WEDNESDAY, September 18, 1776.

A letter of the 16th, from R. Dallam, deputy pay-master general was read. The board of war brought in a report, which was taken into consideration ; Whereupon,

Resolved, That if rations be received by the officers or privates in the continental army, in money, they be paid at the rate of 8-90ths of a dollar per ration: That Monsieur Jacque Paul Govert have the rank and pay of a captain-lieutenant of artillery in the continental army, and that a commission be given to him accordingly:

That the medical committee send an assortment. of proper medicines to the northern army:

That Monsieur Vermonet have the rank and pay of a major by brevet, he being a gentleman of considerable military abilities:

That the bounty and grants of land offered by Congress, by a resolution of the 16th instant, as an encouragement to the officers and soldiers to engage to serve in the army of the United States during the war, shall extend to all who are or shall be inlisted for that term; the bounty of ten dollars, which any of the soldiers have received from the continent on account of a former inlistment, to be reckoned in part payment of the 20 dollars offered by the said resolution:

That no officer in the continental army be allowed to hold more than one commission, or to receive pay but in one capacity at the same time:

Resolved, That the remainder of the report be postponed.

Resolved, That the board of war be directed to prepare a resolution for enforcing and perfecting discipline in the army.

Ordered, That 1564 45-90 dollars be paid in specie to John Bonfield, and charged to the account of brigadier-general Arnold, the same being in full of brigadier-general Arnold's note of the 11th of May last:

That an order for 1000 dollars be drawn on the treasurer in favor of the committee appointed to contract for casting cannon; they to be accountable:

That the secret committee furnish the said committee with two barrels of powder for proving cannon.

Resolved, That captain M'Kenzie, a prisoner in the gaol of Philadelphia, be liberated on his parole, the state of his health requiring air and exercise; and that he be ordered to Reading, in Pennsylvania, there to reside under the same restrictions as other prisoners on their parole.

The committee of treasury brought in a report on the ways and means of raising five millions of dollars, which was read: Ordered, To lie on the table.

Congress took into consideration the instructions to the commissioners, and after debate,

Resolved, That the further consideration thereof be postponed,

The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,

Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

THURSDAY, September 19, 1776.

The board of treasury reported, that they have examined the vouchers brought into their office by Joseph Hewes, esq. one of the naval committee, by which it appears, that the naval committee have expended the sum of 134,333 27-90 dollars in fitting out eight armed vessels.

Resolved, That the same be allowed and passed to the credit of the said committee.

The naval committee having laid before Congress an account of sundry outstanding debts, and of sundry goods by them purchased, and put into the hands of different persons who have not yet accounted for the same,

Resolved, That the said account be delivered to the marine committee, and that they be directed to take effectual measures to have the said outstanding debts collected and accounts settled.

Resolved, That 66 2-3 dollars be advanced to major le chevalier de Vermo net; he to be accountable:

That major de Vermonet be referred to the board of treasury, for a settle ment of his account for rations:

That 100 dollars be advanced to captain William Davies, of Virginia, for the use of his company on their march to New-York, he to be accountable. A petition from captain Woelper, was read:

Ordered, That it be referred to the delegates of Pennsylvania and Maryland, who are directed to settle the rank of the captains and subalterns in the German battalion, and report to Congress.

The board of war brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,

Resolved, That Mons. Marquis de Malmady be appointed to the rank and pay of a major by brevet in the continental army, and receive a commission accordingly:

That Mons. Jean Louis Imbret, a gentleman well recommended as an engineer, be sent to general Washington to be employed in that capacity, in order to shew his abilities, and that one months' pay as a captain be advanced for his expenses:

That Mons. Christian de Colerus be appointed to the rank and pay of a major by brevet, and that his commission be forthwith given him:

That Mons. Jean Louis de Virnejouz be appointed to the rank and pay of a captain by brevet, and commissioned accordingly:

That the commander in chief of the forces of these states in the several departments, be directed to give positive orders to the brigadier-generals and colonels, and all other officers in their several armies, that the troops, under their command, may, every day, be called together, and trained in arms, in order that officers and men may be perfected in the manual exercise and manœuvres, and inured to the most exemplary discipline, and that all officers be assured, that the Congress will consider activity and success, in introducing discipline into the army, among the best recommendations for promotion.

The commissioners for settling the public accounts in the northern army, having represented to the board of treasury, that sundry officers in the army, holding two commissions, had, previous to the time of general Schuyler's receiving the order of Congress, not to allow pay to any person for more than one commission, received warrants from the general for payment in their double capacity, and desiring to know whether such accounts are to be allowed: Resolved, That such warrants drawn by general Schuyler, previous to the time of his receiving the order of Congress, be allowed by the commissioners: That, to prevent, for the future, warrants being drawn by any general in the continental army, in favor of any officer, for more than one commission, the order of Congress be published, that no officer in the continental army is allowed to hold more than one commission, or to receive pay but in one capacity. The committee of treasury reported, that there is due,

To Henry Brothers, 54 dollars; George Troxsell, 64 dollars and 72-90ths, and Jacob Miller, 60 dollars; the whole amounting to 178 dollars and 72-90ths; to be paid to colonel George Stricker, for the hire of three wagons from Maryland to Philadelphia, with the baggage of two field-officers, and two companies belonging to the German battalion:

To the late colonel Caleb Perry, for provisions supplied the militia on their march to New-Jersey, with their ferriage, and the ferriage of baggage-wagons over Schuylkill, 53 dollars; to be paid to John Jacobs:

Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.

A memorial from the chevalier Dorre, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the board of war.

The committee for Indian affairs brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,

Resolved, That 66 dollars and 60-90ths be paid to Jacob Fowler, of the Montauk tribe of Indians on Long-Island, for his trouble in going to the Mohawk and Oneida nations of Indians, and for his services whilst he remained amongst them:

That the commanding officers of the several posts, on the frontiers of Virginia and Pennsylvania, be desired to give the earliest intelligence they can, of every important occurrence they may have notice of, respecting the Indians,, to the commissioners, or, when they are not in the way, to the agent for Indian

affairs:

That it be recommended to the inhabitants of the frontiers, and to the officers at all the posts there, to treat the Indians, who behave peaceably and inoffensively, with kindness and civility, and not to suffer them to be ill-used or insulted:

That 400 dollars be paid to the agent for Indian affairs, in the middle department, for expenditures, and be accounted for by him:

That the orders drawn by the commissioners for Indian affairs in the middle department, on the committee for Indian affairs, for £1104 17 7, Pennsylvania currency, and for £73 0 9, of like money, being 3141 dollars and 10-90ths, the cost of sundry merchandise bought by the agent for the Indians; the former payable to James Heron, and the other to James Heron and James Bavard, be accepted, and that the money be paid by the treasurer of the United States: That a talk be delivered to the chiefs and warriors of the Shawanese Indians, now in Philadelphia, to be communicated by them to their nation, in these words: The United States of America, to their Brethren, the Chiefs and Warriors of the Shawanese Nation. "We have heard from you by Mr. Morgan, our agent, and are much pleased with your reception of him into your towns, and with your answers to our messages by him. We expect that you and our commissioners will shortly meet in council at Pittsburg, when we hope our old friendship will be renewed, and such a peace established between us, as will last forever.

"Our young brothers, Wenthissicia and Pellawa, have visited their white brethren here in company with Mr. Morgan. They can tell you that we keep our roads clear of thorns and briars, and open for all our Indian brethren, who think proper to visit us. We shall always be pleased to see our brothers, the Shawanese, and our brothers of every other Indian nation. We wish to see some of their wise men at our great council-fire, which we preserve bright and clear for all nations."

As it may be a means of conciliating the friendship of the Canadian Indians, or, at least, of preventing hostilities from them in some measure, to assist the president of Dartmouth college, in New-Hampshire, in maintaining their youth who are now there, under his tuition, and whom the revenues of the college are not, at this time, sufficient to support; that, for this purpose, 500 dollars be paid to the Rev. Dr. Eleazer Wheelock, president of the said college.

Resolved, That the adjutants of regiments in the continental army be allowed the pay and rations of captains, and have the rank of first lieutenants. Congress resumed the consideration of the articles of war; and, after some time, the farther consideration thereof was postponed.

Ordered, That the secret committee supply the state of New-Jersey with one ton of powder; the said state to be accountable.

The several matters to this day referred being postponed,
Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

!

FRIDAY, September 20, 1776.

A letter of the 18th, from general Washington, and one of the 15th, from the general assembly of Massachusetts-Bay, enclosing sundry papers, were read. Ordered, That the letter from the assembly of Massachusetts-Bay be referred to the marine committee.

In order to prevent the officers and soldiers, who shall be entitled to the lands hereafter to be granted by the resolution of Congress of the 16th, from dispos ing of the same, during the war,

Resolved, That Congress will not grant lands to any person or persons, claiming under the assignment of an officer or soldier.

Ordered, That the medical committee forward 300 lb. of Peruvian bark to the southern department, for the use of the troops there.

Congress resumed the consideration of the articles of war, which, being debated by paragraphs, were agreed to, as follows:

Resolved, That from and after the publication of the following articles, in the respective armies of the United States, the rules and articles by which the said armies have heretofore been governed, shall be, and they are, hereby repealed.

SECTION I.

Article 1. That every officer who shall be retained in the army of the United States, shall, at the time of his acceptance of his commission, subscribe these rules and regulations.

Art 2. 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 general 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 1-6th 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.

Art. 3. Whatsoever non-commissioned officer or soldier shall use any prophane oath or execration, shall incur the penalties expressed in the foregoing article; and if a commissioned officer be thus guilty of prophane cursing or swearing, he shall forfeit and pay, for each and every such offence, two-thirds of a dollar, Art. 4. Every chaplain who is commissioned to a regiment, company, troop, or garrison, and shall absent himself from the said regiment, company, troop, or garrison, (excepting in case of sickness or leave of absence) shall be brought to a court-martial, and be fined not exceeding one month's pay, besides the loss of his pay during his absence, or be discharged, as the said court-martial shall judge most proper.

SECTION II.

Art. 1. Whatsoever officer or soldier shall presume to use traiterous or disrespectful words against the authority of the United States in Congress assembled, or the legislature of any of the United States in which he may be quartered, if a commissioned officer, he shall be cashiered; if a non-commissioned officer or soldier, he shall suffer such punishment as shall be inflicted upon him by the

sentence of a court-martial.

Art. 2. Any officer or soldier who shall behave himself with contempt or disrespect towards the general, or other commander in chief of the forces of the United States, or shall speak words tending to his hurt or dishonor, shall be punished according to the nature of his offence, by the judgment of a court-martial. Art. 3. Any officer or soldier who shall begin, excite, cause or join, in any mutiny or sedition, in the troop, company or regiment to which he belongs,

or

in any other troop or company in the service of the United States, or in any part, post, detachment or guard, on any pretence whatsoever, shall suffer death, or such other punishment as by a court-martial shall be inflicted.

Art. 4. Any officer, non-commissioned officer, or soldier, who, being present at any mutiny or sedition, does not use his utmost endeavor to suppress the same, or coming to the knowledge of any intended mutiny, does not, without delay, give information thereof to his commanding officer, shall be punished by a court-martial with death, or otherwise, according to the nature of the offence. Art. 5. Any officer or soldier who shall strike his superior officer, or draw, or shall lift up any weapon, or offer any violence against him, being in the execution of his office, on any pretence whatsoever, or shall disobey any lawful command of his superior officer, shall suffer death, or such other punishment as shall, according to the nature of his offence, be inflicted upon him by the sentence of a court-martial.

SECTION III.

Art. 1. Every non-commissioned officer and soldier, who shall inlist himself in the service of the United States, shall at the time of his so inlisting, or within six days afterwards, have the articles for the government of the forces of the United States read to him, and shall, by the officer who inlisted him, or by the commanding officer of the troop or company into which he was inlisted, be taken before the next justice of the peace, or chief magistrate of any city or town-corporate, not being an officer of the army, or, where recourse cannot be had to the civil magistrate, before the judge-advocate, and, in his presence, shall take the following oath, or affirmation, if conscientiously scrupulous about taking an oath:

I swear, or affirm, (as the case may be,) to be true to the United States of America, and to serve them honestly and faithfully against all their enemies or opposers whatsoever; and to observe and obey the orders of the Continental Congress, and the orders of the generals and officers set over me by them.

Which justice or magistrate is to give the officer a certificate, signifying that the man inlisted, did take the said oath or affirmation.

Art. 2. After a non-commissioned officer or soldier shall have been duly inlisted and sworn, he shall not be dismissed the service without a discharge in writing; and no discharge, granted to him, shall be allowed of as sufficient, which is not signed by a field-officer of the regiment into which he was inlisted, or commanding officer, where no field-officer of the regiment is in the Bame state.

SECTION IV.

Art. 1. Every officer commanding a regiment, troop, or company, shall, upon the notice given to him by the commissary of musters, or from one of his deputies, assemble the regiment, troop or company, under his command, in the next convenient place for their being mustered.

Art. 2. Every colonel or other field-officer commanding the regiment, troop, or company, and actually residing with it, may give furloughs to non-commissioned officers and soldiers, in such numbers, and for so long a time, as he shall judge to be most consistent with the good of the service; but, no non-commissioned officer or soldier shall, by leave of his captain, or inferior officer, commanding the troop or company (his field-officer not being present) be absent above twenty days in six months, nor shall more than two private men be absent at the same time from their troop or company, excepting some extraordinary occasion shall require it, of which occasion the field-officer, present with, and commanding the regiment, is to be the judge.

Art. 3. At every muster, the commanding officer of each regiment, troop, or company, there present, shall give to the commissary, certificates signed by himself, signifying how long such officers, who shall not appear at the said