General Orders, 18 September 1780
General Orders
Head Quarters Steenrapia Monday September 18. 1780
Parole Washington Countersigns War, Watch.
Watchword Wisdom
[Officers] For the day Tomorrow[:] Brigadier General Clinton[,] Colonel Wyllys[,] Lieutenant Colonel Conway[,] Major Edwards[,] Brigade Major Woodbridge
The General desires the old officers of the day to favor him with their Company at dinner during the absence of the Commander in Chief.
At a Court of Enquiry called by desire of Colonel Angell to enquire into a report relative to his being absent from his regiment in the action at springfield the 23d of June last Colonel Nixon President.
The Court having heard and duly considered the evidence are unanimously of opinion that Colonel Angell was in the Action at Springfield of the 23d of June last with his regiment and in the execution of his duty and behaved like a brave and good officer.
Major Genl Green accepts and approves the report.1
At a division General court martial the 15th instant by order of Major General Marquis de la Fayette, Colonel Swift President Lieutenant William Mills of Colonel Gematt’s regiment of Light Infantry was tried for “Disobedience of Orders” and unanimously acquitted.
At the same Court Ensign Jonathan T. Rawson of the same regiment was tried upon the same charge and unanimously acquitted.
Major General Greene approves the acquittals and orders Lieutenant Mills and Ensign Rawson released from arrest.2
After Orders septemr 18. 5 ô clock
The Army to march at the shortest Notice—Everything to be in perfect readiness for a movement.
One hundred fatigue men to parade tomorrow morng at seven ô clock on the Grand Parade—with their Arms and two days provisions if to be had.
Meigs’s regiment to march very early tomorrow morning.
The commanding officer will call this Evening at General Greene’s Quarters for orders.3
Varick transcript, DLC:GW. Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene issued the general orders for this date (see The Hartford Conference, 20–22 Sept., editorial note).
1. See General Orders, 12 Sept., and n.1; see also GW to William Greene, 29 June.
2. William Mills III (1746–1813) became a Massachusetts militia lieutenant in 1775 and lieutenant in the 14th Massachusetts Regiment in January 1777. He later served in the Light Infantry and rose to captain lieutenant in October 1780. Mills joined the 7th Massachusetts Regiment in January 1781 and was promoted to captain that June. He transferred to the 4th Massachusetts Regiment in June 1783 and remained in the army into autumn.
Jonathan T. Rawson joined the Massachusetts militia in 1775. He became a fifer in the 1st Massachusetts Regiment in February 1777, was commissioned ensign that November, and subsequently served in the Light Infantry. Rawson left the army in February 1781.
3. See GW to Greene, this date.