Second Continental Congress: June 30, 1775

Congress passes 69 Rules and Regulations of War and creates a three member committee to examine them.   Richard Henry Lee writes to General Washington about Canada and Indian Affairs.

Link to date-related documents.

Journals of the Continental Congress [Edited]

Congress agreed to 69 Rules and Regulations that were printed in the July 17, 1775 edition of the Pennsylvania Packet. 

Ordered, That Silas Deane, Thomas Cushing, and Joseph Hewes, be a Committee to examine the Rules and Articles of War agreed to by the Congress, and get them printed as soon as possible.

Resolved, 1) The Congress will, on Monday, consider the trade of America. 2) The Committee for Indian Affairs, “prepare proper talks to the several tribes of Indians, for engaging the continuance of their friendship to us, and neutrality in our present unhappy disputes with Great Britain.”

Richard Henry Lee to George Washington

We are this day informed in Congress that the six Nations and Canada Indians are firmly disposed to observe a strict neutrality, and I think we shall endeavor to cultivate their friendship. The Congress has been engaged these two days about the mutiny and military regulations, and at last we shall adopt those of Massachusetts with very few alterations.  You will see that we have again taken up the business of entering Canada, and have left the propriety of it to General Schuyler.  If it can be done, in a manner agreeable to the Canadians, it will certainly shut the door against dangerous tampering with the Indians on all our Western frontiers.

Edited with commentary by Gordon Lloyd.