General Orders, 8 January 1778
General Orders
Head Quarter V. Forge Jany 8th 1778
Parole: NewarkCountersigns: Woodbridge Chatham—
The Commander in Chief is informed that gaming is again creeping into the Army; in a more especial manner among the lower staff in the environs of the camp: He therefore in the most solemn terms declares, that this Vice in either Officer or soldier, shall not when detected, escape exemplary punishment; and to avoid discrimination between play and gaming forbids Cards & Dice under any pretence whatsoever: Being also informed that many men are render’d unfit for duty by the Itch, He orders & directs the Regimentl Surgeons to look attentively into this matter & as soon as the men (who are infected with this disorder) are properly disposed in huts, to have them annointed for it.
All issuing Commissaries are carefully to save all the horns of the cattle & have them separated from the bones & then return’d to the Quartr Master General, who is to store them.
A detachment of a Captain & forty men from each brigade are to attend the execution of John Reily on the grand parade at ten ôClock tomorrow forenoon.
At a General Court Martial held 5th inst. in General Muhlenberg’s Brigade of which Lt Coll Ball was president Ensign Cocke of 1st Virginia Regiment charged with denying upon Oath what he formerly and has since said he knew respecting Captain Crump’s behaviour, thereby acting inconsistently with honor & truth was tried & found guilty of the charge; and by the unanimous opinion of the Court sentenced to be discharged from the service; The Commander in Chief approves the sentence and orders it to be executed forthwith.1
Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
Brig. Gen. Edward Hand’s orderly book contains additional orders for a fatigue party of fifty-four men from Learned’s, Glover’s, and Poor’s brigades “To parade to morrow morning at sun rise on the Grand Parade and thence march to fat Land ford, where they will receive Gl Sullivans Orders.” Another order directs that “A Sub: & Eight men from Genl Muhlenberg’s & Genl Glover’s brigades, and eight men from every other brigade in camp, are to parade to-morrow morning at nine o’clock precisely, by themselves, on the grand parade. Such men are to be selected as know how to thresh, & that are in full health. They are to relieve the like parties under Colo. Byard’s command; and take with them their arms, blankets and necessaries.” Another sentence, which is struck out, reads: “Three Waggons from Genl Govers—Poors—Woodford’s—Scotts—Muhlenbergs and Weedons are to parade at the same time & place to go with these parties & bring flour to Camp.” Further orders at the end of the entry for this date in Hand’s orderly book read: “The Brigades may receive their quotas of nails at the Quarter Master General’s stores. Each brigade is to make a return immediately of the armourers therein, to the Adjt Genl. A flag will go to Philadelphia from the Quarters of the Commissary Genl of prisoners, at nine o’clock to-morrow morning. The spirits mentioned in the orders of the 6th instant have not yet come into the Commissary’s hands; the waggons sent for that purpose being employed by Genl Smallwood. Notice will be given when they arrive” (DNA: RG 93, Orderly Books, 1775–1783, vol. 20).
1. Burgess Ball (1749–1800), of Lancaster County, Va., was appointed captain of the 5th Virginia Regiment in February 1776 and gained promotion to major in February of the following year. In December 1777 Ball became lieutenant colonel of the 9th Virginia Regiment. He transferred to the 1st Virginia Regiment when the 9th Regiment was merged with it in September 1778, and he was captured at Charleston, S.C., in May 1780, remaining on parole until he retired in February 1781. In April 1781 Ball married Frances Thornton Washington (1763–1815), the daughter of GW’s youngest brother, Charles. William Cocke had been appointed ensign in the 1st Virginia Regiment in April 1777.