A letter, of the 28th, from gen. Washington, at Wilmington, was read: The several matters to this day referred, being postponed, FRIDAY, August 29, 1777. A letter, of the 27th, from gen. Washington, at Wilmington, was read. A motion being made respecting the militia, Ordered, That it be referred to the board of war. Resolved, That governor Livingston be requested to lend Congress such number of arms as can be procured in the state of New-Jersey, or if arms can be purchased in that state, that he will appoint proper persons to collect and pay for them at continental expense. Congress was resolved into a committee of the whole, to consider the report of the committee on ways and means, &c. and, after some time, the president resumed the chair, and Mr. Harrison reported that the committee have considered farther the report to them referred, but, not having come to a conclusion, desire leave to sit again. Resolved, That to-morrow Congress will resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to consider farther the report of the committee on ways and means, &c. Resolved, That each assistant-clothier be allowed 50 dollars a month, and the rations of a captain. The committee on the treasury brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon, Ordered, That there be advanced to lieutenant-colonel chevalier de Franval 540 dollars, for nine months' pay commencing 1st December last, ending 1st September next. That there be advanced to James Mease, esq. clothier-general, 20,000 dollars, to be remitted by him to Georgia, for clothing the continental troops in that state; which sum is part of the money directed to be sent to that state, for the use of the said troops. The several matters to this day referred, being postponed, SATURDAY, August 30, 1777. A letter, of the 29th, from general Washington, at Wilmington, was read. A memorial from captain Wendal Owry was presented to Congress : Ordered, That it be referred to the board of treasury. According to the order of the day, Congress resolved itself into a committee of the whole, and, after some time, the president resumed the chair, and Mr. Harrison reported, that the committee have had under their farther consideration the matter referred to them, and have made some progress therein, but, not having come to a conclusion, desire leave to sit again. Resolved, That on Monday next Congress will resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to consider farther the report of the treasury, on the ways and means of raising supplies, &c. The board of war report, "that there are in Philadelphia between 2 and 5000 arms which might, in a short time, be repaired, if workmen could be procured to perform the service, but, as great numbers of the artificers are in the militia, few of those arms will be speedily repaired, unless the workmen are permitted to leave the field, and work on the arms;" Whereupon, Resolved, That general Washington be directed to detach from the militia, as soon as possible, such a number of workmen as he shall think necessary to repair, with despatch, the arms now in the city of Philadelphia, as there is no other mode of supplying the demands of the militia of Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland states, great numbers of whom are now in the field without arms. Ordered, That the petition of John Young," for leave to depart from the continent," be rejected. A motion was made to advance a sum of money to the delegates of Georgia : Ordered, That it be referred to the board of treasury. The medical committee brought in a report which was taken into consideration; Whereupon, Resolved, That the several issuing commissaries be directed to furnish the director-general, or any of the deputy directors, or their assistants, with such provisions as any of them shall, from time to time, demand by an order in writing, for the use of any temporary hospital which shall be established, which order, with the receipt of the steward endorsed thereon, shall be a sufficient voucher for such issuing commissary, who is also required to keep such vouchers separate, and make a separate entry of the same in his books, charging the director who ordered the same therewith. The several matters to this day referred, being postponed, MONDAY, September 1, 1777. A letter, of the 30th of August, from general Washington, at Wilmington; one of the 25th of the same month, from general Gates, enclosing a letter of the 23d from general Arnold, at Mohawk river, ten miles above FortDayton; and one, of the 22d, from colonel Gansevoort, at Fort-Schuyler; another letter, of the 28th of August, from general Gates, enclosing one of the 24th from general Arnold, giving an account that the enemy have retreated from Fort-Schuyler with the greatest precipitation, leaving their tents standing, their provisions, ammunition, &c. were read. Another letter, of the 28th of August, from general Gates, with a paper enclosed, respecting the clothing granted to soldiers; one, of this date, from general Arthur St. Clair; one, of the 27th of August, from Jonathan Hudson, at Baltimore; one, of the 28th, from R. White, deputy-commissary general of issues, respecting the rations claimed by the soldiers; and one, of the 31st, from general Sullivan, giving an account of his expedition on StatenIsland, were read: Ordered, That the letters from the northern department, and that from general Sullivan, be referred to the committee of intelligence: That the letter of the 28th of August from gen. Gates, with the papers enclosed, respecting clothing, be referred to the board of treasury. Ordered, That a copy of brigadier de Roche Fermoy's letter of the 25th of July, be delivered to general St. Clair. That the letter from Jonathan Hudson be referred to the board of treasury, and that from R. White to the board of war. Resolved, That general Washington be directed to appoint a court of enquiry on the late expedition by general Sullivan against the British forces on Staten-Island. Ordered, That 10,000 dollars be advanced to the marine committee for public service at Baltimore, the said committee to be accountable. Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to devise a plan of supplying the army with necessaries on the most reasonable terms, and that they sit on this business, and report as soon as possible: 'The members chosen, Mr. Morris, Mr. Chase, and Mr. Duer. Resolved, That three commissioners be appointed immediately to consider of the practicability of burning the enemy's fleet in Chesapeake-Bay; that they consult with general Washington on this subject, and, if it appears likely to be effected, that they proceed with all diligence to the execu tion thereof; that they be authorized to purchase, on the most reasonable terms they can, or employ any vessels that may be convenient for the purpose of fire ships, and that they have power to make use of any of the continental merchant-ships or vessels that may be near the place for the same service; and that they have authority to pursue all such measures as may be effectual to the right execution of this important business; and, in case it shall be judged proper to undertake the project, that the same rewards be given to those employed in the execution, as are offered for the same purpose in Delaware river and at Rhode-Island. Ordered, That the appointment of commissioners be postponed till to morrow. The committee on the treasury brought in a report: Whereupon, Ordered, That the president issue a warrant to the treasurer to transmit to John Gibson, esq. auditor-general, 884,000 dollars, for which the said auditor-general is to be accountable : That there be advanced to Matthew Irwin, agent to Joseph Trumbull, esq. late commissary-general, 50,000 dollars, which Mr. Trumbull represents to be necessary to discharge contracts he is engaged in for provisions, and for which he is to be accountable. Whereas two bills have been presented to the delegates of Georgia, drawn on them by the governor of the state of Georgia, and both dated the 12th day of July last; by one of which the said delegates are requested to pay to Thomas Scott, esq. or order, the sum of 14,000 dollars, for the purpose of recruiting men for the third battalion of the continental troops in that state; and by the other to pay capt. Clement Nash, or order, 5000 dollars for the same purpose; and the said delegates having applied to Congress to advance the said money on account of the said state, to enable them to discharge the said bills: Ordered, That the amount of the said two bills, being 19,000 dollars, be accordingly advanced to the delegates of Georgia, for which that state is to be accountable, and that the same be considered, and charged as part of the money agreed to be transmitted to Georgia, for the use of the continental troops in that state. Ordered, That there be advanced to capt. D'Antignac 120 dollars, for three months' pay, for which he is to be accountable. According to the order of the day, Congress resolved itself into a committee of the whole, and after some time, the president resumed the chair, and Mr. Harrison reported, that the committee have had under their further consideration the matters referred to them, but not having come to a conclusion, desire leave to sit again. Resolved, That to-morrow Congress will resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to consider farther the report of the treasury, on the ways and means of raising supplies. The several matters to this day referred, being postponed, TUESDAY, September 2, 1777. Two letters, of the 1st, from general Washington, at Wilmington, one of them enclosing a declaration of gen. Howe of the 27th of August, also intelligence from capt. Hopkins, and a deposition of Francis Alexander, relative to brutal behaviour of some of the enemy; also a letter of the 26th August, from Pierre Van Cortlandt, president of the council of safety of New-York, with sundry papers enclosed; one, of the 27th of the same month, from gen. Putnam, with the proceedings of courts-martial, on Amos Rose, and Lemuel Ackerly; and a letter from J. Hudson, at Baltimore, were read: VOL. II. 32 Ordered, That the letter from J. Hudson be referred to the board of treasury. Resolved, That the president write to gen. Putnam, and inform him, that, in consequence of his recommendation, Congress agree to his pardoning Amos Rose and Lemuel Ackerly, who are sentenced to death by the judg ment of a court-martial. Resolved, That the allowance of a major-general in a separate department be extended and allowed to major-general Putnam from the time he took the command of the forces at Peeks-Kill, to be continued to him so long as he remains in that command. Ordered, That the letters from general Washington, with the papers enclosed, be referred to the committee of intelligence. A memorial from James Viellon and John Tennet, was read: A petition from capt. John Brisben, was read, praying for leave, on account of his domestic affairs, to resign his commission: Ordered, That he have leave to resign. A petition from Pierre Burns, William Douglass, and others, was read: Ordered, That it be referred to the board of treasury: A petition from Belcher P. Smith, was read, praying for an augmentation of his salary as clerk in the secretary's office: Ordered, That it be referred to the board of treasury. The committee on the treasury reported, that there should be advanced to Mons. du Coudray, for himself, and the following gentlemen, who came with him to America, Mons. du Coudray to be accountable, viz. for Mons. du Coudray, 1000 dollars; for captain le Brun, Augustin le Brun, Vareigne, Tousard, de Goy, Picard, Loyaute, and Parrison, each 250 dollars; Mons. Noel, surgeon-major, 300 dollars; lieutenants Parrissy, Coyeti, Matigny, Bouchard, le Blanc, Nivan, Fonfrede, Pomereul, Mattris, Begard, each 200 dollars; ten serjeants, each 50 dollars; making in the whole, 5800 dollars: Ordered, That the said sums be paid. A motion being made for employing the gentlemen who came with Mons. du Coudray: Ordered, That it be referred to the board of war. The committee on the treasury brought in a report: Whereupon, Ordered, That there be paid to James Millegan, or his order, 1236 dollars, in discharge of a bill drawn by Jon. Trumbull, jun. deputy pay-master general in the northern department, 5th August last, in favor of John Carter, or order, for that sum, it being for so much received of him by the said deputy pay-master general, for the public service of the United States, for which the said deputy pay-master general is to be accountable. In consequence of an adjustment by the commissioners of claims, the auditor-general reports, that there is due, To Thomas M'Intire, an ensign in capt. Lennox's company of the Sd Pennsylvania battalion, a balance of pay and rations due to him from the 1st of September, 1776, to the 7th of August, 1777, when he arrived from Long-Island, 198 dollars, of which he received from James Hunter, paymaster to the 4th Pennsylvania battalion, 72 dollars, the balance is 126 dollars, and for rations due to him from the 1st of October, to the 16th of November, 1776, being 46 days, at 8d per ration, is 8 16-90 dollars, both sums making 134 16-90 dollars: To Allan M'Donald, Alexander, Allan, jun. Renald and Archibald M'Donald prisoners at Reading, and their three servants, 12 weeks' allowance from the 4th of June to the 27th of August, at 28s each for themselves, and 78 6 for their servants, 260 dollars : To Willing, Morris & Co. for 10,000 quills for the use of the treasury, war and secretary's office, 266 60-90 dollars: To Robert Anderson, a private, for his half pay from the 22d of May, the time he was discharged by general Maxwell's certificate, to the 22d of July, the time he inlisted in colonel Nicola's corps of invalids, 6 60-90 dollars: Ordered, That the said accounts be paid. Ordered, That report be made from the committee of the whole of the resolution they have come to on the report referred to them: The resolution being read, Ordered, That it be re-committed. Resolved, That general Washington be empowered to dispose of colonel Richardson's battalion in such way as he shall think proper, and that he send orders to colonel Richardson accordingly. Congress was then resolved into a committee of the whole, and, after some time, the president resumed the chair, and Mr. Harrison reported, that the committee have considered farther the matters referred to them, and have made some progress therein, but, not having come to a conclusion, desire leave to sit again. Resolved, That to-morrow Congress be resolved into a committee of the whole, to consider farther the report of the board of treasury on the ways and means of raising supplies. In consequence of a report from the committee of intelligence, Ordered, That general Sullivan's letter be published. A motion was made to apply to the supreme executive council of Pennsylvania for a quantity of copper: Ordered, Tolie on the table. The several matters to this day referred, being postponed, WEDNESDAY, September 3, 1777. A letter, of the 2d, from G. Bryan, esq. vice-president of the supreme executive council of Pennsylvania, was read, informing that," in consequence of the recommendation of Congress, and their own persuasion of the propriety and necessity of the measure, the council have taken up several persons inimically disposed towards the American states; that few of the Quakers, among these, are willing to make any promise of any kind; and desiring the advice of Congress, particularly whether Augusta and Winchester, in Virginia, would not be suitable places in which to secure these persons;" Whereupon, Resolved, That Congress approve of the Quaker prisoners being sent to Virginia, and, in the opinion of Congress, that Staunton, in the county of Augusta, is the most proper place in the state of Virginia for their residence and security; and with regard to the other prisoners mentioned in their letter, Congress leave it to the supreme executive council to do with them as they in their wisdom shall think best. The supreme executive council having sent to Congress, by one of the delegates of their state, sundry original letters and papers found in the possession of some of the Quakers taken into custody, the same were read: Ordered, That they be referred to the committee to whom general Sullivan's letter of the 25th of August was referred. Resolved, That it be earnestly recommended to the several states, to take effectual measures for importing or otherwise procuring, during the ensuing winter, such supply of arms, tents and other military stores, blankets, clothing, medicines, and other necessary articles for their respective militia, as may be wanted for the next campaign, and that they report to Congress the species and quality of military stores manufactured in their respective states: That the board of war be directed forthwith to lay before Congress a list of the military stores now in the magazines, and an estimate of such articles of foreign manufactures or produce as may be wanted for the next campaign. |
