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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, FEBRUARY 26, 1781
Mr. [Thomas] McKean, a delegate for the State of Delaware, attended and produced the credentials of the delegates of that State, which were read, as follows:
In the General Assembly of the Delaware State,at Newcastle, Saturday, A. M. February 10, 1781.
The Council and House of Assembly, having met in the State-House, agreeable to the order of the Day, proceeded, by joint Ballot, to the election of Delegates to represent this State in the Congress
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of the United States of America, for the ensuing year, and the Box containing the Ballots being examined, The Honorable Thomas Rodney, Thomas McKean and Nicholas Vandyke, Esquires, are declared duly elected.
Extract from the Minutes,
Jas. Booth,
Clk of Assembly1
[Note 1: 1 The original is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, Delaware,Credentials of Delegates.]
A letter, of 17, from General Washington, was read, enclosing an estimate from Brigadier General Knox:2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, IX, folio 567; it is printed inThe Writings of Washington (Ford), IX, 145.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
A letter, of 17, from the governor of Virginia was read, with sundry papers enclosed:3
[Note 3: 3 This letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 71, II, folio 35.]
Ordered, That the same be referred to a committee of three.
The members, Mr. [William] Sharpe, Mr. M[eriwether] Smith and Mr. [Joseph] Jones.
A letter, of 10, from Major General Greene, was read.4
[Note 4: 4 This letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 155, I, folio 561.]
A letter, of 21, from J. Lawrence, judge advocategeneral, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
A letter, of 10, from the president of the State of New Hampshire, was read.5
[Note 5: 5 This letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 64, folio 180.]
A letter, of 21 December, 1780, from Faucher & Skerrett, of Cape François, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Commerce.
A petition of Mathew McConnell; and
A letter, of 24 February, from E. Forman, were read:6
[Note 6: 6 McConnel's petition, dated February 26, 1781, is in thePapers of the Continental Congres, No. 42, V, folio 243; Forman's letter is in No. 78, IX, folio 439.]
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Ordered, That they be referred to the committee on the letter from J. Patton and others.
A report from the Board of War was read; Whereupon,
War OfficeFeby. 1781
Sir.
At the instance of the Commander in Chief, the Board have taken measures for supplying Lieutenant Colonel Stevens with a number of cannon and stores for an enterprize to be immediately undertaken, the execution whereof depends in a great degree on the secrecy and promptitude of the preparations. We have been able to procure the greater part of the articles and with the sum of forty four thousand two hundred and fifty dollars of the old emissions, for the department of Commissary General of Military Stores, and two hundred and fifty dollars of the new emissions for Lieutenant Colonel Stevens, the whole will be in a situation to move by the time expected. We therefore beg the favor of Congress to resolve,
Ordered, That warrants be drawn on Thomas Smith, commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Pensylvania, in favour of the paymaster of the Board of War and Ordnance, for forty-four thousand two hundred and fifty dollars of the old emissions, to be applied under the order of the said Board, for the purchase of military stores immediately wanted for a special occasion, and also for two hundred and forty dollars of the new emission, to be delivered by the said Board to Lieutenant Colonel Stevens, for which he is to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, VI, folio 201.]
A report from the Board of War, of this day, was read, respecting the removal of the Convention prisoners:
War Office,Feby. 26, 1781.
Sir.
The Board have been honored with an order from Congress to remove the Convention Prisoners in Virginia into some State more northerly. We should as we are on all occasions be happy in executing the orders of Congress, but in this as well as too many other matters we find ourselves embarrassed for want of means. This
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being the case we are with submission to the better judgment of Congress of opinion that the business had better be recommended to the executives of Virginia and Maryland to take order for the removal and temporary supply of these Prisoners. The care of the Convention Prisoners has always been ultimately vested in the executive of Virginia, but when they are out of that State it will be necessary that the Government of Maryland be requested to take the superintendancy of their supplies and safe keeping so far as to furnish the means to Colonel Wood who has the command of all matters relative to the Convention Troops in the Military line. Under present circumstances if they are crowded together without Magazines the whole must suffer for Want of Provisions or disperse thro' the Country. Our accounts from those of the Convention Troops now in Maryland are very disagreeable. They are so precariously supplied that the soldiers are sent thro' the Country to collect provisions and being unguarded great numbers daily desert. These evils will be encreased by a junction of the whole and therefore we submit to Congress the propriety of fixing on some stationary place for these prisoners where they can be supplied and proper Magazines and guards provided that this business may at once be put in a proper train and the embarrassments of temporary measures be thereby prevented.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, VI, folio 205.]
Ordered, That the same, together with the postscript of Governor Jefferson's letter, of 17th, relative to the prisoners taken at the Cowpens, be referred to a committee of three.
The members, Mr. [Joseph] Jones, Mr. [Daniel] Carroll, Mr. [Henry] Wynkoop.
The committee to whom was referred the report of the Board of War, of 22, delivered in a report; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the committee appointed to confer with the directors of the bank be and they are hereby empowered to agree with the said directors upon the terms which the bills of exchange in their hands shall be taken or sold for the purpose of making good the engagements of the bank.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of George Walton, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 27, folio 121.]
That three members be added to the said committee.
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The members added, Mr. [John] Hanson, Mr. M[eriwether] Smith, Mr. [Thomas] Burke.
Congress took into consideration a report from the Board of War, on the memorial of Colonel R. Gridley, and thereupon,
Resolved, That it be recommended to the State of Massachusetts to make up to Richard Gridley the depreciation of his pay as engineer at sixty dollars per month, from the time of his appointment to the 1st day of January, 1781, in like manner with other officers in continental service, and charge the same to the United States:
That from and after the said first day of January, 1781, Colonel Gridley be considered as a retiring officer, and be entitled to receive from the United States four hundred and forty-four dollars and two-fifths of a dollar per annum, in bills of the new emissions, in virtue of the resolutions of Congress of the 17 November, 1775, on the subject of his indemnification for any losses he might sustain by entering into the service of the United States.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, VI, folio 189.]
The Board of War, to whom was referred the several applications for the place of keeper of the state prison, delivered in a report; Whereupon,
At a Board of WarFeby. 21st 1781
Present Mr Peters
Genl Cornell
Mr. Mathews
The Board having considered the several applications for the place of Keeper of the State prison in Philadelphia, and it appearing to them, that Elijah Weed is recommended as a capable and active person, and is the first applier for that employment,
Agreed to report to Congress,
Resolved, That Elijah Weed be and he is hereby appointed keeper of the state prison in Philadelphia, in the room of Robert Jewell, deceased.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, VI, folio 197.]
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A report from the Board of War was read; Whereupon,
At a Board of WarFeby. 23d. 1781
Present Mr Peters
Genl. Cornell
The Board taking into consideration the reference they have been honored with on the Memorial of Lieutenant Beaulieu beg leave to report,
That Lieutenant Beaulieu has no more pay in arrear than every other Officer that is a prisoner of War on parole but as he is a stranger it is probable he may be more distressed for want of money than Officers who are with their friends. If Congress should be of opinion that the foregoing reason is sufficient to entitle him to receive present pay, it may be proper to resolve,
Ordered, That the Board of War draw a Warrant on the paymaster general in favor of Lieutenant Beaulieu late of Colonel Armand's Corps for three months pay and subsistance on account, equal to one hundred and fifteen dollars in bills of the new emissions.
That part of his Memorial that respects cloathing appears to the Board improper to be complied with at this time--as they have no knowledge of any cloathing being delivered to Officers in the field or elsewhere on public account for the year past.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, VI, folio 209.]
At a Board of WarFeby. 23rd. 1781
Present Mr Peters
Genl. Cornell
The Board have considered the memorial of Captain Sigognie and Lieutenant Fontevieux of Col. Armands Legion whose situation is such that it is impossible for them to join their Corps without some money being given them by the public; and as they are foreigners they have not the means of procuring assistance from private persons. The Baron Deutrick also a Captain in the legion is in similar circumstances and no doubt will expect similar treatment with the memorialists. If Congress think their situation so peculiar as to distinguish it from that of the Officers of the Army in general, all of whom are in want, and many have in vain made repeated applications for pay, it will be proper in the opinion of the Board of War, that Congress direct,
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That the Board of War draw warrants on the paymaster general, in favour of Captains Segognie and Deutrick and Lieutenant Fontevieux, of the legion commanded by Colonel Armand for three months' pay in bills of the new emissions to enable them to join their corps now in Virginia, the resolution of the 4 January last notwithstanding.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, VI, folio 213.]
Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on Mr. [Thomas] Bee's motion; after debate:
Ordered, That it be re-committed.
A memorial from the honble the Minister of France was read.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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