George Washington Papers

General Orders, 20 June 1776

General Orders

Head Quarters, New York, June 20th 1776.

Parole Gates.Countersign Canada.

Fifty men, one Capt: two Subs: three Serjts three Corporals and one Drum to parade to morrow morning nine oClock at the Assi[s]tant Quarter Master Hughes with one weeks provision and there receive their orders from him.1

Five Carpenters to be nominated by the Quarter Master General out of Col. Reeds, Col. Bailey’s and Col. Learnads Regiments to be sent to assist the Wheelwrights.

Nathaniel Powers of Capt: Bowlton’s Company and Col. Sheppards Regiment,2 having been tried by a Court Martial whereof Col. Parsons was President for “Desertion” was found guilty and sentenced to receive Thirty-nine Lashes. The General approves the sentence and orders it to be put in execution at the usual time and place.3

Varick transcript, DLC:GW.

1Lt. Isaac Bangs’s journal entry for 21 June reads: “Orders were last night issued for 80 Men, 2 Subs. & 1 Capt to go on a private Expedition. These Officers & Men were drawn from the several Regts in the Army. I was sent to be the Officer from Genl Heaths Brigade. We paraded according to orders at the Laboratory at 9 o’clock with Seven Days Provisions, Arms, Ammunition, &c. . . . This Party was raised to reinforce the Party at the Light house; but since the orders were issued News had been received that the Party were unable to effect anything . . . & were on their return. We were therefore ordered to return our Arms, & were sent to the Jersies to cut Cedar Wood Logs, &c. to build Fire Rafts” (Bangs, Journal description begins Edward Bangs, ed. Journal of Lieutenant Isaac Bangs, April 1 to July 29, 1776. 1890. Reprint. New York, 1968. description ends , 45–46). For an account of the attack on the lighthouse at Sandy Hook, see Benjamin Tupper to GW, 21 June.

2Powers apparently belonged to Capt. Isaac Bolster’s company in Col. Ebenezer Learned’s 3d Continental Regiment, which was commanded at this time by Lt. Col. William Shepard.

3Capt. Abraham Dodge’s orderly book includes at the end of this day’s orders a notice that “the Adjutant Generals Office is removed to the same House with the Quarter master Genls for the present” (Dodge, “Orderly Book,” description begins “Orderly Book Kept by Capt. Abraham Dodge of Ipswich, January 1, 1776 to August 1, 1776.” Essex Institute Historical Collections 80 (1944): 37–53, 111–30, 208–28, 368–84; 81 (1945): 87–94, 152–175. description ends 80:373; see also “Henshaw’s Orderly Book,” description begins “The Orderly Books of Colonel William Henshaw, October 1, 1775, through October 3, 1776.” Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society, n.s., 57 (1948): 17–234. description ends 158).

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