Diary of John Adams, volume 3
Wednesday. July 24. 1776. A Letter from Lieutenant Colonel William Allen was laid before Congress and read; requesting Leave to resign his Commission. Resolved that Leave be granted.
About this time it was that, the Gentlemen in the Pennsilvania Proprietary Interest generally left Us.
A Petition from George Kills
Resolved that it be referred to the Board of War.
The Congress took into Consideration the Report of the Committee appointed to prepare a resolution for confiscating the Property of the Subjects of Great Britain. Whereupon
Resolved That all the Resolutions of Congress passed on the twenty third day of March last, and on the third day of April last, relating to Ships and other Vessels, their tackle, Apparel and furniture, and all goods, Wares and Merchandizes, belonging to any inhabitant or inhabitants of Great Britain taken on the high Seas, or between high and low Water mark, be extended to all Ships and other Vessels, their Tackle, Apparel and furniture, and to all goods, Wares and Merchandizes, belonging to any Subject or Subjects of the King of Great Britain; except the Inhabitants of the Bermudas, and Providence or Bahama Islands.
The Board of War brought in their report, which was taken into Consideration whereupon resolved, as in the Journal.1 Among the number I select with great pleasure, the two following, vizt.
Resolved that Colonel Knox's plan for raising another battalion of Artillery be approved and carried into Execution as soon as possible.
Resolved That General Washington be impowered to agree to the exchange of Governor Skene for Mr. James Lovell.
A Committee of the whole on the Articles of Confederation but no progress.
402Then a List of Letters from General Washington and others, referred to the Board of War.
JCC
, p. 606–607.
Thursday July 25. 1776. A memorial from sundry Officers, who served in Canada, referred to the Board of War.
Committee of the whole on the Articles of Confederation.
Letter from General Washington inclosing Letters from Governor Trumbull, and
Fryday July 26. 1776. A Committee of the whole, on the Articles of the Confederation, Mr. Morton in the Chair.
Monday July 29. 1776. A long List of Refferences to the Board of War of Letters from Washington, Schuyler, Reed, Trumbull, Convention of New Jersey, Council of Massachusetts &c. &c.1
The Board of War brought in a report, which was taken into Consideration, whereupon resolved as in the Journal.2
Committee of the whole on the Articles of Confederation, Mr. Morton in the Chair.
Only a portion of these letters was referred to the Board of War; see
JCC
, 5:613.
JCC
, 5:614–615. This chiefly concerned appointments and assignments of officers.
Tuesday July 30. 1776. Two reports from the Board of War, with Resolutions in consequence of them as in the Journal.1
Committee
JCC
, 5:620–621. These concerned fees to officers for obtaining recruits, Gen. Mercer's proposal for building boats, cannon for Mercer's post at Amboy, publication of a recent treaty with the Six Nations, &c, &c—a miscellany typical of the varied and unending chores of the Board of War.
Wednesday July 31. 1776. The Board of War brought in a report, which was taken into Consideration: whereupon Resolved as in the Journal.1
A Committee of the whole on the Articles of Confederation Mr. Morton in the Chair.
JCC
, 5:623. Concerning “musquet powder” for Washington's troops, and rations and pay for Massachusetts militia replacing Continental troops withdrawn from that state.
Thursday August 1. 1776. Letters from General Mercer and General Roberdeau referred to the Board of War.
Committee of the whole on the Articles of Confederation, Mr. Morton in the Chair.
Letters from General Washington, General Schuyler and Col. Dubois referred to the Board of War.
403The Board of War brought in two Reports, which were accepted as in the Journal.1
JCC
, 5:625–626. These reported the draft of a letter to Washington relative to vacancies in the army, and miscellaneous recommendations on small matters.