| 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 --MONDAY, APRIL 13, 1778
A letter, of 28 March, and one of 3 April, from William Aylett, enclosing a letter of 1, from Governor Henry, of Virginia, were read:
Ordered, That the same be referred to a committee of of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [Francis Lightfoot] Lee, Mr. [William Henry] Drayton, and Mr. [Nathaniel] Scudder.
A letter, of the 10, from General Washington, enclosing extracts of letters from General Putman, General M'Dougall, and Colonel Shreve, was read:3
[Note 3: 3 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, V, folio 439.]
Ordered, That the same be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [William] Duer, Mr. [Samuel] Chase, and Mr. [Francis] Dana.
Page 342 | Page image
The committee to whom was referred the letter from Brigadier Smallwood, brought in a report, which was read:
Ordered, That it be re-committed, and that the committee be instructed to prepare a letter to the State of Delaware, acquainting them of the grounds on which Congress proceeded in their late order to Brigadier Smallwood, to seize Thomas White, Charles Gordon, &c.
Resolved, That the Board of War be directed forthwith to employ proper persons accurately to examine the river Susquehanna and its several fords, from the mouth to Harris's Ferry, and to report their opinion to the Board, which of the fords it would be most advisable to secure, and which wholly to obstruct, and at what places the boats on the river can be best secured; and the Board are directed to give the necessary orders, and take the most effectual measures to secure the several passes and fords on the river, and to procure a survey of Octorara, Pequea and Conestoga creeks.
Resolved, That to morrow be assigned for electing a secretary to the Board of War and Ordnance.
Resolved, That the commissioners of the United States in France be authorized to determine and settle with the house of Roderique Hortales & Co., the compensation, if any, which should be allowed them on all merchandise and warlike stores, shipped by them for the use of the United States, previous to the 14 day of April, 1778, over and above the commission allowed them in the 6th article of the proposed contract between the Committee of Commerce and John Baptiste Lazarus Theveneau de Francey.
Congress resumed the consideration of a draught of a letter in answer to a letter of the 4th, from General Washington, and some progress being made therein,
Ordered, That the farther consideration thereof be postponed to the afternoon.
Page 343 | Page image
Four o'Clock, p. m
Mr. Richard Hutson, a delegate from South Carolina, attended and took his seat:
The delegates of Pensylvania, to whom were referred the letter from Colonel Hartley, and representation from the Board of War, report a resolution of the general assembly of Pensylvania, granting, agreeably to the proposal of Congress, permission to Colonel Hartley to inlist men for his battalion within that State, and allowing the men, so recruited, the bounty granted by the State to soldiers inlisted for their regiments, the men to be considered as a part of the quota of the said State.
The committee appointed to revise the rules and orders for the conduct of business in Congress, brought in a report.
Congress resumed the consideration of the letter in answer to General Washington's letter of the 4th, and sundry amendments being made, the letter was approved:
Ordered, That a copy be made out, and that the same be signed by the President, and transmitted to the General.
A motion was made, that it be declared in the letter that Congress cannot consent to any exchange on parole, and have therefore ordered the officers in our hands to wait the settlement of a general cartel:
The yeas and nays being required,
{table}
Page 344 | Page image
So it passed in the negative.
Resolved, That the prisoners who are detained at Lancaster, be sent forward, agreeably to the orders given by the commissary general of prisoners.
Adjourned to 9 o'Clock to Morrow.
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |