General Orders, 3 November 1779
General Orders
Head-Quarters Moores House [West Point]
Wednesday Novr 3rd [1779]
Parole Frybourg— C. Signs Savoy. Tunbridge—
At the General Court Martial whereof Colo. Starr was President1—Moses Carson formerly a Captain in the Continental Army was tried for “Deserting to the enemy and carrying off a number of men with him in the year 1777.” found guilty of the 1st part of the charge and sentenced to be drumed thro’ the army, in the vicinity of West-Point, with a halter round his neck and a label pinned on his breast and back setting forth as follows—“Moses Carson late a Captain in the American Army this I suffer for deserting to the enemy of the United States of North America” and that he be confined during the present war between Great-Britain and America.2
The Commander in Chief confirms the sentence & orders it to be carried into execution—He is to be drumed thro’ camp tomorrow morning at guard mounting.
Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. For this court-martial, which dissolved on 27 Oct., see General Orders, that date, and n.1 to that document.
2. After his desertion from the 8th Pennsylvania Regiment, Capt. Moses Carson was captured on 12 Sept. 1777 and imprisoned at Carlisle, Pa. (see Edward Hand to GW, 15 Sept. 1777).