Ordered, That the same be fairly transcribed,|| to be signed by the president, and attested by the secretary, and delivered to the General.

Resolved unanimously upon the question, Whereas, the delegates of all the colonies, from Nova-Scotia to Georgia, in Congress assembled, have unanimously chosen George Washington, Esq. to be General and commander in chief, of such forces as are, or shall be, raised for the maintenance and preservation of American liberty; this Congress doth now declare, that they will maintain and assist him, and adhere to him, the said George Washington, Esq, with their lives and fortunes in the same cause.

The Congress then proceeded to the choice of the Officers in the army by ballot: when

Artemus Ward, Esq. was chosen first major-general and second in command.

Horatio Gates, Esq. was unanimously chosen adjutant general.

Resolved, That Horatio Gates, now chosen adjutant general, shall have the rank of a Brigadier general.

Charles Lee, Esq. was unanimously chosen second Major general to be third in command.

Resolved, that this congress will on Monday resolve itself into a committee of the whole to take into consideration the state of America.

Adjourned till Monday next at 9 o'clock.

MONDAY, JUNE 19, 1775

The Congress met according to adjournment.

The president laid before the Congress sundry letters this day. At the Washington Headquarters, Morristown, New Jersey is a paper which purports to be this commission, or its earliest form. It was found in a shoemaker's shop by David Ames Wells, and he gave it to George Washington Childs, from whom it passed to Ferdinand J. Dreer, who presented it to the Headquarters. It is of doubtful value.

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from the conventions of Massachusetts bay and New York, which were read.

Upon motion Ordered, That Mr. [Patrick] Henry, Mr. [Thomas] Lynch, and Mr. J[ohn] Adams, be a committee to wait upon Gen' Lee, and to inform him of his appointment, and request his answer, whether he will accept the command.

Committee returned and reported, that they had waited on Gen1 Lee, and informed him of his appointment, and that he gave for answer: That he expressed a high sense of the honour done him and assured them he was ready to render America all services in his power, but desired as the situation of his affairs was peculiar, to have an opportu nity of 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.-But before he entered upon the service he desired a conference with a committee to consist of one delegate from each of the associated colonies, to whom he desired to explain some particulars respecting his private fortune.

Where upon M [John] Sullivan, M: S[amuel] Adams, M: [Stephen] Hopkins, M. [Eliphalet] Dyer, M P[hilip] Livingston, M W [illiam] Livingston, M [George] Ross, M'. [Cæsar] Rodney, M'. [Thomas] Johnson, M'. [Patrick] Henry, M [Richard] Caswell and Mr. [Thomas] Lynch were appointed a committee to confer with Gen! Lee.

The committee returned and reported that they had conferred with Gen! Lee, who had communicated to them an estimate of the Estate he risqued by this service; Whereupon,

Resolved, That these colonies will indemnify General Lee for any loss of property which he may sustain by entering into their service, and that the same be done by

this or any future Congress as soon as such loss is ascertained.

Upon motion, resolved una:

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 into the province of 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 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. [Richard Henry] Lee, Mr. E[dward] Rutledge, and Mr. J[ohn] Adams, be a committee to prepare the form of a commission for the Major generals, and 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 upon taking the votes Philip Schuyler. Esq. was chosen third Major General.

Israel Putnam, Esq. was unanimously chosen 4th Major General.

The committee appointed to prepare the form of a Commission reported the same, which was read and agreed for the major generals and brigadier generals, and ordered to be engrossed.

(Here insert the commissions.')

1None of these commissions were entered upon the Journals.

Ordered, That the secretary get a number of commissions printed, with proper blanks, for the other officers. The committee appointed to prepare a petition to the king, reported the same.

Resolved that this Congress will to Morrow resolve itself into a committee of the whole to take under consideration the state of America1

Adjourned till to Morrow 9 o'clock.

TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 1775

The Congress met according to adjournment.

The committee appointed to draught instructions to the general, reported the same, which being read, were agreed to, and are as follows:

To George Washington Esq

This Congress having appointed you to be General and Commander in chief of the Army of the united Colonies and of all the forces raised or to be raised by them and of all others who shall voluntarily offer their service and join the said army for the defence of American liberty and for repelling every hostile invasion thereof, you are to repair with all expedition to the colony of Massachusetts bay and take charge of the army of the united colonies.

For your better direction

1st You are to make a return to us as soon as possible of all forces which you shall have under your command together with their military stores and provisions. And also as exact an Account as you can obtain of the forces which compose the British Army in America.

2dly You are not to disband any of the men you find raised until further direction from this Congress and if you shall think their numbers not adequate to the purpose of security, you may recruit them to a number you shall think sufficient, not exceeding double that of the enemy.

3d In all cases of vacancy occasioned by the death or removal of a Colonel or other inferior officer, you are by brevet or warrant under your seal to appoint another person to fill up such vacancy until it shall

1Some of the resolutions of this day were printed in the Pennsylvania Packet, 11 December, 1775,

be otherwise ordered by the provincial Convention or Assembly of the colony from whence the troops in which such vacancy happen, shall direct otherwise.

4. You are to victual at the continental expence all such volunteers as have joined or shall join the united Army.

5. You shall take every method in your power consistent with prudence, to destroy or make prisoners of all persons who now are or who hereafter shall appear in Arms against the good people of the united colonies.

6. And whereas all particulars cannot be foreseen, nor positive instructions for such emergencies so before hand given but that many things must be left to your prudent and discreet management, as occurrences may arise upon the place, or from time to time fall out, you are therefore upon all such accidents or any occasions that may happen, to use your best circumspection and (advising with your council of war) to order and dispose of the said Army under your command as may be most advantageous for the obtaining the end for which these forces have been raised, making it your special care in discharge of the great trust committed unto you, that the liberties of America receive no detriment.

Resolved, that this Congress will to Morrow resolve itself into a committee of the whole to take into consideration the state of America.

Adjourned till to Morrow at 9 o Clock.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 1775

The Congress 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 Delegates for the Counties and Corporations in the Colony of Virginia, at the Town of Richmond, in the County of Henrico, on Monday the twenty seventh Day of March 1775

On a Motion made,

Resolved that Thomas Jefferson, Esquire, be appointed a Deputy to represent this Colony in General Congress, in the Room of the honor