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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 --WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 1781
A letter offrom the Board of War was read, enclosing a letter from Brigadier General Irwine:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War to take order.
A report from the Board of War was read; Whereupon,
Ordered, That the Board of War draw warrants on the paymaster general, one in favour of Major Woodson of Colonel Hazen's regiment, for one hundred and ninety-five dollars in bills of the new emissions, equal to three months' pay and subsistence; and one in favour of Lieutenant Colonel Ternant for four hundred dollars in bills of the new emissions on account of his pay, for which sums they are respectively to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 The first clause of this report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, V, folio 377; the second is on folio 391.]
A report from the Board of Treasury on the letter, of 30th May, from Cha Pettit was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the committee to whom was re-committed their report on Mr. Blaine's and Mr. Pettit's letter.
The committee ∥consisting of Mr. Houston, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Atlee∥ to whom was referred the letter, of 12, from Cha Pettit, desiring leave to resign, delivered in a report; Whereupon,
The Committee to whom was referred a letter from Charles Petitt Assistant Quarter Master General, Report as their opinion that the office of Assistant Quarter Master General may be discontinued without detriment to the public service and therefore submit the following resolutions:
Resolved, That Charles Pettit, assistant quartermaster general, be permitted to resign that office, agreeably to his request:
That the office of assistant quartermaster general be abolished; and that the duties of the said office be performed
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by the quartermaster general, and his deputies under his direction.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Roger Sherman, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, V, folio 129.]
The committee to whom was referred the motion of Mr. [John] Mathews reported an ordinance, which was read, and after debate:
Ordered, That it be re-committed, and that Mr. [James Mitchell] Varnum be added to the committee.
On motion of Mr. [Roger] Sherman, seconded by Mr. [George] Partridge,
Resolved, That the postmaster general be directed immediately to employ a post-rider in the room of him who was lately taken by the enemy, between Fishkill and Morristown; and to apply to the Commander in Chief or the Board of War for an escort on that part of the way where the riders are exposed to be interrupted by the enemy.
On motion of Mr. [John] Mathews, seconded by Mr. [Thomas] Bee,
Resolved, That the Board of War be directed to furnish Governor Rutledge with four waggons, for transporting cloathing to the State of South Carolina; which waggons, when discharged by the said Governor Rutledge, to be delivered over to the orders of the commanding general of the southern army.
The committee of the week made report; Whereupon,
The Committee of the week report.
That the letter of the 14th. instant from Dr. Solomon Hailing praying for an appointment in the military hospital be referred to the Board of War.
And that the letter of the 19th. instant from B. d'Uerkfritz, Captain Colonel Armand's legion, praying for the payment of the ballance due to him be also referred to the Board of War.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of George Partridge, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 32, folio 175. Halling's letter is in No. 78, XXI, folio 81; d'Uerktritz's is in No. 78, XXIII, folio 5.]
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[Ordered], That a letter from Doctor Solomon Hailing be referred to the Board of War;
That a letter, of 19th, from B. d'Uerkfrit, captain in Colonel Armand's legionary corps, be referred to the Board of War.
A report from the Board of War was read; Whereupon,
War Office June 20 1781
Sir,
The Board have directed Mr. Thomas Jones Deputy Field Commissary of Military Stores, for the Southern department, to repair immediately to Virginia, and take charge of all military stores belonging to the public in that quarter. He is ready to execute their orders provided he can be furnished with a supply of money for his travelling expenses, as the public good require his immediate attention to the business, in forming magazines and collecting stores for the operations of the Marquis's army. The Board request Congress will be pleased to direct,
Ordered, That the Board of War draw a warrant on the paymaster general in favour of Thomas Jones, deputy field commissary of military stores for the southern department, for five hundred dollars in bills of the new emission on account of his pay, for which sum he is to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, V, folio 395.]
The committee, ∥consisting of Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Atlee, Mr. Bland,∥ to whom was referred the report of the Board of Treasury on the accounts of Colonel D. Campbell, delivered in a report; Whereupon,
The Committee to whom was referred the Report of the Board of Treasury respecting the accounts of Colo Donald Campbell beg leave to report,
That after examining the papers referred to them, They are of opinion, That the said report and papers be recommitted to the Board of Treasury for final settlement of the accounts between said Campbell and the United States.
Your Committee further report That in the account exhibited by Col.o Campbell against the United States are the following disputed charges, viz.
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Should Congress be of opinion That those charges ought to be allowed it may be proper to resolve,
That the Treasury Board be directed to credit Col.o Donald Campbell in the settlement of his account for £175, 14s, 6d £ 15. 14. 6 for loss on gold and silver £200 for loss of his baggage at Quebec £556. 13S for commissions on cloathing on cloathing and £687 16s 7d for 4 years and 9 months interest on any balance that may be found due to him from the United States.
That the balance of the difference between the clothing charged and the clothing credited be disallowed.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of John Sullivan, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, I, folio 513. The total was reached by adding the figures afterwards struck out.]
Ordered, That the report of the Board of Treasury on the accounts of Colonel D. Campbell, with the papers, be re-committed to the Board of Treasury for final settlement; and that the Board credit Colonel Campbell, in the settlement of his accounts, with the sum of £15 14 6, for loss on gold and silver, and also credit him for interest on such balance as may be found due to him from the United States, but that the balance of the difference between the cloathing charged and the cloathing credited be disallowed.
The committee, ∥consisting of Mr. Lovell, Mr. Sharpe, Mr. Bee,∥ to whom were referred the letter ∥and memorial of 7th May∥ from John Ross, delivered in a report; Whereupon,
The Committee to whom were referred letters from John Ross beg leave to Report--
That Mr Ross being reduced to a very critical situation by the unexpected and long delay of payment of his account against the
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United States petitions earnestly for an advance in part by bills of exchange which he is willing to take at par.
That all the bills which remain unsold of those drawn upon Mr. Jay and Mr Laurens, and which have been subjected to the orders of the Superintendant of Finance under certain restrictions, amount to little more than forty two thousand dollars making not a half of the balance due to Mr Ross.
That the Financier recommends the delivery of those bills to Mr Ross as the best disposal of them, and also gives it as his opinion that it is not necessary to wait for the absolute knowledge of funds being specially appropriated for payment of them in Spain and Holland.
That Mr Ross promises to bring no charge for usual damages, in case of non payment of the bills, but merely to return them.
Your Committee therefore submit the following Resolution--
Resolved, That Robert Morris, esq. be, and he is hereby, empowered to deliver to John Ross, in part payment of his account, the bills of exchange which were committed to him to be disposed of by a resolution of the 4th of this month, the restrictions in the said resolution notwithstanding, the said J. Ross agreeable to his proposal agreeing to receive them at par and engaging to bring no charge for usual damages in case of non-payment, but merely to return them.1
[Note 1: 1 This resolution was also entered in the manuscript Secret (Domestic)Journal under date of June 21. The report, in the writing of James Lovell, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, V, folio 251.]
On the question to agree to this, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [James Mitchell] Varnum,
{table}
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
A report of the Board of War, of the 17th, with an estimate of sundries wanted for equipping Colonel Armand's corps; and another report, of the 20th, with a letter, of 19th, from S. Miles, deputy quartermaster, were read:
War Office June 17th. 1781
Sir,
The great want of cavalry to the southward has induced the Board to apply to Congress for the amount of the enclosed estimates towards equipping Colo Armand's corps, if these are procured it will be in the power of the Board to furnish every thing else essentially necessary (except horses) to enable them to take the field. There are at present but 25 horses belonging to the corps, but there is a probability that the State of Virginia will supply the deficiency, in order to prevent the horses which are proper for this service from falling into the hands of the Enemy.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, V, folio 369.]
War Office, June 20. 1781
Sir,
The Board beg leave to inform Congress that only one fourth part of the estimate for transporting ammunition to the southward has been granted to Col. Miles as appears by his letter to the Board. As the furnishing ammunition to the army under the command of the Marquis la Fayette is of the greatest importance, the Board request that the farther sum of Four thousand three hundred and sixty eight dollars in bills of the new emission be advanced to Col. Miles immediately for the purpose of transporting ammunition to the army under the command of the Marquis la Fayette.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, V, folio 381.]
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Ordered, That they be re-committed and that the Board confer with Mr. R. Morris to take order.
The committee to whom was referred the petition of Captain Ysnardy delivered in a report.
The committee to whom was re-committed the ordinance reported by the committee on Mr. [John] Mathews's motion, reported the draught of a new ordinance which was read a first time:
Ordered, That it be read a second time.
The ordinance being read a second time, and debated by paragraphs:
Ordered, That it be read a third time to Morrow.
War Office, June 17. 1781
Sir,
The board have been honored with a reference of a letter from John David Weaver. He is a discharged Hospital Mate, and has pay due him from the Department. His case is comprehended in the report we had the honor to lay before Congress with respect to the pay and depreciation due the Staff Officers. But as Congress were pleased to adopt that report no farther than to take in the cases of all now in service, we are at a loss to know what can be done for Mr Weaver under present circumstances.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, V, folio 385. It was read on this day, as the indorsement shows. It is further indorsed: "August 23d., 1781, not to be acted upon."]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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