That the deputy post-master at head-quarters be allowed four rations, every day, out of the public stores there, for the subsistence of himself, his riders, and servant. Congress took into consideration the case of the chevalier Roche de Fermoy: Whereupon, Resolved, That the chevalier Matthias Alexis Roche de Fermoy, be appointed a brigadier-general in the army of the United States. The committee to whom was referred the petition and accounts of Benjamin Evre, brought in a report, which was read: Ordered, That it be referred to the board of treasury. A'petition from Jeremiah Cady was read: Ordered, That it be referred to the commissioners appointed to audit and settle the accounts of the northern army, and that they report specially thereon. Certain resolutions of the convention of the state of New-York were laid before Congress, and read: Ordered, That they be referred to a committee of three: The members chosen, Mr. Hopkinson, Mr. Whipple, and Mr. Hart. WEDNESDAY, November 6, 1776. A letter, of the 3d, from R. H. Harrison, enclosing one of the 2d from brigadier-general Parsons; one, of the 30th October, from general Schuyler at Saratoga, enclosing instructions for officers appointed to recruit for the services of the United States; one, of the 31st October, from J. Trumbull, deputy pay-master general; and one, of the same date, from governor Trumbull, enclosing a resolve of. the general assembly of Connecticut, appointing John Lawrence, esq. of Hartford, commissioner to superintend the loan-office, in that state, were read: Ordered, That the letter from general Schuyler, and that from Mr. Harrison, with the letter enclosed, be referred to the board of war: That the letter from governor Trumbull, and that from J. Trumbull, paymaster, also the letter of the 29th of August from general Schuyler, together with the memorial from colonel Brown, and the officers' certificates enclosed therein, be referred to the board of treasury. The committee of treasury brought in a report, which was taken into consideration Whereupon, Resolved, That the report of a court of enquiry appointed by general Schuyler, and held at Albany the 5th of October, in consequence of a resolution of Congress of the 30th of July last, confirming general Montgomery's promise to give to the troops concerned in taking the vessels on the Sorel, all the public stores, except ammunition and provisions, on board thereof, be referred to the commissioners for adjusting the accounts of the northern army; that they be directed to make strict enquiry into the matter, and inform themselves, by the evidence of persons who served at that time as quarter-master and commissary of stores in the said army, and of others, what part, or whether any, of the stores mentioned in the report, were taken for the public service; that they allow to the officers and men which they find entitled thereto, the amount of so many of the stores as shall appear to have been taken for the army as aforesaid, and have not been paid for, after deducting therefrom, such reasonable expenses as have accrued to any of the captors in obtaining an adjustment of the prize-money, and ordering the amount of such articles of the prize-goods as the said captors have received, and were not given them as bounties, to be deducted from their respective proportions; that the pay-master be directed, upon receiving general Schuyler's warrant for payment of the same 540 JOURNALS OF CONGRESS, 1776. to proportion it amongst such officers and men, as the general and commissioners shall direct, agreeable to the pay allowed by the establishment at that time, without any regard to rations. The marine committee brought in a report, which was taken into consideration: Whereupon, Resolved, That three persons, well skilled in maritime affairs, be immediately appointed to execute the business of the navy, under the direction of the marine committee. The remainder of the report, at the request of a colony, was postponed till to-morrow. Ordered, That commissions be delivered to the captains and subalterns of the 6th Virginia battalion, and that the dates be filled up by gen. Stephens. Resolved, That 4000 dollars be advanced to colonel Lawson, of the 4th Virginia battalion, for the payment of the said battalion, he to be accountable, and that the money be paid into the hands of Thomas Gaskins. Two bills were presented to Congress; one drawn by general Lee for 64 dollars, dated Petersburg, 28th September, 1776; the other of the same, by Jacob Morris, aid-de camp to general Lee, for 150 dollars, both in favor of John Bannister, and drawn upon William Palfrey, esq. pay-master at Philadelphia: Ordered, That they be paid, and charged to the account of general Lee. Resolved, That Willie Jones, esq. of Halifax, Robert Smith, esq. of Edenton, and Alexander Telfer, esq. of Halifax, or any two of them, be appointed to audit and settle the continental accounts in Virginia. The committee of treasury reported, that there is due, To Benjamin Wallace, and to be paid to Charles Risk, for victualling 45 men of the flying camp, 4 45 dollars: To Francis Hopkinson, esq. for his and J. Wilson, esq. expenses, &c. at Bristol, to make enquiry respecting despatches sent from head-quarters, and lost, by the express, 25 60 dollars: To Sebastian Miller, for the hire of a wagon with money from Philadelphia to Boston, 65 30 dollars: To John Gibson, esq. auditor-general, for half a years' salary due the 9th of October last, 533 30 dollars: Ordered, That the said accounts be paid. The ship Lady Catharine, George Ord, master, which was sent out last winter, being returned, Resolved, That the secret committee be empowered and directed to settle the accounts of the voyage, and report in what manner the cargo imported is to be disposed of. The several matters to this day referred, being postponed, Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow. THURSDAY, November 7, 1776. A petition from John Connolly, was read: Ordered, That it be referred to the committee appointed to examine into the state of prisoners in the public gaol of Philadelphia. Whereas, the late major-general Ward, since his resignation of his trust, has continued in command, in the eastern department, at the request of the commander in chief, and still continues therein at the request of Congress; it is, therefore, Ordered, That he receive the pay of a major-general, commanding in a separate department, from the 26th day of April last, being the time of his resignation, and until a suitable person shall be appointed to take the command in his stead, or it shall be otherwise ordered by Congress. Resolved, That Richard Bache be appointed post-master general in the room of Dr. Franklin, who is absent. An appeal having been lodged with the secretary against the sentence passed in the court of admiralty, for the port of Philadelphia, in the state of Pennsylvania, on the libel "John Barry, &c. vs. the sloop Betsey, &c." Ordered, That the hearing and determining upon the said appeal be referred to a committee of five: The members chosen, Mr. Wythe, Mr. Paine, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Hooper, and Mr. Rutledge. The board of war brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon, Resolved, 1. That 266 60 dollars be advanced to capt. Francis Holland, and 133 30 dollars to capt. Robert Harris, both of the Maryland flying-camp, they to be respectively accountable to the council of safety of that state for the said sums, which are to be for the use of, and charged to the account of, their respective companies: 2. That 1110 67 dollars be advanced to captain Alexander Lawson Smith, of the late colonel Stevenson's rifle regiment, to pay the subsistence money of, and to enable him to advance a month's pay to, the said company: 3. That commissions be sent to general Schuyler, for colonel Elmore's regiment to be filled up according to the ranks and times of service of the officers of the said regiment; the general making such arrangements therein as he shall think just and proper: 4 That commissions be also sent to general Schuyler, to be filled up with the names of the officers yet unprovided for, who have served in Canada, according to their ranks and merits, to complete colonel Livingston's regiment: 5. That general Schuyler, agreeable to his request, have permission to repair to Congress, as soon as he shall be of opinion the service will adinit of his absence from his department: 6. That general Schuyler be informed that Congress have repeatedly applied to Maryland on the subject of the Nantikoke Indians, without having received an answer; that application shall again be made, and information given him of the result: 7. That general Schuyler be allowed to give such clothing to the Indians as he shall think can be spared for that purpose: 8. That the deputy muster-master general, in the northern department, have the rank of lieutenant-colonel in the army of the United States: 9. That general Washington be requested to take proper steps for trying all deserters from his army, and punishing, in the most exemplary manner the articles of war will admit, all such officers and soldiers who shall be base enough disgracefully to leave the service of their country at this time of trial and danger. Resolved, That each of the persons to be appointed to execute the business of the navy, under the direction of the marine committee, be allowed the salary of 1500 dollars per annum. A letter from colonel Miles to William Wister, was laid before Congress and read; wherein he intimates that an exchange may be accomplished of bim for Mr. Foxcroft, and perhaps of colonel Atlee, or lieutenant-colonel Piper, for Mr. Dashwood: Ordered, That the letter be transmitted to general Washington, and that he be desired to do therein what he shall think proper. The several matters to this day referred, being postponed, FRIDAY, November 8, 1776. A letter, of the 4th, from R. Dallam, esq. was read; Whereupon, Resolved, That 5000 dollars be paid to Gustavus Risberg, A. Q. M. general, and charged to the account of Richard Dallam, agreeably to the request of the said R. Dallam; and that the letter be referred to the board of treasury. 1 Resolved, That doctor Witherspoon have leave to take with him to Princeton, Archibald Gardiner, James Henderson, Peter Jack, and Hugh Ross, four of the prisoners lately sent to Philadelphia, and there to keep them till the further orders of Congress. The committee appointed to devise means for preventing the evils to be apprehended from the internal enemies of the United States, and hindering them from carrying on correspondence with the foreign enemies to the said states, brought in a report, which was read: Ordered, That the consideration thereof be postponed to Monday next. A petition from Paul Christman, ensign in captain Keyser's company, from Maryland, in the German battalion, was read, praying leave to resign his com mission: Resolved, That leave be granted. The committee of treasury reported, That there ought to be advanced to colonel Valentine Crawford, one of the executors of the late colonel Hugh Stevenson, on account of his estate, 100 dollars: That there is due to the following Canadian prisoners, and to be paid to captain Chartier de Lotbinier, 253.30 dollars: viz. To captain Lotbinier, for his allowance, from the 2d of November, 1775, to the 31st of October, 1776, 52 weeks, at 2 dollars, 104 dollars; of which he received from general Schuyler, 14.60 dollars; remains to be paid to him, 89. 30 dollars: To M. Tonancour, for his allowance, from the 2d Nov. 1775, to the 31st October, 1776, 52 weeks, at 2 dollars, 104 dollars : To M. Dochambault, for his allowance, from the 31st of August to the 8th of November, 10 weeks, at 2 dollars, 20 dollars: To M. Fleurimont, for his allowance, from the 31st of August to the 8th of November, 10 weeks, at 2 dollars, 20 dollars: To M. St. Ours, for his allowance, from the 31st of August to the 8th of November, 10 weeks, at 2 dollars, 20 dollars: Ordered, That the said accounts be paid. Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to consider and report under what restrictions the suttlers, who supply the army, should be laid, and that the motions made by Mr. Gerry, and scconded, be referred to this committee: The members chosen, Mr. Gerry, Mr. Wythe, and Mr. Wolcott. A petition from J. Budden and T. Lawrence was read, requesting leave to export provisions to Turks' Island, in order to bring from thence a load of salt: Resolved, That leave be granted. The board of war brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon, Resolved, That Mynheer N. D. Ottendorf be appointed a brevet captain in the service of the United States. Resolved, That Tuesday next be assigned for taking into consideration the trade of these states. Resolved, That the sum of 2666.60 dollars be advanced to the committee appointed to contract for casting cannon; they to be accountable. A letter from Tench Coxe, at Trenton, to John Tabor Kempe, esq. of NewYork, was laid before Congress, and leave requested to forward the same in order to obtain the release of Mrs. Lewis, who is detained a prisoner by the enemy on Long-Island: Resolved, That this matter be referred to the board of war: That the delegates of New-Jersey be directed to cause strict enquiry to be made through what channel Mr. Kempe conveyed the intelligence mentioned in the foregoing letter. JOURNALS OF CONGRESS, 1776. 543 Resolved, That 120 dollars be advanced to captain George Gibson, of the first Virginia battalion, he to account with the pay-master-general on the settlement of his accounts. A letter from James Sullivan was read, and referred to the board of war. The several matters to this day referred, being postponed, Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow. SATURDAY, November 9, 1776. Resolved, That two months' pay, being 250 dollars, be advanced to brigadiergeneral Roche de Fermoy, he to be accountable: Ordered, That he repair to the northern army, and put himself under the command of general Schuyler. A letter of the Sd from Timothy Danielson, chairman of a committee of the general assembly of Massachusetts-Bay, appointed to officer and inlist seven battalions out of the officers and soldiers in the continental army near WhitePlains, with sundry papers enclosed, was read : Ordered, That the same be referred to a committee of three: The members chosen, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Rutledge, and Mr. Wythe. Resolved, That two months' pay be advanced to captain Ottendorf; and that he be ordered to repair to head-quarters, and put himself under the command of general Washington. The committee of treasury reported, that there is due, To Robert Towers, commissary, for sundry articles purchased by him by direction of the board of war, and to be charged to the account of the said board, 526.74 dollars: That 3280 dollars be advanced to captain Casdorp, to pay the arrearages due to his company of carpenters sent to Ticonderoga: for which he is to account: That 50,000 dollars be sent to Richard Dallam, esq. deputy pay-master general for the flying-camp; he to be accountable: Ordered, That the said sums be paid. The committee appointed to consider and report under what restrictions the suttlers, who supply the army, ought to be laid, brought in a report, which was read; and, after some debate thereon, Resolved, That the farther consideration thereof be postponed to Monday. Congress having received intelligence that a free and open communication and correspondence is kept up with the enemy on Staten-Island and NewYork, from Elizabethtown, Newark, and the parts adjacent, to the great detriment of the American cause: It is therefore recommended to the governor, council, and assembly of the state of New-Jersey, to take the most speedy and effectual measures to stop all communication between that state and the enemy's quarters, that shall not be directed by proper authority. A memorial from Lawrence Bowden, late master of the ship Royal-Exchange, taken by the ship of war Columbus, was presented to Congress and read : Ordered, That it be referred to the marine committee. Resolved, That Congress will, on Tuesday next, resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration the means of supporting the credit of the continental currency. The several matters to this day referred, being postponed, MONDAY, November 11, 1776. A letter, of the 6th, from general Washington; one, of the 8th, from brigadier-general Mercer; and one from Richard Bache, esq. were read. Ordered, That the two former be referred to the board of war, and the latter to the board of treasury. |