General Orders, 2 June 1776
General Orders
Head Quarters, New York, June 2nd 1776.
Parole Fitch.Countersign Babcock
General Greene to order all arms in his brigade which want repairs to be immediately brought in to the Armourers shop, where they will be fitted up properly after which, all repairs will be stopped out of the men’s wages.1
Capt. Oliver Soaper of the 13th or Colonel Reads regiment, tried at the General Court Martial, [(]whereof Col. Nixon is President) On Complaint of Lieut. Thomas Williams of said Company, for “defrauding the public, in knowingly and willingly drawing pay, for more men than he had belonging to his company”—The Court are of opinion, that Capt. Soper, is not guilty of the charge brought against him, therefore do acquit him.2
The General approves of the proceedings of the above Court Martial, and orders, that Capt. Soper be immediately released from his arrest.
Lieut. Thomas Williams of Capt. Soper’s Company, and Col. Reads regiment, also tried at the above Court Martial, for “Impeaching and falsly asserting that Capt. Soper of the said regiment, had knowingly and designedly defrauded the public, in making up, and drawing pay, for more men than he had in his company: Also for signing Returns of the Company expressly against the orders of Capt. Soper—Also for refusing to repair to his Tent, when ordered by Capt. Soper”: The Court are of opinion, that the prisoner is guilty of the charge brought against him, and unanimously adjudge that he be cashiered for the said offence.
The General approves of the sentence of the above Court Martial, and orders that Mr Williams, late a Lieutenant in Col. Reed’s Regiment, immediately depart the Camp by the way of Kingsbridge, or on board a vessel going up the sound.
John Quinn, of Capt. Allen’s Company and Col. Wards Regiment, tried at the above Court Martial for “Desertion”—is found guilty, and sentenced to receive Thirty-nine Lashes, on his bare back for said offence.
John Suby and James Johnston, both of Captain King’s Company, and Col. Ward’s Regiment,3 tried severally at the above Court Martial, for “Desertion”—are each found guilty, and sentenced severally, to be whipped Thirty-nine Lashes, on their bare back.
The General approves of the several Sentences above, & orders them to be put in execution, to morrow morning at Guard mounting.
Hugh Killbreath, of Capt. Rosse’s Company, in Col. Hand’s Regiment,4 tried at the above Court Martial, for [“]Assaulting, beating and wounding Assa Baker, and David Avery, of the Artillery”—is found guilty of the Charge, brought against him, & sentenced to be whipped Thirty-nine Lashes on his bare back.
The General approves of the above sentence, and orders the prisoner to be transmitted to his Corps, and that the punishment be inflicted on him at the head of the regiment at Guard mounting, on the first morning The Commanding Officer shall find suitable for the purpose.
Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. On 7 June Greene directed the regimental commanders in his brigade on Long Island to send all arms needing repair to the armorers in New York City “and not to receive them Again Unless an Alarm should Happen untill they are well repaired [and] fit for use.” At the same time Greene ordered pikes to be placed in various defensive works and instructed the regiments “to Clean the spears once a week at least.” Guards at “the ferry” and “the Church” were directed to stop all arms coming to Long Island from the city and to report the names and abodes of the persons carrying them (Dodge, “Orderly Book,” 220–21; see also , 1:230).
2. Oliver Soper (1740–1821) served as a captain in Col. Timothy Walker’s Massachusetts regiment from May to December 1775 and in Col. Joseph Read’s 13th Continental Regiment from 1 Jan. to 31 Dec. 1776, when he apparently left the army. Thomas Williams (d. 1828) was a second lieutenant in Walker’s regiment before becoming a first lieutenant in the 13th Continental Regiment on 1 Jan. 1776.
3. William King served as a captain in Col. John Fellows’s Massachusetts regiment during the previous year and in Col. Jonathan Ward’s 21st Continental Regiment during this year. He apparently resigned from the army at the end of 1776.
4. James Ross (1752–1808) raised a rifle company in Lancaster County, Pa., in June 1775 and subsequently served at the siege of Boston as a captain in Col. William Thompson’s rifle regiment, which was designated the 1st Continental Regiment on 1 Jan. 1776 and taken over by Col. Edward Hand in March of this year. Promoted to major of the 1st Continental Regiment on 25 Sept. 1776, Ross continued as major of Hand’s 1st Pennsylvania Regiment from 1 Jan. to 12 Mar. 1777 when he was named the regiment’s lieutenant colonel. The following June Ross transferred to the 8th Pennsylvania Regiment and on 22 Sept. 1777 he resigned his commission.