Diary of John Adams, volume 3
Wednesday, September 25. 1776. Two Letters from General Lee; one of the 24th. of August to the President, the other of the 27 of 436the same Month to the board of War, both dated at Savannah, being received, were read.
Congress took into Consideration the Report of the Board of War, whereupon Resolved &c. These Resolutions fill two Pages of the Journal.1
JCC
, 5:823–825. There are twelve resolutions on a great variety of routine matters.
Fryday. September 27. 1776. Two Letters of the 24th. and 25th from General Washington, with sundry Papers inclosed; one of the 20th. from the Convention of New York; one of the 22d. from Joseph Trumbull; one of the 25th. from Colonel John Shee inclosing his Commission; and one of the 25th. from Jon. B. Smith requesting Leave to resign his office of Deputy Muster Master general were laid before Congress and read. Ordered that the Letters from General Washington, be referred to a Committee of five. The Members chosen Mr. Wythe, Mr. Hopkinson, Mr. Rutledge, Mr. J. Adams, and Mr. Stone.1
Ordered that the Secret Committee deliver to the Board of War, the Care And Custody of all Arms, Ammunition and other warlike Stores now under their care, or that may hereafter be imported or purchased by them for Account of the United States of America.
Washington's letters are printed in his
Writings, ed. Fitzpatrick, 6:105–118. The committee brought in a report on 30 Sept., which was acted on in part that day and in part on 7 Oct., the rest being postponed and thereafter merged with action on the report of the committee that had visited the army in New York (
JCC
, 5:836, 853, 855 ff.). The resolutions passed on the 30th were chiefly directed to improving army medical personnel and care; those passed on the 7th increased the pay of officers engaging to serve throughout the war. The authorship of the report is not known.
Saturday September 28. 1776.
The Board of War, to whom the Petition of William McCue was referred, brought in a report, whereupon Resolved, as in the Journal.1
JCC
, 5:833.
Monday September 30. 1776.
Resolved that the Board of War be impowered and directed, on requisition of the General, or commanding Officers in the several departments, to send such Articles of Military Stores, and other necessaries, which they may have in their Possession, or can procure.
Resolved that the Board of War be directed to order the three Virginia Battalions, now on their March to New York, to be lodged in the Barracks at Wilmington; there to remain till further orders.
The Committee to whom were referred the Letters from General Washington of the 24th. and 25th instant, and the Papers inclosed therein, brought in their report, which was taken into Consideration; 437whereupon many Resolutions were passed, which appear in the Journal, and the Remainder of the Report postponed.