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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, MARCH 15, 1779
A letter, of 11, from General Washington, and a letter, of 11, from N. Greene, Q. M. G., were read.
A letter, of 13, from President J. Reed, of Pensylvania, was read, desiring that Frederick Verner may be delivered to the sheriff of the city.1
[Note 1: 1 Washington's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, VII, folio 177; that of Greene, in No. 155, I, folio 115; that of Reed, in No. 69, II, folio 15.]
Resolved, That the keeper of the state prison be directed to deliver the said F. Verner to the sheriff of the city of Philadelphia.
A letter, of this day, from S. Deane, was read; Whereupon,
Ordered, That the committee of 13 on Foreign Affairs report on Friday next.
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The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Mr. W[hitmill] Hill and Mr. T[homas] Burke, delegates of the State of North Carolina, on their application, for six thousand dollars, for which the said State is to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, dated March 13, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, III, folio 169.]
Resolved, That whenever any motion, or resolution shall be entered upon the journals of Congress, the names of the persons moving and seconding the same shall also be entered thereon.
The Board of War brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
War Office, March 13th, 1779.
The corps of light Dragoons, Artillery, additional battalions, and some other corps, not having been by Congress apportioned on any particular States, to be considered as parts of their respective quotas, have generally been precluded from the benefits of the provisions made by several States for the immediate relief of their own troops. But besides the clothing and refreshments furnished at moderate prices, some States have made generous provision for the families of Officers and soldiers while in the Army, and to reward (or compensate) their services at the close of the War. These considerations do, in the opinion of the Board, require that these separate corps should be annexed to the States in which they were raised, and considered as parts of their respective quotas; or where they contain a mixture of Men belonging to or enlisted in several States, that each should be credited for their own. This will at the same time lead to a more equal distribution of the burthen of raising the troops among the several States. It will also point out the immediate patrons of those unfortunate Men not proper inhabitants of any of the States, who shall be maimed or disabled in the service, and who are entitled to half pay during life.
The disadvantages these corps labour under have for a considerable time been a subject of complaint among them all: and therefore in stead of a particular provision in the case of Col Sheldon's regiment lately referred to the Board, We beg leave to report a general resolution for the whole:
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Resolved, That all officers, non-commissioned officers and soldiers, now belonging to the corps of light dragoons, and artillery and infantry, and the corps of artillery artificers, commissioned and inlisted since the 16 of September, 1776, for three years, or during the war, or which shall hereafter be so commissioned and inlisted, not being part of the 88 battalions originally apportioned on the states, be considered as parts of the quotas of the several states to which they did or shall respectively belong when so commissioned or inlisted. And that where it has happened or shall happen, that any non-commissioned officers or soldiers of those corps shall not have gained a settlement in any part of the United States, they shall be considered as belonging to the State in which they were or shall be enlisted, and credited accordingly as part of the quota of such State.1
[Note 1: 1 "The honorable Congress in their resolves of the 15 March last have been pleased to determine that each State shall have credit, as part of their quotas, for all men in the Corps of Artillery, and Cavalry raised in their respective States. Had they been pleased to have passed one more resolve, vizt, That each State in which the companies or battalions were raised should take proper measures immediately to fill up to the establishment said companies and battalions, it would have been effectual." Knox to Washington, April 6, 1779. Washington Papers, Letters to Washington, 31, folio 221.]
That for the purpose of ascertaining the states to which the officers and soldiers now in the corps aforesaid shall be deemed to belong, the Commander in Chief be directed to cause returns to be made to him without delay, of the names of all the officers, non-commissioned officers and soldiers in the said corps, and the states, counties and towns to which they belonged, or in which they were inlisted as aforesaid; which returns shall be transmitted to the Board of War, who shall send to the respective states lists of the names and ranks of all officers and soldiers to be credited to them as aforesaid. The like returns to be made afterwards, once every three months, of all officers, non-commissioned officers and soldiers, who shall have
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entered into these corps after making the said first returns.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, III, folio 123.]
Congress was resolved into a Committee of the Whole to consider farther the report of the committee on the communications of the Minister of France, &c., and after some time the President assumed the chair, and, Mr. F[rancis] L[ightfoot] Lee reported that the committee have had under farther consideration the report to them referred, and made some farther progress, but not having come to a conclusion, desire leave to sit again.
Resolved, That to morrow Congress be resolved into a Committee of the Whole to consider farther the report.
[Adjourned to 10 oClock to Morrow.]
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