Report on the Application of South-Carolina

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Friday, January 19, 1776.

Resolved, That five new Members be added to the Committee of Claims, in the room of so many absent.

The Members chosen, Mr. Wolcott, for Connecticut, in the room of Mr. Dean; Mr. Floyd, for New-York, in the room of Mr. Lewis; Mr. McKean, for the three lower Counties on the Delaware, in the room of Mr. Rodney; Mr. Rogers, for Maryland, in the room of Mr. Johnson; Mr. E. Rutledge, for South-Carolina, in the room of Mr. Gadsden.

The Committee to whom the Letters from Lancaster were referred, brought in an answer, which being read, was approved.

Ordered, That the same be transcribed and forwarded.

The Congress took into consideration the Report of the Committee on the matter of South-Carolina, respecting Seamen; whereupon,

Resolved, That it be recommended to Captain Cochran, who is arrived here for the purpose of recruiting Seamen, to pursue the following plan in the Inlisting Service in which he is employed by the Province of South-Carolina:

That he offer to each able-bodied Seamen the wages of eight Dollars per month, and that he pay to them, upon inlisting, nine Dollars bounty, and, upon their, arrival in South-Carolina, the further bounty of five Dollars.

That Captain Cochran repair immediately to the camp at Cambridge, and take the advice and direction of General Washington on this affair, and proceed to inlist his Seamen in such parts of the country as will be the least prejudicial to the Continental service.

That the President write to General Washington,, acquainting him with the situation of South-Carolina, the necessity that Colony is in for Seamen, and desiring that he will please to forward this service.

The Committee of Claims reported, that there is due,

To the Committee of Berks County, for Provisions, Ammunition, &c., furnished to Rifle Companies, £11 14s. 10d., and for necessaries furnished the Prisoners from St. John' s, the sum of £8 13s. 11d., amounting, in the whole, to £20 8s. 9d., (equal to 54.5 Dollars,) which ought to be paid to Doctor Jonathan Potts.

Ordered, That the same be paid.

Resolved, That an Order be drawn on the Treasurer in favour of the Delegates of South-Carolina, for the sum

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of ten thousand Dollars, which was ordered to be advanced to the Commissioners for Indian Affairs in the Southern Department, the said Delegates to be accountable.

The Council of Safety for the three lower Counties on Delaware, having recommended sundry gentlemen for Field-Officers of the Battalion ordered to be raised in that Colony, the Congress proceeded to the choice, when the following gentlemen were chosen:

John Haslet, Esq., Colonel; Gunning Bedford, Esq., Lieutenant-Colonel.

The Congress resumed the consideration of the Report of the Committee on the state of the Colonies; and, whereupon,

Resolved, That four Battalions be raised in the Colony of New-York, for the defence of that Colony, upon the same pay with those directed to be raised in the Province of Pennsylvania; and that they be stationed as the Commanding Officer of the New-York Department shall think best, to garrison the several Forts in that Province, from Crown-Point to the Southward, and to prevent depredations upon Long-Island, and to promote the safety of the whole.

Ordered, That a copy of the foregoing Resolution be transmitted to the Council of Safety of New-York; and that they be requested, with all possible expedition, to transmit to Congress the names of a number of gentlemen, at least two for each command, out of whom the Congress may elect Field-Officers for said Battalions.

The Committee on Qualifications brought in a Report, which was agreed to as follows:

That Roger Stayner and George Jenkins be appointed First Lieutenants in Colonel Bull' s Battalion.

That the two eldest Ensigns, in the said Battalion, be Second Lieutenants, in the room of the above.

That Robert Allison, of Chester County, be appointed an Ensign in said Battalion.

That Jacob Shallus be appointed Quartermaster of said Battallion.

The Committee appointed to hear the complaints of the Officers of the First Pennsylvania Battalion against Colonel Bull, and Colonel Bull' s defence, brought in their Report, which, after debate, was referred till to-morrow.

The Committee to whom General Schuyler' s Letter, of the 13th of January, with the enclosures, was referred, brought in their Report, which was taken into consideration: Whereupon,

Resolved, That the American Army in Canada be reinforced with all possible despatch, as well for the security and relief of our friends there, as for better securing the rights and liberties not only of that Colony, but the other United Colonies.

That an Express be sent to the Committee of Safety of New-Jersey, and an application made to that of Pennsylvania, immediately to quicken the Officers employed in levying the Forces directed to be raised in those Colonies, and marched to Canada, and do all in their power to forward the service. And that the Committee of Inspection of the City and Liberties of Philadelphia, be requested forthwith to use their utmost endeavours to aid Mr. J. Mease in procuring of the householders therein, such Blankets as may be spared from their respective families, for the use of the Battalion destined for this important expedition, at so severe a season; for which the owners shall be allowed the value of such Blankets, according to the estimation of the said Committee of Inspection. And that Colonel Bull and Colonel Maxwell, do, without delay, march such of the Companies of their Battalions as are now ready, to General Schuyler.

That General Washington be requested to detach from the camp at Cambridge, one Battalion, if the service there will permit him to spare one, with orders to march with the greatest expedition possible to Canada.

That for the more speedy raising the Battalions ordered on the 8th of January, to be raised in the Colonies of New-Hampshire, Connecticut, New-York, and Pennsylvania, for the defence of Canada, it be recommended to the General Assemblies, Conventions, or Councils, or Committees of Safety of those Colonies, respectively, to exert their utmost endeavours in raising the said Battalions, upon the same pay and, subsistence' s the Army at Cambridge, and

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to furnish them with provisions, ammunition, and other necessaries, for expediting their march to Canada, and, for further encouraging the men more cheerfully to enter into the service of their country, to give a bounty of six Dollars and two-thirds to every able-bodied effective man, properly clothed for the service, and having a good Firelock, with a bayonet and other accoutrements, and four Dollars to every soldier not having the like arms and accoutrements; the arms to be supplied by the Colony, and the cost to be deducted out of the soldiers' pay. And, also, to provide a blanket and haversack for every inlisted soldier, and, moreover, to advance one month' s pay to every officer and soldier before their march, that they may be able to purchase necessary clothing.

That the first two Companies which shall be complete, of every Battalion directed to be raised for the service in Canada, do inarch to that country so soon as they shall be ready, and be followed in the same numbers, with like expedition, by the rest of the corps. And, that it be recommended to the General Assemblies, Conventions, and Councils, or Committees of Safety of the Colonies in which Battalions are directed to be raised, that they, respectively, attend to this business.

The Committee desired leave to sit again, which was granted.

Adjourned to ten o' clock, to-morrow.

Report on the application of South-Carolina respecting Seamen, Field-Officers for the Delaware Battalion, Four Battalions to be raised in New-York for the defence of that Colony, Report on General Schuyler's Letter of January 13, recommending measures for the immediate reinforcement of the Army in Canada, read and agreed to. [1776-01-19] Continental Congress. [S4-V4-p1646] [Document Details][Complete Volume]