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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, MARCH 11, 1780
A letter, of this day, from Colonel Armand was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 164, folio 416.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
A report from the Board of War was read; Whereupon,
At a Board of War Feby 8th 1780
Present Col Pickering, Mr Peters, Col Grayson
The Board having taken into their farther consideration the papers referred to them by Congress on the 24th ulto. are of opinion that one general system, throughout the United States, should be adopted for annually recruiting the army on equal and similar principles, that all particular benefits (which are ever productive of general disgusts) should be excluded and the inducements to service placed in all respects on the same footing, therefore all ideas about State, Town or County bounties, are intirely improper; for though they produce the effect in the particular instance for which they are intended, yet when they are considered in their connexion with the general interest, they do not fail to occasion infinite mischief;
The same number of men, by an adherence to general maxims, might have been procured without incurring so enormous an expense, and without having any material influence on the depreciation of our currency. The board however do not mean to comprehend the case of applications from the Legislatures to the people of their respective states when arranged in particular classes. On the contrary, allowing them the alternative of producing a soldier either by draught or contribution of the members who compose the respective classes, the board apprehend will be productive of general advantage, this practice during the present contest in particular cases has been attended with very salutary effects.
They apprehend the distinction to be material between bounties which are offered by Public Bodies; and those which are given by Individuals: in the first case, it is an act of Public Authority; in the latter the contract is altogether private, and the only comparative inferrence that can be drawn from the disparity of bounties, is that one soldier is come from a less zealous, or a more liberal class of Fellow Citizens than another.
They beg leave to report
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That each State during the continuance of the present war, be annually informed by Congress in the month of October of the deficiency of its quota of troops, and be called upon to furnish by draughts, or otherwise, men for its complement, or such parts thereof, as Congress may from time to time judge necessary, and it is recommended to the Legislatures of the respective States to provide that no State, County, or Town bounties be given in any case whatever, it being the intention of Congress that the inducements to service throughout the continent, as near as circumstances, will admit, be placed on the same footing.
That the men to be so furnished, join the army by the first day of January in each year, and serve until the first day of January in the next succeeding year, unless sooner discharged.
That the executive authorities of the different States be respectively requested to appoint one general place of rendezvous in each State, where the drafts and recruits within their particular jurisdictions are to assemble and that they give information thereof to the Commander in Chief, to the end that a proper officer may be sent to each respective place, to examine the fitness, or unfitness of the drafts and recruits for service, and after rejecting such as are from improper age, defective constitutions, permanent disorders, or any other imperfection of body or mind incapable of discharging the duties of a soldier, that he direct the remainder to be conducted to the army, under the command of such officers as the Commander in Chief may think proper to detach for that purpose. And to prevent all disputes respecting the proper age of the drafts and recruits, it is farther resolved that no person shall be received as such, who shall be under the age of eighteen, or above that of fifty, except in the case here after mentioned.
That the officers entrusted with the examination of the drafts and recruits do immediately on rejecting any, inform the executive powers of the respective States thereof that the numbers rejected may be replaced so soon as possible. The expences of all men so rejected not to be allowed by the United States on settlement with the States to which they respectively belong. But if there should be among such rejected drafts or recruits, youths of above fifteen years of age, healthy, robust, and likely to make able bodied soldiers when of sufficient age, the Officers may agree to take such of them as will enlist during the war as part of the quota of the State, and they may, and shall be marched to the army, and employed until able to bear
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arms, as drummers, fifers and officers servants, provided that the number of such youths do not exceed the number of officers who are of the quota of the State, from which the said youths are respectively sent.
Resolved, That the Commander in Chief be empowered and directed to make the most salutary regulations possible, for modifying the practice of taking men from the regiments to act as servants to officers which has heretofore been attended with many bad consequences.
That every officer who by such regulations shall be intitled to a servant, and who shall enlist to serve during the war, a youth not under 15, nor exceeding 18 years of age, and who from appearances is likely to prove an able bodied soldier, such officer shall retain the youth so enlisted as his servant, until in the opinion of the inspector general, or one of the sub inspectors he shall be fit to bear arms, and the youth shall receive the bounty money, cloathing, pay and rations of a soldier; and the officer to whom such servant shall be attached, is not to be allowed a man out of the ranks on any pretence whatsoever while such servant remains with him. In case of the death or resignation of such officer, the servant to be turned over to some other officer in the regiment fled to a servant, the like allowances of clothing, pay and intirations shall be given to any officer intitled as aforesaid to a servant who shall bring into the field with him a servant of his own; the officer in such case not to be allowed a servant out of the line.
That the Commander in Chief be directed annually to transmit to Congress, on or before the first day of October a return of the army, specifying the number of troops then in service from each State, and the recruits which are necessary to complete its quota, after giving credit for the independent corps to such States as shall have furnished them.
That the Commander in Chief, and Officers commanding separate armies be authorized and directed, to take such methods as they shall
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judge the most proper to have such recruits inlisted as may be willing to engage for the War, allowing two hundred dollars to each soldier, and ten dollars to the Officer who inlists him.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, IV, folio 103.]
Ordered, That the remainder of the report be postponed. The Board of War, to whom was referred the letter, of this day, from Colonel Armand, brought in a report; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of the paymaster of the Board of War and Ordnance, for thirty two thousand dollars, to be applied to the purpose of procuring cloathing for the army.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, IV, folio 251.]
Congress took into consideration the report of the committee, to whom were referred the letters of 31 January from the Board of War, and the two letters from Mr. Holker, relative to the supplies necessary for the use of the fleet of his Most Christian Majesty; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the Board of War give the necessary directions for replacing, out of the public stores, as soon as a sufficient quantity can be spared, the flour borrowed of Mr. Holker, agent for the marine of France in the year 1779, for the use of the United States.
Resolved, That the legislature of the State of Maryland be requested to deliver to Mr. Holker, or his agent, on or before the 1st day of May next, out of the quantity of flour called for by the resolution of the 25th of February last, such a quantity as, with what hath been already purchased and now in the possession of Mr. Holker's agent, in Maryland, will compleate the quantity of fifteen thousand barrels for the marine of France.
Resolved, That the legislature of the State of Pensylvania be requested to deliver to Mr. Holker, or his agent, on or before the first day of May next, as a part of the supplies called
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for by the said resolutions of the 25 February last, six thousand barrels of flour, six hundred barrels of pork, and two hundred barrels of beef for the use of the marine of France.
Resolved, That the legislature of the State of Connecticut be requested to deliver to Mr. Holker, or his agent, on or before the first day of May next as a part of the supplies called for from that State, one thousand barrels of pork and one thousand five hundred and fifty five barrels of flour for the above purpose.
Resolved, That the above supplies, when delivered, be charged to Mr. Holker, in account with the United States, in specie, at the prices fixed in the said resolutions of the 25 day of February last.
The Board of War, to whom was referred the letter of 22 December, from Major General Lincoln, having reported thereon,
Resolved, That the deputy quarter master general and principal purchasing commissary in the southern army ascertain, in the best manner circumstances will admit, the quantities of forage and provisions supplied by the inhabitants to the forces of his Most Christian Majesty while the armies lay before Savannah last September and October, and pay for the same what they were reasonably worth, keeping exact and separate accounts of the sums so paid, and transmitting the same to the Treasury Board, as soon as may be.
The committee, appointed to prepare a recommendation to the several states to set apart the last Wednesday in April next as a day of fasting, humiliation and prayer, brought in a draught, which was read and agreed to, as follows:1
[Note 1: 1 The next three paragraphs are entered in the Journal in George Bond's writing.]
It having pleased the righteous Governor of the World, for the punishment of our manifold offences, to permit the sword of war still to harrass our country, it becomes us to endeavour, by humbling ourselves
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before him, and turning from every evil way, to avert his anger and obtain his favour and blessing: it is therefore hereby recommended to the several states,
That Wednesday, the twenty sixth day of April next, be set apart and observed as a day of fasting, humiliation and prayer, that we may, with one heart and one voice, implore the sovereign Lord of Heaven and Earth to remember mercy in his judgments; to make us sincerely penitent for our transgressions; to prepare us for deliverance, and to remove the evils with which he hath been pleased to visit us; to banish vice and irreligion from among us, and establish virtue and piety by his divine grace to revive and spread the influence of patriotism, and eradicate, that love of pleasure and of gain which renders us forgetful of our country and our God; to bless all public councils throughout the United States, giving them wisdom, firmness and unanimity, and directing them to the best measures for the public good; to bless the magistrates and people of every rank, and animate and unite the hearts of all to promote the interests of their country; to bless the public defence, inspiring all commanders and soldiers with magnanimity and perseverance, and giving vigor and success to the military operations by sea and land; to bless the illustrious Sovereign and the nation in alliance with these states, and all who interest themselves in the support of our rights and liberties; to make that alliance of perpetual and extensive usefulness to those immediately concerned, and mankind in general; to grant fruitful seasons, and to bless our industry, trade and manufactures; to bless all schools and seminaries of learning, and every means of instruction and education; to cause wars to cease, to the ends of the earth and to establish peace among the nations.
And it is further recommended, that servile labour and recreations be forbidden on the said day.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of James Lovell, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 24, folio 451.]
Done in Congress &c.
Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on the motion respecting tender laws, and after debate,
Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Finance. Adjourned to 10 o'Clock on Monday.
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