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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 16, 1778
Mr. [John] Banister, a delegate from Virginia, attended and took his seat.
A letter, of the 7th and 8th, from General Washington, with several inclosed papers, viz. a letter, from General Howe of the 14 February; one, of the 21st, containing depositions of Thomas Wileman, of the 17th dragoons, and Serjeant George Thompson, of the 63d regiment; a declaration, signed Thomas Franklin, agent for American prisoners in Philadelphia, and a report of Mr. Sanford, and one of the 2d March, were read.
Another letter of the 12th, from General Washington, with several inclosed papers, viz. a letter to General Howe, of the 9th; a letter from him of the 10th, and one in answer thereto of the 12th, were read:1
[Note 1: 1 Washington's letter of the 7th, with inclosures, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, V, folio 317; that of the 8th [9th] is on folio 345, and that of the 12th on folio 349.]
Ordered, That so much of the said letters and papers as respect the settlement of accounts relative to prisoners previous to a general exchange, as directed by resolve of Congress of the 26 February last, and the complaints of General Howe of ill treatment of a late flag, be referred to the Board of War, and that the remainder be referred [be referred] to a committee of 3.
The members chosen, Mr. F[rancis] L[ightfoot] Lee, Mr. [John] Henry, and Mr. [Samuel] Huntington; the remainder to the Board of War.
An extract of a letter from Captain Barry to General Washington; and also copies of letters from Messrs. Reed, Champion and Wadsworth, inclosed in the General's letter of he 12th, were read.
A letter, of the 5, from Governor Clinton, was read.
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Ordered, That this be referred to the committee on Governor Johnson's of the 6th.
One, of the 15 February, from Governor Caswell, was read.
One, of the 1st, from B. Harrison, and one, of the 27 February, from G. Wythe, Esq.r were read:
Ordered, That the former be referred to the Committee of Treasury, the latter to the Marine Committee.
One, of the 15 February, from Governor Caswell directed to F. L. Lee, Esq. was read; and referred to the Board of War.
One, of the 26 February, from J. Tazewell, desiring to resign his office as continental agent in the State of Virginia, was read.1 Whereupon,
[Note 1: 1 The letter of Clinton is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 67, II, folio 122; that of Caswell, in No. 72, folio 25; that of Wythe, in No. 78, XXIII, folio 457, and that of Tazewell in No. 78, XXII, folio 549.]
Resolved, That his resignation be accepted, and that John Carter, Esq. be appointed in his stead.
A letter, of the 10, from E. Boudinot, Esq.r commissary general of prisoners, directed to General Gates, president of the Board of War, with 3 inclosed papers, were read:
Ordered, That that part of the said letters &c. which relates to moneys be referred to the Board of Treasury, and the remainder to the Board of War.
Four o'Clock, p. m
The Committee of Treasury brought in a report; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of the honble. Cornelius Harnett, Esq. for the use of Francis Brice, for two thousand five hundred: dollars in discharge of John Ashe his two draughts on the treasurer, dated the 27 March, 1777, in favour of the said Brice, one for 1000 dollars, and the other for 1500 dollars, both
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expressed to be for the use of the United States; the State of North Caralina to be accountable:
That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of Lieutenant William Frazier, for twenty thousand dollars, to be conveyed by him to the Honble. George Read, Esqr. president of the State of Delaware, advanced to, and for which the said State is to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 161.]
A letter, of the 7, from W. Palfrey, pay master general, to the Board of Treasury, was read:
Ordered, That it be returned to the Board.
Resolved, That two members be added to the committee on the convention of committees at New Haven, in the room of Mr. [John] Witherspoon and Mr. [Thomas] M'Kean, who are absent: the members chosen, Mr. [John] Banister and Mr. [Samuel] Huntington.
Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the Board of War of the 13, relative to the 13th Virginia regiment, and, after debate,
Resolved, That the farther consideration be postponed.
Resolved, That the Board of War be directed to deliver over to the order of the president and council of Pensylvania, the prisoners sent from that State to Virginia.
Resolved, That the application, on behalf of the Honble. John Penn and Benjamin Chew, that they may be delivered over to the order of the State of Pensylvania, be referred to a committee of three, who are directed to correspond with the said State and report to Congress:
The members chosen, Mr. [Abraham] Clark, Mr. James Smith, and Mr. [John] Henry.2
[Note 2: 2 See Pennsylvania Archives, VI, 367, 389.]
Whereas, Congress have not received information of the measures which the several states have, from time to time, adopted, in consequence of their recommendations; and, whereas, such information, together with the concurrence
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of the respective legislatures in vigorously executing the resolutions of Congress, is essentially necessary to enable them to transact the important concerns of the United States:
Resolved, That the governors and presidents of the said states be earnestly requested to transmit to Congress, as soon as possible, attested copies of the acts passed by their respective legislatures, in pursuance of recommendations of Congress, which they may have received since the 1st day of November last; and of all acts which they may hereafter pass, in consequence of future recommendations.
The committee to whom were referred sundry letters received by the Commercial Committee, relative to the claims of Messrs. Roderique Hortalez & Co., of Paris, brought in a report:
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of the whole.
Resolved, That to morrow the Congress be resolved into a commitee of the whole to consider the foregoing report.
Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the Board of War of the 14: Whereupon,
Resolved, That one full company of foot be raised in the town of Westmoreland, on the east branch of the Susquehanna, for the defence of the said town and the settlements on the frontiers and in the neighbourhood thereof, against the Indians and other enemies of these states, the company to be inlisted to serve one year from the time of their inlisting, unless sooner discharged by Congress:
That officers be commissioned only in proportion to the number of men who shall be inlisted.
That the same pay and rations be allowed the company as to officers of the like ranks and soldiers in the continental army:
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That the commissary general of purchases contract with a suitable person to supply the company with provisions:
That the company find their own arms, accoutrements, cloaths, and blankets:
That the colonel, and, in his absence, the next commanding field officer of the militia, at the said town of Westmoreland, be desired and empowered to superintend the said company, give orders relative to the station or stations it shall take for the defence of the country, and other proper military services, and to see that the officers and men faithfully perform their duty, and on failure to give notice thereof to the Board of War.1
[Note 1: 1 See Pennsylvania Archives, VI, 371, and under August 23, 1776, ante.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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