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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, DECEMBER 11, 1779
A letter, of 8, from General Washington, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [Robert R.] Livingston, Mr. [John] Mathews, and Mr. [Roger] Sherman.
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Another letter, of 7, from General Washington, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 The letters of Washington are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, VIII, folios 207, 215. The first is printed in the Writings of Washington (Ford), VIII, 128.]
Ordered, That so much thereof as relates to the counterfeiting the bills of credit of the United States, be referred to the Board of Treasury.
A letter, of this day, from Major General Gates, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
A letter, of 27 October, from Major General Lincoln; and one, of 8 instant, from Major General Greene, were read:2
[Note 2: 2 Gates's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 154, II, folio 198; that of Greene, in No. 155, I, folio 184.]
A letter, of 8th, from James Milligan, auditor general, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
A memorial from Captain [J.] Baldesqui was read:3
[Note 3: 3 This memorial is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, I, folio 270.]
Ordered, That so much thereof as relates to his character, which he apprehends will be wounded by the resolution of 17th May, unless facts are properly stated, be referred to the Board of Treasury;
And that so much as relates to his desire of leave to resign his commission and to be gratified with the brevet of major, be referred to the Board of War.
A letter, of 6, from A[ndrew] Harper, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
A letter, of 26 November, from J[oseph] Ward, commissary general of musters, was read.4
[Note 4: 4 Harper's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XI, folio 475; that of Ward, in No. 78, XXIV, folio 137.]
A report from the committee sent to camp was received.
The Committee, appointed to repair to Head Quarters for the purposes mentioned in the resolutions of Congress of the 30th instant, beg leave to report,
That having laid before the Commander in Chief the resolutions of Congress they were charged with and the papers referred to in the
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same, His Excellency was pleased to furnish your Committee with copy of a letter he had the honor to address Congress on the 29th ult,; that they perfectly agree with his Excellency on the propriety of detaching the Virginia line to reinforce the Forces under the command of Major General Lincoln; that the reasons given by his Excellency in the letter referred to, for conveying them thither by water appear to your Committee conclusive. They therefore Intreat permission to recommend that the Commander of the French fleet now in Chesapeak Bay should be pressed to afford sufficient Convoy, and the necessity of it urged on the principles stated in the General's letter, and on the recommendation of the Minister of France, "that the Attention of Congress should be given to the Overtures made by Don Juan de Miralies;"
Your Committee beg leave further to observe that so capital a detachment from this army, considering the extensive posts to be maintained and the Enemy's position and force, may induce them to an offensive operation against it, which in the decreased strength of the Army, when the Virginia troops shall be detached, would, they conceive, be attended with at least very disagreable, if not ruinous consequences: they therefore, humbly recommend that immediate and decisive measures should be adopted to draw from the several States in the Union their respective Quotas to compleat the battalions now on the establishment, as they humbly conceive that the Militia, which the Commander in Chief is impowered by the seventh resolution to call forth into the field, is a resource too precarious to be depended upon in the present situation of affairs.
Your Committee beg leave further to report, that having conferred with the Commander in Chief on the subject matter of the papers transmitted to Congress by the Minister of France, and Don Juan de Miralles, they find his Excellency's Sentiments perfectly coinciding with theirs on the subject, to wit; That it would be highly imprudent to enter on any offensive operation against any of the Enemy's fortifications, or forces South of Georgia, previous to the reduction or expulsion of the British Force from that State. It is therefore humbly submitted that it should be proposed to their Most Christian and Catholic Majesty's Ambassadors, Agents, Governors or Commanders, that a fleet in such force of both or either of said powers, as would in all probability insure a superiority on the Coasts south of South Carolina over any British naval force which may reasonably
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be expected in that Quarter, should be sent as early as possible to Charles Town, together with five thousand land forces to operate in conjunction with what American force may be in that quarter against the British in Georgia; that after having reduced or expelled the Enemy from that State, the Combined force should proceed to the reduction of the British Garrisons in East or West Florida, as should be deemed most expedient by the contracting parties, and that having accomplished this, or failed in the operations, the American troops should be reconveyed to such of the United States as may be agreed upon.
Your Committee beg leave to observe on that part of the paper delivered by Don Juan de Miralles, which regards a supply of provisions for the Inhabitants of the City of Havane and Isle of Cuba, that it would be improper to make a pointed promise to furnish such supply in part or the whole, until it is put beyond all doubt that there will be a surplus after the Army and Navy of the United States and the fleet of our Ally are amply provided; That nevertheless, as an inducement to procure a Spanish force to cooperate with our troops in Georgia, if they cannot do it without an aid in point of provisions, some risk should be run and a dependence put on extraordinary exertions to procure provisions in this Quarter for our own Army.
All of which is humbly submitted
Pei: Schuyler
Hy Marchant.
Head Quarters, Morris Town, December 7, 1779.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Philip Schuyler, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 33, folio 321. It is endorsed: "Referred to [John] Mathews, [Roger] Sherman and [Robert R.] Livingston." See under December 16, 1779, post.]
The committee on the motion of the 3d instant, respecting the commissary general of purchases, brought in a report and desired leave to sit again.
A report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Mr. [George] Plater, one of the delegates for the State of Maryland, on his application, for six thousand dollars; for which the said State is to be accountable.
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Resolved, That on the application of the Board of War and Ordnance, a warrant issue on the Treasurer in favor of Joseph Carleton, Postponed Esq. Pay Master to the said Board, for 200,000 dollars for the contingent expences of the War and Ordnance Office, and for the purpose of enabling Mr. Cheerers, Commissary of Military Stores at Springfield, to build a number of houses for the reception and employment of the Artillery Artificers at that place; for which the said Joseph Carleton is to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, dated December 10, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, III, folio 885.]
That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Mr. C[ornelius] Harnett, one of the delegates for the State of North Carolina, on his application, for five thousand dollars; for which the said State is to be accountable.
That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Robert Troup, secretary to the Board of Treasury, and Joseph Nourse, assistant auditor general, for three thousand dollars, each, on account of their salaries.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, dated December 11, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, III, folio 891.]
Congress took into consideration the report of the committee for procuring supplies for the army; and thereupon,
Resolved, That the legislature of the State of Virginia be requested to furnish, for the army of the United States, on or before the first day of April next, 20,000 barrels of Indian corn, and transport the same to such places within the said State as the commissary general of purchases shall direct:
That the legislature of the State of Maryland be requested, in addition to the 15,000 barrels of flour heretofore required of them, to furnish for the army of the United States, on or before the first day of April next, 5000 barrels of flour and 5000 barrels of Indian corn:
That the State of Pensylvania be requested to furnish, for the army of the United States, on or before the first day of April next, 50,000 barrels of flour, or wheat in proportion:
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That the 10,000 barrels of flour, or wheat in proportion, heretofore requested from the State of Delaware by the committee of Congress, be furnished as soon as possible:
That 8000 barrels of flour be requested from the State of New Jersey, part of which to be furnished as soon as possible, to answer the immediate demands of the army:
That the State of Connecticut be requested to furnish, for the army of the United States, 8000 barrels of flour.
Resolved, That the committee who brought in the report, be directed to confer with his excellency the President and supreme executive council of Pensylvania, in order to their carrying into execution the request of Congress made to their State:
That letters be written to the other states, requesting them immediately to proceed in furnishing the supplies.
Resolved, That the remainder of the report be postponed.
A letter, of this day, from the honourable the Minister of France, was read, relative to the proceeds of the vessel captured by eight American seamen; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the Minister of France be informed, that Congress approve the paying of the money arising from the sale of the Greyhound, which was captured by eight American seamen, to the captors or to their attornies in equal shares; and that measures will be taken to convey intelligence to the said captors.
Ordered, That the said letter, together with his note on this subject, be referred to the delegates of Massachusetts bay and Rhode Island.
Resolved, That the committee who brought in the report on supplies have leave to sit again.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock on Monday.
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