General Orders, 15 November 1775
General Orders
Head Quarters, Cambridge, Novr 15th 1775
Parole Connecticut.Countersign Brown.
Lieutt Lyon of Major Johnson’s Company in the 34th Regt tried at a late General Court Martial whereof Col. Pattersons was president for “aiding and countenancing a mutiny in the Camp”—There being no proof of the Charge; the Court unanimously acquit the prisoner.1
Lieut. Soaper and Ensign Parker, tried at a Genl Court Martial whereof Col. Douglass was president, for “striking & abusing Lieuts. Hanshaw & Craig, and keeping Lieut. Craig in the Meeting house Guard, all Night”—The Court are of opinion that the prisoners are guilty of a breach of the 46th Article of the Rules and Regulations for the Massachusetts Army, and therefore unanimously adjudge the prisoners to be discharged the Continental Army.2
Lieut. John Bowker tried at a late General Court Martial for “divers times leaving the Camp without leave, and for countenancing the Soldiers in disobedience of Orders”—The Court are unanimously of opinion, that the prisoner is guilty of quitting the Camp without leave; but acquitted of the latter part of the Charge therefore only adjudge the prisoner to be mulcted Four Pounds of his pay, to be appropriated as directed by the 51st Article of war and be severly reprimanded by his Colonel at the head of the regiment.3
Serjt Jonathan Putney, Corporal Harwood, Thomas Rollins, Isaac Larriby, Samuel North and Ebenezer Williams Soldiers of Capt. Hatches Company4 in the late Col. Gerrish’s Regiment tried at a late Genl Court Martial, whereof Col. Patterson was President for “Mutiny”—The Court are of Opinion that the Prisoners, Serjt Putney, Corpl Harwood, Rollins, North and Williams are Guilty of the Crime laid to their charge and adjudge the said Serjt to be reduced to the ranks and fined Forty-eight Shillings, to be appropriated as directed by the 51st Article of war—The said Corporal to be reduced to a private and whipped with Thirty-nine Lashes—The said Rollins to be whipped with Thirty-nine; The said North with Twenty-five; and the said Williams with Thirtynine Lashes upon their bare backs with a Cat o’Nine tails.
The Commander in Chief approves all the above Sentences of the several Courts Martial mention’d in this day’s orders and directs the execution of them accordingly.
Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. Ephraim Lyon served in the 3d Connecticut Regiment commanded by Lt. Col. Experience Storrs.
2. The dismissed officers may be Amasa Soper and Avery Parker, both lieutenants in Col. Timothy Danielson’s Massachusetts regiment posted at Roxbury. John Douglas (1734-1809) of Plainfield was lieutenant colonel of the 8th Connecticut Regiment. In 1776 Douglass commanded one of the regiments of Connecticut militia sent to reinforce the Continental army at New York, and in 1777 he became a brigadier general of the militia. Lieutenant Craig may be Charles, Thomas, or Samuel Craig of Capt. Abraham Miller’s company of Pennsylvania riflemen. Article 46 of the Massachusetts articles of war provides that “whatsoever commissioned officer shall be convicted before a general court martial, of behaving in a scandalous, infamous manner, such as is unbecoming an officer and a gentleman, shall be discharged from the service” (, 128).
3. John Bowker of Petersham served in Col. Ephraim Doolittle’s Massachusetts regiment. Article 51 of the Massachusetts articles of war requires the fines “to be . . . applied to the relief of . . . sick, wounded, or necessitous soldiers” in the regiment from which the fines are collected (ibid., 128–29).
4. Naler Hatch (c.1731–1804) of Malden commanded a company in the late Col. Thomas Gardner’s Massachusetts regiment.