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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 --WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1779
A letter, of 13th, from Colonel J. Laurens, was read;2 and a motion being made thereon,
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 165, folio 10.]
Resolved, That the Commission of Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens, dated March 29th, 1779, be received and cancelled, and that he be presented with a Commission of Lieutenant Colonel in the Continental service, to bear date the 5th. of October, 1777.3
[Note 3: 3 This motion, in the writing of Samuel Holten, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, I, folio 51.]
Ordered, That the letter and motion be referred to the Board of War.
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A letter, of this day, from Lieutenant Colonel Dircks, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
A letter, of 13, from Governor Livingston, was read.1
[Note 1: 1 Dircks's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, VII, folio 269; that of Livingston is in No. 68, folio 507.]
A report from the Board of War was read; Whereupon,
Since the report of yesterday2 relative to the Virginia troops, the Board have had an opportunity of conversing with General Muhlenberg, Colonel Laurens, and some Gentlemen of the Virginia line, and upon the whole are of opinion that it will be highly expedient to indulge every man with a furlough till the first of April, whose enlistment will expire by the last day of next March, and who will reinlist to serve during the war; and that those only who refuse to reinlist shall be sent back to camp. This alternative, in the present situation of these troops, we conceive will procure more recruits than if the experiment had been made in camp. Instead therefore of the report of yesterday, we would beg leave to substitute the following;
[Note 2: 2 "At a Board of War, December 13, 1779.
"Sir: The following report will be necessary to enable General Woodford to keep the Troops at Trenton who will not be of service to the southward. As they are moving on we beg the immediate attention of Congress to this, and we will report on the rest of the letter so soon as possible. We wish to have the men whose times expire in December as a guard over a large number of prisoners going to Fort Frederick in Maryland. The numbers of our Troops in this predicament, 213, and the period of their enlistment so short, that if they are sent to Camp they will be of little service, and if sent as guards will be a great saving as we must otherwise get militia who must return.
"That General Woodford be directed to order all such of the Troops of the Virginia line now on their way to Philadelphia, whose times of service expire on or before the last day of March next, to rejoin the main army (except those whose times expire in December who are to be subject to the orders of the Board of War); and that he forward with all expedition those who are enlisted for a longer term or during the War."
This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, II, folio 647.]
Resolved, That such of the Virginia troops whose times of service will expire by the last day of March next, and who incline to inlist for the usual bounties, to serve during the war, be permitted to go home on furlough till the first day of April next: [on condition of their reinlisting for the usual bounties to serve during the war.]3
[Note 3: 3 Words in brackets were in the original report, but were not reported.]
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That such as do not incline thus to re-inlist, be ordered to rejoin the main army, [there to serve out the terms of their respective inlistments]1 except those whose times of service will expire by the last day of December instant, who are to be [brought to Philadelphia]1 employed during the residue of their service as the Board of War shall direct.2
[Note 11: 1 Words in brackets were in the original report, but were not adopted.]
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, II, folio 651.]
On motion of Mr. [William Churchill] Houston, seconded by Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry,
Resolved, That it be recommended to the legislative, or, where vested with competent authority, to the executive powers of such of the states where embargoes are in force, to continue the same; and where embargoes are not in force, to lay them, to prohibit until the first day of April next, the exportation of the several articles mentioned and described in the resolution of Congress of the 21 August last.
The committee, to whom was referred the report of the commissioners on Mr. J. Adams account, brought in a report.
The Committee, to whom was referred the Reports of the Commissioners of Accounts, of the 25 October last, and read in Congress the 27 of the same month, on the accounts of the Honble. John Adams, Esq. late one of the Commissioners of the United States at the Court of Versailles, report:
That they do not find any Vote or Proceeding of Congress, nor are they informed of any general or received Custom, on which the Charge of Monies for the Education of the Accomptant's Son can be admitted; and though the same is inconsiderable, they are of opinion it ought to be rejected, that a Precedent be not established.
That they are of opinion the Charge for Books ought to be admitted on the ground of a Practice which has obtained in different Nations respecting their publick Ministers, and which is mentioned by Mr. Adams in the Explanations attending his Vouchers.
That they find the several Charges in the said Accounts conformable to the strictest Principles of Economy, and that as far as Mr. Adams has been entrusted with publick Money the same has been carefully and frugally expended.3
[Note 3: 3 This report, in the writing of William Churchill Houston, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, I, folio 1.]
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According to order, Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on General Washington's letter of 18 November, and having made some progress therein,
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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