| 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 --SATURDAY, AUGUST 12, 1780
A letter, of 3, from Count de Rochambeau, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XVIII, folio 315. A draft for a reply, in the writing of James Madison, is on folio 319.]
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [James] Madison, Mr. [Samuel] Adams, and Mr. [James] Lovell:
Ordered, That Brigadier Gen. Moultrie make return of the person whom he shall appoint commissary of prisoners in Charlestown, to Major General Gates, or the commanding officer in the southern department, for his approbation; and that so much of the resolution of the 5th as requires Brigadier Gen. Moultrie to make return to Congress, be and is hereby repealed.
Congress took into consideration the report of the committee, to whom was referred the report of the Board of War, respecting the department of military stores, which the committee think should be approved; Whereupon,
Page 724 | Page image
Congress resumed the consideration of the report referred; wherein,
The Board of War report,
That, pursuant to the resolution of the 26 of July, they have enquired into the state of the department of military stores; and upon mature deliberation, propose to retain in service until the farther order of Congress one commissary general one commissary general of military stores, one deputy commissary general, one commissary at Springfield, one commissary at Carlisle, one commissary in Virginia, and two or three other commissaries, or deputy commissaries, at some subordinate posts and stations:
They also propose to retain but one officer to each company of artificers, who, with his serjeants, will be competent to the proper direction of his men.
That the pay of a commissary of military stores be not less than 360, nor more than 1750 dollars per month:
That the pay of a deputy commissary, and of a conductor of military stores, be not less than 240, nor more than 1000 dollars per month:
That the pay of the clerks be fixed by the Board of War and Ordnance, in proportion to their respective merit and services:
That the pay of a captain of artillery artificers be 900 dollars per month; a captain lieutenant 750 dollars per month; a lieutenant 600 dollars per month; a serjeant from 150 to 200 dollars per month; a corporal, acting as foreman in any branch of work, the same pay as a serjeant:
Other corporals, drummers and fifers and privates, from 30 to 150 dollars per month:
That the pay of the commissaries, deputy commissaries and conductors, to be confined within the limits before-mentioned, be fixed according to their respective merit and services, by the Board of War and Ordnance:
Page 725 | Page image
That the pay of the non-commissioned officers and privates be fixed according to their respective merit and services, within the limits before-mentioned, by the major part of their commissioned officers, who shall meet together monthly for that purpose:
That a daily ration of forage be allowed only to such commissaries and conductors of military stores, whose frequent travelling shall, in the opinion of the Board of War, require the same.
Resolved, That Congress agree to this report, and that the same be carried into execution until the further order of Congress.
Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on the memorial of the general officers; Whereupon,
The Committee appointed to consider the petition of the General officers of the army presented to Congress on the 3d of August beg leave to Report.
Resolved, That the said general officers be informed that Congress have at no time been unmindful of the military virtues which have distinguished the army of the United States through the course of this war; and that it has been constantly one of the principal objects of their care, not only to provide for the health and comfort of the army, but to gratify their reasonable desires, as far as the public exigencies would admit:
That patience and self-denial, fortitude and perseverance, and the cheerful sacrifice of time, health and fortune, are necessary virtues which both the citizen and the soldier are called to exercise, while struggling for the liberties of their country; and that moderation, frugality and temperance, must be among the chief supports, as well as the brightest ornaments, of that kind of civil government which is wisely instituted by the several states in this union:
Page 726 | Page image
[That it has been recommended to the several states to make compensation to the officers and soldiers to them respectively belonging, for the depreciation of their pay; and that Congress will take speedy measures for liquidating and paying what is due on that account, to officers and soldiers who do not belong to the quota of any state:
That from and after the 1st day of August, 1780, the army shall be entitled to receive their pay, as stated, before the first day of January, 1777, in the new bills emitted pursuant to the resolution of Congress of the 18 day of March last:
That the officers shall hereafter be allowed five dollars per month, in the said new bills, for each retained ration:
That the widows of officers who have died or shall hereafter die in the service shall be entitled to the amount of the half pay such officer after the war if living would have been entitled Re-committed. to by the resolution of theday of1778, or if he leave no widow his orphan children, if he leave any, shall be entitled to the same.
That the Board of War be directed to report to Congress a list of the officers not belonging to the quota of any state, with an account of the balance due to each, to make their pay good for past services, agreeably to the resolution of the 10th day of April last:
That such of the states as have not made compensation to their officers and soldiers, agreeably to the recommendation of the 17 of August 1779, be and they are hereby requested to do it as soon as possible:
That each general officer in the Line of the Army shall be entitled to a grant of land in like manner as is provided for officers of the Battalions by the resolution of the 16th of September 1776 in proportion to their pay to wit,
That the provision for granting land, by the resolution of September 16th, 1776, be and is hereby extended to the general
Page 727 | Page image
officers, in the following proportion to wit: a major general 1100 acres; a brigadier general 850 acres:
That the officers of the army be furnished, as soon as possible, with two months' pay, on account, to relieve their present wants, mentioned in the memorial.]1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 21, folio 243. The part in brackets is in the writing of Roger Sherman, the remainder being in Samuel Adams's writing.]
Ordered, That the remainder be re-committed.
On motion of Mr. [Thomas] Bee, seconded by Mr. [Edward] Telfair--
Ordered, That the Minister of France be furnished with a copy of the resolution of the 5, respecting a plan of operations to be concerted for expelling the enemy from South Carolina and Georgia; and that he be informed that it is the desire of Congress that he will use his influence to cause such plan as the Commander in Chief may form, or the measures which he may recommend, to be undertaken by the forces of his Most Christian and Catholick Majesties, in consequence of the aforesaid resolves, to be carried into effect.2
[Note 2: 2 This order was also entered in the manuscript Secret (Domestic) Journal.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock on Monday.
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |