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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 --THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1778
Mr. W[illiam] Whipple, a delegate from New Hampshire, attended and took his seat in Congress.
A letter, of 21 October, from E. Hinman, late captain of theAlfred, ∥was read.∥1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XI, folio 355.]
A letter, of 29 October, from General Washington, with sundry papers enclosed, was read:
Ordered, That the same be referred to a committee of three, and that they be empowered to take such steps thereon as they shall think proper:
The members chosen, Mr. [Nathaniel] Scudder, Mr. G[ouverneur] Morris, and Mr. [William] Whipple.
A letter, of 31 October, from General Washington, was read, enclosing a letter of the 16 of the same month, to him from J. Connolly:2
[Note 2: 2 Washington's letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, VI, folio 427; that of Connolly is on folio 435.]
Ordered, That the letter from J. Connolly be referred to the committee on the letter of 15 September, from Mr. Beatty, commissary general of prisoners.
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A letter, of 30 ∥October∥, from J. Beatty, commissary general of prisoners, was read, enclosing a letter of 29 ∥of the same month,∥ to him, from James Dick, at New York:1
[Note 1: 1 These letters are in the Library of Congress,United States Revolution, IV.]
Ordered, That the same be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [John] Witherspoon, Mr. [William Henry] Drayton, and Mr. S[amuel] Adams.
A report from the Board of War was read; Whereupon,
War Office,November 4th., 1778.
By accounts received from the frontiers of this State at and in the neighbourhood of Fort Roberdeau it appears that large numbers of the Militia of this state have been called out, but that few have staid at the posts even for their tour of duty. That they have left the officers commanding there in great distress, all on the very day of the expiration of their times, and a great proportion on one pretext or other before that period. That they are under little or no command, and of course useless and very expensive. It is therefore thought that if the companies raised for the defence of the frontiers and now under the command of Capt: Thos. Cluggage, Capt: Black and Capt: McDonald could be reinlisted and augmented (their times of service expiring the 15th. of Decr. next) the States would save money, and the service required would be better and more certainly done. The plan for raising the two Regiments intended to go on the Western expedition was to give a suit of clothes Bounty and the usual pay on the men's engaging for one year. From the smallness of the number engaged in those Regiments there is a large proportion of clothing intended for them now on hand at Winchester in Virginia which would serve the companies which are the subjects of this Report, or the clothes might be sent from hence as should be found most convenient. The Board therefore beg leave to report to Congress;
Resolved, That the three companies commanded by Captains Cluggage, Black, and M'Donald, raised for the defence of the frontiers of Pensylvania, be re-inlisted and compleated to their full complement, for the space of one year, from the 15 day of December next, unless sooner discharged by Congress.
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That every non-commissioned officer and private inlisting in the said companies, receive as a bounty a suit of cloathes, to consist of the articles usually allowed the continental troops, and that it be stipulated with the said non-commissioned officers and privates so inlisting, that they shall not be removed from the frontiers of the said state, on any account whatsoever, except on expeditions against the Indians.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Richard Peters, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, II, folio 357.]
A letter, of this day, from Lieutenant Colonel Gimat, was read;2 Whereupon,
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, X, folio 121.]
The committee to whom a report upon the letter, from the Marquis de la Fayette, of the 27 of October, and the letter from Chevalier Mauduit du Plessis, with the papers relating thereto, was re-committed, brought in a report, ∥which was taken into consideration, and∥ whereupon Congress came to the following resolutions:
Whereas the Chevalier Mauduit du Plessis, lieutenant colonel of artillery in the army of these United States, apprehending that the war is near a conclusion in this country, is desirous of returning to France, to offer his service to his prince, now engaged in hostilities with our common enemy:
Resolved, That the Chevalier Mauduit du Plessis have leave to withdraw from the service of these United States, and that the President give a written testimonial to him of the high sense which Congress entertains of his zeal, bravery, and good conduct, during his service in America.
And whereas the Chevalier came out from France at his own expence, and has never received any of the advances and gratuities which have been made to the other officers of Mons. Du Coudray's corps:
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Resolved, That a bill of exchange be drawn on the minister plenipotentiary of the United States at the court of France, in favour of the Chevalier Mauduit du Plessis, for five thousand livres tournois, and that the sum of two hundred dollars be paid to him, the same to be in full of all gratuities claimed, or demands made or to be made by him against these United States.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of James Lovell, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, II, folio 161*.]
Resolved, That an honorary certificate of his zeal and services be given to Lieutenant Colonel Gimat, and that a bill of exchange be drawn on the minister plenipotentiary of the United States at the court of France, in favour of Lieutenant Colonel Gimat, for five thousand livres tournois, and that the sum of two hundred dollars be paid him to defray his expences to the port of embarkation.
Resolved, That the commission of major by brevet be granted to Mons. Capitaine, a captain in the service of the United States, and that a bill of exchange for two thousand four hundred livres tournois be drawn on the minister of the United States at Paris, in favor of Mons. Capitaine, for his expences in coming to and returning from America.
Resolved, That a bill of exchange for eleven hundred and fifty livres tournois be drawn on the minister aforesaid, in favour of Mons. de la Colombe, for his expences in coming to and returning from America.
Resolved, That a bill of exchange for eleven hundred and fifty livres tournois be drawn on the minister aforesaid, in favour of Mons. Pontgibeau, for his expences in coming to America, and for his return.
On motion,Resolved, That John Laurens, Esq. aid de camp to General Washington, be presented with a continental commission of lieutenant colonel, in testimony of
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the sense which Congress entertain of his patriotic and spirited services as a volunteer in the American army, and of his brave conduct in several actions, particularly in that on Rhode Island, on the 29th day of August last; and that General Washington be directed, whenever an opportunity shall offer, to give Lieutenant Colonel Laurens command agreeable to his rank.
The committee to whom was referred the letter of Governor Trumbull, respecting Major Dericks's, and Mr. Erkelens's plan of a negotiation for a loan, brought in a report; Whereupon,
Resolved, That Major Dericks be permitted to return to the United States of the Netherlands, and that he be promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel by brevet, as a testimony of his merit and services in the army of these United States.
Ordered, That the President return an answer to Governor Trumbull, and also to Mr. Erkelens, thanking him for his zeal in the service of the United States, but informing him and Governor Trumbull that Congress are not yet prepared to adopt the scheme of a negotiation for the loan proposed.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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