27 December 1776
Hancock, John (1737-1793)
Manuscript document signed
Title: Resolution in Congress 27th Dec. 1776 investing Genl Washington with certain powers [fragment]
Final page of document conferring extraordinary power on Washington. For six months he is granted the power "to fill up all Vacancies in every other Department in the American Armies; to take wherever he may be, whatever he may want for the Use of the Army...to arrest and confine Persons who refuse to take the Continental Currency, or are otherwise disaffected to the American Cause." The lost portion of the document confers on Washington other powers as well. It is possible this document was being sent to Washington himself, then intercepted by the British. Title from docket. Transcript…
GLC05611