Wednesday, November 27, 1776

An appeal having been lodged against the sentence passed in the court of admiralty for the state of Virginia, on the libel, “Levin Joynes, qui tam vs. the sloop Vulcan:”1

Resolved, That the hearing and determining the said appeal, be referred to Mr. Wythe, Mr. Paine, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Hooper, and Mr. Chase.

Thursday, November 28, 1776

A plan of an artillery yard being laid before Congress,

That an artillery yard, with proper Cover to exercise under in bad weather be immediately erected at .

That a Master or Director of such Yard be appointed:

That proper persons be employed well skilled in the management of Artillery:

That they be impowered to enlist into the continental service as many able bodied men as shall be willing to inlist into the artillery service:

That the men be constantly exercised at the guns in the Artillery Yard as bombardiers and gunners:

That the most expert be from time to time draughted and sent to the army:

That no man be promoted to any office in the Artillery service until he has given proofs and specimens of his Abilities in the said Yard:

That Novices on their first inlistment to learn the Artillery service shall be allowed Soldiers pay:

That so soon as the Master shall report to the Board of War that any of the said Novices are qualified for the respective duties of Matrosses, Gunners or Bombardiers, they shall thereupon be advanced to the pay of such Characters respectively.2

Resolved, That it be referred to a committe of three:

The members chosen, Mr. R H Lee, Mr. Paine, Mr. Pendleton and Mr. Middleton.

Friday, November 29, 1776

Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to consider and report a proper method for establishing and training a cavalry in this continent:

The members chosen, Mr. R H Lee, Mr. Paine, Mr. Middleton, Mr. Nelson,3 and Mr. Floyd.

Printed in Journals of the Continental Congress, 6:985–988, 992.

1.

There appears to have been no follow up on this case. See Naval Documents of the American Revolution, 7:42, for the condemnation.

2.

This report is in the handwriting of Charles Thomson, with amendments (including the last two paragraphs) by Richard Henry Lee.

331 3.

Thomas Nelson (1738–1789) was a member of the Continental Congress from Virginia (1775–1777 and 1779) and signed the Declaration of Independence. From 1777 to 1781 he commanded the Virginia States forces but retired because of ill health following the campaign against Cornwallis. In 1781 Nelson was governor of Virginia ( DAB ).