Resolved, That the further consideration of the report be postponed. Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow. TUESDAY, October 8, 1776. Two letters, of the 4th and 5th, from general Washington, with sundry papers enclosed; one, of the 4th, from the convention of New-York; one, of the 27th of September, from the council of Massachusetts-Bay; one, of the 2d instant, from John Livingston; and one from John Heyleger, dated St. Croix, '4th September, were read: Ordered, That the letter from John Heyleger be referred to the board of war; that the letter from John Livingston be referred to the secret committee, who are directed to send to Mr. Livingston's mill, the 10 tons of saltpetre, sent last winter to Massachusetts-Bay. Three petitions from sundry prisoners were read, and referred to the committee on the state of the prisoners. Resolved, That a member be added to the said committee. The member chosen, Mr. Rush. Whereas it is necessary that the most speedy and effectual measures be taken for raising the new army, Resolved, That it be recommended to the assemblies, conventions, and councils of safety of the several states, which have any regiments now in the continental service, either at New-York, Ticonderoga, or New-Jersey, that they forthwith appoint committees to proceed to those places, with full powers to appoint all the officers of the regiments to be raised by their states under the new establishment, that such officers may proceed immediately to inlist such men as are now in the service, and incline to re-inlist during the war, and that such committees be instructed to advise with the general officers, and promote such officers as have distinguished themselves for their abilities, activity, and vigilance in the service, and especially for their attention to military discipline. That the said committees be also instructed not to appoint any officer, who has left, or shall leave his station in the army, and is absent without leave from the general, or some other officer having authority to grant the same. Ordered, That a copy of the above resolutions be sent to each of the United States. Congress resumed the consideration of the reports of the committee on the general's letters, and of that which went to the camp; Whereupon, Resolved, That, for the farther encouragement of the non-commissioned officers and soldiers who shall engage in the service during the war, a suit of clothes be annually given each of the said officers and soldiers, to consist, for the present year, of two linen hunting shirts, two pair of overalls, a leathern or woollen waistcoat with sleeves, one pair of breeches, a hat or leathern cap, two shirts, two pair of hose, and two pair of shoes, amounting, in the whole, to the value of twenty dollars, or that sum to be paid to each soldier, who'shall procure those articles for himself, and produce a certificate thereof, from the captain of the company to which he belongs, to the pay-master of the regiment. Resolved, That it be recommended to the assemblies and conventions of the respective states, from Virginia to New-Hampshire, inclusively, to take the most effectual measures for completing, by the 10th of November, their proportions of the levies to be raised during the war. As the army has greatly suffered through the defect of some of its regimental officers, Resolved, That it be recommended to the assemblies and conventions of the respective states, to use their utmost endeavors that all the officers to be hereafter appointed, be men of honor and known abilities, without a particular regard to their having before been in service. Resolved, That the further consideration of the reports be postponed till to morrow. The secret committee having informed Congress that a vessel was arrived with sundry articles by them imported on account of the continent, Ordered, That the said committee deliver to the board of war such articles as are suitable for the army, and to the marine committee such as are for the navy, and to Mr. J. Mease such as are for clothing, to be made up for the sol diers. The several matters to this day referred, being postponed, WEDNESDAY, October 9, 1776. Two letters of the 3d, from general Schuyler, with sundry papers enclosed, were laid before Congress, and read: Ordered, That they be referred to the board of war, and that the letters heretofore received from general Washington, general Schuyler, and the other ge neral officers, be lodged in the war office. Resolved, That two months' pay be advanced to major Pierre Francois de Bois, he to be accountable. A petition from Jean Baccarere and his partner, was read, and referred to the marine committee. Application being made in behalf of captain Dirks, late from Surinam, to be taken into the service of the continent, as an engineer, Resolved, That he be referred to the board of war. The committee appointed to prepare the form of a bond to be given by general Lee, for the 30,000 dollars advanced to him, brought in a draught, which was read and agreed to. Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee who went to the camp; Whereupon, Resolved, That no regimental hospitals be, for the future, allowed in the neighborhood of the general hospital: That John Morgan, esq. provide and superintend an hospital, at a proper distance from the camp, for the army posted on the east side of Hudson's river. That William Shippen, jun. esq. provide and superintend an hospital for the army, in the state of New-Jersey: That each of the hospitals be supplied by the respective directors with such a number of surgeons, apothecaries, surgeons' mates, and other assistants, and also such quantities of medicines, bedding, and other necessaries, as they shall judge expedient: That they make weekly returns to Congress and the commander in chief, of the officers and assistants of each denomination, and also the numbers of sick and deceased in their respective hospitals: That the regimental surgeons be directed to send to the general hospitals such officers and soldiers of their respective regiments, as, being confined by wounds or other disorders, shall require nurses or constant attendance, and, from time to time, to apply to the quarter-master general, or his deputy, for convenient wagons for this purpose; also, that they apply to the directors in their respective departments, for medicines and other necessaries : That the wages of nurses be augmented to one dollar a week: That the commanding officer of each regiment be directed, once a week, to send a commissioned officer to visit the sick of his respective regiment in the general hospital, and report their state to him: That a commissary of clothing be appointed for each of the armies of the United States, whose duty shall be to make constant returns to the assemblies or conventions of the respective states, of the clothing wanted for their several regiments, to receive and pay for the same, to deliver it to the pay-mas ters of the respective regiments, to be by them distributed to the non-commissioned officers and soldiers, and deducted from their wages respectively, unless allowed as a bounty by order of Congress: That the commissary-general be empowered to appoint as many conductors for the commissary of stores, and assistants to the commissary of clothing, as he shall, from time to time, judge necessary, and report their names to Congress: That there be a deputy commissary of stores for the army at New-York, with the pay of thirty dollars a month. Resolved, That the farther consideration of the report be postponed till to morrow. to Ordered, That the board of war send 300 lb. of powder to col. Mark Bird, prove the cannon he has made for the United States. The several matters to this day referred, being postponed, THURSDAY, October 10, 1776. A petition from capt. Daniel Morgan, and one from capt. Smith, lieut. Steel and lieut. Nichols, late returned from Canada, were read. Ordered, That they be referred to the board of treasury, who are directed to liquidate and settle the accounts enclosed in the said petitions, and to pay or allow for such arms as were lost or taken by the enemy in the assault on Quebec. A petition from Frederick Seegar was read, praying for leave to resign his office of quarter-master to the German battalion: Resolved, That leave be granted. A petition from John Melchior Neff, and one from Paul Fooks, were read, and referred to the board of war. The marine committee having recommended captain Abraham Whipple, of the ship Columbus, to the command of the Providence frigate, at Rhode-Island, Resolved, That he be promoted accordingly. The committee farther reported, that they have had under consideration the rank of the captains of the navy, and agreed to a report, which was read; Whereupon, Resolved, That the rank of the captains be as follows: 1. Jas. Nicholson, of the Virginia, of 28 guns; 2. John Manly, Hancock, 32 3. Hector M'Neil, 4. Dudley Saltonstall, Trumbull, 28 5. Nicholas Biddle, Randolph, 32 6. Thomas Thompson, Raleigh, 32 7. John Barry, Effingham, 28 8. Thomas Reed, Washington, 32 9. Thomas Grennall, Congress, 28 10. Charles Alexander, Delaware, 24 11. Lambert Wickes, Reprisal, 16 12. Abraham Whipple, Providence, 28 13. John Hopkins, Warren, 32 14. John Hodge, Montgomery, 24 18. John Paul Jones, Hamden, 14 Providence, 12 Alfred, 16 Sachem, Indepen 24. Elisha Warner, Resolved, That the marine committee be empowered to settle the rank of the lieutenants of the navy. Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to prepare the form of an oath to be taken by the officers of the army and navy: The members chosen, Mr. Wythe, Mr. Stone, and Mr. Paine. The board of war brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon, Resolved, That general Schuyler be directed to take such steps as are necessary, for procuring a sufficient number of as large vessels as the navigation of the lakes will admit of, for the service of the states the next campaign, that the command of the lakes may be effectually secured: That William Patten be appointed third lentenant in cuvine. Haue's reg ment, in the place of lieutenant Clark, resigned : That the regimental pay-masters in the army of the United States, lave de rank of first lieutenants, and receive rations as captains: That general Washington be directed to negotiate win general. Howe, n exchange of the officers returned from Canada, and that they have a preference to those taken on New-York island and Long-Island: That general Washington be directed, if he shai jadge it necessary, to sizi the new stips mentioned in his letter of the 5th instant. Revolved, That the farther consideration of the report be postponed. The committee to whom was referred the case of William Faulkner, brongis in a report, which was taken into consideration; Wherespon Revidred, That William Faulkner, a prisoner confined at Reading, be permitted to return to his family in Tryon county, upon giving his parece. The committee appointed to devise a plan for providing carriages, &c. brongis in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon, Resolved, That the quarter-masters in every department be ordered avoid pressing horses and carriages, as much as possible; and when it is necessary, that they be directed to go to the country houses for that purpose, and discharge, as soon as the service will admit, such horses and carriages so 1pressed; and that no violence whatever be done to any persons, their horses or carriages, who go to the camp of their own accord, to sell provisions, or other necessaries of any kind. An application from the council of safety of Pennsylvania was laid before Congress, and read, desiring that a committee of Congress may be appointed to confer with a committee of their body, on the expediency of having troops stationed near the city of Philadelphia, for the defence of Pennsylvania. Ordered, That the board of war confer with the committee of the council of safety, on the subject proposed. A petition from William Mackay was read, praying for leave to return home: Ordered, That the prayer of the petition be granted. Resolved, That the following promotions and appointments be made in the Virginia battalions, viz. William Crawford, colonel of the 7th; commission to be dated the 14th of August: Josiah Parker, lieutenant-colonel of the 5th; commission to be dated the 13th of August: Thomas Elliott, colonel of the 4th; commission to be dated the 3d of September. James Hendricks, lieutenant-colonel of the 6th; commission to be dated the 13th of August: John Markham, major of the 2d; commission to be dated the 15th of August: John Seayres, major of the 4th; commission to be dated the 13th of August: George Johnston, major of the 5th; commission to be dated the 15th of August: Richard Parker, jun. major of the 6th; commission to be dated the 15th of August: William Taliaferro, major of the 3d; commission to be dated the 15th of August: John Taylor, captain in the 1st; commission to be dated the 29th of April: John Chilton, captain in the Sd; commission to be dated the 29th of April: John Blackwell, 1st lieut. in do. commission to be dated the 29th of April: Joseph Blackwell, 2d lieut. in do. commission to be dated the 29th of April: John Ashby, captain in the 3d; commission to be dated the 18th of March: William Neilson, 1st lieutenant; commission to be dated the 18th of March: Isham Keith, 2d do. commission to be dated the 18th of March: Nathaniel Ashby, ensign in the 3d; commission to be dated the 18th of March: Charles Read, an ensign, in the room of Robert Dade. Resolved, That commissions be made out to all the officers of the regiments in the service of the United States, who have been appointed in the places of others resigning and promoted, and bear dates the days on which the resignations and promotions were respectively made. A memorial from George Measam was presented to Congress, and read: Resolved, That three members be added to the committee of clothing, in the room of those who are absent: The members chosen, Mr. Witherspoon, Mr. Stone and Mr. Penn. Congress took into consideration the report of the board of war of the 19th of September; Whereupon, Resolved, That the inhabitants of Canada, captivated by the United States, and not taken in arms, be released and sent home, except St. Luke la Corn and Mons. Rouville, the elder, upon this condition, that they sign a parole not to take up arms against the United States, nor give intelligence to the enemies of these states: That a register be kept of their names. Ordered, That the board of war deliver gun-powder for proving cannon made for the United States, upon application to them for that purpose. The committee of treasury reported, that there is due, To Joseph Donaldson, for supplies to recruits to general Lee's guard, and provisions to captain Grier's company, and a guard with powder to Virginia, 20 60-90ths dollars: To William Faulkner, a prisoner, sent by general Schuyler to Reading, for his allowance from the 9th of April to the 7th of October, inclusive, 26 weeks, at 2 dollars, 52 dollars: To captain Hazlewood, captain Greenway and Mr. Bedford, a balance of 267 10-90ths dollars, their whole account of charge for preparing six sail of fire-ships at New-York, and their expenses going to, in, and coming from, NewYork to Philadelphia, being 392 10-90ths dollars; of which they have received from S. Moylan, esq. quarter-master general, 125 dollars; the remainder is 267 10-90ths dollars. Ordered, That the said accounts be paid. Resolved, That to-morrow be assigned for appointing the commissaries of clothing and deputy-commissary of stores. The several matters to this day referred, being postponed, Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow. FRIDAY, October 11, 1776. Two letters, of the 7th and 8th, from general Washington, with sundry papers enclosed, were read: Whereupon, Resolved, That the release of Mons. de Chambault, as proposed by general Washington, on the request of the count D'Emery, governor-general of the French port of St. Domingo, be agreed to: That the general's letters, with the papers enclosed, be referred to the board of war. Resolved, That general Washington be desired, if it be practicable, by every art, and whatever expense, to obstruct effectually the navigation of the North-river, between Fort-Washington and Mount-Constitution, as well to prevent the regress of the enemies' frigates lately gone up, as to hinder them from receiving succours. The secret committee informed Congress that a vessel was arrived at RhodeIsland, with sundry articles imported by their order, for account of the United States. VOL. I. 65 |