General Orders, 16 May 1776

General Orders

Head Quarters, New York, May 16th 1776.

Parole Annapolis.Countersign Calvert.

Robert Hanson Harrison Esqr. is appointed secretary to the Commander in Chief, in the room of Joseph Reed Esqr., whose private concerns will not permit him to continue in that office.1

Any orders delivered by Caleb Gibbs, and George Lewis Esquires (Officers of the General’s guard) are to be attended to, in the same manner, as if sent by an Aid-de-Camp.

The Congress having given directions for the discharge of the Militia, and Minute Men in this district; the Battalion of the Militia of this City, are dismissed accordingly; and have the Generals thanks, for their masterly manner of executing the work on Bayard’s hill.2

Some Errors having happened in drawing the pay of the Quarter Masters of several regiments; the mistakes are to be rectified, and they allowed their dues.

As the Troops are to be exempt from all duties of fatigue to morrow, the regiments are to parade on their regimental parades,3 and to be marched from thence a little before Ten, to hear divine service from their respective chaplains.

For the future, there is to be no expence of ammun[i]tion at the Interment of any officer, or soldier, of the Continental Army, unless expressly ordered by the Commander in Chief.

Uriah Chamberlain of Capt. Hamilton’s Company of Artillery, tried at a late General Court Martial, whereof Colonel Huntington was president for “Desertion”—The Court find the prisoner guilty of the charge, and do sentence him to receive Thirty nine Lashes, on the bare back, for said offence.

The General approves the above sentence, and orders it to be put in execution, on Saturday morning next, at guard mounting.4

Varick transcript, DLC:GW.

1. For Reed’s private concerns, see Reed to GW, 7 Mar., n.6, and GW to Reed, 23 April 1776, n. 1.

2. William Henshaw’s orderly book reads “& have the Generals Thanks for their good behaviour whilst in Service & for their Masterly manner in Executing the Works on Bayards Hill” (“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 128; 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 117). The Continental Congress had resolved on 11 April that the commanding officer at New York should dismiss all of the militia in the pay of the Continent (JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 4:272; see also Hancock to Israel Putnam, 16 April 1776, in Smith, Letters of Delegates description begins Paul H. Smith et al., eds. Letters of Delegates to Congress, 1774–1789. 26 vols. Washington, D.C., 1976–2000. description ends , 3:542).

3. William Henshaw’s orderly book includes here the words “at 9 oClock to Morrow Morning” (“Henshaw’s Orderly Book,” 129; 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 117).

4. The following Saturday was 18 May.

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General Orders, 16 May 1776

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