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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, JULY 15, 1780
A report of the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,
Ordered, That on the application of Mr. B[enjamin] Huntington, a delegate for the State of Connecticut, a warrant issue on the treasurer in his favour, for four thousand dollars, for which the said State is to be accountable.
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That on the application of Charles Pettit, assistant quarter master general, accompanied with an estimate approved by the Board of War, a warrant issue on the treasurer in his favour, on account of Major General Greene, Q. M. G. for fifteen thousand dollars, for the support of the British prisoners and their guards, at Fort Frederick, in the State of Maryland; and for which the said Major General Greene, Q. M. G. is to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 425.]
A report from the Board of War was read; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the Rev. Robert M'Murdie be appointed chaplain to the first Pensylvania brigade.
The committee, to whom was referred for revision the plan for conducting the quarter master's department, having executed the business, laid before Congress the plan, as revised, which was read and agreed to as follows:
Whereas Congress, on the 25 day of February last, resolved that the several states should be called on for certain supplies of beef, flour and other articles necessary for the ensuing campaign; and that the same should be collected and deposited or delivered at the risque of the respective states, at such places, within each State respectively, as the Commander in Chief should judge most convenient; and it being necessary to provide for the safe keeping and transportation of the stores which shall be so deposited, and to make a new regulation of the quarter master's department,
Resolved, That there be one quarter master general and one assistant quarter master general, appointed by Congress, and one deputy quarter master general for the main army, and one for each separate army, to be appointed by the quarter master general:
That the quarter master general appoint one deputy for each State, if he shall judge so many to be necessary, and
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the same be approved by the Board of War; the person appointed to be approved of by the supreme executive of the State in which he is to be employed:
That each deputy, whether appointed for one State or more, shall appoint as many assistants as the service may necessarily require, and the quarter master general shall approve; and a return of such appointments shall be immediately made to the Board of War by the quarter master general:
That all store-keepers, contractors, clerks, conductors, artificers and labourers, of whatever denomination, who may be found necessary for the well conducting the public business, be appointed by the deputies in their respective districts; and that they employ them in such numbers, for such time, and at such places, as the service may require, and on such conditions as they can be agreed with, which shall appear to be most for the benefit of the public: nevertheless, if they are agreed with or continue in service for any longer time than two months, the conditions are to be approved by the quarter master general:
That the duty of a deputy quarter master for a State shall be, to provide the means of transportation in such State for all public property, agreeably to the orders he may receive from the Commander in Chief, the Board of War, the quarter master general, or the officer commanding in the State; to provide such store houses either by hire, purchase or building as may be necessary for the preservation of the publicproperty, to fix at those storehouses and to appoint suitable store-keepers, properly instructed, to account, in the best manner the nature of the business will admit, agreeably to such plans as they may receive from the quarter master general may prescribe for all articles received, whether provided by the State in the State, or received from another State, taking care always to note deficiencies, and to reject
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such as are deficient in quality, whether provided by the State, or in any other manner within the State; but if the parties are dissatisfied, the store-keeper, and the person or persons so tendering the goods, shall each nominate three of the most reputable freeholders in the vicinity of the place where the goods are to be delivered, the store-keeper to appoint one of the three nominated by the person or persons offering the goods, and he or they, one of those named by the store-keeper; and if the two first cannot agree, a third is to be chosen by lot out of the remaining four, as an umpire; the arbitrators to be on oath, and copies of their award to be delivered in writing to the parties, which shall be binding an conclusive and to issue the same agreeable to orders they may receive either in the line or staff for such public purposes as the service may require; to keep proper registers of all persons, teams, pack-horses, vessels and craft, employed in the department, noting the manner and conditions on which they serve, and whether the teams, pack-horses, vessels or craft, are private or public property; to execute all orders, either for purchases or other purposes, which he may receive from the Commander in Chief, the Board of War, the quarter master general, or the commanding officer in the State; appointment and to pay all officers in the different parts of the State who shall be necessary to execute the business of the department, and who have been approved as aforesaid; to give such instructions, with respect to the management of the business, as shall appear necessary to have it conducted with the greatest oeconomy and order, and at the same time with that despatch which the service may require; to apply to the assistant quarter master general residing near Congress for such sums of money as the service may require, and to distribute the same in such proportions as will best answer the purpose; to visit all the places of business of those serving under him, as often as
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his other duties will admit; and see whether they execute their duty agreeably to the instructions they receive; to inspect their accounts, books of receipts and issues, and to correct what is amiss; to collect and render his accounts of purchases of expenditures and returns of public property and persons employed in the department every two three months; and to make return to the assistant quarter master general of all issues that have been made, mentioning the articles, quantity or number of each, on whose application or order issued, and to whom delivered; to see that all stores provided in one State to be forwarded to another, be carefully inspected, that the quantity and quality is agreeable to the order given before they are sent forward; to confine all the contracts or bargains of the contractors and agents of every denomination, within the State to which they belong, to prevent one contractor interfering with another; to make such provision for wintering or recruiting public horses, as may be necessary for the convenience and support of the army: and generally to do and perform every thing necessary to promote the service.
That the duty of the assistant quarter master general shall be, to reside near Congress; to frame plans for keeping accounts in the department, and to accommodate them to the nature of the business in the best possible manner for preserving regularity; and after the quarter master general shall approve thereof, to transmit them to the deputies in the several states as a rule for their stating and keeping their accounts, to be by them communicated to all their under agents; to receive from the army and the districts, the accounts and vouchers arising therein to the first day of December, and to lay them before the chamber of accounts for settlement by the first day of January; to apply to the Board of Treasury for such sums of money as the quarter master general shall direct, and distribute the same as the several branches of
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the department may require and the quarter master general may direct; to make such remarks and give such directions to the deputies in the several states as shall be found necessary for saving expence or preserving order in the business; to receive from the respective deputies, at the end of every two three months, returns of all persons employed, how, where, and on what conditions, and returns of all public property belonging to the department, and where deposited, made out in four distinct columns, one containing what has not been issued, another what is in use, the third what has been used and wants repairing, and the fourth what articles are is unfit for further service and still of some value; these returns to be made agreeable to such forms as shall be furnished by the quarter master general.
That the returns be made to the assistant quarter master general in March, June, September, and December; and that the general returns be furnished to the quarter master general as soon after as possible.
That the quarter master general appoint one commissary of forage for the main army, and so many deputies, commissaries of forage and forage masters, clerks, and labourers, as the service may require, and the Commander in Chief shall approve of; a deputy commissary of forage, and as many clerks and labourers for each separate army, as the service may require, and the commanding officer of such separate army shall approve of:
That the duty of a commissary of forage and of a deputy commissary of forage with a separate army, shall be, to provide forage and pasture in the neighbourhood of camp, by purchase or otherwise, as the case may require, and to distribute the same; to correspond with the deputy quarter masters, in the states in or near which the army may be, and make seasonable requisitions from them for such quantities of forage as the service may require, and to receive and
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issue the same to the army, in such manner and proportion, as is hereafter directed.
That the wages of people employed in the forage branch, as well as the price of forage purchased, and hire of pasture as aforesaid, and all other contingent expences of the department, be directed for payment to the quarter master general's pay office; that the commissary of forage, or his deputy, certify the sums due, and that the same have been fully examined; that such orders or certificates for payment be presented to the auditor of accounts in the quarter master general's office, and pass from him to the pay office' but when, from sudden movements of the army, the certificates for pasturage or forage furnished in the vicinity thereof, signed by the commissary of forage, or his deputy, cannot be brought for payment to the quarter master general's pay office in camp, without great inconvenience to the possessors of the same, such certificates shall be paid by the deputy quarter master of the State in which the same shall have been furnished, the sums and articles furnished being inserted in words at full length; and to prevent frauds, the commissary of forage, or deputy with a separate army, shall furnish the deputy quarter master of the State, in which the army may serve, with a list of the persons employed in the forage branch, in their own hand writing, and the printed form of certificates generally made use of by them:
That the commissary of forage master general, or deputy with a separate army, fix upon such places for receiving and issuing forage at the army, as shall best accommodate the service; and that written instructions be given to the keeper of the magazine of forage, how and to whose order to issue the same; that proper entries be made in a book, to be kept for the purpose of all receipts and issues, and that the orders be numbered and filed to agree with the entries in the book.
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That the assistant forage masters, and keepers of the army magazines shall make weekly returns to the commissary of forage master general, or to the deputy with a separate army, of all forage received and issued, and of all pasturage made use of, and certificates given for the same; and that the commissary of forage master general, or deputy with a separate army, shall, at the end of every four weeks, make returns to the quarter master general, or deputy quarter master with a separate army, of all the forage received at the magazines or collected from the country, and of the issues of the same; also of all certificates for pasturage or forage which have, within that time, been given for settlement at the quarter master general's pay office.
That forage for the waggon horses be issued on the returns of the respective conductors, countersigned by the waggon master general or his deputy; and for other horses on the orders of the officers intitled to receive forage by virtue of these regulations: and if any officer in the forage department shall issue forage in any other manner, or in larger proportions than is prescribed in these regulations, he shall be charged with and pay the full value of such extra forage, and be dismissed from the service.
That there be no deputy commissary of forage or forage master appointed, except for the main army, or a separate army; and that all forage which it may hereafter be necessary to issue at any post, be issued by the deputy quarter master of the State, his assistants or store-keepers:
That the deputy quarter master of the State shall appoint the magazines or places at which forage shall be issued, and none shall be issued at any other; nor shall any forage be issued at such post to any officer, unless he certifies upon honor, on his return, that he is not on furlough nor absent from the army on his private business'
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That a ration of forage shall consist of fourteen pounds of hay and eight quarts of oats for a saddle horse, and sixteen pounds of hay and twelve quarts of oats, or other short forage equivalent, for a draught horse, per day: that in cases where either of the above articles cannot be furnished, a double quantity of the other shall be considered as a complete ration.
And whereas the great number of issuing posts established in these states have, by experience, been found very burthensome and expensive.
Resolved, That from and after the twentieth first day of July August next, no post, without troops there stationed, and in the continental service, shall be continued or established in any State at the expence of the United States, nor public provisions or forage issued thereat (the magazines before mentioned excepted), but by order of the Board of War, the Commander in Chief, or commanding officer of a seperate army; and such order shall be given only in cases when, in their opinion, the obtaining provision or forage in any other way would be impracticable or attended with greater public expense and inconveience than by such issues.
And whereas it may sometimes happen that there is a necessity to detain hired teams, the owners of which were to find their own forage and provisions, beyond the time for which such teams were engaged, and who, if their own forage and provisions are expended, must have recourse to the public magazines:
Resolved, That such teams, and their conductors and drivers, so detained and become destitute of forage and provisions, shall be supplied out of the public magazines, upon the written order of the officer by whose order they shall have been detained; and the wagon master general, or his deputy or other person, under whose direction such teams shall be employed, before he signs their discharge, shall cause
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to be endorsed thereon, by the forage master and commissary, or store-keeper (as the case may be) the number of rations of forage and provisions furnished to such teams and their conductors and drivers, that the same may be deducted out of the wages due to the owners of such hired teams: that, excepting in the cases above mentioned, no provisions or forage be drawn by any person not actually serving with the army, or some detachment thereof:
That there be one waggon master general with the main army, and as many deputies, clerks, waggon masters and subconductors, as the service may require, and the Commander in Chief shall approve of; that there be a deputy for each seperate army, with as many assistants, clerks waggon masters and subconductors, as the same may require, and the commanding officer shall approve of:
That the waggon master general, and deputy with a seperate army, shall keep an exact register of all persons and teams employed with the army in his department, distinguishing by proper columns the private and public property; that he keep exact registers of all pay rolls, noting the time and conditions of payment; that, in every pay roll, the name and character employment of every person be inserted at full length; and that the roll be signed by the waggon master, and countersigned by the wagon master general or deputy with a seperate army, and then pass to the auditor of accounts in the office of the quarter master general's office general, or deputy in a separate army, and from him to the respective pay office:
That the waggon master general, or deputy in a seperate army, give all the orders on the horse yard for horses to equip the teams, and orders on the store for harness; and every waggon master deputy or assistant, receiving horses or harness upon such order, shall be charged with the same in his
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books, and be made to account, by his weekly or monthly returns, for the horses or harness delivered to him.
That the waggon master general shall make monthly returns to the quarter master general, or oftener if required, of all persons, teams, and horses, employed in his department, noting where and with whom serving, adding a column of casualties, in which to insert the deaths, stolen or strayed horses, and also the harness that may be lost, and generally to make such regulations for the government of the waggoners as shall be best calculated to preserve public property, and to give them as a standing order to all the waggon masters, the quarter master general approving thereof: that the like duties be performed by the deputy waggon master general of a seperate army:
That the quarter master general have liberty, with the approbation of the Commander in Chief, or commander of a seperate army, to take such and so many officers from the line of the army, to serve in his department, as he may find necessary, and as are willing to engage in the business:
That the quarter master general establish a horse yard with the army, for the purpose of receiving and issuing all public horses; and that the person appointed deliver none from the yard but by the order of the Commander in Chief, the quarter master general, or his deputy, or the waggon master general:
The same regulations to take place with a seperate army: That an exact register be kept of the receipt and delivery of all horses, from whom received, to whom delivered, and by whose order to keep an exact register; and also of all horses that may die, be stolen, or stray from the yard, or that are ordered to be sold by the quarter master general, as unfit for farther service; and that returns of all transactions of the yard be made to the quarter master general's office
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monthly, and as much oftener as the quarter master general may direct.
Whereas it is necessary that every army should be limited in the article of baggage; this regulation being essential, as well to save expence as to prevent the army from being embarrassed in its operations; and that every officer should have only such a quantity of baggage as is essential to his comfort and appearance:
Resolved, That the following proportion of waggons and bat-horses be allowed to the different ranks of officers, and no more, unless it be by order of the Commander in Chief, or commanding officer of a seperate army, each of whom to be allowed for themselves so many baggage waggons and bathorses as they may think necessary, to wit:
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Provided, That if the number of waggons, stated as above, should prove insufficient, the quarter master general may occasionally furnish such additional carriage as the Commander in Chief, or commanding officer of a seperate army, or the Board of War, may direct.
Whereas the business of deputy quarter masters general serving in the different states, may vary greatly one from another; and whereas that allowance which would be ample in some states and for some persons would be totally in the genius of the people as from the different expense attending the duties of the office, would be inadequate in others:
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Resolved, That the quarter master general be authorised to fix the pay of each deputy to conduct the business of his department in the states, according to the duties they have to perform, and the expences they will be at in executing the same; so that the pay of no deputy exceed one hundred and thirty-four dollars per month, without provisions or forage, always having regard to the merit and services of the person appointed, and which shall be approved of by the Board of War:
That the pay of the assistant deputy quarter masters general be settled by the assistant deputy quarter master general of the district under whom they respectively serve, according to the duties they have to perform, and the expences they will be at in executing the same, so as the pay of no assistant deputy quarter master general exceed seventy-five dollars per month, without provisions or forage; always having regard to the merit and services of the person appointed, and which shall be approved of by the quartermaster general:
That the pay of the officers in the quartermaster general's department, be as follows, to wit:
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That the pay of the officers in the quarter master general's department, who are attached to the main or to a seperate army, and move with it, be as follows:
Quarter master general, in addition to his pay as an officer in the line, at the rate of two thousand one hundred and sixty-six dollars in specie per annum month or an equivalent in other current money:
Assistant quarter master general, who is to reside near Congress, at the rate of two thousand one hundred and sixty-six dollars aforesaid per annum month:
Deputy quarter master general, thirty-five dollars as aforesaid per month, in addition to his pay in the line:
Brigade quarter master, twenty dollars as aforesaid per month, in addition to his pay in the line:
Commissary of forage master general, seventy-five dollars as aforesaid per month, and two rations of provisions per day for himself per day and one for his servant:
Deputy commissary of forage master general, fifty forty dollars as aforesaid per month, and one ration of provisions day for himself and one for his servant.
Forage mater not of the line of the army, fifty dollars as aforesaid per month with one ration of provisions per day:
Forage master when of, in addition to his pay in the line of the army, twelve ten dollars as aforesaid per month:
Waggon master general, sixty dollars as aforesaid per month, and two rations of provisions per day:
Deputy waggon master, forty-five dollars per month, and one ration of provisions per day:
Assistant waggon master in a seperate army, forty dollars per month, and one ration of provisions per day and one for his servant:
Conductor of waggons, when not of the line of the army, forty thirty-five dollars as aforesaid per month, and one
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ration of provisions per day; when of the line of the army, twelve dollars as aforesaid per month, in addition to his pay in the line:
That the foregoing salaries be paid in specie, or other money equivalent.
Whereas, in order to prevent the unnecessary consumption of forage, it is requisite to determine what officers shall be found supplied with forage at the public expence, and to fix the quantity that shall be furnished to each:
Resolved, That in addition to the forage allowed for the waggon and bat-horses, by these regulations, there be issued to the Commander in Chief, and to the commanding officer of a seperate army, and to those of their suite, as many rations as the service shall require:
To a major general and family, nine seven; brigadier general and family, six; colonel of infantry or artillery, two; lieutenant colonel, two; major, two; chaplain, one; surgeon, one; pay master, one; adjutant, one; quarter master, one; brigade quarter master, one; captain of engineers, one; quarter master general, as the service may require; deputy quarter master general, if of the line with the army, one; assistant deputy quarter master general, one; commissary of forage master general, two; deputy commissary of forage master general, one; assistant deputy forage master general, one; brigade forage master, one; waggon master general and clerks, four three; deputy waggon master general, two one; deputy waggon master with a seperate army, two; assistant waggon master with a seperate army, one; inspector general, agreeably to his rank; brigade sub-inspector, in addition to what he draws in the line, one; adjutant general and gentleman of his family, including what he may draw in the line, nine seven; deputy adjutant general for a seperate army in addition to what he draws in the line, three, including what he may draw in the line; commissary general of prisoners,
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two; deputy commissary general of prisoners with a seperate army, two; deputy serving with the main army, one; judge advocate general, two; provost marshal, one; commissary general of purchases, four; deputy commissary general of issues, two; brigade commissary, one; field commissary of military stores, two; deputy field commissary of military stores, one; deputy pay master general, one; auditors for the army, each, one:
That any of the said officers entitled to forage, who shall keep their horses at their own expence, when in camp, or when necessarily absent from the army on public service, shall be allowed as much daily for the forage so found as shall be certified monthly by the deputy quarter master general of the State in which the army may be, to be the net current cost of a ration of forage, the every officer claiming such payment, producing a certificate from the forage master from whom he usually draws forage, that he had not drawn forage from him during the time charged for, and certifying upon honor that he hath drawn no public forage whatever during the said time for the keeping his horse to the amount charged on which a certificate shall pass from the commissary of forage master general, or deputy, to the quarter master general's auditor, for settlement of the same, not exceeding the current net cost of the ration as settled by the quarter master general of the district State: Provided, that no officer on furlough shall be entitled to draw forage or pay for the same, for any time he is absent beyond the term allowed him by his furlough.
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And, whereas, an army cannot be subsisted, or the operations of War carried on, without an ample and certain supply of forage, which must, in a great part, be furnished in pasturage and Hay from the vicinity of the Arm, Therefore,
Resolved, that it be recommended to the Legislatures of the different States in which the army may serve, to make provisions for furnishing the horses of the army, or detachments thereof, with a sufficient supply of pasturage, and with such Hay or other forage as can be spared from the Country in the vicinity of the Army, or detachments thereof; the same to be settled and paid for by the Quarters master General with the Army, or by the Deputy in the State.
That the officers of cavalry be allowed to draw forage or pay for the same, under the like regulations as other officers, for the following number of horses, provided they actually keep the same: a colonel four three; lieutenant colonel three two; major, three two; captain two; lieutenant one; cornet one; pay master, quarter master, and adjutant, exclusive of allowance as officers in the line, each one; surgeon one:
That all certificates for forage supplied to detached parties of cavalry, serving on the lines, or on marches, where public forage cannot be drawn, shall be signed by the forage master or quarter master of the regiment or corps, or by a commissioned officer, if any be with the party, if not, by a non-commissioned officer, mentioning the quantity and species of forage, the number of horses, the time for which the same was drawn; and the price shall be inserted in words, at full length, and the title of the officer and regiment or corps to which he belongs, shall be added to his name:
That every officer who shall give such certificates, shall make a return of the same to the officer commanding the regiment to which he belongs, who shall direct his forage
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master, or quarter master, at the end of each month, to make a return of such certificates, to whom and where given, and to what amount, to the commissary of forage master general, or to the deputy with a seperate army, and to the deputy quarter master general of the State in which such supplies shall have been obtained, which certificates shall be passed by the commissary of forage master general or deputy with a seperate army, either to the quarter master general's pay office for settlement in camp, or to the deputy quarter master general of the State for payment.
That all officers commanding detachments of cavalry shall make returns of the forage they may draw, with the number of horses, and the time for which the same was drawn, to the officer commanding the regiment or corps to which they belong, which the commanding officer shall deliver to the forage master or quarter master of the regiment or corps, who shall make returns of all the forage received and issued to the regiment or corps, at the end of each month, to the commissary of forage master general or deputy with a seperate army:
That whenever forage or provision be furnished either with the army or in any of the states for the use of waggoners and teams employed in the public service and by contract to find their own provisions and forage that the same be endorsed upon their pay roll and to be deducted from the same before they are discharged from the service and it is recommended generally.
That all the teams not serving with the army be contracted with to find their own provisions and forage, if possible, and to be paid by the trip or hundred weight per mile:
That no military or staff officer shall own, or in any manner be interested in any boat, shallop, waggon, or other carriage, horse or team, employed on hire or contract, in the service of the United States, on pain of forfeiting a sum equal to that which shall have become due for the service of such boat,
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shallop, waggon, or other carriage, horse or team, during the whole time they shall have been so employed; and for a second offence such officer shall be dismissed from the service:
That the quarter master general take such measures for providing camp equipage, and make such regulations for distributing the same, as he shall find necessary, and the Commander in Chief or the Board of War shall approve; and that he also take measures for engaging such artificers as the service, from time to time, may require, in addition to the regimented artificers, and as shall be approved by the Commander in Chief; and that he generally make such arrangements and appointments as shall be necessary to manage the business of the quarter master's department, either with the main army, a seperate army, or detachment:
That the quarter master general or deputy with a seperate army, furnish such horses, for special purposes, and on particular applications, as he shall think the good of the service may require; and whenever any doubt arises, that the matter be referred to the Commander in Chief, or the commanding officer of a seperate army, for their instructions:
That no purchases of horses or any other articles with the main army, or in any of the states for the use of the army, in the quarter master general's department, be made, unless by order of the quarter master general, or one of his assistants or by a deputy quarter master general with a seperate army or garrison:
That the quarter master general make returns to the Commander in Chief and Board of War, as soon as possible after they are delivered in to him by the assistant quarter master general, of all officers and other persons employed, and stores belonging to the department, and that a deputy serving with a seperate army, or with a garrison, make returns quarterly, in the months afore-mentioned, agreeably to the directions
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given to a deputy of a State, which the quarter master general shall include in his general returns:
That all officers in the quarter master general's department, of whatever denomination, shall take the oaths of allegiance and the oath of office prescribed by Congress, before they enter on business:
That, with the returns before directed to be made, of the name and station of each person to be appointed in the quarter master's department, there be also at the same time certificates returned therewith, of all such their having respective taken the oaths and qualifications directed by resolution of Congress of the afore-mentioned:
That in settling the accounts of officers in the quarter master's department, to be appointed by this act of Congress, no pay or allowance whatever be granted to any person employed in that department, whose name and employment, together with a certificate of his taking the aforesaid oaths, which by the aforementioned resolutions in directed to take the same shall not be duly returned in manner above directed;
That the Board of War shall have power to suspend and dismiss all supernumerary officers that may be hereafter be employed in the quarter master general's department.
Resolved, That Major General Greene be continued in the office of quarter master general; that he be, and he is hereby directed to make the appointments and arrangements in the quarter master's department, agreeably to the foregoing resolutions, as soon as possible.
And that from and after the 20th day of August next all former resolutions for regulating the Quarter Master's department, and appointments under then, be annulled and vacated.
Provided, That nothing contained in the foregoing resolutions shall be construed to annul the resolution of the 9th
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day of July, 1779, authorizing the executive authority of the respective states to correct abuses in the staff departments, or to vacate any appointment made, or that may be made by Major General Gates for the southern army, agreeably to the resolution of the 14th day of June last.
Resolved, That it be, and it is hereby recommended to the legislatures of the several states in which the army may serve, to make provision for furnishing the horses of the army, or detachments thereof, with a sufficient supply of pasturage, and with such hay or forage as can be spared from the country in the vicinity of the army or detachment thereof; the same to be settled and paid for by the quarter master general with the army, or by the deputy in the State.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 22, folio 193.]
A report of the Board of War was read, for an advance of money for the purchase of horse furniture for Baylor's and White's regiments of light dragoons:
War Office, July 14, 1780
Sir,
In consequence of the resolution of the 6th June last directing such arms and accoutrements as were wanted for Baylor's and White's Regiments of Cavalry to be sent forward. The Board immediately gave the necessary orders for carrying into execution the intentions of Congress, but Col Finnie to whom the providing a part of the accoutrements was intrusted, has informed the Board he could not comply with their requisitions unless he was furnished with a sufficient sum of money for the purpose. He was directed to procure two hundred saddles, bridles, and accoutrements complete which will cost about £135,000. The Board therefore beg leave to report
That a warrant issue in favor of the paymaster of the Board of War and Ordnance, for three hundred and sixty thousand dollars, to be applied to the purpose of procuring accoutrements for the cavalry of the Southern Army.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, IV, folio 436.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock on Monday.
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