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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, APRIL 17, 1779
A letter, of 13th, from John Pierce, assistant pay master general, was read.
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
The delegates of South Carolina, to whom was referred the letter of the 7 March, from Major General Lincoln, brought
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in a report, which was taken into consideration, and thereupon Congress came to the following resolution:
The delegates of South Carolina, directed to confer with Major Mead, Aid de Camp to Major General Lincoln, on the situation of affairs in South Carolina and Georgia, report:
That by the real abilities of General Lincoln and the exertions of the officer under his command, the arrangements in the Southern Army are upon the most judicious and beneficial establishment. The troops are plentifully supplied with the best provisions, beef, pork, flour, rice, &c. The General Hospital department is in the most excellent order, and the General is possessed of the full confidence of the citizens and army.
That Major General Lincoln's very great and constant exertions in his command, have irritated the wound which he had received in his leg at Saratoga (which had never been cured) to such a degree, as to threaten the most fatal consequences, if he should be continued the ensuing summer in the warm climate of South Carolina; and altho' the General does not in any manner express a desire to retire from that service, yet as he is too valuable an officer to be hazarded in such a situation, it is expedient that he have liberty to return to a more temperate climate, and that Brigadier Moultrie be promoted to the rank of Major General; Whereupon
Resolved, that Major General Lincoln have liberty to join the Army under the Commander in Chief, and that the thanks of Congress be given to Major General Lincoln, for his Agd Services to the public during his Command of the Southern Army.
Resolved, that Brigadier Moultrie be promoted to the Rank of Major General in the Armies of the United States.
Com'd Board of War And whereas it appears that considerable supplies of ammunition are necessary for the use of the Southern Army, and that the Coasts southward are now less infested by the enemy's vessels of war than they lately have been. Therefore resolved that the Board of War do with all dispatch export for South Carolina; in some proper Vessel to be provided by the Marine Committee, who are hereby directed to provide the same, military stores, of such kind and in such quantity, as are specified in the Resolves offor the service of South Carolina.
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And whereas the 3000 dollars, granted to the Marquis de Brétigny to bear his expences to South Carolina, are found to be inadequate to that service, Resolved, that a warrant be drawn upon the Treasurer in favour of the Marquis de Brétigny for the sum of 2000 dollars for his expences to South Carolina.
Whereas it appears that Major General Lincoln is in a bad state of health, resolved that he have liberty be permitted if he shall judge it necessary to retire from the command of the southern army and to join the army under the Commander in Chief, when his health will permit him to do so, and that the thanks of Congress be given to General Lincoln for his services while commanding the southern army.
That applicationbe made to the Supreme Executive council of Pennsylvania, to permit the Revenge to sail to South Carolina with military stores for the Continental service. Congress Committed Marine Committee being willing that the Frigate Deane, during the absence of the Revenge on the said service, shall cruize according to the direction of the said council.
Resolved, that the Marine Committee do prepare and send out with all despatch as large a naval force as they can, to cruize down to South Carolina and Georgia, and, if practicable, that they attack the enemy in that quarter.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Wiliam Henry Drayton, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, III, folio 563. The last two paragraphs are on folio 569.]
Whereas it appears from the report of the committee appointed to confer with Major Mead, aid de camp to Major General Lincoln, commanding officer in the southern department, that he is in such an ill state of health as that his continuing longer in that warm climate may endanger his life:
Resolved, That the said Major General Lincoln be permitted to retire from the command of the southern army, and join the army under General Washington, that the public may avail itself of his services in a climate more suitable to his constitution when his health will admit of it.2
[Note 2: 2 These two paragraphs, in the writing of Samuel Adams, are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, III, folio 567.]
Resolved, That so much of the said report as relates to the promotion of brigadiers to the rank of major general, be referred to the Board of War.
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That so much of the said report as relates to the sending military stores and a naval force to South Carolina, be referred to the Marine Committee, and that they take order thereon.
Resolved, That the farther sum of two thousand dollars be advanced to the Marquis de Brétigny; he to be accountable.
The Board of War to whom was re-committed their report of the 12th, brought in a farther report: Whereupon,
At a Board of War, April 12th., 1779.
Present, Col Pickering and Mr Peters.
The Board having considered the letters from his Excellency the Commander in Chief and General Green, Quarter Master General, on the subject of the Resolution of Congress of the 16th ulto. relative to the enlistment of Waggoners, presume that as General Green is best acquainted with the difficulties under which his Department labours and the means of avoiding or remedying them, and he having submitted his opinion thereon to General Washington, who has not contradicted the Quarter Master General's sentiments, the Act of Congress above mentioned will not answer the purposes intended, and therefore beg leave to report:
Resolved, That the Commander in Chief be authorized and directed to take such measures for inlisting a competent number of waggoners, to continue in service for nine months or during the ensuing campaign, as shall by him be deemed most efficacious and proper:
That the Quarter Master General shall from time to time, with the concurrence of the Commander in Chief, regulate the pay, clothing and subsistence of the waggoners so enlisted, in Recommitted such manner as shall be best adapted to circumstances, and most conducive to the good of the service.1
[Note 1: 1 The next paragraph was reported on this recommitted paragraph.]
That the waggoners so inlisted shall receive a sum not exceeding 40 dollars per month, and a suit of cloaths as a bounty:
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That such regulations shall be established by the quarter master general for the conduct, mustering, and paying of the said corps of waggoners as shall be judged expedient and approved of by the Commander in Chief:
That all regulations made in virtue hereof, and the numbers of waggoners inlisted, be, from time to time, returned and reported by the quarter master general to the Board of War.
Resolved, That the act of Congress of the 16 March, on the subject of inlisting waggoners, be, and the same is hereby repealed.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, III, folio 201.]
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Viscount Laumagne, for seven thousand three hundred and twenty dollars, in discharge of a bill drawn upon the President of Congress by John Pierce, assistant paymaster general, dated the 13 instant, for that sum specified to be received by him from Viscount Laumagne, for the public service of the United States, to be charged to the paymaster general, and for which he is to be accountable.2
[Note 2: 2 At this point George Bond began the entries. This paragraph formed part of a report dated April 16, which is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, III, folio 255.]
The following motion was made by the delegates of the State of Rhode Island:
Whereas the delegates of the State of Rhode Island and Providence plantations have in pursuance of a direction from said State represented to Congress that the legislature thereof, "taking into consideration its deplorable situation; that the army of the enemy upon Rhode Island consists of six thousand men, well provided with every necessary for an army; That to defend said State against this great force, there are in it not more than two thousand continental troops, and a
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brigade raised by the State the last year, the time of whose enlistment would expire on the sixteenth of March last; That said State was without aid from the states of New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay and Connecticut; and that calling out the militia for the defence thereof would be fruitless, expensive and pernicious," found it absolutely necessary to endeavour to raise a brigade of fifteen hundred men, officers included, for one year, for the common defence of that and the United States, and have accordingly offered a bounty of forty five pounds, the same cloathing allowed continental troops and an addition of six pounds per month to their wages for their better subsistance;
And whereas the said delegates have further represented that from the exhausted state of its finances, occasioned by the destruction of its commerce, and the enemy having been long in possession of a very valuable part of said State, it is utterly unable to pay the bounty, wages, cloathing and subsistance of said brigade, and have requested that the same should be furnished and defrayed by the Continent:
Resolved, That Congress approve the raising of a brigade of 1500 men by the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, for the common defence of that and the United States, for the space of one year, upon the conditions set forth in said representation; and that the bounty, pay, cloathing and subsistence of said brigade, shall be supplied and furnished at continental expence.
A motion was made by Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris, seconded by Mr. [John] Henry, that the same be committed.
Question put, passed in the negative.
A motion was then made by Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris, seconded by Mr. [John] Henry, that the consideration thereof be postponed.
After debate, it was moved by Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris, and seconded by Mr. [Meriwether] Smith, to add to the
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motion for postponing, the following words, "until the sense of the Commander in Chief can be had thereon:"
On which the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [William] Ellery,
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So it passed in the negative.
On the question for postponing, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [William] Ellery,
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So it passed in the negative.
A motion was made by Mr. [Thomas] Burke, and seconded by Mr. S[amuel] Adams, to strike out the words, "upon the Conditions set forth in the said representation, and that the bounty, pay, cloathing and subsistence of the said brigade shall be supplied and furnished at continental expence;" and in lieu thereof to insert, "to be entitled to continental pay, cloathing and subsistence, and a bounty not exceeding 200 dollars for every non-commissioned officer and soldier."1
[Note 1: 1 This amendment, in the writing of William Ellery, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 20, II, folio 69. Thomson has written "Burke" at the top of the sheet.]
When the question was about to be put, "shall the words moved to be struck out stand,"
The determination thereof was postponed by the State of New York.
Adjourned to 10 oClock on Monday.
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