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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, AUGUST 31, 1778
A letter of 17, from Mr. Mat. Visscher, with sundry papers relative to Indian affairs in the northern department, was read:Ordered, That they be referred to the Board of War.
A letter, of 25, from Governor Trumbull, of Connecticut, was read, respecting the settlement of the accounts of his son, the late Joseph Trumbull, Esq. commissary general:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
A letter, of 14, from the council of Massachusetts bay, was read, together with a letter from J. Gardoqui and Sons, at Bilboa, 4 June, and a note from Arthur Lee, Esq. commissioner at Paris, May 12.
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A letter, of 27, from the committee of arrangement at camp, was read,1 informing, that a great spirit for inlisting has taken place among the soldiers who are brought into the army as drafts, and representing the expediency of authorizing the inlistment of them: Whereupon,
[Note 1: 1 The letter of Visscher is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 166, folio 385; that of the Massachusetts council, in No. 65, I, folio 338; that of Gardoqui on folio 348, and that of Lee, on folio 364; that of the committee to camp, in No. 78, XIX, folio 257.]
The Board of War, having reported on the paragraph of the letter of the 3d and 4th, from General Washington, referred to them on the same subject, it was moved to take up that report, and the said report being read,
The sense of the house was taken on granting a sum of specie, to be applied in part of the bounty allowed to soldiers inlisting for three years, or during the war:
On which the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [William] Duer,
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So it passed in the negative.
Congress proceeded in the report; and thereupon,
Resolved, That it is essential to the interest and safety of these states, that the most speedy and effectual measures be, without delay, adopted for engaging in the continental service, for three years, or during the war, such of the drafts of the militia as are at present incorporated in the battalions of the respective states.
Resolved, That for this purpose the sum of one hundred and twenty thousand dollars, in continental money, be appropriated and forthwith remitted to William Palfrey, Esq. pay master general of the American army.
Resolved, That the usual bounty of 20 dollars be given to each recruit who shall inlist for three years, or during the war.1
[Note 1: 1 The original report here added: "and that one moiety of the same be paid in gold and silver."]
Resolved, That no soldier be permitted to inlist in the battalions of any other State than that in whose service he is at present engaged, except in the artillery, cavalry, engineering departments, and provost; the men so engaged to be carried to the quota of the State for which they now serve.
Resolved, That General Washington be directed to cause the money hereby appropriated, to be paid into the hands of such trusty, active, and discreet officers as he shall think proper to appoint to recruit for the quota of the respective states, in proportion to the number of men not engaged for three years, or during the war, which each State shall have in the field.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, II, folio 247. The members present Duer, Pickering and Peters.]
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A paper signed "Adam Ferguson, secretary to his majesty's commission," dated at New York, August 26th, 1778, was read, setting forth, that "his majesty's commissioners direct Dr. Ferguson to transmit to the President of the American Congress, for the information of the Congress, the declaration of this day by George Johnstone, Esq. and the declaration of the same date by the Earl of Carlisle, Sir Henry Clinton, and William Eden, Esq. and also the requisition respecting the troops lately serving under Lieutenant General Burgoyne, signed by the Earl of Carlisle, Sir Henry Clinton, and William Eden, Esq. which several declarations and requisition, accompanying the said paper, were read.1
[Note 1: 1 These papers are in the Library of Congress.]
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of James Mease, Esq. cloathier general, for thirty thousand two hundred and twenty two and one half dollars, to discharge the following bills, drawn on him by Raymond Demeré, his agent in Georgia, viz.
One dated 21 April, 1778, in favour of John Baddely, Esq. for four thousand nine hundred dollars; one of the same date, in favour of the same, for 5100 dollars; one of the same date, in favour of the same, for 5000 dollars; one of the same date, in favor of the same, for 4800 dollars; one dated 10 June, in favour of James Anderson, for 2422½ dollars; and one dated 21 July, in favour of John Walters Gibbs, for 8000 dollars; amounting in the whole, to the sum of 30,222½ dollars; and expressed to be for value received in cloathing for the continental troops of the State of Georgia; the said J. Mease to be accountable.
A letter, of 13, from Governor Caswell, of North Carolina, to Mr. [John] Penn, one of the delegates of that State, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
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The members chosen, Mr. [Henry] Marchant, Mr. [William Henry] Drayton, and Mr. [John] Harvie.
Ordered, That Mr. [Nathaniel] Scudder have leave of absence.
Adjourned to 9 o'Clock to Morrow.
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