General Orders, 11 May 1779
General Orders
Head-Quarters Middle-Brook Tuesday May 11th 1779.
Parole Belgrade—C. Signs Bern. Berg.
The Virginia Field Officers in the continental line now in camp will take into consideration the claims of John Allison and John Lee Esquires to a Lieutenant Colonelcy in one of the Virginia State Regiments and report the same with their opinions of their rights, to the Commander in Chief.1
Varick transcript, DLC:GW. A copy of these orders, signed by Adj. Gen. Alexander Scammell, is in DLC:GW.
1. Brig. Gen. Peter Muhlenberg had written to GW’s aide Robert Hanson Harrison on 10 May: “Captain Quarles of the 2d Virginia State Regt is just returnd from Virginia, & brings Commissions from the Governor, by which Lt Colo. [William] Brent is promoted to Colo. of the 2d State Regt Major Lee as Lt Colo., & Captn Quarles as Major—Lieut. Colo. Allison is likewise returnd, & Claims to be Lt Colo. of the 2d State Regt They request His Excellency would Order a Board of Officers to determine the dispute, between them, as both Allison & Lee claim one & the same post” (DLC:GW; the letter is docketed “ansd by a Genl Order”). The officers decided in favor of Lt. Col. John Allison, and their decision was confirmed by Gov. Patrick Henry and his council; see GW to the Virginia Field Officers, 19 May; GW to Patrick Henry, 9 June; and General Orders, 24 Aug. (DLC:GW).