General Orders, 1 March 1780
General Orders
Head-Quarters Morristown Wednesday March 1st 1780.
Parole Life— C. Signs Luck. Laurels.
The honorable the Congress having been pleased by a late resolution to annex the Mustering Department to that of the Inspection of the Army1—‘Till the business is more perfectly arranged the Sub-Inspectors and Inspectors of brigades are requested to muster the troops in the divisions & brigades to which they are respectively attached in the manner it has been usually done—The Musters both for January & February are to be included in one roll—when complete, the whole are to be delivered to the Adjutant General.
By a Division General Court Martial of the Pennsylvania line, Colonel Stewart President; Lieutenant John Armstrong of the 3rd Pennsylvania regiment was tried for “Ungentlemanlike behavior in attempting to impose a falshood on Colonel Craig respecting his attendance on the regimental parade”—and found guilty of a breach of the 21st article 14th section of the articles of war and sentenced to be discharged the service.2
The Commander in Chief confirms the sentence; but from the general good character he has heard of Lieutenant Armstrong, He hopes what he is charged with, proceeded rather from a want of recollection than from any ill design, and is induced to restore him to his rank and command.
He is released from arrest.
By a division General Court Martial held at the encampment of the Jersey Brigade the 24th day of February last, by order of Major General Lord Stirling, Colo. Ogden President, Cornelius Nix charged with “Deserting to the enemy twice, endeavoring to get there a third time and piloting a british prisoner of war into their lines”—was tried and found guilty of all the charges (except deserting twice) and sentenced to suffer death, more than two thirds of the Court agreeing.
The Commander in Chief approves the sentence.
By the same Court Emanuel Evans, soldier in the 3rd Jersey regiment charged with “Deserting to the enemy and taken in arms against the States”—was tried and found guilty of the charges and sentenced to suffer Death, more than two thirds of the Court agreeing.
The Commander in Chief approves the sentence.3
George Brown charged with “Deserting to the enemy and being taken in Arms against the States,” was tried by the same Court and found guilty of the 2nd charge and sentenced to do duty on board an armed vessel during the war.
The Commander in Chief approves the sentence and orders that the Prisoner be sent by the first opportunity to the Navy Board in Philadelphia with a copy of the sentence.
Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
Adj. Gen. Alexander Scammell’s orderly book entry for this date includes the following additional general order: “A sum of Continental money was found near Head Quarters a few Days ago. The Proprietor may have it again by proving His property to the Adjt Genl” (orderly book, 17 Oct. 1779–22 March 1780, DNA: RG 93, Orderly Books, 1775–1783, vol. 33).
1. For this resolution, passed by Congress on 12 Jan., see Samuel Huntington to GW, 14 Jan., n.1.
2. The twenty-first article of the fourteenth section of the articles of war reads: “Whatsoever commissioned officer shall be convicted, before a general court-martial, of behaving in a scandalous, infamous manner, such as is unbecoming the character of an officer and a gentleman, shall be discharged from the service” ( 5:804).
Col. Thomas Craig wrote to GW’s aide-de-camp Richard Kidder Meade on this date to explain his reason for arresting John Armstrong. The Sprague transcript of the letter reads: “Some days since I arrested an officer of the 3d Pennsy. Regiment—the cause proceeded from his not attending the parade at Roll calls. He was brot’ before a court martial, and seems sensible that he was wrong—It has brot’ about the desired effect that I wanted of it, which is that the officers even if on court martials shall attend the parade, at troop and Retreat Beating, as we have in general not more than one officer to a company throughout the line in Camp. I requested of Col. Stuart, if consistent with his duty, not to give in the proceedings which he has not complied with. should he come off clear, which I have some reason to judge from the colour of the Court, publishing the proceedings in my opinion may be attended with dangerous consequences, as some of the officers will not think themselves obliged to look after the internal police of their companies while in duties of that nature. You will oblige me in mentioning these circumstances to his Excellency” (DLC:GW). Meade replied on the same day, noting that the sentence had already been published and that GW had pardoned Armstrong (DLC:GW).