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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 --SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1781
A letter, of 25, from Major General Heath;
A letter, of this day, from James Jay, were read.2
[Note 2: 2 Heath's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 157, folio 302; Jay's is in No. 78, XIII, folio 273.]
A report of the Board of War on a petition of J.P. Short, was read:
War Office September 28th 1781
The Board have considered the memorial of Capt. John Paul Scheft referred to them by Congress and beg leave to observe that
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this Gentleman's accounts both for depreciation and pay were settled by Mr Stowell auditor to the army on the 19th of April last up to the first of January 1781. At which time he was deranged by the last reform of the army. The balance found due is 2024 dollars specie.
As this Gentleman is now out of service his request respecting rank is totally inadmissible. His accounts being fully settled, we consider the propriety of making payment of any part of the balance due to him, and all others under similar circumstances to depend solely on the state of our Finances of which we are not competent judges.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 148, II, folio 335.]
Ordered, That it be returned to the Board to take order.
On motion of Mr. [George] Partridge, seconded by Mr. [Elias] Boudinot:
Resolved, That the superintendant of finance take order for the payment of five hundred dollars to Major General St. Clair on account of his pay, that he may be enabled to proceed on the duties of his command.
A report from the Board of War on the memorial of Major Mitchel was read; Whereupon,
At a Board of War September 28th. 1781.
Present Mr Peters
General Cornell
The Board have considered the memorial of Major Mitchell referred to them by Congress and beg leave to observe that this Gentleman previous to his application to Congress called on the Board who after fully investigating the matter informed him that his request was inadmissible as the horses lost were neither killed nor wounded in action, which are the only cases provided for by the resolutions of Congress of the 8th of January and 29th of November 1780. The Board see no reason to make an exception from the general established rule in this Gentleman's case.
Therefore report,
Resolved, That it is inexpedient to comply with the request of Major Mitchel contained in his memorial of the 24 instant.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 148, II, folio 307.]
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The report of the committee on the letter, of 16 August, from James Jay, was taken into consideration, and passed in the negative.
Ordered, That the report of the committee on the report of the Board of War on General Greene's letter, of 23 June;
The Committee to whom was referred the report of the Board of War of the 10th instant on the letters from General Green and Lt. Col. Lee,
Report,
That General Green be and he is hereby authorized to arrange and equip Col. Lee's Legionary Corps agreeable to the plan proposed in his letter of the 20th June 1781 so far as may be in his power.
That the Board of War be directed to deliver such arms and accoutrements for equipping said Corps as can be spared from the military stores, and that they with the Superintendent of Finance take order with respect to providing such other articles as may be necessary.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Thomas Bee, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, II, folio 467.]
The report of the Board of War on Brigadier General Thompeon's letter; and
The report of the committee on the letter, of 2d August, from General Washington; and
The report of the committee on the letter, of 20 July, from the superintendant of finance; be filed in the office.
Ordered, That the consideration of the report of the committee on the memorial of sundry merchants of New York and Massachusetts, and the memorial of sundry inhabitants of the State of Pensylvania, be postponed.
A letter, of 28, from the honble. the Minister Plenipotentiary of France, was read.
The report of the committee, ∥consisting of Mr. Mathews, Mr. Boudinot, Mr. Varnum, Mr. Atlee,∥ on the letter of 16 August from Brigadier General Moultrie was taken into consideration; and Thereupon,
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The Committee to whom was referred the letter of Brigadier Gertl Moultrie of the 16th ultimo with the memorial of the Officers of the So Carolina and Georgia lines
Further Report,
That from the peculiar hardships under which those Officers at present labour, being deprived of the least support from their respective States and their own estates being in the hands of the enemy, their only dependence for relief rests altogether with Congress. Their case being so far distinguished from Officers of the other lines, that the latter are supplyed with cloathing and other necessaries from their respective States, and as thay ask for nothing more than a part of their pay, which is justly due to them--your Committee are of opinion that three months' pay should be immediately ordered them out of the monies brought by Col. Laurens. Therefore beg leave to recommend the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Financier cause to be paid to each of the memorialists three months' pay out of the monies committed to his charge monies in his hands upon their warrants received from the Board of War.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of John Mathews, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, IV, folio 465.]
Resolved, That the superintendant of finance enable the paymaster to discharge the warrants drawn on him by virtue of the resolution of the 13 day of August last, by advancing three months real pay to each of the officers therein mentioned.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock on Monday.
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