CONTENTS Page. IV. The Judge-Advocate-General's Department V. The Quartermaster's Department.... PROVISIONS AFFECTING THE SEVERAL CORPS AND DEPARTMENTS OF THE GENERAL STAFF. JOURNALS OF THE AMERICAN (CONTINENTAL) CONGRESS. September 21, 1775.-"Whereas frequent applications are making to the General, Commander in Chief, by officers of all ranks and denominations for an allowance of rations of provisions, which are not only absolutely necessary, but usual and customarily allowed to them, the General has thought proper to order and direct that from the first day of July last there be issued by the Commissary-General the following proportion of rations, viz: To each major-general, 15 rations; to each brigadier-general, 12 rations; to each colonel, 6 rations; to each lieutenant-colonel, 5 rations; to each major, 4 rations; to each captain, 3 rations; to each subaltern, 2 rations, and to each staff officer, 2 rations." (Orders, General Headquarters, Cambridge.) March 15, 1776.-Expenses of the horses of general officers, when traveling on official business, were to be defrayed by the Continent. May 10, 1776.-Resolved, That this Congress has hitherto exercised, and ought to retain, the power of promoting the officers in the Continental service according to their merit; and that no promotion or succession shall take place upon any vacancy without the authority of a Continental commission. September 9, 1776.-In all commissions the words "United Colonies" to be altered to "United States." Resolved, September 16, 1776. That Congress make provision for granting lands in the following proportion: To the officers who shall so engage in the service and continue therein to the close of the war, or until discharged by Congress, and to the representatives of such officers and soldiers as shall be slain by the enemy. Such lands to be provided by the United States, and whatever expense shall be necessary to procure such land the said expense shall be paid and borne by the States in the same proportion as the other expenses of the war, viz: To a colonel, 500 acres; to a lieutenant-colonel, 450; to a major, 400; to a captain, 300; to a lieutenant, 200; to an ensign, 150; each noncommissioned officer and soldier, 100. September 18, 1776. Resolved, That if rations be received by the officers in the Continental Army, in money, they be paid at the rate of % of a dollar. September 20, 1776. In order to prevent the officers and soldiers who shall be entitled to the lands hereafter to be granted by the resolution of Congress of the 16th from disposing of the same during the war, Resolved, That Congress will not grant lands to any person or persons claiming under the assignment of an officer or soldier. |