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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, MAY 17, 1779
A letter, of this day, from Leonard Albouy and others was read;2 whereupon the committee on a former letter from Mr. Albouy brought in a report, which was read:
[Note 2: 2 Albouy's letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, I, folio 257; a second paper is on folio 287.]
Your Committee to which was referred a motion on Mr. Albouy's letter of the 12th instant, beg leave to report:
That, having paid particular attention to every Circumstance which may authenticate the accounts of the Distresses of the Bermudians, and collected a Number of important Vouchers in their Favor, and
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being moreover assured by the Minister of France that his Court will cordially acquiesce in any Measures which the Policy of Congress may adopt in favor of those suffering Islanders, they are of opinion that the Resolution of the [7] Day of [May] ought to be reconsidered.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Nathaniel Scudder, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, I, folio 261.]
Ordered, That it be re-committed.
Ordered, That the letter of this day from Leonard Albouy be referred to the said committee.
A letter, of the 16, from General Washington, was read, enclosing a letter of intelligence from Colonel Ford, and copies of sundry papers that passed between him and Brigadier McIntosh, and in which he informs that he thought it his duty to submit these last papers to the consideration of Congress, that it may decide whether the reasons given in his letter from Colonel Hamilton are sufficiently cogent to postpone an enquiry for the present:2
[Note 2: 2 Washington's letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, VII, folio 345; that of Ford is on folio 369; and the enclosures on folios 349--362.]
Resolved, That Congress are well satisfied with the reasons for postponing the enquiry.
Ordered, That the said papers be filed at the Board of War.
A letter, of April 24, from J. Rutledge, governor of South Carolina, to the delegates of that State, was laid before Congress and read.
A letter, of 11, from General Washington, was read, enclosing copies of sundry papers relative to the officers of the New Jersey brigade; and an extract from Colonel Wadsworth's letter of May 2; copy of Colonel Champion's letter of the same date to Colonel Wadsworth; and an extract of a letter from Colonel G. Morgan, of April 29, to Mr. Flint:3
[Note 3: 3 Rutledge's letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 72, folio 490; that of Washington, in No. 152, VII, folio 311.]
Ordered, That so much of the General's letter, and of the papers enclosed as relate to the commissary's department be
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referred to the committee for superintending the commissary and quarter master general's departments.
That the papers relative to the officers of the New Jersey brigade be referred to the Board of War.
A letter, of 14, from General Washington was read, enclosing a copy of a letter, of 9th, from Colonel George Morgan, and of a speech of Indian chiefs, and the General's answer:
Ordered, That the same be referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
A letter, of April 2, and one of April 15, from Major General Lincoln, were read, enclosing a paper respecting Captain John Peter André Dufau:1
[Note 1: 1 The letter of Washington is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, VII, folio 331. It is printed inWritings of Washington (Ford), VII, 452. The letter of Morgan is in No. 152, VII, folio 335, and the Indian talks on folios 339 and 343. The letter of Lincoln is in No. 158, folio 247, and the Dufau paper is on folio 251.]
Ordered, That they be referred to the Board of War.
A memorial from John Blair was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
A letter, of April 16, from P. Henry, governor of Virginia, to the delegates of that State, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
Resolved, That on every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, immediately after the reading of the journal and despatches, the reports on finance be considered until a decision is obtained thereon, and that no other business shall on any of those days be taken up, unless by unanimous consent of the members.
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report: Whereupon,
Resolved, That the auditors of the main army be authorized to establish a general rule for making allowances to recruiting officers for the incidental expences of drums, fifes, and cockades, reporting the same to the Board of Treasury.
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That the allowance made to Captain McLane in the settlement of his accounts by the auditors of the army, being agreeable to the resolutions of Congress for recruiting and subsisting theAgreed Continental battalions, your committee are restrained from increasing the allowance according to the prayer of his petition.1
[Note 1: 1 This paragraph was not entered in the Journals.]
The Committee on the Treasury having reported,
That in obedience to the order of Congress they have referred the accounts of General Count Pulaski's legion to the auditors of accounts for the main army: that for want of regularity in keeping those accounts and of proper vouchers, agreeable to the directions of Congress and the Board of Treasury, Auditor Johnston has reported to them that it is impracticable to settle the said accounts, as appears from his report and remarks accompanying their report:
Resolved, That the commanding officer of the detachment of the army serving in South Carolina and Georgia, be authorized to appoint a pay master for the said legion; and that Captain Baldesqui, the present pay master, be detained until he shall have produced competent vouchers, and settled the accounts of the said legion.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, dated May 15, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, III, folio 311.]
The Committee on the Treasury report,
"That Congress did, on the 1st day of August, 1777, appropriate one million of dollars for the service of Georgia; That several sums of money were from time to time drawn out of the treasury in favour of the said State, and in part of the said grant; That a warrant was drawn by the President of Congress on John Gibson, auditor general, dated the 1st day of September, 1777, in favour of the delegates of Georgia, for nineteen thousand dollars advanced to enable them to discharge two bills drawn on them by the Governor of that State, for the purpose of recruiting the 3rd Georgia battalion; one of them for fourteen thousand dollars, in favour of Captain
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Thomas Scott, and the other in favour of Captain Clement Nash for five thousand dollars. That on the same day Mr. Nathan Brownson, one of the delegates of the said State, did draw an order on the said Auditor General, for the payment of the said 14,000 dollars, to Captain Scott, part of the said warrant, which was accordingly done as appears by a receipt on the back of the said order; That Mr. Joseph Wood, another of the delegates of the State of Georgia, did afterwards receive of the said Auditor General the full amount of the aforesaid warrant, without discounting the sum which had been paid in the order of the said N. Brownson, as appears by two receipts, endorsed on the said warrant, under the hand of the said Joseph Wood; one of them, dated 23rd December, 1777, for six thousand dollars; and the other by a warrant on the treasurer, for which the said Auditor General is accountable, dated 11 February, 1778, for the sum of thirteen thousand dollars, granted expressly to enable him to discharge the residue of the said warrant of 1st September last, in favour of the delegates of Georgia; which two receipts amount to 19,000 dollars, the sum mentioned in the said warrant, from all which, it appears that the said Auditor General has advanced for the said State of Georgia, fourteen thousand dollars beyond the warrant of Congress, for which he ought to have a voucher; And that the last mentioned sum of 14,000 dollars fully compleats the said grant of one million of dollars for the service of Georgia." Whereupon,
Resolved, That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of John Gibson, auditor general, for fourteen thousand dollars, being the sum he so paid to the said Scott, on the order of the said Nathan Brownson, on the 1 September, 1777, on account of the State of Georgia, and for which the said State is to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, dated May 17, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, III, folio 313. The account with the State of Georgia is on folio 317.]
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The Board of War having reported on sundry matters referred to them:
At a Board of War,May 15, 1779.
Present, General Spencer, Colonel Atlee, Colonel Pickering and Mr. Peters.
The Board having considered the letter from General Washington, of the 3d instant, with its enclosures, and that from General Schuyler, of the 25th ulto. on the subject of Indian Affairs, beg leave to report to Congress:
That General Washington be directed to give every information he shall deem expedient to the Commissioners of Indian Affairs in the Northern Department of any intended military operations against the hostile tribes of Indians, that no measures inconsistent therewith may be taken at any treaty or conference with the savages. That General Washington be also directed to give every necessary assistance and advice to the Commissioners, that a proper plan may be formed to establish Peace with such of the tribes or nations as the Commissioners shall, on receiving the necessary information, deem proper, and that they may give every assistance to any intended operations proposed to be carried on for the chastisement of the hostile tribes.
That the said Commissioners of Indian Affairs be authorized to take such measures after receiving the opinion and advice of the Commander in Chief, as they shall think best adapted to circumstances, and most consistent with the interest and safety of the United States so far as concerns their department.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, III, folio 323. The paragraph adopted, in the writing of Thomas Burke, is on folio 327.]
Resolved, That the commissioners for Indian affairs in the northern department be directed to consult General Washington upon all treaties with the Indians, and to govern themselves by such instructions as he shall give them relative to any partial or general treaty of peace to be concluded with them.
Resolved, That the adjutant general of the army of the United States, be allowed the same rations as a brigadier general:
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That he be permitted to engage two assistants and one clerk, the assistants to be taken from the line, and both they and the clerk to be approved of by the Commander in Chief:
That each assistant be allowed such an addition to his appointments as an officer in the line, as shall make the same equal to those of a lieutenant colonel:
That the clerk be taken from the subalterns or volunteers in the army, and allowed pay and subsistence equal in the whole to those of a captain.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, dated March 19 (Peters and Pickering, present), is in thePapers of Continental Congress, No. 147. III, folio 131.]
War Office,May 12, 1779.
The Board are informed by Lieutenant Colonel Bayard, of Colonel Broadhead's regiment, the 8th Pennsylvania, that the time of service of that regiment will expire next August: and by Lieutenant Colonel Campbell, of the 13th Virginia regiment, that the time of service of the men of that regiment will expire next autumn, by November at farthest; that if money were supplied them, they could probably reenlist the greater part of their respective regiments: That no money could be obtained from the Treasury of Pennsylvania; and Colonel Campbell who is present, unless furnished here must be obliged to proceed to Williamsburg, where perhaps he may be disappointed: That these two regiments form almost the whole force in the Western Department, and unless the Men are re-enlisted immediately, it is probable few will enlist at all.
The Board therefore considering these two regiments as essential for the defence of the Western Frontiers, and that if they are discharged at the times above mentioned it will be exceedingly difficult, if not impracticable, to supply their places with other troops, beg leave to report:
Resolved, That sixty thousand dollars be granted for the purpose of reinlisting the non commissioned officers and privates of the 8 Pensylvania regiment, and forty thousand dollars for the purpose of reinlisting the non commissioned officers and privates of the 13th Virginia regiment, upon the terms proposed in the resolution of Congress of 23rd day of January, and 9th March last, that these sums be paid into
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the hands of the paymaster of the Board of War, to be by him transmitted to the commanding officers of the regiments aforesaid.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, III, folio 313.]
Ordered, That the report of the Board of War on the barrack master's representation be re-committed.
That Saturday next be assigned for taking into consideration the report of the Board of War on the department of military stores.
War and Ordnance Office,May 1, 1779.
The Board have endeavoured to keep in good temper the persons employed in the Ordnance Department, and prevailed upon them to wait for a long time, in hopes of some fortunate event or measures which might recover the value of our money, and of some general regulation, which including the Officers and Men of the Artillery Artificers under Colonel Flower, and the Commissaries, Clerks, and Conductors, in the civil branches of the Ordnance, would ease the minds of these useful and indispensably necessary people, and stimulate them to perform the tasks assigned to them with greater comfort to themselves, and of course with more benefit to the public. But their difficulties daily increase: and we are now called upon, by our regard to the public interest, to inform Congress, that this department is on the eve of dissolution, as the Officers, already deeply distressed, will not continue in the service to theircertain ruin; nor will a Man reenlist, or recruits engage in the Corps, on the present terms held out to them.
We are well aware that objections lie against the business, about which the Artificers are employed, being done by Soldiers, who having no increase of emolument in view by an increase of labour, are too often idle and inattentive to their duty; and were our Country in the situation of those in Europe, where contracts can be made with certainty and justice to both parties, owing to the fixed value of their Money; and where workmen are so plenty and dependent that they seek for employment, instead of being courted to work, the objections would have their full force: But from a long attention to the subject, we can with confidence pronounce, that the carrying on the Ordnance business by enlisted workmen, is the only way the present circumstances of this Country will admit, so as to have any degree of certainty,
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in regard to the supplies. Besides it is proposed that the pay of the Artificers should be greater or less in proportion to their industry and the goodness of their work, which will doubtless produce very beneficial effects. The Artificers employed on daily wages are transient, clamorous, ungovernable and extortionate. We were asked four hundred dollars a month by a person we stood in need of to superintend an Armoury, and the wages of hired common workmen, such as Smiths, Carpenters, &c. are ten dollars a day and rations; without any certainty of their continuance even at this sum.
The Officers in the regiment, who do the double duty of Superintending their own Men and those hired to assist them, complain that they see themselves and families reduced to want, while the mere journeyman has at least a sufficiency for his maintainance, and that of his family. The enlisted Artificers draw very grating comparisons between their own and the situation of hired Men, who have ten times their pay.
The condition of these people is peculiar, as most of them have families with whom they connected themselves either previous to their enlistment or since their engaging in the Corps, which being stationary induces them to enter into Matrimonial engagements more than the Men in Marching regiments. The families of such Men are distressed, and themselves discontented: whence the public service must inevitably suffer. Their pay, from the depreciation of the currency, is trifling, compared with that of a British Artificer in the Army, who receives a Spanish dollar per day and rations.
The Officers of the regiment of Artillery Artificers could, by resigning, resume their several employments to great advantage, as most of them, before they entered into the public service, were Master workmen, and possessed of considerable property. Yet they would be satisfied with allowances far short of the emoluments of private business: altho' being taken out of the line of the Army, and rising and Commanding only in their own Corps, they have no Military glory in view, and can expect nothing from the public but pecuniary satisfaction. The other Officers in the Department of Military Stores axe much in the same situation. All of them would be contented with a mere support, altho many of them would enrich themselves by leaving the Service: and they say they shall be Obliged to resign for want of subsistence, unless speedily relieved. But if they do, all the Ordnance supplies must Stop, as we know of none who will fill their places.
The Board reluctantly recommend the raising of pay; but in this, as well as the other civil departments of the Army, we do not see how
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it can be avoided. We know that many of our Officers complain that their pay is not equal to that of a Common Artificer; but they do not advert to the difference of their situations. The Military Officer has promotion and glory for his objects: but the Artificer has only his wages to invite him to his duty. It is the case in all Armies, that workmen receive more pay than many of the Officers; and in the British Service the pay of a Carpenter exceeds that of a Lieutenant.
For these reasons we think that no bad precedent will be established by raising the pay of the Artificers: at the same time it is evidently a matter of indispensible necessity; unless other means can be found that will yield them equal relief. We therefore beg leave to report:
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That such of the Officers abovementioned as are allowed provisions and forage by virtue of the Resolution of Congress of the 11th of February, 1778, be still entitled to the same.
That all the Officers and clerks who have served in this Department for one year previous to this date, do now belong to it, and agree to continue therein, shall be entitled to draw out of the Clothier Generals store one suit of clothes, to be paid for at the same rate that Officers in the line are charged for the same: and that they continue to do the same annually, until Congress shall order otherwise.
We beg leave to add, that large as the pay here proposed appears, it is in no case more than four tunes as much as the pay established in February, 1778, except for the Commissary General, altho' the necessaries of life do now generally cost ten times as much as they did then: that the Commissary General, besides superintending the Department, and finally examining all the accounts, and attending to the government, musters, pay and clothing of the corps of Artillery Artificers, is charged with a variety of purchases, to the amount of at least three fourths of the whole expenditures of the Department, that the Board sensible of the weighty objections to the Departments or Commission, preferred the proposition for increasing the monthly pay of the persons employed in the Department of Military Stores: and the Officers therein when representing their present distress, have asked only for a bare maintainance. But for this, less than the sums above mentioned will not be sufficient, in the present depreciated State of the currency; nor even then, without a retrospect to the commencement of the present year, since which time, and indeed for months before, they have unavoidably expended more than their pay; which has obliged some to part with their private fortunes and others to run in debt. We are hence, and from our observation in other cases, led to remark, that in Officers who have been long employed in the public service there appears to be an attachment to it which induces them to continue in it upon terms vastly more moderate than would be insisted on by new Men, who having for some time past attended only to their private Affairs, have contracted more avaricious inclinations, and would therefore refuse employments that would yield them only a descent subsistence. Hence we are led to despair of organizing the department of Military Stores with suitable Officers, if the present set are compelled by their necessities to resign.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, III, folio 365.]
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On a report of the Board of Treasury,
Resolved, That the application of Captain McClean be referred to the State of Delaware, and that the President thereof be informed that any compensation which that State shall judge proper to be made to Captain McClean shall be credited to that State in its account with Congress.1
[Note 1: 1 This paragraph appeared only in the manuscript Secret Domestic Journal.]
Adjourned to 11 oClock to Morrow.
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