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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 --TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 1784.
Congress assembled: Present ten states, and from South Carolina, Mr. [Jacob] Read, as yesterday.
On motion of Mr. [Ephraim] Paine, seconded by Mr. [David] Howell,
Resolved, That another commissioner be appointed in addition to those appointed by the act of Congress of the 4 of March last, to negotiate with the Indians; and that to-morrow be assigned for that purpose.
On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, Mr. [Thomas] Jefferson and Mr. [Jacob] Read, to whom was referred a letter of November 4, 1783, from Major-General Greene,
That it appears to your Committee that General Green, during his command in the Southern Department, besides the sum of 38,591 60/90 Dlrs. which had been advanced to him of the old paper
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emissions, has expended in travelling and for the support of his family the sum of 10,017 86/90 Dlrs.
That the sum allowed him by the U. S. for his extra expences during that period as commanding in a separate Department was 5972 20/90 Dlrs. hence it appears that his expences have exceeded his allowance by the sum of 4045 16/90 Dlrs. besides the paper money referred to which at the then current state of depretiation was of small value. On which your Committee submit the following Resolve.
Resolved, That in consideration of the high price of all the necessaries of life in the southern states, while Major-General Greene commanded in that department, his account be credited with the sum of four thousand and forty-five dollars and sixteen ninetieths of a dollar; together with the sum of thirty-eight thousand five hundred and ninety-one dollars and sixty ninetieths of a dollar, of the old paper emissions, as an allowance for extra expences, above the sums to which he was entitled as a major-general commanding in a separate department.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Hugh Williamson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, II, folio 511. According to the indorsement it was read January 13.]
Resolved, That the comptroller of accounts, do place to the credit of Major-General Greene, lately commanding the army of the United States in the southern department, the sum of three hundred and twenty-nine pounds, six shillings and threepence, Virginia currency, which appears by the affidavit of Major William Pierce, late aid-de-camp to General Greene, to have been stolen from the trunk of Major Pierce, while the public money was in his custody.2
[Note 2: 2 This paragraph, as a motion of Mr. [Jacob] Read, seconded by Mr. [David] Howell, in the writing of Jacob Read, is on folio 513.]
Congress took into consideration the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [William] Ellery, Mr. [Arthur] Lee and Mr. [Richard Dobbs] Spaight, to whom was referred the report
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on General Greene's letter of 7 October, 1783, respecting the compensation to be allowed to Lieutenant-Colonel Mentges, as inspector of contracts for the Southern Army; and the resolution reported by the committee being under debate, viz.
That Lieutenant-Colonel Mentges, be allowed as a compensation for his services, as inspector of contracts for the Southern army, in addition to his pay as an Officer in the line, the sum ofdollars per month, during the time he executed that Office.
A motion was made by Mr. [Jacob] Read, seconded by Mr. [Edward] Hand, to postpone the same in order to take into consideration the following motion:
"That it appears that Lieutenant-Colonel Mentges executed the Office of inspector of contracts to the Southern army, by order of Major-General Greene, under the authority of the Superintendant of finance, and which appointment appears to have been confirmed by the said Superintendant actually paying two months pay of such Office to Lieutenant-Colonel Mentges: that he discharged the duties of the appointment with fidelity, and gave great satisfaction: nor is there any limitation in the resolve of the 7 of May, 1782, to prevent the duties of that office being executed by an officer in the line:
Resolved therefore, that Lieutenant-Colonel Mentges is entitled to the sum of one hundred and sixty-six and two thirds dollars per month, for executing the duties of inspector of contracts to the Southern Army:"
And on the question to postpone for the purpose above-mentioned, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Jacob] Read,
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So the question was lost.
Ordered, That the further consideration of the report be postponed till to-morrow.
On motion of Mr. [John] Beatty, seconded by Mr. [William] Ellery,
Resolved, That the postmaster general take order for discharging out of the revenue of the post office, the account of Jonathan Deare, and Joseph Olden, esquires amounting to four pounds fifteen shillings for their disbursements and services, in making inquiry into the robbery of the mail at Princeton, by order of Governor Livingston, in conformity to the act of Congress of 6 January last.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of John Beatty, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, II, folio 343.]
[Report of Committee appointed to consider of the measures proper to be adopted to take possession of the Frontier Posts.]
The Committee consisting of Mr. [John Francis] Mercer, Mr. [Arthur] Lee, Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, Mr. [David] Howell and Mr. [Ephraim] Paine, appointed "to consider of the measures proper to be
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adopted in order to take possession of the Frontier Posts" having considered the same and sundry papers to them referred thereon beg leave to observe, That to accomplish what they conceive to be the views of Congress, two objects appear to them as intimately blended and equally necessary, the one the taking possession of the fortifications of the United States now occupied by British Troops whenever they shall evacuate them, and the other, the establishment of such additional Posts, as may be necessary for defence of the Western Territory proposed to be purchased of the Indian Inhabitants by the United States. Your Committee considered these measures as connected and indeed inseparable for the following reasons: 1st. The Posts to be relinquished by the British wil1 extend but little protection to settlers in the New Country. IIdly. The number of Troops requisite to Garrison them must in a great measure be regulated by the number and force of such other Posts; and IIIdly. The Establishment of such Posts will render others now occupied at the expence of the United States altogether unnecessary.
The extending of Garrisons to the Northward or to the Westward of Detroit can only be necessary at this period to protect the peltry and fur trade, to keep a watch upon our Neighbours and to prevent their encroaching on our Territory unobserved. These objects cannot be attained but by a considerable force and that much detached, and whether when accomplished they will not be overbalanced by the inconveniences arising from the great distance of the Posts, their exposed situation, and the expence attending them is a question which yr. Committee are unprepared to decide. Should the latter however be the opinion of Congress, it will become unnecessary to extend our views to Michilimackinac and its dependancies. But your Committee are of opinion that all possible dispatch should be used in making the necessary arrangements for taking possession of the other Posts viz, Niagara, Oswego, Fort Erie and Detroit; and as the season in which they will probably be evacuated is already far advanced they recommend for this purpose the employment of Troops, now in service, in preference to raising others (the unavoidable delay of which might endanger the destruction of the Public works). In giving this opinion your Committee find it necessary to state to Congress an obstacle to the measure. The troops retained in the service of the United States are chiefly from New Hampshire and Massachusetts, and are engaged under various stipulations to
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be paid whilst in service extra pay, amounting on an average (as your Committee are informed) to more than double the pay allowed by the Continent, this great expence has heretofore been defrayed by the Inhabitants of those States, but to detain those troops in the service of the United States after the accomplishment of the object for which they were engaged, without exonerating those States from this burthen, might be considered as an act of injustice, and give rise to impediments that would obstruct their march; wherefore your Committee judged it best to advise first the employment of 100 men now stationed at Fort Pitt who are according to the best information your Committee can procure engaged on better terms, and to propose that the United States should exonerate New Hampshire and Massachusetts from the payment of the extra pay to such of their Troops as may be required for this service, in addition to those 100 men.
But as this extraordinary expence can only be justified by the most urgent necessity, and as the terms for which the men now in service are enlisted will shortly expire your Committee conceived it their duty to prepare a plan for raising the number of Troops requisite for defence of the North Western Frontier of the United States on economical and military principles. In doing this they avoided as much as possible entering into minute details; those will more properly be considered when Congress determine on a Peace establishment, a subject which in the opinion of your Committee should be considered as entirely distinct from the present measure. They have therefore whilst they endeavoured so to model their plan that it may become a part of the general system when adopted) confined themselves to those details which it may be necessary to promulgate for the satisfaction of the officers and soldiers to be employed.
On all which Principles your Committee submit the following report:
Resolved, That the Commanding Officer of the Troops now in service of the United States, be and he is hereby directed to open a correspondance with the Commander in Chief of his Britannic Majesty's forces in Canada, in order to ascertain the precise time when each of the Posts within the Territories of the United States, now occupied by British Troops shall be delivered up.
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"That he take effectual measures to have ready at those Posts at such time a sufficient number of the Troops of the United States to take possession of them, viz: at the Post of.
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"That he order the officers and men now stationed at Fort Pitt to march to such of the above Posts as may be most convenient, taking care to have well secured the stores that remain there, and that the officers and men who shall be necessary in addition to them, to compleat the number above detailed, be drawn from the other Troops remaining in service.
"That he endeavor to effect an exchange with the British Commanding Officer in Canada of the Cannon and Stores at the Posts to be evacuated for Cannon and Stores to be delivered at West Point or N. York, and if this cannot be accomplished that then he cause the complement of Cannon and Stores requisite for those Posts, to be transported thither in the most convenient and expeditous manner possible.
"That he take measures for supplying the Troops at those Posts by contract with the neighbouring Inhabitants, and if that cannot be effected, that then he cause Magazines to be erected convenient for the transportation of Supplies from different points of the United States, taking care to open as many avenues for supply as possible.
Resolved, That the Inhabitants of the States of Massachusetts and N. Hampshire be exonerated from the extra pay, due by contract, to those Soldiers who may be employed by virtue of these Resolutions from the time of their being so employed, and that those States be authorized to charge the same to the United States to be deducted out of the requisitions of the current year provided that it does not exceed the rate of 100 dollars pr. man pr. annum.
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Resolved, That the Superintendant of Finance take order for the payment of such sums of money as may [be] necessary to carry into execution the foregoing resolutions.
Resolved, That there be enlisted as soon as possible to serve for the term of three years, eight hundred and ninety six men to be employed for defence of the North Western Frontier of the the United States, and that the different States furnish their quotas in the following proportions, viz:
Resolved, That the Troops so raised be formed into three Battalions of Infantry and one of Artillery, and that the establishment of a Battalion of Infantry be as follows, viz:
That the Commissioned Staff of the 3 Battalions shall be as follows, viz:
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Resolved, That there be employed 1 Adjutant General and 1 Inspector General who shall have each the rank and pay of Major of Infantry.
III. Enginers.
Resolved, That there be employed three Engineers whose rank and pay shall be as follows viz:
Resolved, That the Quarter Master Captains, and Pay and Cloathing Master Captains have the rank and pay of Captains and be entitled to promotion in the line as such, but have no Companies.
Resolved, That the above allowance of Pay to Commissioned and staff officers be in lieu of the Pay, Rations, Forrage and servants heretofore allowed, and that no officer of whatever rank or on any pretence whatever presume (on pain of being cashiered) to keep a soldier as a servant.
Resolved, That the non Commissioned officers and Privates be furnished with one Ration pr. day pr. man to consist of I lb. of bread,
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flour or Rice, ¾ lb of salt or 1 lb of fresh Beef, Pork or fish, 1 Gill of vinegar and half a Gill of Salt, and with Cloathing in the following proportions pr. man, viz: Once in two years with a Cloth Coat, waistcoat and overalls, and with a linnen frock, 2 pr. of linnen overalls, 2 leathern stocks and I Hart yearly.
Resolved, That the men so raised be commanded by officers who have continued in the service of the United States to the close of the late war, who shall be selected by Congress from the lines of the respective States, in proportion to the quotas of men affixed by these Resolutions.
Resolved, That the infantry so raised be distributed in Garrisons at the different Posts in manner following viz:
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Resolved, That the Artillery be proportioned to the different Posts in such manner as the Commanding officer of the United States shall judge most expedient.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of John Francis Mercer, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 167, folio 383. The indorsement states that it was delivered this day, entered and read, and "Monday April 12, 1784, assigned for consideration."]
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