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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, JANUARY 12, 1780
A letter, of 8, from Major General Greene, quarter master general, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 155, I, folio 192.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on the Post Office, together with so much of General Washington's letter, of 5, as relates to expresses.
A letter, of 8, from John Pierce, assistant paymaster general, was read:2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 165, folio 567.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury. A petition of Gosuinus Erkelens was read.3
[Note 3: 3 This petition, undated, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, II, folio 400.]
A report from the Board of War was read; Whereupon
War Office, Jany 10th 1780.
When the Commander in Chief detached the Virginia troops, a passage in his letter indicated his concern for the weakness of his army by making that detachment, and numerous discharges soon to take place of those men whose times of enlistment were near expiring. Under this view of the matter, the board thought the service of any number of troops, even for a few months an object of importance, and therefore reported to Congress that such of the Virginians whose times of inlistment would expire between the 1st of Jany and the last of March, should return to the main army. We since find that this has given dissatisfaction to those troops--that contrary to our expectations, very few reinlisted on the alternative of going home immediately, or returning to camp--that if permitted now to go home, two or three months indulgence may probably induce many afterwards to reinlist--and more than all, that the scarcity of provisions at camp renders it inexpedient that they should return thither. These reasons concur with the sentiments of the Commander in Chief, as expressed in the following extract of a letter from him to Genl Woodford, dated Decr 24, 1779: "As to the Officers and men who do not proceed to the southward on account of the short duration of the enlistments of the latter, Congress and the Board of War will
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direct the conduct they are to pursue, you were certainly right, in my opinion in advising against their return to the army, and for the reasons you have assigned and in addition, their not returning will contribute in some degree to lessen our difficulties on the subject of supplies of provisions, which are distressing almost in the extreme." We therefore beg leave to report
Resolved, That such of the Virginia troops as by a resolve of the 15th of December last were required to return and join the main army, be marched by their officers to the State of Virginia and there discharged, a change of circumstances rendering their junction with that army unnecessary, except such number of those whose times of enlistment will latest expire, as shah be deemed necessary to be employed as guards by the Board of War.
Of the first division of prisoners sent lately to Fort Frederick we find upwards of fifty file too sick to proceed farther than Lancaster, and perhaps many of the second may be in the same condition, our intention therefore is, if Congress think proper, to retain a company of Virginians to guard those prisoners while at Lancaster, and when recovered to escort them to Fort Frederick.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, IV, folio 57.]
Another report from the Board of War was read; Whereupon,
War Office Jany 11th 1780
Sir: The Board are extremely averse from troubling Congress on matters of small importance. They ever avoid it except where consequences are involved in the measure which may create future uneasiness with respect to other cases. The officers of all the regiments of light dragoons are anxious to have as many of their men mounted as possible and from the scarcity of cash and the great expence of horses we have given very little encouragement to any applications for the purchase of horses. By the enclosed letter Congress will perceive that Genl Washington thinks Colo Armand's case is an exception as he purchased the horses originally at his own expence and these are looked upon as a debt due in kind from the United States to Colonel Armand, tho' he does not expect that the
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horses shall be his, but remain the property of the public. If Congress shall be of opinion that Colo Armand's request to have twelve horses to replace those lost last campaign ought to be complied with they will be pleased to resolve,
Resolved, That the Board of War be directed to order twelve dragoon horses to be delivered to Colonel Armand for the use of his corps, the said horses to be taken from those already purchased for public use, and not otherwise necessarily employed;
Or if so many cannot be found, that the deficiency be supplied by purchases for that purpose.
N. B. The Board have ordered (conditionally) seven horses out of those used by their escorts. So that there will remain five to be purchased if Congress direct it.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, IV, folio 53.]
Ordered, That the remainder of the report be postponed.
The committee on the return of issues at Philadelphia delivered in a report, which was read; and after debate,
Ordered, That it be re-committed, and that the committee confer with the Board of War, and report to Morrow.
On motion of Mr. [John] Mathews, seconded by Mr. [George] Plater,
Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the Board of War, of 27 December last, respecting Captain Galvan; Whereupon,
Resolved, That Mr. Galvan receive the commission of major in the army of the United States, and be employed in the inspectorship, as the Commander in Chief shall direct.
The committee appointed to apportion the quota of supplies, &c., brought in a report, which was read:
That a sum equal to sixty one millions two hundred and fifty thousand dollars of Continental currency will be necessary for the ensuing year, to commence from theDay oflast for the following articles viz.
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That the Quotas of the respective States be as follows, to wit:
That the Quota of Georgia (she at present being not in condition to supply the same) be proportionably supplied by the other States, viz:
That a sum equal to 3,728,600 Spanish Milled Dollars will be required for supplying the Commissary and Quarter Master's Departments with the necessary articles of provision forage, soap, and candies.
That a sum equal to 2,200,000 Spanish Milled Dollars will be required in imported articles; and articles for exportation for the purpose of procuring foreign supplies.
That the following States can supply the said articles of Provisions, forage, and imported articles, and articles for exportation according to the following Estimate viz:
That the said States be required to supply the said commodities in the quantities to each assigned.
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That every State be at liberty to pay her ballance of the quota assigned to her in all or any of the articles enumerated for exportation.
That every State have credit for the amount of all or any of the articles assigned to her, which shall be delivered to the Commissary General or his order, or have been delivered since theday oflast by the authority of the State, at the prices affixed in specie to the same by these Resolutions.
That every State who shall fail to furnish the full quota of the specific supplies aforementioned, shall be charged interest on the deficiency at six per centum per annum on the amount in Spanish Milled Dollars.
That every State who shall furnish the quota of supplies assigned to her, or any part thereof shall be entitled to an interest of six per centum per annum on the amount furnished.
That every State who shall undertake to furnish the quota of specific supplies assigned to her in the foregoing Resolutions be excused from paying the tax required by the Resolution of,except so far as to compleat the quota of the sum of sixty one millions two hundred and fifty thousand Continental dollars above mentioned.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Thomas Burke, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 26, folio 101.]
Ordered, That it be referred to a Committee of the Whole, and that the committee sit on Monday next.
The committee to whom was referred the letter of 5th instant from General Washington, inclosing a letter of the 3d from Royal Flint, assistant commissary, and one of the 4 from Brigadier General Irwine, brought in a report; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a copy of the said letters, as far as they respect the distress of the army from the want of provisions, be sent, with all possible dispatch, to the legislatures, or, in their recess, to the supreme executive councils of the States of Connecticut, New York, Pensylvania, and Delaware; and that they be respectively urged, in the most pressing manner, to send immediate supplies of provisions to the army.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Elbridge Gerry, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, VI, folio 273.]
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The Committee on the Post Office delivered in a report.
Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on the petition of Azariah Horton, in behalf of the officers of the mustering department, &c. Whereupon,
Resolved, That the mustering department be discontinued, and the officers thereof discharged.
And whereas the commissary general of musters has approved himself a good and faithful officer, and those who have been employed under him have given satisfaction in their offices:
Resolved, That the said commissary general of musters, and those officers who have continued in that department under him for eighteen months last past, shall be intitled to receive a sum equal to their pay respectively for the term of twelve months from this day.
Resolved, That in future the business of mustering the troops be performed by the inspectors of the army, in such manner and under such regulations as the Commander in Chief shall direct; who is hereby authorized to make the arrangements, reporting the same to Congress.1
[Note 1: 1 See ante, Vol. XV, p. 1329.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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