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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, OCTOBER 18, 1779
A letter, of 10th, from Monsr. L'Eclize; and one, of the 4th, from James Avery, were read:
Ordered, That they be referred to the Board of War.
A letter, of 10, from Jeremiah Wadsworth, commissary general of purchases, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the committee on the quarter master and commissary general's departments, and that they report thereon.
A petition from Isaac Tyler was read:1
[Note 1: 1 The letter of L'Eglize is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, VIII, folio 335; that of Avery, in No. 78, I, folio 321; that of Wadsworth, in No. 78, XXIV, folio 97; that of Tyler, in No. 42, VII, folio 356.]
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [Roger] Sherman, Mr. [John] Mathews, and Mr. [William] Paca.
The Board of War, to whom their report respecting Major la Neuville was re-committed, brought in another report; Whereupon,
Resolved, That Major de la Neuville, who has served two campaigns in the American army, and has obtained very honorable testimonials of his merit, valour and services in the several capacities in which he has been employed, be appointed a lieutenant colonel by brevet in the army of the United States:
That Lieutenant Colonel Noirmont de la Neuville have leave to return to France.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, II, folio 527. A report of the Board, dated November 24, 1778 (present, Sherman, Lee, and Peters), is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XVII, folio 91.]
The Board of War, to whom was referred the letter of 25 September last, from the governor of Virginia, brought in a report; Whereupon,
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At a Board of War, October 16, 1779.
Present, Col. Pickering, Col. Atlee, Mr Root and Mr. Peters
That the reason for stationing the Troops of Convention in Virginia was that they might draw supplies which could not be useful from their distance to our army. That the difficulties attending the procuring these supplies will be rendered nearly insurmountable, if they are too much interfered with by demands for other troops than those of our army and for the fleet of our ally. That if either party is put to inconvenience, it should be our enemies, and tho' we would not wish to imitate them in all things, we look upon it but a small retaliation, if any, to oblige their prisoners to eat wholesome Indian Bread, instead of that made from wheat flour; and as Indian corn is plenty in Virginia, tho' their crops of winter grain have in some degree failed, we conceive that bread may be delivered to the convention troops made of Indian corn, and if they do not choose to eat it, and the enemy wish to send them flour, they may be at full liberty to do it.
The board beg leave to report.
Resolved, That the governor of Virginia be informed, that in the opinion of Congress the deficiency of flour for the convention troops, which cannot be obtained from wheat in Virginia, ought to be supplied with meal made of Indian corn, which is equally wholesome:
That his excellency the governor of Virginia be requested to inform the commanding officer of those troops, that if the commander in chief of the British forces will order supplies of flour to be sent to Virginia from parts in possession of the British army, passports will be ordered for the purpose when applied for.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, to this point, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, II, folio 531.]
Resolved, That the Board of War be directed to give the necessary orders to the commissary general of purchases and the commissary general of issues, for supplying the convention troops with rations of Indian meal, in lieu of flour, agreeably to the foregoing resolutions.
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On motion of Mr. [Henry] Marchant, seconded by Mr. [William] Paca,
Resolved, That the resolution of Congress passed the 2d of July last, so far as it directs or provides, "that each endorsement of the certificates issued by the commissioners of the continental loan offices for exchanging bills of the emissions of May 20, 1777, and April 11, 1778, be witnessed by a magistrate," be, and the same is hereby repealed.
Resolved, That the report of the committee on departments be referred to the committee of the whole.
Congress was then resolved into a committee of the whole, and after some time, the President resumed the chair, and Mr. [Daniel of St. Thomas] Jenifer reported, that the committee have had under their farther consideration the subject and papers referred to them, 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 further the reports on finance and the other papers referred to them.
Congress proceeded to the nomination of a proper person to negotiate a loan in Holland; and Mr. John Adams was put in nomination by G[ouverneur] Morris.
Mr. Henry Laurens, by Mr. [John] Mathews.
Mr. Woodbury Langdon, by Mr. [William] Sharpe.
On motion of Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris, seconded by Mr. [John] Mathews,
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to prepare instructions to the person who may be empowered to negotiate a foreign loan.
The members chosen--Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris, Mr. [John] Mathews, and Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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