General Orders, 11 May 1781
General Orders
Head Quarters New Windsor Friday May 11th 1781.
Parole. Countersigns.
The Honorable the Congress have been pleased to make the following Appointment:
By the United States in Congress Assembled March 3d 1781
Ordered
That doctor James Craik chief hospital physician and surgeon be and he is hereby appointed Chief physician and surgeon of the Army in the room of Doctor J. Cochran elected Director of the Hospital.1
The Companies of Light Infantry with Major General the Marquis de La Fayette are to be completed from their respective regiments so far as the deficiencies are known.
The men formerly belonging to these companies (who were absent when they marched) or others of a similar description to be sent on this service. these men to be marched under the direction of the officers who are going to join the Light Infantry.2
The Quarter Master General will apply for such fatigue parties as are necessary to repair the road to Sussex Courthouse.3
At a General Court Martial whereof Lieutenant Colonel De Hart was president, held in the Jersey Camp the 2d of May 1781 Simon Kent soldier in the first Jersey regiment was tried for repeated Desertion, found Guilty and sentenced to suffer Death.
The Commander in Chief approves the Sentence but in consequence of the recommendation of Colonel Dayton is pleased to pardon the Criminal and to direct that he be transferred to one of the Continental Ships of War at Philadelphia.4
Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. For James Craik’s appointment, see , 19:230. For John Cochran’s appointment as director general of the hospital department, see Samuel Huntington to GW, 18 January.
2. Major General Lafayette’s detachment had been ordered to the southern department (see GW to Lafayette, 6 April; see also GW’s second letter to Lafayette, 20 Feb., source note). Full-strength Light Infantry companies contained fifty rank and file (see General Orders, 16 Feb.).
3. For the fatigue party sent to repair the road from New Windsor to Sussex Court House, N.J., see General Orders, 13 May.
4. For this recommendation, see Elias Dayton to GW, 9 May; see also GW to Dayton, this date.