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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 --MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1780
A letter, of 30th, from Major General Greene, was read;3 Whereupon, it was moved by Mr. [John Morin] Scott, seconded by Mr. [John] Henry,
[Note 3: 3 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 155, I, folio 451.]
That as Major General Greene has expressed an earnest desire to have Doctor James McHenry as an aid de camp upon the southern command, the said Major General Greene be authorised to employ the said Doctor James McHenry as one of his aids, on his command in the southern department; and that the said Doctor McHenry while so employed be intitled to the rank of major by brevet.
On which, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Theodorick] Bland,
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So it passed in the negative.
A letter, of this day, from Benjamin Walker, captain of 4 New York regiment and aid de camp to Major General Steuben, was read, upon reading which, and on the further representation and request of the delegates of New York,1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XXIV, folio 271.]
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of the said delegates for fifteen thousand dollars, for the purposes mentioned in the said letter; and for which the said State is to be accountable.
A letter, of 28, from Major General Baron Steuben was read:2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 164, folio 194.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
A letter, of 27, from Mons. Marbois was read:3
[Note 3: 3 This letter is printed in the Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution. (Wharton), IV, 106.]
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Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Admiralty.
A letter, of 18, from the council of Massachusetts Bay;
And one of the same date, from J. Bradford, were read:
Ordered, That the letter from Mr. Bradford be referred to the Board of Treasury.
A letter, of 29, from Colonel Armand, Marquis de la Rouerie, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War, and that the Board lay before Congress a list of the colonels in the line of the American Army with the dates of their respective commissions.
A letter, of 28, from Captain Thomas Farrell was read, with sundry papers enclosed:
Ordered, That the same be referred to the Board of War.
A letter, of 22, from Governor Jefferson was read, with sundry papers enclosed, informing that a fleet of the enemy has arrived in Chesapeak bay, and that they have debarked some light horse in the neighbourhood of Portsmouth:1
[Note 1: 1 The Massachusetts letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 65, I, folio 464; that of Bradford in No. 78, IV, folio 33; that of Armand in No. 164, folio 420; that of Farrell in No. 78, IX, folio 339; that of Jefferson in No. 71, I, folio 475.]
Ordered, That the same be referred to the committee on the letters from General Washington, Major General Greene and Colonel Pickering, Q. M. G.
The committee, to whom were referred the letters from General Washington, from Major General Greene and Colonel Pickering; and the committee, to whom was referred Mr. Lee's letter; and the committee on Colonel J. White's accounts, delivered in their respective reports:
Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on the letters from General Washington, Major General Greene and Colonel Pickering; and thereupon,
Resolved, That Congress approve the appointment, by the Commander in Chief, of Major General Greene to the command
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of the southern army, agreeably to their resolution of the 5th instant, and adopt his opinion, that the talents and service of Major General the Baron Steuben, inspector general, will be very useful in the southern department; to which he is, therefore, hereby directed to repair:
That the army for the said department do consist of all the regular regiments and corps raised or to be raised, from the states of Delaware to Georgia, inclusive, until the further orders of Congress or the Commander in Chief:
That all the powers heretofore given by Congress to Major General Gates, since his appointment to that command, be, and hereby are, continued and vested in Major General Greene; who is also to consider as instructions, all such resolutions as have been entered into by Congress since the time aforesaid, directing in any general or particular business respecting the said department.
That he have power also to organize and employ the army under his command, in the manner he shall judge most proper, subject to the control of the Commander in Chief:
That it be earnestly recommended to the legislatures and executives of the said states, respectively, to afford every necessary assistance and support, in men, cloathing, money, arms, intrenching tools, provisions, and other aids and supplies, to Major General Greene, who is hereby authorised to call for the same:
That the heads of the several staff departments for supplying the main army be, and hereby are, directed to furnish, to the order of Major General Greene, such articles as, upon inquiry, he shall find cannot be obtained in the southern department.
That in case of any operations in the department aforesaid on the part of the great ally of these states, or of his
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Catholic Majesty, their friend, he be and hereby is empowered to co-operate therewith in the most effectual manner possible.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of George Walton, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, VI, folio 309.]
And whereas it has been represented to Congress, that the commanding officer in the southern department entertains doubts respecting his powers, with regard to the exchange of prisoners:
Resolved, That he be, and hereby is, authorised to negotiate, from time to time, a cartel or exchange of prisoners, with the commanding officer of the British army in that department; provided such exchanges be not contrary to any general directions of Congress or the Commander in Chief.
Ordered, That copies of the foregoing resolutions be immediately transmitted to the executives of the said states, respectively.
Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on Colonel J. White's letters and papers; Whereupon,
The Committee to whom were referred the letters and papers of Colonel John White, Report.
That it appears that Colo. John White has unsettled accounts with the public, and that having previously obtained permission from the Commanding Officer of the Southern Department, he came to Philadelphia with a view to have the same finally settled, as well as to obtain some directions respecting the Georgia Brigade.
Your Committee therefore beg leave to report the following resolution:
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of Colonel John White, for fifteen thousand dollars advanced to him; and for which he is to be accountable. And that Colonel White be referred for the settlement of his accounts to the auditor general's office in the southern department.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Francis Kinloch, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, VI, folio 539.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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