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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, OCTOBER 12, 1779
A letter, of 23 September, from Colonel D. Broadhead, at Fort Pitt, directed to the Board of War, was laid before Congress and read, accompanied with a copy of a letter from Colonel Broadhead to General Washington, giving an account of his successful expedition against the Senecas and
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Munsey nations, and copies of his conferences with the Delawares, Wyandots, and Maquechees tribe of Shawanese:
Ordered, That the papers enclosed in Colonel Broadhead's letter be referred to the Committee of Intelligence.
The committee, to whom was referred a letter of 21 August last, from the Board of War, respecting their complaint of the general orders issued by Major General Sullivan, on the 21 July last, at Wyoming, brought in a report, which was read:
The Committee to whom were referred a letter, of the 31 of August last, from the Board of War respecting their complaint of the General Orders Issued by General Sullivan, on the 21 July last, at Wyoming, reflecting on that Board. Report:
That they have examined the letters, that passed between General Washington General Sullivan and the Board of War, relative to the supplies to be furnished by that Board, to General Sullivan's army, and find, that the following articles have been supplied by the Board to General Sullivan's Army, Vizt, 8000 pr Shoes, 3000 Shirts, 3000 pr Overalls, 2000 hunting shirts, and 500 blankets. And further find that General Sullivan's requisitions have always been indefinite, requiring a largo supply, but no certain quantity ever specified by him, previous to the issuing the said General orders, which rendered it impracticable for the Board of War to ascertain what were his wants. The only article that appears to be deficient are blankets. Of this Article the Board had in store no more than 1000, nor were more at that time to be procured; one half of which were sent to General Sullivan's Army, to the detriment of the troops of the grand Army. On the whole your Committee are of opinion that the Board of War, have done as much as in them lay, to comply with General Sullivan's requisitions, and to promote the public service. Nor do they think any engagements made to General Sullivan by the Board of War, are such, as can in any manner, authorize the censure contained in his General orders of the 21 July last. Therefore recommend the following resolution to be come into by Congress:
Resolved that the censure contained in General Sullivan's General orders of the 21 July last, against the Board of War, are without foundation.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of John Mathews, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, V, folio 449.]
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Ordered, That it be re-committed.
Ordered, That two members be elected for the said committee in the room of Mr. [John] Armstrong, who has leave of absence, and of Mr. [Jesse] Root, who is a member of the Board of War.
The members chosen, Mr. [John] Witherspoon and Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris.
The Board of War, to whom was referred the representation of Nicholas and Mark Fouquet, brought in a report; Whereupon,
Present, Mr. Root, Mr. Atlee, and Mr. Peters
The Board taking into consideration the representation of Messrs. Fouquet referred to them by Congress beg leave to report:
That the Board have seen the testimonials produced by Messrs. Fouquet of their conduct since their being employed under the contract made at York Town, and have every reason to be satisfied with the proceedings of Messrs. Fouquet, who have in the opinion of the Board been extremely useful in reforming the practice of powder making, and disseminating the knowledge of that art throughout those states, wherein they have had an opportunity of giving instructions to the Manufacturers. That they have been very industrious in their business and open in their communications, having given every necessary instruction without the least reserve. They have written treatises on the subject of Salt petre and powder making, which the Board have procured to be published, and they have left models of a Powder Mill and a Machine to bore Mortars with the Board.
That they were taught to believe that the bills of Exchange for the 900 livres would be redelivered them at the expiration of the period mentioned in the contract, as well as the sum therein specified. The bills were actually drawn and delivered to Messrs Fouquet, as they were to the other officers of Monsr. Du Coudray's Corps, all of whom (Messrs. Fouquet excepted) have received the money thereupon. Messrs. Fouquet deposited their Bills in hopes of a return of them or other Bills when called for. The Board therefore, considering the utility of these gentlemen, and that their pay has not been nearly sufficient for their support, beg leave to recommend that it be
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Resolved, That Messrs. Nicholas and Mark Fouquet, having been employed in the service of the United States for two years, in superintending the business of manufacturing powder and salt petre, and having conducted themselves with much reputation, and evidenced their utility to the United States, have thereby recommended themselves to the favorable opinion of Congress.
That bills of exchange for 900 livres be delivered to those gentlemen respectively, beside the sum mentioned in their contract with the Board of War and Ordnance.1
[Note 1: 1 The last three paragraphs were in the writing of George Bond. This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, II, folio 519.]
The following gentlemen were put in nomination for officers of the Board of Treasury:
For auditor general: Mr. J. Nourse, by Mr. [William] Sharpe.
For commissioners: Mr. J. Gibson, by Mr. [Henry] Laurens and Mr. [Samuel] Atlee; Mr. Jonathan Trumbull Jun. by Mr. [George] Partridge; Mr. Ezekiel Foreman, by Mr. [Daniel of St. Thomas] Jenifer;
Mr. James Milligan, Mr. William Govett, Mr. Resolve Smith, Mr. William Geddes, Mr. Mercier and Mr. McComb, the present commissioners, [nominated] by Mr. [Henry] Laurens; Mr. James Stevenson, by Mr. [John] Armstrong; Mr. William Denning, by Mr. [John] Fell. Mr. Joseph Gilman, by Mr. [Nathaniel] Peabody.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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