| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |
A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, 1780
Mr. Artemas Ward, a delegate for the State of Massachusetts Bay, attended and took his seat in Congress.
Mr. John Hanson, a delegate for the State of Maryland, attended and produced the credentials of his appointment, which were read, as follows:
House of Delegates December 22, 1779.
The Honourable Thomas Johnson, George Plater, James Forbes, John Hall, Edward Lloyd and John Hanson Esquires were chosen by a joint Ballot of both Houses to serve as Delegates to Congress.
Resolved, therefore, That the said Thomas Johnson, George Plater, James Forbes, John Hall, Edward Lloyd and John Hanson Esquires or any two or more of them be and are hereby declared Delegates to represent this State in Congress.
True extract
J. Duckett Cl Ho Del2
[Note 2: 2 The original is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, Maryland, Credentials of Delegates.]
A report from the Board of War was read; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the resignation of Captain Levin Handy, of the 5th Maryland regiment, and Ensign Samuel Claypole, of
Page 510 | Page image
the 1st Pensylvania regiment, be accepted; the resignation of the former to take place the 1st of May last.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, IV, folio 379.]
A letter, of 12, from the committee at headquarters, with sundry papers enclosed, was read:2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 39, I, folio 64. It was transcribed in the Committee Book, 1780, Proceedings of the Committee appointed the 13th of April, 1780, folio 27.]
Ordered, That the same be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [Robert R.] Livingston, Mr. [Oliver] Ellsworth and Mr. [Timothy] Matlack.
A report from the Board of War was read; Whereupon,
Ordered, That thirty thousand dollars be immediately sent to Major General Gates, to defray his expences on his way to join the southern army; for which he is to be accountable.
That a warrant for one hundred thousand dollars be drawn on the treasurer of Virginia; and another warrant for the like sum be drawn on the treasurer of North Carolina, in favour of Major General Gates towards forming a military chest for the southern army.
Resolved, That Major General Gates be and he is hereby authorised to call on the states of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, for such aids of militia and supplies as he shall deem necessary; and it is recommended to the governments of the said states to comply with such requisitions.
That Major General Gates be and he is hereby authorised to appoint a deputy adjutant general, a deputy pay master general, and all other staff officers necessary for the organization of the southern army; the said officers to remain in service until the pleasure of Congress is known.
That Major General Gates be and he is hereby authorised and empowered to take such measures, from time to time, for the defence of the southern states as he shall think most
Page 511 | Page image
proper: and it is earnestly recommended to the governments of the said states to give every assistance in their power for carrying such measures into execution.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, IV, folio 383.]
At the request of the committee, to whom was referred the letter, of 29 May, from the Board of War, and the papers enclosed:
Ordered, That they be discharged.
The committee, to whom was referred the report of the Board of War, of the 6th, and a report of the Board of Treasury, of the 8th, having reported specially thereon, and the report being read:
The Committee to whom were referred a Report of the Board of War of the 6th inst. and a Report of the Board of Treasury of 8th Inst. having duly considered the powers of the said Boards as far as they concern the matter in Question between them beg leave to submit the following Report,
That the Board of Treasury by ordinance passed the 30th day of July 1779 are authorized to examine into the merits of all requisitions for the advance of money for public service and to report thereon to Congress.
That the Board of War by act of Congress passed on the 17th of Oct 1777 are among other things empowered and directed to obtain and keep exact accounts of the numbers, and disposition of the forces of the United States, to obtain and keep exact accounts of all the Artillery Arms, Ammunition, war like stores, Clothing, Medicines and Provisions belonging to the United States: and in general to superintend the several Branches of the Military Department: and all military and other officers attending upon or connected with the Army of the United States are required and enjoined to observe the directions of the said Board in making and transmitting proper returns and such other matters as may tend to facilitate the Business of the said Board.
That by Resolutions of Congress of the 14th of May 1777 and the 14th of April 1778 it is especially required that the Returns of the Department of the Quarter Master General and Commissary General be transmitted and subjected to the inspection and direction of the Board of War.
Page 512 | Page image
That by a Resolution of Congress passed on the 10th of November 1778 a special Committee was appointed to superintend the said Departments, and empowered to take such steps relating to the same as they should think were for the public service.
That in pursuance of the said last mentioned Resolution the Committee thereby appointed undertook the superitendance of the said Departments and that all reports of the Board of Treasury for advances to the said Departments were made on estimates or recommendations of the said Committee.
That on the 25th of November 1779 Congress ordered that the Departments of the Quarter Master General and of the Commissaries General of purchases and of Issues should be for the future under the superitendancy and direction of the Board of War: and that the Committee of Congress on those departments should be discharged.
Upon these several proceedings your Committee beg leave to observe that the Board of War from the design of its institution ought to be possessed of a knowledge of the Force of the Army, the condition of the Magazines, the situations of the Posts, and of the general circumstances respecting military arrangements and operations, which in some measure enables them to judge of the necessary supplies: At the same time that that Board having the immediate superitendance and direction of the Departments of the Quarter Master General and Commissary General are vested with authority to make any further arrangements which may be requisite for facilitating the discharge of this Branch of their Part. On the other hand the Board of Treasury not having equal means of information cannot in the opinion of your Committee be so competent to decide on the merits of Requisitions for the advance of money for the said Departments. Your Committee therefore submit the following resolution--
Resolved, That the Board of War be directed to continue their attention to the estimates for advances to the departments of quarter master general and commissary general of purchases and of military stores, as far as circumstances will admit, in order to enable the Board of Treasury to decide on the merits of requisitions for such advances, and report thereon to Congress.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of James Duane, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 27, folio 105.]
Page 513 | Page image
A letter, of 13, from the Board of War was read, with sundry papers enclosed:
Ordered, That the same be referred back to the Board of War to report.
A report from the Board of Treasury was read, enclosing a letter from Eleazer Wales, commissioner of accounts at Albany, wherein he begs leave to resign his office, and represents the inadequate compensation that has been allowed for his services: Whereupon,
Resolved, That it is reasonable and just that the resignation of the said Eleazer Wales, be accepted, and that the consideration of his pay be postponed until general provision shall be made relieving against the effects of depreciation.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 345. The following motion, in the writing of Oliver Wolcott, dated June 14, 1780, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, IV, folio 265. It is endorsed: "Motion by Mr. [Jesse] Root, seconded by Mr. [Oliver] Wolcott. Referred to the Board of Treasury."
Resolved, That a warrant issue on William Imlay, Esqr., Commissioner of the loan office in the state of Connecticut in favour of Eleazr. Wales, Esq., of Hartford late Commissioner of Accounts at Albany for two thousand nine hundred and thirty-five dollars and eighty eight ninetieths of a dollar specie value to be paid in loan office certificates datedday oflast when the same was due in full for the arrears of pay due him as commissioner aforesaid.]
A petition of Peter Philip de Grain and others was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Admiralty.
The committee, appointed to report a plan for the defence of the southern states, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration, and Congress having proceeded to the paragraph,
"That no supplies of men nor of provisions except bacon be removed to the northward of the State of Virginia, until the farther order of Congress."
A motion was made by Mr. [Nathaniel] Folsom, seconded by Mr. [James] Searle, that the consideration of that paragraph
Page 514 | Page image
be postponed. And on the question, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Thomas] Burke,
{table}
So it passed in the affirmative.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |