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General Orders, 23 July 1776

General Orders

Head Quarters, New York, July 23rd 1776.

Parole Trenton.Countersign Upton.

Lieut. Fuller of Capt: Keyes Company, 20th Regimt tried by a General Court Martial of which Lieut: Col. Hobby was President, for “Inoculating, and disobedience of orders”—is honorably acquitted, and discharged from his arrest.1

It is with great astonishment and surprise, the General hears that Soldiers inlist from one Corps to another, and frequently receive a bounty; and that some officers have knowingly received such men; so glaring a fraud upon the public, and injury to the service, will be punished in the most exemplary manner: And the General most earnestly requests, and expects, of every good officer, who loves his Country, not only to oppose2 such practices, but to make the offenders known, that they may be brought to justice.

Varick transcript, DLC:GW.

“Henshaw’s Orderly Book,” description begins “The Orderly Books of Colonel William Henshaw, October 1, 1775, through October 3, 1776.” Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society, n.s., 57 (1948): 17–234. description ends 189–90, includes the following court-martial verdicts at the beginning of the general orders for this date: “Charles Bradley of Captain Richardsons Company of Colonel Ritzmas Regiment Tried by a General Court Martial whereof Col Webb was President for absenting himself & Inlisting into another Corps is Sentenc’d to receive 39 Lashes. Patrick Leonard, Richard Crary, James Crary of Captain Clags Company & Col Hands Regiment—Try’d by the same Court Martial & Convicted of leaving the Camp without leave & of Riotous Behaviour were Sentenced, Leonard & Crary 30 Lashes & Crary 39. Jonathan Davis of Captain [Cornelius] Hardenburghs Company in Colonel Ritzmas Regiment Tryed by the same Court Martial & Convicted of Desertion is sentenc’d to receive 39 Lashes. The General approves of the above Sentences & Orders them to be Executed at the usual Time & Place.”

At the end of this day’s general orders, “Henshaw’s Orderly Book,” description begins “The Orderly Books of Colonel William Henshaw, October 1, 1775, through October 3, 1776.” Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society, n.s., 57 (1948): 17–234. description ends 190, includes this order: “The Guard of the Ship Yard to be Reinforc’d with a Captain & 20 Men.” See also Dodge, “Orderly Book,” description begins “Orderly Book Kept by Capt. Abraham Dodge of Ipswich, January 1, 1776 to August 1, 1776.” Essex Institute Historical Collections 80 (1944): 37–53, 111–30, 208–28, 368–84; 81 (1945): 87–94, 152–175. description ends 81:167.

1. “Henshaw’s Orderly Book,” description begins “The Orderly Books of Colonel William Henshaw, October 1, 1775, through October 3, 1776.” Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society, n.s., 57 (1948): 17–234. description ends 190, says: “Lieutenant Josiah Fuller of Captain [John] Keys Company of the 20th Regiment now Commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Durkee having been Tried by a G.C.M. whereof Colonel [Thomas] Hobby was President for being absent from the Company & Regiment to which he belong’d for more than a Month & being Inoculated for the Small Pox contrary to General Orders is acquited of the Charge. The General approves thereof & Orders Lieutenant Fuller to be immediately Discharg’d.”

Josiah Fuller served as a sergeant in the 3d Connecticut Regiment from May to December 1775 and as a second lieutenant in the 20th Continental Regiment throughout 1776. John Keyes (1744–1824) was a first lieutenant in the 3d Connecticut Regiment during 1775 and a captain in the 20th Continental Regiment during 1776. He subsequently became adjutant general of the Connecticut militia.

2. Both “Henshaw’s Orderly Book,” description begins “The Orderly Books of Colonel William Henshaw, October 1, 1775, through October 3, 1776.” Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society, n.s., 57 (1948): 17–234. description ends 190, and Dodge, “Orderly Book,” description begins “Orderly Book Kept by Capt. Abraham Dodge of Ipswich, January 1, 1776 to August 1, 1776.” Essex Institute Historical Collections 80 (1944): 37–53, 111–30, 208–28, 368–84; 81 (1945): 87–94, 152–175. description ends 81:167, read “to disapprove.”

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    Washington Papers
    Title
    General Orders, 23 July 1776
    Author
    Washington, George
    Date
    23 July 1776

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    Cite as
    “General Orders, 23 July 1776,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-05-02-0318. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 5, 16 June 1776 – 12 August 1776, ed. Philander D. Chase. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1993, pp. 430–431.]