General Orders, 2 September 1778
General Orders
Head-Quarters W. Plains Wednesday Septr 2nd [1778]
Parole Jedburgh—C. Signs June. July—
The Court of Enquiry whereof Coll Marshal is President will assemble at ten ôClock tomorrow morning at the Presidents quarters and take into consideration a Complaint exhibited by Mr Kean Assistant Commissary of Issues against Lieutt Seldon of the 4th Virginia Regt both Parties to attend.1
A return of Colours in the several Regiments to be made tomorrow at Orderly time.2
Varick transcript, DLC:GW. Maj. Caleb Gibbs’s receipt book records that on this date he received $1,000 from the paymaster general “for the use of defraying the Expence of His Excellency General Washington’s family” (DLC:GW, ser. 5, vol. 27). GW’s warrant book for this date records a payment of that amount “To Henry P. Livingston, Esqre, Lieut. of the Guard for his Excellency’s use” (DLC:GW, ser. 5, vol. 19).
1. John Kean had been appointed as assistant commissary of issues for the staff department with the army in the field, apparently in October 1777, and he continued to serve in that post until the department of issues was eliminated in early 1782. “Lieutt Seldon” was probably Samuel Selden, who was a lieutenant of the 1st, not the 4th, Virginia Regiment. Samuel Selden, who was appointed a second lieutenant of the 1st Virginia Regiment in June 1777, was promoted to first lieutenant in June 1778 and to captain-lieutenant on 25 June 1779. Taken prisoner at Charleston on 12 May 1780, he was exchanged in November of that year and served to the close of the war, being wounded on 18 June 1781 at Ninety-Six, South Carolina.
2. Adj. Gen. Alexander Scammell compiled this data into a “Return of Colours belonging to the Several Brigades Present,” dated 5 Sept. (DLC:GW). The return showed nine good and seventeen bad “Standard,” thirty-five good and twelve bad “Grand Division,” and one good “Regimental” colors for the fifteen brigades reporting. Scammell also noted that the 1st Pennsylvania Brigade had six colors in Pennsylvania.