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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, APRIL 18, 1778
Mr. [George] Plater, a delegate from Maryland, attended, and took his seat in Congress.
Whereas, Joseph Trumbull, Esq. who was elected a member of the Board of War, is, on account of his ill state of health, unable to attend his duty at that Board, and therefore desirous to resign:
Resolved, That his resignation be accepted.
A memorial from Joseph Carson, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [John] Banister, Mr. [Charles] Carroll and Mr. [Samuel] Huntington.
The Marine Committee brought in a report; Whereupon, Congress came to the following resolution:
Whereas, it is expedient that a speedy enquiry be made into the causes of the loss of the Virginia frigate, and a competent number of officers belonging to the navy cannot, at present, be obtained for that purpose:
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Resolved, That the navy board in the middle district, with William Smith, Esq. of Baltimore, and Stephen Stewart, Esq. of West river, in the State of Maryland, or any three of them, be, and they are hereby appointed and fully authorized to make a strict enquiry and examination into the causes of the loss of the said frigate, and the conduct of James Nicholson, late commander of the said frigate; and that to that end they repair to Baltimore as speedily as possible, and call before them the said James Nicholson, and examine all persons, evidences and papers necessary, and make report of such their enquiry, together with the evidences, to the Marine Committee, to be laid before Congress.
The committee to whose decision, in conjunction with General Washington, the appointment of the officers of Brigadier Count Pulaski's corps was referred, brought in a report; Whereupon,
Resolved, That Michael de Kowatz be appointed colonel commandant; Count Julius de Mountfort, major; John de Zielinske, captain of lancers.1
[Note 1: 1 A letter of Washington, dated April 9, approving the nominated officers, was red on this day. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, V. folio 435.]
Resolved, That General Washington be authorized and directed forthwith to convene a council, to consist of the major generals in the State of Pennsylvania, and the general officer commanding the corps of engineers, and with the advice of the said council to form such a plan for the general operations of the campaign as he shall deem consistent with the general welfare of these states:
That Major Generals Gates and Mifflin, members of the Board of War, have leave to attend the said council.
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report; Whereupon,
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Resolved, That five hundred thousand dollars be emitted under the direction of the Treasury Board, and on the faith of the United States:
That the bills shall, excepting the numbers, be of the same tenor and date as the emission directed the 4th inst. be numbered from the last number of each respective denomination of that emission progressively, and consist of the following denominations:
That all powers and duties of Michael Hillegas, Esq. and of the inspectors of the press, signers and printers of the emission [directed] on the 10th of May last, shall extend to the said 500,000 dollars now to be emitted, subject to such directions and instructions as the Board of Treasury may judge expedient.
Ordered, That 200,000 dollars be advanced to William Buchanan, Esq. late commissary general of purchases, to be by him transmitted to his deputy Mr. Colt, in the eastern district; Mr. Buchanan to be accountable.
Resolved, That a Warrant issue on the Treasurer in favour of Dr. William Shippen, Director General of the Hospitals, for On question, negatived Forty thousand Dollars, to enable him to discharge the former Debts due in his Department, for which he is to be accountable.
That 50,000 dollars be advanced to James Mease, Esq. cloathier general, for the use of his department; he to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 237.]
A memorial from Mons. Fidel Dorré, was read:2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78 VII, folio 183.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Commerce.
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Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to confer with Mr. James Mease, cloathier general, on the subject of his department:
The members chosen, Mr. J[Thomas] Adams, Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris, and Mr. [William Henry] Drayton.
Resolved, That the Board of War be directed to make a strict enquiry into the mode in which the armourer's department has been hitherto conducted, and report to Congress the result of their enquiry; and if they judge necessary, to dismiss the persons who have been hitherto employed in that business, and to engage others in their stead, on the best terms possible.1
[Note 1: 1 The reply of the Board, dated April 21,is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No 147, II, folio 13.]
Resolved, That Mr. [Richard] Hutson be added to the Committee of Commerce.
Resolved, That Mr. G[ouverneur] Morris be added to the Medical Committee.
A petition from Captain [James] Knox was read:2
[Note 2: 2 This petition,addressed to Washington, and dated November 19, 1777, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, V, folio 73.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
Whereas, a brigadier of cavalry is necessarily put to a much greater expence in equipping himself for service and other ways than any other officer of that rank in the army; therefore,
Resolved, That the pay of the brigadier general of cavalry be in the same proportion to that of a brigadier of infantry, as the pay of a colonel of the cavalry is to that of a colonel of infantry, viz. 156¼ dollars per month.3
[Note 3: 3 This motion, in the writing of Francis Dana, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, IV, folio 237. It is endorsed: "Mr. Dana's Motion, 18 April, not seconded."]
Adjourned to 9 o'Clock on Monday.4
[Note 4: 4 In the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 58, folio 277, is a memorial of Colonel Thomas Proctor, dated April 10, 1778, endorsed: "Read 18th, and ordered to lie on the table, for further consideration upon an intended arrangement."]
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