General Orders, 1 September 1778
General Orders
Head-Quarters W. Plains Tuesday Septr 1st 1778.
Parole Kingsbridge—C. Signs Knolton Kelso.
A board of Officers will sit this day at Major Allen’s Marqui to settle the rank of Captns Fenner and Read of the North Carolina Brigade1—Major Allen, two Captains from Nixon’s and a like number from Paterson’s Brigade will compose the board.
Lieutt John Bartley of the 5th Pennsylvania Regt is appointed Adjutant to the same.2
Thomas Dungan Ensign in the 6th Pennsylvania Regt—is appointed Pay-Master in the same.3
Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. Robert Fenner (c.1755–1816) was commissioned a lieutenant in the 2d North Carolina Regiment on 1 Jan. 1776 and promoted to captain in May 1777. He was taken prisoner at Charleston, S.C., on 12 May 1780 and served to the end of the war. After the war, he became an agent for the final settlement certificates of the North Carolina line and treasurer of the North Carolina Society of the Cincinnati. James Read (d. 1803) was commissioned an ensign of the 1st North Carolina Regiment on 4 Jan. 1776, promoted to lieutenant in July of that year, and promoted to captain in July 1777. He was taken prisoner at Charleston, S.C., in May 1780 and served to the end of the war. The date of Fenner’s commission as captain was in dispute at this time.
2. John Bartley, who was commissioned an ensign of the 3d Pennsylvania Regiment in 5 Jan. 1776 and promoted to second lieutenant in October of that year, became first lieutenant of the 5th Pennsylvania Regiment in January 1777. He was promoted to captain lieutenant in June 1779 and retired on 1 Jan. 1781.
3. Thomas Dungan (1738–1805), who was appointed paymaster of the 12th Pennsylvania Regiment in April 1777, was commissioned an ensign on 2 June 1778 and transferred to the 6th Pennsylvania Regiment in July 1778. Commissioned a second lieutenant to rank from 1 Jan. 1781, he served until June 1783, transferring to the 2d Pennsylvania Regiment in January 1783. Dungan, who graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1765 and was a professor of mathematics there, 1766–69, was principal of the Germantown Academy before and after his military service.