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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, NOVEMBER 6, 1780
The delegates for Connecticut laid before Congress the credentials of their appointment, which were read, as follows:
At a General Assembly of the Governor and Company [SEAL.] of the State of Connecticut in America holden at Hartford on the second Thursday of May Anno Dom 1780
This Day being appointed by Law, for the Choice of Delegates to represent this State at the Congress of the United States, Proclamation
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was now made in manner accustomed, and then the Votes of the Freemen were given in to the Persons appointed by the Assembly to receive sort and count them and declare the Names of the Persons legally chosen to the Office aforementioned; which Persons so appointed, were William Pitkin Esqr. Mr. John Treadwell Genl Andrew Ward Mr Thomas Niles Mr Amos Mead Colo. Jonathan Trumbull Colo. Benjamin Hinman and Mr Jonathan Fitch, who were sworn to a faithfull Discharge of that Trust.
And the Votes of the Freemen, being brought in, sorted and Counted, Samuel Huntington Esqr Oliver Elsworth Esqr Titus Hosmer Esqr. Jesse Root Esqr. Richard Law Esqr. Oliver Wolcott Esqr Andrew Adams Esqr., were elected and publickly declared to be Delegates to represent this State in the Congress of the United States, according to Law.
A true Copy of Record
Examind
By George Wyllys Secrety1
[Note 1: 1 The original is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, Connecticut, Credentials of Delegates.]
A letter, of 1, from General Washington was read, with sundry papers enclosed:2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, IX, folio 339.]
Ordered, That the same be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [James] Duane, Mr. [Richard] Howly and Mr. [William] Sharpe.
A letter, of 4, from F. Bailey was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
A memorial of Charles Crowly was read:3
[Note 3: 3 This memorial, dated November 6,1780, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, V, folio 505.]
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [George] Walton, Mr. [Abraham] Clark and Mr. [Willie] Jones.
The Board of War, to whom was referred the letter, of 2, from Major General Greene, delivered in a report, which was read; Whereupon,
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At a Board of War.
Present Mr Peters, Col. Grayson
The board have been honored with a reference from Congress of a letter from Major Genl. Greene on the subject of the promotions of Major Lee and Captain Peyton in the Legion commanded by Major Lee. On a former application for promotions, the Board wrote to General Washington on the subject, and an extract of his letter in answer is inclosed. The request then went no further as to Major Lee than a desire to have the assistance of another field Officer or of two, if it could be done, and he to remain where he was. The proposed addition of Field Officers were Capt. McLane to be Major and to command the infantry, and Capt. Peyton to be Major and to command the cavalry under Major Lee. The General's objections were grounded on the formation of the Corps, and the jealousies the promotions would create among the Cavalry Officers. The objections as to the number of Field Officers seem to be obviated by the present formation of regiments, but whether the causes of jealousies have decreased (if these are to continue objections) we cannot determine. How other Officers of cavalry will be affected by Captain Peyton's promotion, not having an arrangement of the Cavalry, we cannot determine. It appears to us however, that there is a necessity of at least two field Officers in Major Lee's Legion and as he is the oldest Major in the Cavalry, and would have been promoted had he remained in the line, it should seem that he is entitled to the rank of a Lieutenant Colonel, whether it is, or is not proper to make any promotions until the proposed arrangement shall take place, we cannot undertake to decide, but submit to the determination of Congress with this observation that no promotion can be had in the line of the cavalry by the officers of an independent Legion, and their rising in their own Corps ought to cause jealousies no more than if a new regiment had been raised in which accidental preferences from casualties or length of service would happen. Should Congress be of opinion that the promotion should take place they will be pleased to resolve.
Resolved, That the partizan corps commanded by Major Lee in future have two field officers, a lieutenant colonel and a major.
Resolved, That Major Lee be, and hereby is, promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel of cavalry in the army of the United States, retaining the command of his present corps:
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That the farther arrangement of the said corps be referred to the commanding officer of the Southern army Commander in Chief, to take order.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, IV, folio 643.]
The committee to whom was referred the report of the Board of Treasury, on the memorial of R. Pomeroy, delivered in a report; Whereupon,
Resolved, That, in the liquidation of the accounts of Ralph Pomeroy, sole commissioner for settling and paying the arrears of cloathing for the army in 1777, the Board of Treasury be authorised to allow him a salary after the rate of twelve hundred dollars per annum, to be computed from the sixth day of March, 1779, being the time of his appointment to office, to the 14th of this instant November; and that the balance be paid to him in bills of the emission pursuant to the resolution of Congress of the 18 of March last, and a warrant reported accordingly, in his favor on John Lawrence, Esq. treasurer of the commissioner of the continental loan office in the State of Connecticut.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of James Duane, contained the resolution as adopted. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, V, folio 201.]
A report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on Joseph Borden, commissioner of the continental loan office in the State of New Jersey, in favour of Thomas Bond, purveyor of the general hospital, for four thousand two hundred and seventy six dollars and 60/90, in bills of credit emitted pursuant to the act of Congress of the 18 of March last; for which sum the said Thomas Bond is to be accountable.
The Board having considered the letter from J Bradford of the 18th ulto. (referred to them by Congress) report,
That the Honorable Arthur Lee Esqr., be charged in the Treasury books with the monies supplied him by the said Mr Bradford in
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Boston--and that the Board are not competent to any instructions to be given Mr Bradford--respecting the sale of the Goods mentioned in the afsd. letter.
The Board on the requisition of the Board of War of this day for one thousand two hundred and eighty dollars and 38/90 for the Commissary General of military stores further report--That Passes November 22d a Warrant issue on Nathaniel Appleton Esqr. Commissioner of the Continental Loan Office for the State of Massachusetts Bay, in favor of Colo Benj: Flower Commissary General of military stores, for the afsd. sum of one thousand two hundred and eighty dollars and 38/90 in Bills of credit emitted pursuant to the Act of Congress of the 18th of March last to enable the said Commissary General to discharge the balance of Thomas Dickinson's account, claimed in the new Bills under the resolution of the 26th of August last, for which sum the afsd. Colo Benj: Flower is to be accountable.
The Board further report,
That they have considered the letter from Colo George Morgan Commissary General of purchases in the western department dated Octr 29 last with its inclosures referred to them by Congress and are of opinion that the said letter and inclosures ought to be referred to the Board of War, as it appears by the afsd. letter, that he has acted under the particular Directions of Congress and that Board.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 707.]
Ordered, That the Board of Treasury charge the hon. Arthur Lee, Esq. in their books, with the moneys supplied him by Mr. John Bradford; that so much of their report as relates to Col. George Morgan's accounts be re-committed, and that the Board be informed,
That interest heretofore paid on loan office certificates, under the resolutions of Congress previous to the 28 June last, was paid and received as full compensation for interest due, agreeably to the said resolutions, that all money loaned under the said resolutions was paid in on a dependence that the said resolutions would be complied with; and therefore that no retrospect in additional interest, where the interest
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has been duly paid agreeably to the resolutions aforesaid, ought to take place, but that from and after the 28 of June last, all interest on loan office certificates be paid agreeably to the resolution of the 28 June, on which the table for ascertaining the value of money loaned is founded.
Admiralty Office November 6, 1780.
Sir,
The Board beg leave to inform Congress, that as the time for which the Trumbull's Crew were engaged expires this day, Captain James Nicholson was yesterday sent down with instructions, to prevail upon the crew to continue in the ship for a short cruise, or that failing to go round with her to Boston, and be there discharged, but to neither of these proposals would they consent, peremptorily insisting upon their discharge according to contract, or they (the petty officers and crew) would immediately leave the ship. They at length consented to remain on board in order to bring the ship up to the City.
Captain Nicholson hath discovered that his Petty officers and Crew have been previously engaged to private Ships of War, and Merchant Ships fitting in this Port.
To prevent the same spirit, from influencing the Deane's Crew (who are inclined to take another cruise) Captain Nicholson, hath ordered her immediately to Reedy Island.
The Board deem it further necessary to inform Congress, that [of] a warrant issued on the Treasurer in their favor, dated the 5th. of August for 700,000 Dollars, there remains 426,747.2/3 yet unpaid, without which it will be impossible to get the Confederacy and Saratoga equipped, additional provision will also be wanted for the Deane to proceed on a cruise.
Messrs. Hill and Huntington being absent, the Admiralty Board cannot by its Institution, at present act.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 37, folio 517.]
Treasury Office November 6 1780
The Board of Treasury represent to Congress.
That in pursuance of their resolution of the 22d of September last Bills of exchange to the amount of four thousand pounds sterling were put into the hands of the Loan Officer of this State to sell. That the Loan Officer afsd. has by his return dated this day made sale of said Bills amounting to one million sixty eight thousand dollars,
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out of which sum has been paid a Warrant of Congress in favor of Ephraim Blaine for six hundred thousand dollars, and two Warrants in favor of Major General Greene for one hundred and eighty thousand, and that there remains in the hands of the Loan Officer afsd. subject to the order of Congress two hundred and eighty eight thousand dollars.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 709.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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