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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, FEBRUARY 20, 1779
A memorial from sundry merchants in Philadelphia, from whom goods were taken by the cloathier and quarter master general, for the public service immediately after the evacuation of that city, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This memorial, dated January 28, 1779, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, VI, folio 105. Some of the signatures have been lost; those that remain are: William Beaven, John Steinmetz, Thomas Harper, John Shields, James Fisher, Jonas Phillips and W. McMurtrie.]
Whereupon the committee to whom a former memorial from the said merchants was referred, and to whom a former report was re-committed, brought in a report, which was read:
Ordered, That it be re-committed.
Ordered, That Mr. [John] Witherspoon be added to the committee.
A letter, of 19, from B. P. Smith was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
A letter, of 19, from Ch. Pettit, A. Q. M. G., was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Marine Committee.
A petition from John Hart was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [Eliphalet] Dyer, Mr. [Whitmill] Hill, and Mr. [John] Witherspoon.
A letter, of 29 January, from Brigadier McIntosh at Fort Pitt, was read, accompanied with the proceedings of a court martial on the trial of Mr. Steel, deputy quarter master:
Ordered, That the same be referred to General Washington.
Whereas Brigadier M'Intosh, commanding a detachment of the army at Fort Pitt, hath requested leave to retire from that command:
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Resolved, That the Commander in Chief be directed to appoint a proper officer to succeed to the said command; and that Brigadier General M'Intosh, on being relieved, repair to the main army or to such post as shall be assigned to him by the Commander in Chief.
A memorial from Captain Hector McNeil was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This memorial, dated February 15, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, VI, folio 113.]
Ordered, To lie on the table, and that the same be taken into consideration on Tuesday next.
A memorial of Lewis D. Passern, major of the regiment of Hesse Hanau, was read.
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
Mr. R[ichard] H[enry] Lee, a delegate from Virginia, attended and took his seat in Congress.
A report from the Board of War was read: Whereupon,
At a Board of War, February 16th, 1779.
Present, Mr Pickering, Mr. Peters, and Mr. Root.
The Quarter Master General, when in Town lately, reminded the Board of an application he made some months ago for direction relative to the portmanteaus and valeeces he had provided pursuant to the orders of the Commander in Chief, to rid the army of the incumbrance of chests and boxes: As the Service did not admit of the smallest delay in the distribution (the Army being then in daily expectation of moving), they were immediately issued to the Officers, who were charged with them, but with an expectation from various considerations, that they should not be obliged to pay for them. The Board have conversed with the Quarter Master General fully on the subject: and beg leave to declare their entire concurrence in opinion with him.
Resolved, That the portmanteaus and valeses furnished to the officers of the army by the quarter master general, pursuant to the orders of the Commander in Chief, be charged to the United States, and the officers permitted to retain them for their own use: provided that no officer shall be more than once furnished at the public expence,
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with the articles aforesaid, unless unavoidably lost, or taken by the enemy in time of action.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, III, folio 63.]
At a Board of War, February 16th, 1779.
Present, Col. Pickering and Mr Peters
The Board having considered the Memorial of Captain Celeron, with the certificates enclosed, referred to them by Congress, beg leave to observe: That they are convinced of Captain Celeron's Merit, and that his long services entitle him to a consideration which many foreign Officers have been indulged with. Instead of attending chiefly to his personal interest, he has been almost constantly on duty in the field: and having served with reputation near two years with the rank of Captain first given him, he respectfully asks the promotion his services may be deemed to merit.
When he first went to the Northward with General Gates, in 1777, he left behind him in this City a considerable quantity of clothing, more than enough to supply his present wants; but the person to whose care they were committed went off with the enemy and carried Captain Celeron's effects with him. At the evacuation of Tyconderoga he lost all his clothes save those on his back. In this destitute condition, a stranger in the country, without connections, and without any resources but his pay of Captain, he prays that some gratuity may be granted him to enable him to equip himself with the decency and propriety becoming his rank.
In case of an expedition to Canada he flatters himself he might be particularly useful; that being the place of his birth, and where his family were respectable. Until he can be otherwise employed, he desires to serve in General Pulaski's Corps as a volunteer.
From this view of his case the Board beg leave to Report.
That in consideration of his losses in the Service 1000 dollars be granted to him, to enable him to equip himself for further service. That Captain Lewis Celeron, who has served near two Agreed. years in the army of these states and distinguished himself as an active, brave and good officer, be promoted to the rank of major by brevet.
Resolved, That in consideration of the losses of Captain Lewis Celeron, 1000 dollars be granted to him to enable him to equip himself for further service.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, III, folio 67.]
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Resolved, That no brevet commission be granted to any officer except with the consent of nine states.
The committee to whom were referred letters of Governor Henry, and William Finnie, deputy quarter master general, respecting the convention troops stationed near Charlotteville, in Virginia, report,
That having conferred with the Board of War, they are informed that orders were given in due time to the commissary and quarter master general, for providing every thing necessary in their respective departments for the use of the said convention troops; that no complaints have been received respecting a deficiency of provisions; that the barracks were not compleated for the reception of the troops at the time of their arrival, but that they would soon be in good order after that time; that many British officers had been permitted to go to the neighboring towns for quarters, until they could be better accommodated at or near the barracks; that as no preparation hath been made at any other place for the accommodation and subsistence of the said troops, it will be inconvenient at present to remove them; that as some complaints have been received respecting the negligence of the quarter master in that department, the disorders which are apprehended and at present subsist, may probably be prevented and remedied by the personal attendance of the said quarter master at the barracks: Whereupon,
Resolved, That orders issue from the Board of War to the quarter master in the said department, directing him to reside at or near the said barracks, and that the governor and council of Virginia, be authorized and requested to superintend the conduct of those who shall have the direction of the said troops: and, if they shall think it proper, to take such order for the accommodation and
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distribution of the said troops within the said State as the necessity of the case may require.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Meriwether Smith, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 27, folio 81.]
The Committee of Commerce brought in a report; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favor of the Committee of Commerce for one hundred thousand dollars, the said Committee to be accountable.
Congress proceeded to the election of two auditors in the army; and, the ballots being taken, Felix Varley and Alexander Fowler were elected.
Resolved, That the President of Congress, from time to time, transmit to the executive powers of the several states, blank commissions for officers in the line to be appointed by them, and that they be requested regularly to send the names of such officers to the Board of War.
Ordered, That the election of a paymaster and treasurer of the navy board in the middle department be postponed.
Mr. Joseph Howell was nominated for that office by Mr. [Samuel] Atlee.
A letter from Timothy Penny was read;2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XVIII, folio 207.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the committee on the letter from Mr. Taylor
Commercial Committee Chamber, 20th Feby, 1779.
Agreed to Report to Congress.
Mr. Robert Morris having presented to this Committee a letter from Mr. Stephen Ceroni, setting forth his distressed situation by being largely in advance for the United States even more than all his property will enable him to discharge, and as this Committee have it not otherwise in their power to re-imburse Mr. Ceroni than by the following proposals made by Mr. Morris, that is, that he, Mr. Morris, will immediately purchase of Mr. Holker, bills of Exchange to the amount
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of three thousand pounds sterling and remit the same to Mr. Ceroni on account; and that Mr. Morris will obligate himself to be accountable to this Committee for the overplus, if any shall appear upon the final settlement of said Ceroni's account; provided Congress will re-imburse Mr. Morris for the payment of the bills aforesaid.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 31, folio 199.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock on Monday.
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