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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, NOVEMBER 10, 1778
A letter, of 6, from N. Greene, quarter master general, was read.
Whereas it hath become necessary not only that speedy and vigorous measures should be taken to regulate the
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commissary's and quarter master's departments, but also that a constant attention should be paid to those departments:
Resolved, That Mr. [Nathaniel] Scudder, Mr. G[ouverneur] Morris and Mr. [William] Whipple be a committee to superintend the same departments, and that they, or any two of them, be empowered to take such steps relating to the same as they shall think most [advantageous] for the public service.
Ordered, That the letter from Major General Greene, be referred to the said committee.
A letter, of 6, from General Washington, and one of the same date, from W. Palfrey, pay master general, were read.
A memorial from Patrick M'Closky, and also a memorial from William Dodd, Levallin Barry, Patrick M'Closky and Richard Ross, were read:1
[Note 1: 1 Washington's letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, VI, folio 443; that of Palfrey, in No. 165, folio 490; and that of Dodd &c. in No. 41, II, folio 437.]
Ordered, That they be referred to the Board of Treasury, and that they be empowered to give such relief as they may think the memorialists are equitably entitled to.
An application from the Chevalier de Crenis was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury:
A letter, of 30th October, from Lieutenant Phinehas Pierce, of Captain [Simon] Spaulding's company, was read, desiring to resign his commission, on account of his being incapable of serving longer by reason of the wounds he received in the year 1776:2
[Note 2: 2 The application of Crenis is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, V, folio 265; the letter of Pierce, in XVIII, folio 205.]
Resolved, That the resignation of Lieutenant Phinehas Pierce be accepted.
Ordered, That twenty copies of the index to the first volume of the journal of Congress, and twenty of the second
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volume of the journals of Congress be delivered to the delegates of each State, for the use of their respective states.
Ordered, That the plan of finance be an order for to morrow, and that Congress proceed on the consideration of that business every day after, precisely at one o'clock, until the same be finished, and this rule be not broken unless by unanimous consent.
The committee to whom was referred a report of a committee of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, concurred in by the house on the 8th of September, 1778, and ordered to be transmitted to Congress; also a letter from Major General Howe, of the 22d September, relative to the reduction of the province of East Florida; brought in a report: Whereupon,
Resolved, That the President be directed to inform his excellency the president of the state of South Carolina, that Congress, by their resolution of the 2d instant, have directed Major General Lincoln to attempt the reduction of the province of East Florida, in case the enemy should not make an attack on the states of South Carolina and Georgia.
That Congress highly approve of the resolutions of the assembly of the State of South Carolina, in directing an investigation to be made into the causes of the Creek rupture, in order that reparation may be made by the offending party, in case the Creek nation shall have just cause of complaint; and in making preparations to carry the war into the Creek country, if a peace cannot be effected by negotiation.
That Major General Lincoln be authorized to enlist men into the continental battalions of the States of South Carolina and Georgia, to serve during the continuance of the expedition against East Florida.
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That if Major General Lincoln shall be of opinion that the continental battalions of the States of South Carolina and Georgia, and the continental levies and recruits from the states of Virginia and North Carolina, will not be a sufficient force to proceed on the expedition against East Florida, he be authorized to engage a number of volunteers, not exceeding fifteen hundred, to serve during the continuance of the expedition; and that the volunteers so engaged be organized into such corps and commanded by such officers as Major General Lincoln shall approve of.
That Major General Lincoln be authorized to pledge the faith of the United States for granting to the officers and men, whether continental forces, volunteers or militia, who shall accompany him to East Florida, and continue in the service till the castle of St. Augustine is reduced, the same proportions of land as is allowed by the resolutions of Congress of 16th September, 1776; that this bounty shall be extended to the representatives of such officers and soldiers as shall be slain or die during the continuance of the expedition.This Land to be located out of the unappropriated Land belonging to the Crown of Great Britain, and a preference to be given in the survey of them, to all other surveys whatever.
The said land to be located in the said province; and a preference to be given in the location to the officers and soldiers who shall be entitled as aforesaid.1
[Note 1: 1 This paragraph was substituted for the preceding sentence, and is in the writing of Henry Laurens.]
That the major generals, respectively, who shall go on the expedition against East Florida, be entitled to a grant of three thousand acres of land; and the brigadier generals, if any shall go on that service, to a grant of two thousand acres, in case the province of East Florida should be reduced.
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That the commanding officer of the southern department be authorized, if he shall judge it for the good of the service, to supply Colonel Marbury's company of light horse with a number of horses, not exceeding two hundred.
That it be recommended to the governments of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, to give every assistance in their power to Major General Lincoln, to enable him to reduce the province of East Florida.
That the President be directed to inform their excellencies the governours of the states of Maryland and Virginia, that Congress deem it of high importance to the welfare of the United States, that every exertion should be made, during the course of the winter, to reduce the province of East Florida.
That from the best information they have received, this cannot probably be effected but by a blockade by water; and therefore that it be requested of the said governments to direct such of their armed galleys as are fit for this service to be fitted out with all possible despatch, and to proceed either in company, or otherwise, as the governours of the states of Maryland and Virginia shall deem most expedient, to Charleston, in South Carolina; there to follow such orders as they shall receive from the commander in chief of the department, or from the officer appointed by Congress to command the galleys of the respective states employed on this expedition.
That till such time as the said galleys shall return to the states, to which they respectively belong, they shall be at the expence and risk of the United States. And that the governours of the states of Maryland and Virginia be directed ∥desired∥ to have sworn appraisement made of the said vessels, their tackle, and apparel, to ascertain their value, in case of loss.
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And whereas it is represented that great difficulties have occurred in manning the said galleys; and the success of the expedition depends, in the most essential manner, on their service:
Resolved, That the governours of the states of Maryland and Virginia be authorized to assure the officers and men who shall navigate the said galleys, that the continental share of all property taken by the said galleys, or any of them, from the day of their sailing to their return to their respective stations, shall be released to the persons capturing the same, and divided amongst the officers and men, agreeably to the resolutions of Congress relative to captures.
That the governours of the respective states of Maryland and Virginia be authorized, if they shall judge it expedient, to grant a bounty, not exceeding forty dollars, to every able bodied mariner who shall enter on board any of the said galleys for the space of six months.
That the Marine Committee be directed to use every possible exertion, in co-operating with the governours of the states of Maryland and Virginia, in the expeditious manning of the galleys to be furnished for this service.
And whereas differences relative to commands may arise amongst the officers of the respective states, whose galleys are employed, which, if not guarded against, might defeat the end of the enterprise:
Resolved, That Captain John Barry be and he is hereby directed, to take the command of all the armed vessels employed on the intended expedition, [subject to the orders of the commander in chief in the southern department;]1 and that this commission continue in force till the expiration of the [intended] invasion of the province
[Note 1: 1 Words in brackets are in the writing of Henry Laurens.]
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of East Florida, [or till the further order of Congress.] That he proceed with the utmost despatch to the state of Maryland, in order to expedite the equipment of the galleys to be furnished by that state; and proceed with them to Charleston, in South Carolina.
Resolved, That Congress approve of Major General Howe's provident attention in procuring intelligence of the situation and strength of the British forces and posts in East Florida; and that any expence which may have attended this service shall be defrayed by Congress.
Resolved, That the sum of two hundred and one pounds five shillings, in specie, be granted to Major General Lincoln to facilitate his procuring intelligence of the enemy's strength and designs in the province of East Florida; and that the Board of War be directed to cause this money to be remitted by the first safe opportunity.
Resolved, That Major General Lincoln be authorized and directed, on his arrival in the province of East Florida, to issue a proclamation in the name of these United States, signifying to the inhabitants of the said province, that as he is not come to destroy, but to protect the inhabitants in the enjoyment of their rights and property, he will receive under the protection of the United States, all such persons as shall repair to his standard within a time to be limited in the said proclamation, and take an oath of [Abjuration of allegiance to the king and crown of Great Britain,]1 except such persons as may have been attainted of high treason in any of the said states. And that all such as shall unite with him in the reduction of the said province, and embody themselves under such officers as he shall approve of, shall be entitled to the same pay and emoluments as the forces engaged in the same service are
[Note 1: 1 These words were substituted by Henry Laurens for "allegiance to the United States;" and he added, but also struck out, "and to support the State of East Florida, a free and independent" [incomplete.]]
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entitled to. And further, that on the subversion of British tyranny in that province, and the establishment of a free government, they shall be considered as peculiarly entitled to the confidence of the United States.
That the Commissary General be directed to send under convoy of the armed galleys ordered to proceed from the State of Maryland to the State ofDisagreedSouth Carolina, a quantity of flour, not exceeding one thousand barrels.
That the quarter master general be directed to ship on board the armed galleys ordered from the state of Maryland to Charleston, South Carolina, a quantity not exceeding ten tons of bar iron.
And whereas Congress are of opinion, that it will tend greatly to ensure the success of the enterprise if the embargo on rice be continued in force till such time as the vessels destined to form the blockade by water shall have arrived in the basin of St. Augustine: Therefore,
Resolved, That it be recommended to the executive authority of the states of South Carolina and Georgia, to continue in force the embargo on rice till the event above mentioned shall have taken place, and no longer: [Provided, and it is hereby intended, that the said embargo shall not be and continue in force longer than the thirty first day of January next.]1
[Note 1: 1 Added as an amendment to the report. The last two paragraphs are in the writing of William Duer. The report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, II, folio 181.]
A letter, of 13 September, from Marquis Bouillé, governor of Martinique, and directed to the Committee for Foreign Affairs, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the committee appointed to confer with the minister of France.
Ordered, That Mr. [Samuel] Holten be added to the committee to superintend the publication of the journals.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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