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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 --TUESDAY, MAY 19, 1778.
A letter, of 18th, from the executive council of Pensylvania, enclosing a copy of a letter of the 14, from Samuel Hunter, lieutenant, of the county of Northumberland, was read:2
[Note 2: 2 These papers are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 69, I, folio 513.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
At a Board of War May 18th, 1778
Agreed to report to Congress
That Monsr. Noirman Laneuville be appointed a Major by Brevet in the Armies of the United States, and that his Commission be dated the 30th day of October last, and he be ordered to act under Postponed his Brother, Monsr Laneuville, Inspector General in the Northern Department in such Employment in the Line of his Office as he shall think proper, with the Approbation of the Commander in Chief of the Department.
The Board of War, to whom the petition from Major de Bois was referred, report as their opinion, "that the resignation of Major de Bois be accepted, agreeable to his petition, and that a sum of money, the quantum of which to be settled by the Board of Treasury, should be allowed him to bear his expences back to France:"
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That Caleb Stark be appointed Brigade Major to Brigadier General John Stark, and his Commission be dated the 30th of Postponed October last.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Richard Peters, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, II, folio 51.]
Ordered, That the said report, with the petition of Major de Bois, be referred to the Board of Treasury.
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report; Whereupon,
Ordered, That 10,000 dollars be paid Thomas M'Kean, Esq. to be by him forwarded to his excellency Cæsar Rodney, president of the State of Delaware, for the recruiting service; for which the State is to be charged.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, dated May 18, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 297.]
Resolved, That Mr. ∥Joseph∥ Trumbull, late commissary general, be informed of the disposition of Congress not to grant money to such persons as, having been officers of the United States, are now out of office, until they shall have accounted for the public money which shall have been previously advanced to them respectively.3
[Note 3: 3 This report, dated May 16, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 299.]
The Board of War, to whom the letter from General Washington, respecting Lieutenant Colonel Derik was referred, report,
"That the Board concur in opinion with General Washington, as to the inexpediency of complying with Lieutenant Colonel Derik's request, to be appointed commandant of an independent corps, and therefore that his petition be dismissed:"4
[Note 4: 4 This report, in the writing of Richard Peters, and dated May 18, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, II, folio 191.]
Resolved, That Congress agree to the said report.
The Board of War, to whom the memorial from the general assembly of Pennsylvania, relative to forts built in Westmoreland, &c. was referred, report,
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"That they have been informed that General Hand directed the lieutenants of the two western counties to take other posts, at which to station the militia, than those mentioned in the memorial of the assembly; that the lieutenants only partially complied with his directions, and instead of fulfilling them, built the forts at Ligonier and Hanna's town; that, however, as the Board are not sufficiently acquainted with the circumstances to judge whether the forts are so situated as to answer only a local, instead of a general purpose, or whether they are properly constructed, if the posts are well chosen, it is impossible to furnish Congress with a final report on the subject; that, as General Hand is re-called from the command, his successor will judge between him and the lieutenants of the counties, whom the Board presume to have had the best intentions, but think it by no means proper to encourage any thing which has the appearance of being done in opposition to the orders of the commanding continental officer, unless weighty and special reasons can be assigned:" Whereupon,
Resolved, That a copy of the memorial from the assembly of Pensylvania, relative to the forts built at Ligonier and Hanna's town, in this State, by the inhabitants of the adjacent country, be transmitted to the commanding officer at Fort Pitt, and if he shall be of opinion, that the posts are necessary for the general defence of the frontier, or to secure the communication with that fort, the plans proper, and the works sufficiently well done, so as to be durable and of military use, that he appoint proper persons to examine the accounts of the expences of building those forts, laying in provisions, and paying the persons necessarily employed at those posts; that the accounts so examined be certified, with the vouchers, to the Board of
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Treasury, accompanied with the opinion on the whole, of the general officer commanding at Fort Pitt.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, dated May 15, in the writing of Richard Peters, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, II, folio 43.]
The committee to whom was referred the letter from Major General Mifflin, report, "that they have had a conference with General Mifflin and the auditor general upon the subject of the said letter, and having heard General Mifflin's observations upon his peculiar situation as quarter master general, and his objections to being held strictly to account in cases where, from the nature of the business and particular circumstances attending it, he was incapable of direct agency and the necessary superintendence; that the committee delivered to him and to the said auditor general their opinion, that the great servants of the public are generally to be accountable; that if, in the course of adjusting the public accounts, deficiencies shall appear, Congress will, in every special case, determine upon the circumstances as they arise, whether the party shall, or shall not be discharged; that the committee had no doubt, but such favourable allowance would be made as justice should require; but that Congress could not, consistent with their duty to the United States, by any general resolutions, hold up the maxim that payment of money to deputies or assistants in a department should discharge the principal:"2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Gouverneur Morris, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, IV, folio 79.]
Resolved, That Congress agree to the said report.
The committee to whom was referred the report of the Board of War, respecting an allowance to officers on parole, brought in a report: Whereupon, Congress came to the following resolution:
Whereas Congress, by a resolve passed the 19 day of January last, determined, that captive officers should receive
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pay, as well when on parole as when in the enemy's possession, for so long time as they continue to be officers of the United States, and liable to be called into service upon being released from their captivity; and, whereas, divers officers have been, and may be made prisoners, and continue such beyond the period within which they are liable to be called into service; and as it has been found that such officers, when released on parole, are sometimes debarred from the pursuit of their former employments, or being liable always to be recalled into captivity at the pleasure of the enemy, are prevented from entering into such engagements and plans of business as their necessary support demands;
Resolved, That all officers in the land service of the United States, who have been, or shall be made prisoners by the enemy, shall be entitled to receive their full pay and rations while in the enemy's possession, deducting only from their rations such supplies as they may have received from the enemy or the commissary of prisoners; and that all such officers, when admitted on their parole, shall receive their full pay without rations, until they shall be exchanged or discharged from their parole, or that the general change of circumstances shall render their pay no longer necessary for their support, as Congress hereafter determine.
A petition from J. Connolly and others, prisoners, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This petition, dated May 17, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, 42, VI, folio 194,]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War, who are directed to enquire into the facts therein set forth, and report thereon to Congress.
Congress took into consideration a report of the Board of Treasury of the 12th: Whereupon,
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Resolved, That bills of exchange of the following denominations be forthwith struck, under the direction of the Board of Treasury, for the payment of interest to such holders of loan office certificates of the United States as may be entitled to receive it, in such bills:
That the bills be drawn on the commissioners of the United States in Paris, signed by Treasurer [such person or persons as shall hereafter be appointed by Congress,] and countersigned and numbered by the commissioners of the continental loan office issuing the said bills respectively:
That each set contain four bills, of the following form:
"Exchange forDollars, at five Livres Tournois per dollar.
No.United States of North America,day of17.
At thirty days sight of thisBill,andnot paid, pay toor order,Dollars inLivres Tournois, for interest due on money borrowed by the United States.
To
of the United States of North America.
Countersigned
Commissioner of the continental Loan office in the State of."
Resolved, That the Board of Treasury be authorized to direct the treasurer, from time to time, to send to the
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several commissioners of the loan offices as many of the said bills and of such denominations as the Board shall judge necessary.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 283.]
A letter, of the 18, from the Board of War, and one, of the 19, from the Board of Treasury, were read;2
[Note 2: 2 The letter of the Board of War is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, II, folio 47; that of the Treasury is in No. 78, X, folio 95.]
Ordered, To lie on the table.
Congress took into consideration the report of the committee from camp, relative to the new regulation of the army; and an amendment was moved as follows:
"Thus every regiment to consist of 1 colonel, 2 lieutenant colonels, 2 majors, 8 captains, 8 captain lieutenants, 16 lieutenants, 1 ensign major, 8 ensigns, making 46 commissioned officers, 64 or at least 48 serjeants, the same number of corporals, 2 serjeants major, 2 drums major, 16 drummers or horn sounders, and 1,024 privates."
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∥On the question to agree to the said amendment, the∥ yeas and nays being required, by Mr. [William] Duer:
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So it passed in the negative.
Adjourned to 9 o'Clock to Morrow.
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