General Orders, 12 February 1779
General Orders
Head-Quarters Middle-Brook Friday February 12th 1779.
Parole Attleborough—C. Signs Virginia Wilton
In reinlisting men for the war agreeable to the order of the 7th instant it is particular[l]y recommended to the officers care fully to consult the Muster-Rolls of their respective regiments.
This will be absolutely necessary to avoid being deceived and giving the bounties to some men who are already engaged for that period.
In the settlement of recruiting accounts the Muster-Rolls will be made the standard, and no money will be allowed for any men who shall be found to have imposed themselves.
At a General Court-Martial of the Virginia line, Middle-Brook February 4th 1779. Major Massie President, Lieutenant William Jenkins of the 14th Virginia regiment was tried.
1stly—”For embezzling the property of the public and the soldiers whilst on command at the hospital last winter.”
2ndly—”For procuring false orders from soldiers on the regimental Pay-Masters” &
3rdly—”For disobedience of orders”—found guilty of the 1st and 3rd charges & sentenced to be dismissed the service.1
The Commander in Chief confirms the sentence of the Court and orders it to take place immediately.
Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
Adj. Gen. Alexander Scammell’s orderly book entry for this date closes with the following additional general order: “Genl St Clair to take command of the Pennsylvania Division.” (orderly book, 22 Dec. 1778–26 June 1779, DNA: RG 93, Orderly Books, 1775–1783, vol. 28).
1. Thomas Massie (1747–1834) of New Kent County, Va., had been appointed a captain in the Elizabeth City District Battalion of Virginia minutemen in September 1775 and a captain in the 6th Virginia Regiment in March 1776. Promoted to major of the 11th Virginia Regiment in February 1778, Massie transferred to the 2d Virginia Regiment in September 1778. Rheumatism caused him to resign his commission in June 1779 (see Massie to GW, 11 June 1779, DNA: RG 93, manuscript file no. 31324, and GW to Massie, 25 June, DLC:GW). Massie, however, served as an aide-de-camp to Brig. Gen. Thomas Nelson, Jr., in Virginia from 1780 to 1781, and as such, he was present at the siege of Yorktown in October 1781 (see “Pension Declaration of Major Thomas Massie” in ., 21 (1913), 184–92). William Jenkins had been commissioned a second lieutenant in the 14th Virginia Regiment in November 1776 and had been promoted to first lieutenant in December 1777.