George Washington Papers

General Orders, 19 August 1776

General Orders

Head Quarters, New York, August 19th 1776.

Parole: Georgia.Countersign: Hartford.

John Green of Capt: Johnsons Company and late Col. McDougall’s Regiment, convicted by a General Court Martial, whereof Col. Wyllys is President, of “breaking out of his quarter guard and being absent two days”—ordered to receive Thirty-nine Lashes. The General approves the sentence, and orders it to be executed at the usual time and place; and the prisoner to be then returned to his quarter guard.

The Court Martial to sit to morrow, for the tryal of Lieut. Hubbel1 of the regiment late Col. McDougall’s—The Judge Advocate will be informed of the witnesses by General Putnam.

A Subaltern’s Guard to go over to morrow, to relieve the Guard at Hoebuck ferry.2

Col. Hitchcock’s Regiment to move to morrow, to Burdetts ferry, and relieve the party now there; they are to join General Mifflins Brigade, and receive Orders from Major General Heath, agreeable to General Orders of the 12th Instant.3 General Putnam will order boats.

The Adjutants of such regiments as have lately come in to apply at the Adjutant General’s office for Blank Returns which they are to fill up and bring in at orderly time—viz.: Eleven O’Clock every Saturday.

After this day, a Major to mount at the Main Guard, at the Grand Battery, instead of a Lieut: Colonel.

Varick transcript, DLC:GW.

1“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 222, reads “Lieutenant Hobby.” For the charges against Caleb Hobby and his acquittal, see General Orders, 4, 22 August.

2The Hoboken ferry crossed the Hudson River from the town of Hoboken in New Jersey to Col. Leonard Lispenard’s house on Manhattan Island, which was about half a mile from GW’s headquarters at the Mortier house.

3For Nathanael Greene’s protest against this order, see his letter to GW of 15 August. “Great Changes and Alterations have lately been made,” Hitchcock wrote Col. Moses Little on 15 August. “It gives me much Uneasiness that your Regiment is not going with mine. . . . The General thinks however they [the enemy] will attempt to take & occupy the River on both Sides there & consequently has ordered two more of the established Regiments there; if they come (& come they certainly will in a few Days) I will defend the Place as long as I can; they have certainly been embarking for a Day or two; I am yet fully of the Belief they will Land on Long Island for One of their Places & where else I don’t know, but I’m fully persuaded, in more Places than One” (Johnston, Campaign of 1776 description begins Henry P. Johnston. The Campaign of 1776 around New York and Brooklyn. Including a New and Circumstantial Account of the Battle of Long Island and the Loss of New York, with a Review of Events to the Close of the Year. Brooklyn, 1878. In Memoirs of the Long Island Historical Society, vol. 3. description ends , pt. 2, 75–76).

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