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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, OCTOBER 13, 1780
A petition of William Eugene Imlay was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
A representation from the legislature of the State of New Jersey was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the committee on the motion of the delegates for the State of New York for the relief of the treasury of that State.
On motion of Mr. [William Churchill] Houston, one of the committee to whom was referred the letter, of 31 March, from General Washington, with the papers enclosed:
Ordered, That the said committee be discharged, and that the letter and papers be referred to the committee on General Washington's letter of 7th.
On motion of Mr. [Samuel] Adams, seconded by Mr. [James] Duane,
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to draught a proclamation for setting apart a day of thanksgiving and prayer.
The members chosen, Mr. [Samuel] Adams, Mr. [William Churchill] Houston and Mr. [Frederick A.] Muhlenberg.
A report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,
Treasury Office October 12th 1780
Whereas it was resolved in Congress June the 14th 1780, "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," and whereas the plan for conducting the Quarter Master Genls department agreed to in Congress July 15, 1780 "authorises the Asst Qr Masr. General to apply to the Board of Treasury for such sums of money as the Quarter Masr. General shall direct and distribute the same" and does not require the attention of the Board of War to estimates for advances, whereby the resolution
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aforesaid of the fourteenth of June last appears to be superceded or annulled, and whereas there are now before the Board applications with estimates from the Asst Qr Master General for advances of considerable sums of money immediately wanted for the department which have not been submitted to the Board of War or received their approbation;
The Board of Treasury beg leave to report,
That Congress decide by a resolution for that special purpose whether the resolution of the 14th of June last respecting estimates be in force notwithstanding the plan for conducting the Qr. M. Genl department agreed to in Congress the 15th of July last.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 611.]
Ordered, That the Board of War continue to give the Board of Treasury the best advice in their power, respecting the necessity and propriety of advances to the quarter master general and to the commissaries general, to enable the Board of Treasury to decide on the merit of the requisitions made.
Another report from the Board of Treasury, dated the 6 instant, was read.
On motion of Mr. [William Churchill] Houston, seconded by Mr. [John] Fell,
Ordered, That the first paragraph be postponed, and that the Board of Treasury be directed to enquire to whom the three hundred thousand dollars granted on the 12 of February last, for the use of the State of Georgia have been paid, and how the same has been applied, and report the facts to Congress.
A letter, of 5, from Major General Gates, with sundry papers enclosed; also a letter, of 8, from Governor Jefferson, with sundry papers enclosed, were read:2
[Note 2: 2 The Governor's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 71, I, folio 437; the letter of Gates is in No. 154, II, folio 267.]
The delegates for South Carolina laid before Congress a letter from Governor Rutledge; Whereupon,
Congress took into consideration the report of the Board of War respecting the promotion of Colonel Morgan:
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And it appearing from the letters of Governors Jefferson and Rutledge, and of Major General Gates, that Colonel Morgan's promotion to the rank of a brigadier general will remove several embarrassments which impede the public service in the southern department, and that it will otherwise greatly advance the said service:
Resolved, therefore, That Colonel Daniel Morgan be and hereby is appointed to the rank of brigadier-general in the army of the United States.
The Board of War, to whom was referred the motion for appointing a major general in the army of the United States, delivered in a report, which was read; Whereupon,
War Office Octo 12, 1780
Sir
The Board do themselves the honor to enclose Congress a list of Major Generals in the American service, amounting in the whole to the number of twelve, of these, Genl. Putnam is in a bad state of health, and Genl. Lincoln is a prisoner to the Enemy; if from the remainder two should be deducted, the one for the command in Carolina and the other for the important fortress of West Point, there will only be left eight for the subordinate commands in the line of the Northern and Southern armies, and for the Inspectorship, a number too small supposing it to be probable our army will amount to the complement voted by Congress.
The Board beg leave to refer to the list transmitted in the case of Genl Smallwood, by which (as Genl Nixon has since resigned) it will appear that Saml Holden Parsons Esqr is at present the oldest Brigadier in the continental line except Genl Thompson, who is a prisoner to the Enemy. It is also to be observed that this gentleman is of Connecticut, which State, by the want of health of General Putnam, and the treason of General Benedict Arnold, has no officer of that rank to command their Troops.
They therefore beg leave to report the following resolve,
That Brigr. General Samuel Holden Parsons be promoted to the rank of Major General in the army of the United States.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, IV, folio 588; the enclosure is on folio 593.]
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Resolved, That Monday next be assigned for electing a major general in the army of the United States.
Brigadier General Parsons was put in nomination by Mr. B[enjamin] Huntington,
A report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,
Resolved, That John Wells and Edward Chinn, commissioners of accounts in the northern department, be and are hereby appointed an extra chamber of accounts, subject to the rules and regulations laid down in the resolution of Congress of the 12th of June last.
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Henry Dawkins, for fifteen hundred dollars, [on account for engraving and altering the border and back pieces for striking the bills of credit of the United States]1 and for which he is to be accountable.
[Note 1: 1 The words in brackets are in the report but not in the Journal.]
That on the application of William Palfrey, paymaster general, a warrant issue on the treasurer in his favour, for four thousand dollars, for the use of his department to reimburse the delegates of Virginia for a like sum advanced by them to Lieutenant Smith, late a prisoner of war; for which sum the said William Palfrey is to be accountable.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 609.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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