MONDAY, June, 19, 1775. Met according to adjournment. The president laid before the Congress, sundry letters he had received from Massachusetts-Bay and New-York, which were read. Ordered, That Mr. Henry, Mr. Lynch, and Mr. J. Adams, be a committee to wait upon general Lee, and to inform him of his appointment, and request his answer, whether he will accept the command. The committee returned and reported, that they had waited on general Lee, and informed him of his appointment, and that he gave for answer; "That he had the highest sense of the honor conferred upon him by the Congress; that no effort in his power shall be wanting to serve the American cause." The letters from Massachusetts-Bay being taken into consideration, the Congress come to the following resolve: That the governor of Connecticut be requested to direct all the forces raised in that colony, not employed at Ticonderoga and Crown-Point, or recommended by this Congress to be marched towards New-York, to be immediately sent to join the combined army before Boston: And it is earnestly recommended to the colony of Rhode-Island, and to the provincial convention of New-Hampshire, to send immediately to the army before Boston, such of the forces as are already embodied, towards their quotas of the troops agreed to be raised by the New-England colonies. Resolved, That Mr. Lee, Mr. E. Rutledge, and Mr. J. Adams, be a committee to prepare the form of a commission for the major-generals, also for the brigadier-generals, and other officers in the army. Resolved, That there be four major-generals. The Congress then proceeded to chuse the two remaining major-generals, when Philip Schuyler, esq. was chosen third major-general, and Israel Putnam, esq. was unanimously chosen fourth major-general. The committee appointed to prepare the form of a commission for the major and brigadier-generals, reported the same, which being agreed to, Ordered, That a copy thereof be made out, signed by the president, and attested by the secretary, for each of the major-generals and brigadier-generals. Ordered, That the secretary get a number of commissions, with proper blanks, printed for the other officers. The committee appointed to prepare a petition to the king, reported a draught of one, which was read. Adjourned till to-morrow nine o'clock. TUESDAY, June 20, 1775. Met according to adjournment. The committee appointed to prepare instructions to the general, reported the same, which being read and debated, were agreed to. Adjourned till to-morrow at nine o'clock, WEDNESDAY, June 21, 1775. Met according to adjournment. Mr. Thomas Jefferson appeared as a delegate for the colony of Virginia, and produced his credentials, which were read and approved, and are as follows: At a convention of the delegates, for the counties and corporations in the colony of Virginia, at the town of Richmond, in the county of Henrico, on Monday, 27th March, 1775. On a motion made, Resolved, That Thomas Jefferson, esq. be appointed a deputy to represent this colony in general Congress, in the room of the hon orable Peyton Randolph, esq. in case of the non-attendance of the said Peyton Randolph, esq., Attest, JOHN TAZEWELL, clerk of convention. At a general assembly, began and held at the capitol, in the city of Williamsburgh, on Thursday, 1st June, in the fifteenth year of the reign of our lord, George the third, by the grace of God, of Great-Britain, &c. A. D. 1775, MONDAY, June 5, 15th G. III. 1775. Resolved, N. C. D. That this house doth entirely approve of the proceedings and resolutions of the convention of delegates, for the couny and corporations in the colony of Virginia held at Richmond town, in the county of Henrico, the 20th of March, 1775; and that it be recommended to all the good people of this colony, strictly to conform to, and observe the same. By the house of burgesses, PEYTON RANDOLPH, Speaker. Mr. Henry informed the Congress, that the general had put into his hand sundry queries, to which he desired the Congress would give an answer. The queries being read and debated, Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to prepare proper answers. The persons chosen, were Mr. Deane, Mr. Henry, Mr. J. Rutledge, Mr. S. Adams, and Mr. Lee. On a motion made, Resolved, That the general be allowed three aids-decamp. That each of the major-generals have two aids-de-camp. That their pay be thirty-three dollars per month each. Adjourned till to-morrow at nine o'clock. THURSDAY, June 22, 1775. Met according to adjournment. The committee appointed to prepare answers to the general's queries, reported the same, which were read. The Congress then came to the following resolutions : Resolved, That the number of brigadier-generals be augmented to eight: and the same were chosen by ballot, as follows: Seth Pomeroy, esq. first brigadier-general. William Heath, esq. fourth do. Joseph Spencer, esq. fifth do. Resolved, That the troops, including the volunteers, be furnished with camp equipage, and blankets, where necessary, at the continental expense. Resolved, That the officers, now in the army, receive their new commissions through the hands of the general. Resolved, That a sum not exceeding two millions of Spanish milled dollars be emitted by the Congress in bills of credit, for the defence of America. Resolved, That the twelve confederated colonies be pledged for the redemption of the bills of credit, now directed to be emitted. Upon motion made, Resolved, That the colony of Pennsylvania raise two more companies of riflemen, and that these, with the six before ordered to be by them raised, making eight companies, be formed into a battalion, to be commanded by such field officers, captains and lieutenants, as shall be recommended by the assembly or convention of said colony. Adjourned till to-morrow nine o'clock. TUESDAY, June 23, 1775. Met according to adjournment. A letter from Crown-Point, dated June 10, was laid before the Congress and read. Information being given, that two officers who brought the letter were at the door, and had some things of importance to communicate, Ordered, That they be introduced, and they were introduced. After they withdrew, the Congress came to the following resolutions: Resolved, That it be recommended to the officer commanding in the New-York department, to procure, as soon as possible, a list of the men employed in taking and garrisoning Crown-Point and Ticonderoga, and keeping possession of the lakes, and also of their disbursements, in order that they may be paid. Resolved, That their pay be the same as that of the officers and privates in the American army; the highest of the officers not to exceed that of a captain, and that the pay commence the third day of May last, and continue till they are discharged. Resolved, That it be recommended to the convention of New-York, that they, consulting with general Schuyler, employ in the army to be raised for the defence of America, those called Green Mountain Boys, under such officers as the said Green Mountain Boys shall chuse. On a motion made, Resolved, That a committee of five be chosen to draw up a declaration, to be published by general Washington, upon his arrival at the camp before Boston. The committee chosen are Mr. J. Rutledge, Mr. W. Livingston, Mr. Franklin, Mr. Jay, and Mr. Johnson. Agreeable to order, the Congress resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to take into further consideration the state of America, and after some time spent therein, the president resumed the chair, and Mr. Ward reported certain resolutions. come into by them, and that not having yet finished, they desired leave to sit again. The report of the committee being read, was agreed to as follows: Resolved, That the number and denomination of the bills to be emitted be as follows: Resolved, That the form of the bills be as follows: No. THIS bill entitles the bearer to receive Dollars. Spanish milled dollars, or the value thereof in gold or silver, according to the resolutions of the Congress, held at Philadelphia, on the 10th day of May, A. D. 1775. Resolved, That Mr. J. Adams, Mr. J. Rutledge, Mr. Duane, doctor Franklin, and Mr. Wilson, be a committee to get proper plates engraved, to provide paper, and to agree with printers to print the above bills. The order for a committee of the whole renewed, and the Congress adjourn ed till to-morrow at nine o'clock. SATURDAY, June 24, 1775. Met according to adjournment. On a motion made, Resolved, That a committee of seven be appointed to devise ways and means to put the militia of America in a proper state for the defence of America. The members chosen are Mr. Paine, Mr. Harrison, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Hopkins, Mr. Floyd, Mr. Gadsden, and Mr. Dickinson. The committee appointed to prepare a declaration to be published by general Washington, upon his arrival at the camp before Boston, brought in their report, which was read and debated, and after some time referred for farther consideration till Monday next. Adjourned till Monday at nine o'clock. MONDAY, June 26, 1775. Met according to adjournment. A letter from governor Trumbull was read, and referred to the committee appointed to devise ways and means for introducing the manufacture of saltpetre into these colonies. The state of North-Carolina being taken into consideration, the Congress came to the following resolutions: Whereas it is represented to this Congress, that the enemies of the liberties of America are pursuing measures to divide the good people of the colony of North-Carolina, and to defeat the American association; Resolved, That it be recommended to all in that colony, who wish well to the liberties of America, to associate for the defence of American liberty, and to embody themselves as militia, under proper officers. Resolved, That in case the assembly or convention of that colony shall think it absolutely necessary, for the support of the American association and safety of the colony, to raise a body of forces not exceeding one thousand men, this Congress will consider them as an American army, and provide for their pay. The Congress then resumed the consideration of the declaration, and after some debate, Resolved, That it be re-committed, and that Mr. Dickinson and Mr. Jefferson be added to the committee. The committee for Indian affairs brought in their report, which was read. Ordered, That the president write to governor Trumbull, and inform him, and also the conventions of New-Hampshire and Massachusetts-Bay, and the government of Rhode-Island, that the Congress have appointed George Washington, esq. commander in chief of all the forces raised, or to be raised, for the defence of America. Adjourned till to-morrow at nine o'clock. TUESDAY, June 27, 1775. Met according to adjournment. On motion made, Resolved, That governor Skene be sent under a guard to Weathersfield, or Middletown, in the county of Hartford, in Connecticut, there to be confined on his parole, not to go out of the bounds prescribed to him by governor Trumbull. Ordered, That the delegates for Pennsylvania take measures to have the above resolve carried into execution. A letter from the convention of Massachusetts-Bay, received by express, was laid before the Congress and read. The Congress then resumed the consideration of the state of affairs in the New-York department, and after some time spent therein, came to certain resolutions, which were ordered to be immediately transmitted to general Schuyler for his direction. The committee appointed to draw up an address to the inhabitants of GreatBritain, reported the same, which was read. Adjourned till to-morrow at nine o'clock. WEDNESDAY, June 28, 1775. Met according to adjournment. The committee appointed to prepare 'a draught of rules and regulations for the government of the army, reported the same, which was read, and taken into consideration. And the remainder of the day, and the day following, being spent thereon, adjourned till the next day at nine o'clock. FRIDAY, June 30, 1775. Met according to adjournment. The Congress resumed the consideration of the rules and regulations, which being gone through, were agreed to as follows: Whereas his majesty's most fathful subjects in these colonies are reduced to a dangerous and critical situation, by the attempts of the British ministry, to carry into execution, by force of arms, several unconstitutional and oppressive acts of the British parliament for laying taxes in America, to enforce the collection of those taxes, and for altering and changing the constitution and internal police of some of these colonies, in violation of the natural and civil rights of the colonies. And whereas hostilities have been actually commenced in MassachusettsBay, by the British troops, under the command of general Gage, and the lives of a number of the inhabitants of that colony destroyed; the town of Boston not only having been long occupied as a garrisoned town in an enemy's country, but the inhabitants thereof treated with a severity and cruelty not to be justified even towards declared enemies. And whereas large reinforcements have been ordered, and are soon expected, for the declared purpose of compelling these colonies to submit to the operation of the said acts, which hath rendered it necessary, and an indispensable duty, for the express purpose of securing and defending these colonies, and preserving them in safety against all attempts to carry the said acts into execution, that an armed force be raised sufficient to defeat such hostile designs, and preserve and defend the lives, liberties and immunities of the colonists: for the due regulating and well ordering of which; Resolved, That the following rules and orders be attended to, and observed by such forces as are or may hereafter be raised for the purposes afore said. Article I. That every officer who shall be retained, and every soldier who shall serve in the continental army, shall, at the time of his acceptance of his commission or inlistment, subscribe these rules and regulations. And that the officers and soldiers, already of that army, shall also, as soon as may be, subscribe the same; from the time of which subscription every officer and soldier, shall be bound by those regulations. But if any of the officers or soldiers, now of the said army, do not subscribe these rules and regulations, then they may be retained in the said army, subject to the rules and regulations under which they entered into the service, or be discharged from the service, at the option of the commander in chief. II. It is earnestly recommended to all officers and soldiers, diligently to attend divine service; and all officers and soldiers who shall behave indecently or irreverently at any place of divine worship, shall, if commissioned officers, be brought before a court-martial, there to be publicly and severely reprimanded by the president; if non-commissioned officers or soldiers, every person so offending, shall, for his first offence, forfeit one-sixth of a dollar, to be deducted out of his next pay; for the second offence, he shall not only forfeit a like sum, but be confined for twenty-four hours, and for every like offence, shall suffer and pay in like manner; which money so forfeited, shall be applied to the use of the sick soldiers of the troop or company to which the offender belongs. |