lutely necessary, that the supply of both armies should be under one direction;" Whereupon,

Resolved, That the above resolution is so clear and explicit, and so well contrived to procure the due and proper discharge of the commissary's business, that the same ought to be adhered to, and immediately transmitted to the commanding officer in the northern department, and to the commissary general, as the full sense of Congress on the commissary general's right to direct the operations of his department, both as contractor and issuer of provisions; and that Mr. Trumbull be informed, Congress expect this will remove his difficulties, and induce his continuance in the office of commissary for both armies, at New York, and on the lakes.

Congress then proceeded to the election of sundry officers; when the ballots being taken,

David M'Clure was elected chaplain, and Ephraim Douglass was elected quarter master of the batallion commanded by Colonel M'Coy.

John Trumbull, Esq was elected deputy adjutant general of the army in the northern department, and Morgan Lewis, Esq was elected deputy quarter master general of the said army.

Resolved, That the Board of War be directed to order the French officers, who have received commissions from Congress, to repair immediately to the places of their destination.

Resolved, That Mr. J. Mease be directed to pay the first batallion of Virginia troops, on their march to New York, the arrears due to them.

The Committee of Treasury, to whom was referred the petition of George Nicholson, returned the same, with a report, that it ought to be referred to the Board of War: Whereupon,

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Resolved, That the said petition be referred to the Board of War.

The Board of War brought in a report, which was taken into consideration: Whereupon,

Resolved, As it appears from Colonel Warner's representation of the state of his regiment, that Major Painter's appointment much obstructs the raising the said regiment, that, therefore, Major Painter be directed to repair to the city of Philadelphia, that the matter may be enquired into, and that it be recommended to Colonel Warner and the other officers, that they proceed forthwith to raise their men and complete the regiment, relying on the justice of Congress for the settlement of the uneasiness among them:

That the militia at New York, be paid by the pay master general there, before discharged.

Resolved, That the remainder of the report be re-committed.

The Congress resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to take into their farther consideration the report of the Board of War; and after some time spent, the president resumed the chair, and Mr. [Thomas] Nelson reported, that the committee have had under consideration the matter to them referred, but not having come to a conclusion, desire leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this Congress will, to Morrow, resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to take into their farther consideration the report of the Board of War.

Resolved, That Mr. J. Mease be directed to deliver such number of blankets, as he has, belonging to the continent, to Captain Watkins, for the use of his company, which is inlisted to serve during the war, not exceeding one to each man.

Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1776

Two letters, of the 7th and 11th, from General Washington; and

One from General Greene of the 8th, and a resolution of the committee of safety of Pensylvania, of the 13, were laid before Congress and read.1

Resolved, That they be referred to the Board of War. The committee appointed to confer with Lord Howe, having returned, made a verbal report.

Resolved, That they be directed to make a report in writing, as soon as conveniently they can.

The Committee of the Treasury reported, that there is due,

To Peter Baker for 1,149 rations, supplied Colonel Peter Grubb's batallion of militia, and 204 meals to different companies of militia, on their march to New Jersey, 123 19/90 dollars:

To John Bates for 266 camp kettles, delivered to Gustavus Risburg, assistant to the deputy quarter master general for the flying camp|| 354 60/90 dollars:

To Richard Cheney for 291 meals supplied the militia on their march to New Jersey, 29 9/90 dollars:

To Charles Ford for ten weeks' board, lodging, and washing, for William Whiting, a wounded serjeant, from the 8th June to 17th August, ten weeks, at 10/ ||=1 1/3 dollars per week, 13 30/90 dollars:

To Major Regonville, Captain Duchené, Lieutenant Smith, and Lieutenant Demuraux, Canadian prisoners, for their allowance from 3d November, 1775, to 6th September, ||1776,|| inclusive, is 44 weeks, at 2 dollars a week, is 352 dollars, and that the same be paid to Mons. Regon ville:

1The two letters of Washington are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, II, folios 523 and 543. That of Greene is in No. 155, I, folio 1.

To Robert Towers, for artillery stores for two 3-pound travelling cannon, ordered by Joseph Hewes, Esq' for the state of North Carolina, 72 64/90 dollars:

To Graaf, M'Clenachan, Hollingsworth, and Grigson, for which a warrant is to be drawn in favour of the Hon. Thomas Lynch, Esq for their expences to and from Williamsburg, with the hire of a waggon, with money for South Carolina, 267 32/90 dollars:

To Joseph Beck going express from Philadelphia to Virginia, 340 miles, at 1/3 ||=1/6 of a dollar,|| 56 dollars:

To Michael Millenberger, for five days' use of his twohorse waggon, in transporting the sick troops in New Jersey, of Captain Brown's company, 13 30/90 dollars:

To Frederick Bicking, for 221 reams of paper for continental currency, at 52/ ||=6 84/90 dollars|| a ream, is £574.12 equal 1,532 24/90 dollars:

To William Clayton, for 338 meals of victuals, supplied the militia on their march to New Jersey, 32 72/90 dollars: Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.

Sundry letters being received, were laid before Congress, and read.

Two letters from General Schuyler, of the 8th, with sundry papers enclosed;

One from Walter Livingston, of the 7th, and,

One from Brigadier General Armstrong, of the 12th of August:

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Resolved, That the foregoing letters, with the papers enclosed in General Schuyler's letter, except what relates to General Montgomery's accounts, be referred to the Board of War, and that the papers relative to the said accounts be referred to the Committee of Treasury.

Congress then resolved itself into a committee of the

'The letters from Schuyler are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 153, II, folios 331, 360. That of Livingston is in No. 78, XIV, folio 83. That of Armstrong is in No. 162, folio 249.

whole to take into consideration the report of the Board of War; and, after some time, the president resumed the chair, and Mr. [Thomas] Nelson reported, that the committee have had under consideration the matter referred to them, but not having yet come to a conclusion, desired leave to sit again.

Resolved, That Congress will, to morrow, again resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to take into their farther consideration the report of the Board of War. Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1776

A letter of the [12] from B. Harrison,' secretary to General Washington, was received and read.2

Four French officers, who arrived in the Reprisal, Captain Weeks [Wickes], being recommended to Congress, Resolved, That they be referred to the Board of War. The Board of War brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,

Resolved, That the officers of militia, when on their march, and while in service, be allowed rations like the officers in the continental establishment, without any allowance of mileage:

That the commander in chief in the northern army be directed to erect barracks, and other accommodations, in the most convenient places in that department, and provide magazines of straw, fuel, and other necessaries for winter-quarters, for such number of troops as he shall think proper:

That General Schuyler be informed that his letter of the 16th ult., was duly received, and referred to the committee appointed to enquire into the causes of the miscarriages in Canada:

'Robert Hanson Harrison is intended.

'This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, II, folio 547.