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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 --FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1780
A letter, of 9, from the Board of War, was read, informing that they had appointed Samuel Hodgdon, the principal field commissary of military stores, to be deputy commissary general of military stores, and proposing that his pay should be twelve hundred and fifty dollars per month; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the pay of Samuel Hodgdon, deputy commissary general of military stores, be twelve hundred and fifty dollars per month, until the further order of Congress.1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, IV, folio 129.]
The Board of War, to whom was referred the letter from General Washington, on the subject of the extra allowances to be made to Colonel Bland while on command at the post at Charlotteville, brought in a report; Whereupon,
At a Board of War, Feb: 9. 1780
Present Col. Pickering Mr. Peters Col Grayson
The Board having taken into consideration the letter from Genl Washington on the subject of the extra allowances to be made to Col Bland while on command at the Post at Charlotteville and beg leave to refer to a former report relative thereto, which has not to
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their knowledge been passed upon by Congress, and which will comprehend the case of the present Commanding Officer. Copy whereof they have the honor to transmit, and thereunto would beg leave to subjoin, as it is necessary that a retrospect should be had to the supplies received by Col. Bland.
Resolved, That the executive power of the State of Virginia be authorised to examine the accounts of the deputy commissary general of purchases and issues, against Colonel Bland, for articles supplied for his use while in command at the post of Charlotteville, and to make such allowances in his favour as they shall deem just and proper; and that Colonel Bland be discharged from payment of the monies charged against him for all articles which, in the opinion of the said executive, he should have been allowed, from the peculiar situation of his command.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, IV, folio 125.]
A motion being made to empower Major General Lincoln to draw for money on the governor of South Carolina,
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury, to report a proper resolution
A report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Francis Hopkinson, treasurer of loans, for one thousand nine hundred and forty eight dollars and thirty ninetieths of a dollar, in full of his charge for office rent and fire wood for the commissioners appointed to destroy the emissions of May 20th, 1777, and April 11, 1778, from the first day of May, 1779, to the first day of February, 1780.
That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Mr. S[amuel] Holten, one of the delegates for the State of Massachusetts Bay, on his application, for five thousand dollars; for which the said State is to be accountable.
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That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of the delegates for the State of Massachusetts Bay, for eight hundred dollars, for the use of that State, which is to be accountable.
That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Jonathan Burrall, on account of William Palfrey, paymaster general, for five hundred thousand dollars, to be by him transmitted to John Pierce, deputy paymaster general to the main army, for the use of the department; and for which the said deputy paymaster general is to be accountable.
The Board having considered the Letter from the Board of War of the 3d instant referred to them by Congress requiring an immediate supply of two million six hundred and forty eight thousand dollars in favor of the Pay Master to the Board of War and Ordnance for the purposes of making purchases to supply the deficiencies of cloathing in the Continental Army think it necessary to report to Congress the state of the Treasury that the Board may receive such instructions as Congress may judge proper.
This Board have now before them the return of Michael Hillegas Esqr. Treasurer up to the 5th. of the present month by which it appears there was then in the Treasury two million three hundred thousand dollars, which sum has been greatly diminished by warrants on the Treasury since that date. So that there is not at this time in the Treasury more than One million two hundred thousand dollars.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 81.]
The committee, to whom were referred the letters from the governor and speaker of the house of assembly of the State of Georgia, and the resolves of the said assembly, brought in a report; Whereupon,
Resolved, That Congress highly applaud the unremitted exertions of the State of Georgia, and the zeal and firmness expressed through the governor and speaker of the house of representatives manifested by them under all their difficulties; and that the State of Georgia may be assured no
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endeavours will be wanting on the part of Congress to promote her interests.1
[Note 1: 1 An indorsement on the report says: "Query: is not the Preamble too florid for such a body as Congress?" and the following is added in another hand: "That Congress contemplates the spirited exertions of the State of Georgia with great satisfaction, and that they may be assured, &c., following the report."]
Resolved, That the quota of continental troops of the State of Georgia be, the ensuing campaign, one battalion of infantry and one regiment of horse.
Resolved, That Congress approve the plan adopted by the State of Georgia for reducing the four regiments of that State into one, for officering the same, and also the regiment of cavalry.
Resolved, That such officers as cannot be employed in the line of that State be deemed supernumeraries, and entitled to every privilege with officers in like situation.
Resolved, That the President inform the governor of the State of Georgia that a general exchange of prisoners is now negotiating, and due regard will undoubtedly be paid to Colonel Elbert.
Resolved, That notwithstanding the high sense Congress entertain of the merit of Colonel Elbert, Congress cannot at present promote him to the rank of a brigadier general in the continental army, as such promotion would be productive of great confusion and discontent in the line of the army.
Resolved, that Genl Lincoln be directed to employ Genl McIntosh in the State of South Carolina, or elsewhere out of the State of Georgia.
Resolved that a warrant issue on the Treasury in favour of the Governor and executive council of the State of Georgia for 1,000,000 dollars for which the said State is to be accountable.
Ordered, That the resolution respecting the exchange of Colonel Elbert, be transmitted to General Washington.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of John Mathews, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 20, II, folio 441.]
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Ordered, That so much of the report as relates to an advance of money to the State of Georgia, and the application of Captain Nash, for an advance of six thousand dollars, be referred to the Board of Treasury.1
[Note 1: 1 A copy of the resolve authorizing the advance of a million dollars to Georgia, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 89. It is endorsed: "Referred to Board of Treasury. Passed Feby. 12, 1780."]
A report from the Board of War was read; Whereupon,
At a Board of War Feby 9, 1780
Present Colo Pickering, Mr Peters, Colo Grayson
The Board beg leave to lay before Congress the inclosed petition of Christian Mancke with Colonel Armand's certificate concerning him. He was a Lieut and Adjutant in Ottendorfs corps, afterwards commanded by Colo Armand, and appeared to be a diligent and attentive officer. That Corps being reduced to a very small number, and having a surplus of officers, M(r) Mancke quitted it, and accepted a Lieutenantcy in Van Heers corps of Marechausseurs (or the provost) and served the last campaign, but being by the expenses unavoidable to an officer, and the smallness of his pay, reduced as he says, to poverty after spending considerable sums of his own money, he was compelled to resign, being unable to subsist in the service. He now requests only the moderate sum of one thousand dollars to purchase a little clothing and enable him to get to St Eustatia where he may find the means of returning to his own country. The Board having considered his case, beg leave to report
Ordered, That one thousand dollars be granted to Christian Mancke, late lieutenant in the army of the United States, in which he served three campaigns, towards defraying the expences of his voyage home to Europe.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, IV, folio 115.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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