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Henry Laurens

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© Stanley L. Klos

Second President of the Continental Congress
of the United States of America
November 1, 1777 to December 9, 1778
http://www.henrylaurens.com/

Library of Congress Collection Broadside Facsimile CF-024

[Proclamation – Thanksgiving and Praise] – Broadside extracted from the Journals of the Continental Congress. This is a facsimile, 9”x11”, of a Broadside from the Collection at the Library of Congress which is a reprint of the November 1, 1777 order of the Continental Congress for a Day of Thanksgiving.: 

Solemn Thanksgiving and Praise

Forasmuch as it is the indispensable duty of all men to adore the superintending providence of Almighty God; to acknowledge with gratitude their obligation to him for benefits received, and to implore such farther blessings as they stand in need of; and it having pleased him in his abundant mercy not only to continue to us the innumerable bounties of his common providence, but also to smile upon us in the prosecution of a just and necessary war, for the defence and establishment of our unalienable rights and liberties; particularly in that he hath been pleased in so great a measure to prosper the means used for the support of our troops and to crown our arms with most signal success: It is therefore recommended to the legislative or executive powers of these United States, to set apart Thursday, the eighteenth day of December next, for solemn thanksgiving and praise; that with one heart1 and one voice the good people may express the grateful feelings of their hearts, and consecrate themselves to the service of their divine benefactor; and that together with their sincere acknowledgments and offerings, they may join the penitent confession of their manifold sins, whereby they had forfeited every favour, and their humble and earnest supplication that it may please God, through the merits of Jesus Christ, mercifully to forgive and blot them out of remembrance; that it may please him graciously to afford his blessing on the governments of these states respectively, and prosper the public council of the whole; to inspire our commanders both by land and sea, and all under them, with that wisdom and fortitude which may render them fit instruments, under the providence of Almighty God, to secure for these United States the greatest of all human blessings, independence and peace; that it may please him to prosper the trade and manufactures of the people and the labour of the husbandman, that our land may yet yield its increase; to take schools and seminaries of education, so necessary for cultivating the principles of true liberty, virtue and piety, under his nurturing hand, and to prosper the means of religion for the promotion and enlargement of that kingdom which consisteth "in righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost."

And it is further recommended, that Serville labour, and such received as, though at other times innocent , may be on becoming the purpose of this appointment, may be omitted on so solemn an occasion.  By Order of Congress       Henry Laurens, President[i]

God Save the United States of America !

AND

Continental Congress “Establishes the American Army”

Stanley L. Klos and Seth Kaller Collection CF-023

Laurens, Henry – Autograph Letter Signed as President of the Continental Congress of the United States of America, transmits five important Acts of Congress, including the formation of the American Army and an embargo prohibiting the export of grain and flour in an effort to redirect domestic supply of foodstuffs to the Continental Army.  Autograph Letter Signed, as President of the Continental Congress, to George Bryan, Vice President of Pennsylvania; Yorktown [Pennsylvania], June 9, 1778.  8 ¼ x 13 ¼ in.  

“ Yorktown 9th June 1778,  To: The Honorable  Vice President Bryan, Pennsylvania,  Honourble Sir. You will receive within the present Inclosure (sic) five Acts of Congress as undermentioned, 1.......27th May for an Establishment of the American ,  2......4 June for appointing Commissioners for holding a treaty with the Delaware , Shawnese [sic] & other Indians at Fort Pitt the 23d July next., 3......6 June for extending to the Militia subsistence in lieu of extra rations., 4......8 June for raising a Company of foot in the county of Northumberland &c, 5......ibid, for laying a general Embargo on certain articles of provisions...  , I have the honour to be with very great Respect Honourable Sir, Your obedient & most humble Sevt, 

Henry Laurens,      President of Congress

© Stanley L. Klos has a worldwide copyright on the artwork in these coins.

Establishment of the American Army

. Infantry  -- Resolved, That each battalion of infantry shall consist of nine companies, one of which shall be of light infantry; the light infantry to be kept complete by drafts from the battalion, and organized during the campaign into corps of light infantry.  That the battalion of infantry consist of Commissioned. ... Pay per month.

1 Colonel and captain, ... 75 dollars. -- 1 Lieutenant colonel and captain ... 60  --1 Major and captain, ... 50 -- 6 Captains, ∥each,∥ ... 40  --1 Captain lieutenant, ... 262/3 --8 Lieutenants, ∥each,∥ ... 262/3 -- 9 Ensigns, ∥each,∥ ... 20 -- 1 Surgeon, ... 60 dollars.  -- 1 Surgeon's mate, ... 40 -- 1 Sergeant major, ... 10 -- 1 Quarter master sergeant, ... 10 -- 27 Sergeants, ∥each∥ ... 10 -- 1 Drum major, ... 9 -- 1 Fife major, ... 9 -- 18 Drums and fifes, ∥each∥ ... 71/3 -- 27 Corporals, ∥each∥ ... 71/3 -- 477 Privates, ∥each∥ ... 62/3

Each of the field officers to command a company. The lieutenant of the colonel's company, to have the rank of Captain lieutenant.

II. Artillery  -- That a battalion of artillery consist of Commissioned. ... Pay per month.

1 Colonel, ... 100 dollars. -- 1 Lieutenant colonel, ... 75 -- 1 Major ... 622/3 -- 12 Captains, ∥each∥ ... 50 -- 12 Captain lieutenants, ∥each∥ ... 331/3 -- 12 First lieutenants, ∥each∥ ... 331/3 -- 36 Second lieutenants, ∥each ... 331/3 -- 1 Surgeon, ... 75 dollars.  -- 1 Surgeon's mate, ... 50 -- 1 Sergeant major, ... 11 23/90 -- 1 Quarter master sergeant, ... 11 23/90 -- 1 Fife major, ... 10 38/90 -- 1 Drum major, ... 10 38/90 -- 72 Sergeants, ∥each∥ ... 10 -- 72 Bombardiers, each ... 9 -- 72 Corporals, ∥each ... 9 -- 72 Gunners, each ... 82/3 -- 24 Drums and fifes, each ... 82/3 -- 336 Matrosses, each ... 81/3

III. Cavalry - That a battalion of cavalry consist of Commissioned. ... Pay per month. 

1 Colonel, ... 93¾ dollars. -- 1 Lieutenant colonel, ... 75 -- 1 Major, ... 60 -- 6 Captains, each ... 50  -- 12 Lieutenants each ... 331/3 -- 6 Cornets, each ... 262/3 -- 1 Riding master ... 331/3  -- 1 Surgeon, ... 60 dollars. -- 1 Surgeon's mate, ... 40 -- 1 Saddler, ... 10 -- 1 Trumpet major, ... 11 -- 6 Farriers, each ... 10 6 Quarter master sergeants, ∥each∥ ... 15 --  6 Trumpeters, each ... 10  -- 12 Sergeants, each ... 15  30 Corporals, ... 10 -- 324 Dragoons, ... 81/3

IV. Provost  - Resolved, That a provost be established, to consist of... Pay per month. 

1 Captain of provosts, ... 50 dollars. -- 4 Lieutenants, each ... 331/3 -- 1 Clerk, ... 331/3 -- 1 Quarter master sergeant, ... 15 -- 2 Trumpeters, each ... 10 - 2 Sergeants, each... 15 -- 5 Corporals, each ... 10  -- 43 Provosts or privates, each ... 8 1/3 -- 4 Executioners, each ... 10

This corps to be mounted on horseback, and armed and accounted as light dragoons.   Militia subsistence in lieu of extra rations June 6, 1778 - The Congressional embargo prohibited the export of grain and flour in an effort to redirect domestic supply of foodstuffs to the Continental Army. The measure had its intended effect and by 1779 exports had been reduced to a trickle and overseas trade from the port of Philadelphia fell to between one-fifth and two-fifths of its prewar size.  The volume of Philadelphia exports, largely breadstuffs, dropped from over sixty thousand tons in 1773 to less than four thousand tons in 1779.  Although a few merchants continued to risk running blockades and fighting privateers to reach overseas markets, most had given up.  With limited access to export trade, supplying the army became the only real market left open to the grain community .[ii]

Books by Stanley L. Klos

Medallions of the United States Founding
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Henry Laurens and York Court House
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Forgotten Founders Exhibit 
Minnesota Convention Center
August 29th - September 4, 2008

King George III                    Charles Thomson

Presidents of the Continental Congress

Declaration of Independence                  Continental Congress

Presidents of the United States in Congress Assembled

United States in Congress Assembled

*Huntington was elected as President of the Continental Congress but
ascended to the United States Presidency on March 2, 1781
under the Constitution of 1777 -- The Articles of Confederation

Eight Capitol Coins of the United Colonies/States of America
1774 – 1789

Philadelphia	September 5, 1774 to October 24, 1774	City Tavern on September 4th and then Carpenters Hall
Philadelphia	May 10, 1775 to December 12, 1776	Pennsylvania State House
Baltimore	December 20, 1776 to February 27, 1777	Henry Fite House, Maryland
Philadelphia	March 4, 1777 to September 18, 1777	Pennsylvania State House
Lancaster	September 27, 1777	Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Court House
York	September 30, 1777 to June 27, 1778:	York, Pennsylvania, Court House
Philadelphia	July 2, 1778 to June 21, 1783	Philadelphia, College Hall, then Pennsylvania State House
Princeton,	June 30, 1783 to November 4, 1783	Prospect House and then Nassau Hall, New Jersey
Annapolis	November 26, 1783 to August 19, 1784	Maryland State House
Trenton	November 1, 1784 to December 24, 1784	French Arms Tavern, New Jersey
New York City	January 11, 1785 to November 13, 1788	New York City Hall
New York City	November 1788 - March 1789	Fraunces Tavern

© Stanley L. Klos

 

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