought in a report, which was read:
That it be Recommended to the Legislature of the State of Connecticut to suspend the Operation of their Act of Government Regulating the Price of Live Beef, untill the 15th Day of June next, or Repeal the same, as they shall judge most expedient. As Congress are informed by a Letter from Colo Champion, Purchasing Commissary of live Beef in that State, that by the Operation of said Act he is greatly impeded in procuring proper Supplies of that necessary Article for the Army.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Oliver Wolcott, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, I, folio 565. The substitute paragraph is printed under March 11, post.]
Ordered, That the consideration thereof be postponed.
Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee on the system of the commissary, and after progress made therein,
The Com'tee appointed to take into Consideration a letter from Govern. Morris, Esq. one of the Com'tee of this Congress now at head
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Quarters representing the supplies Necessary to be Provided for [the] army of the United States, Beg leave to Report it as our Opinion, that the Commissary General of Purchases be directed to send his Orders to the several Deputy Commissaries of Purchases in their respective Districts, to Contract for and secure from time to time, in the most Convenient season and places for that purpose, and in the most prudent and effectual manner possible, viz: Ten thousand barrels of Fish, well pickled and saved for Use, and as many of them shad as can be procured; also Ten thousand Quintals of well cured and dried cod fish; Twenty thousand barrels of good pork, well salted and saved in the middle and Southern States, including North Carolina; and Seven thousand barrels in the Eastern States, the same to be put up in 4 lb. pieces, sixty of such pieces in a barrel as near as may be; also to Contract for and secure as soon as may be thirty thousand bushels of Peas in the middle and Southern States, and 30 thousand bushels more in the County of Albany and Tryon in the State of New York; 2 thousand bushels of Onions at Weathersfield in Connecticut; Also to contract for, secure and provide at least 10,000 beef Cattle in Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina, which are to be forwarded from time to time between this and next october, exclusive of such as may be purchased between the State of Maryland and Hudson's River; and 7,000 in like manner from the Eastern States to be forwarded to the Army in Pennsylvania between this and next fall; besides what they are to provide for the army East of Hudson's River. And the several Deputy Commissaries General of purchases to make report from time to time to the Commissary General and by him transmitted to the Board of War of their proceeding and success in their purchases, and the prospect for future supplies; and that orders be given to the Commissary General and the Deputy Commissary Generals of Issues in their several districts to take the most effectual care to preserve the barrels in which provisions are salted, and the brine and salt contained therein, and employ proper persons to clarify the brine by boiling the same, and to render as much thereof fit for use in the army as possible.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Eliphalet Dyer, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 21, I, folio 195. It is endorsed: "Read and part debated, and postponed, 9 March. Debated 11, postponed."]
That the letter of Gouverneur Morris, Esq and Report of the Com'tee thereon be referred to the Board of War, who are authorized
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to carry the same or such part thereof as they may approve into Effect, and that they employ in this Business officers of the Commissary's Department, or other persons as to them may appear most expedient.1
[Note 1: 1 This amendment, in the writing of Elbridge Gerry, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, on folio 199.]
Resolved, That the Board of War be directed to give the necessary orders for purchasing ten thousand head of beef cattle in the States of Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina, to be forwarded from time to time to the Army under General Washington between this and the Month of october next.2
[Note 2: 2 This amendment, in the writing of John Harvie, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, on folio 199 ½.]
That the Board of War be directed immediately to employ proper persons to purchase all the salted pork and beef Cattle, that can be procured in the States of Maryland and Virginia, on the Eastern Shores of Chesapeake Bay, giving proper instructions to such purchasers, after preparing and laying the same before Congress for their approbation.3
[Note 3: 3 This amendment, in the writing of Abraham Clark, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, on folio 200.]
Resolved, That the Board of War be empowered to Employ proper persons to purchase in the States of Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina, Nine Thousand head of Beef Cattle for the Use of the army.4
[Note 4: 4 This amendment, in the writing of John Harvie, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, on folio 200 ½ .]
Resolved, That the farther consideration thereof be postponed till to morrow morning.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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