WASHINGTON'S ORDERS. COMMENCING WITH THE FIRST ORDER ISSUED BY HIM [NOTE. On the 19th of August, 1781, General Washington, with that portion of the American army destined to operate with the allied French army in Virginia, left the “Highlands,” (a region of country extending along the Hudson from Stony Point to Newburgh,) for the scene of operations. The surrender of the British army under Lord Cornwallis haying occurred in October, the French forces remained in Yorktown, while the American troops, which had composed the left wing of the allied army, returned to the Highlands. General Washington passed the winter following in Philadelphia, but on the 31st of March, 1782, he joined the main army, making his head-quarters at Newburgh, issuing from thence the following Order :] HEAD-QUARTERS, NEWBURGH, April 4, 1782. The Commander-in-Chief having returned and resumed the command of the main army, he presents his thanks to Major General Heath and the troops which have been employed under his order, for having preserved the important posts committed to his charge, and covered the country so successfully against the depredations of the enemy during the absence of the General. HEAD-QUARTERS, NEWBURGH, April 29th, 1782. A return of public boats, specifying the different species, condition, where, and in whose possession or care they are, is positively to be delivered on the 6th of May. The Acting Quarter-master_with the army is directed to have all the boats, from King's Ferry to Wapping's Creek, inclusive, collected immediately to the last-mentioned place, except such as are so necessary for the common purposes of the army that the duty cannot be done without them. He will consult with Major General Heath and the Commandant at West Point to determine this. The preservation of the boats in use must be attended to most strictly, and the officers or persons in whose charge they are left, must give their receipts, and will be personally responsible for them. Such flat-bottom boats and batteaux as are not fit for service are to be repaired without loss of time. It is expected the company of watermen under the direction of the Quarter-master will, at least, be competent to take care of the boats; but if more aid is necessary it will be granted, but no excuse for negligence or waste in such an important article shall in future be admitted. HEAD-QUARTERS, NEWBURGH, April 29th, 1782. The contractors for supplying provisions to the garrison of West Point and its dependencies, are after the 1st of May, until some alteration is made in the disposition of the army, to issue to the 1st and 2d Massachusetts Brigades, the 3d Regiment of Artillery, and other such corps or parts of corps as may be stationed at West Point; they are also to supply the troops at the Posts on the eastern side of the river in that vicinity, the Posts of King's Ferry, Dobb's Ferry, and Fishkill. An issuing store must also be established by them at Newburgh or New Windsor. The remainder of the troops are to be supplied under the contract for furnishing the moving army. HEAD-QUARTERS, NEWBURGH, May 2, 1782. At a general Court-martial, whereof Major Derby is President, Ensign of the 10th Massachusetts Regiment, is charged with disobedience of orders of the Commander-in-Chief, with respect to furloughs, and exceeding the limits of his furlough ten days-the Court, after mature deliberation, are of the opinion that the reasons * William Heath was a native of Roxbury, Mass. Appointed Brigadier General June 22, 1775; Major General August 9, 1776; died January 24, 1814. The last surviving Major General of the Revolution. offered by Ensign in his defence for exceeding the limits of his furlough, are insufficient, and sentence him to be mulcted of his pay and subsistence for the ten days which he exceeded the limits of his furlough, and to be reprimanded in General Orders. The Commander-in-Chief approves the opinion of the Court. Ensign - should not have overstayed his leave of absence without applying for and obtaining leave. Ensign is released from his arrest.] HEAD-QUARTERS, NEWBURGH, May 3, 1782. The arrangement of the Captains of the Massachusetts Line being fixed by a Board of General and Field Officers, duly authorized, is approved of by the Commanderin-Chief, and is to be considered as conclusive; a copy is in the hands of the Deputy Adjutant General. HEAD-QUARTERS, NEWBURGH, May 3, 1782. The following arrangement of the Captains of the Massachusetts Line, being fixed by a Board of General and Field Officers, duly authorized, is approved of by the Commander-in-Chief, and is to be considered as con clusive: EDWARD HAND, Adjt. General. HEAD-QUARTERS, NEWBURGH, May 10, 1782. Until further orders, no flag from the enemy at New York is to be received at any other place or post but Dobb's Ferry, on any business or pretext whatever; nor is any flag from us to them to be sent to any other place. Officers or others bringing despatches from the enemy, are to be stopped at Dobb's Ferry, and their despatches immediately forwarded to the Head-quarters. It is expected that all officers commanding on the lines or elsewhere will pay the strictest attention to this order. HEAD-QUARTERS, NEWBURGH, May 12, 1782. A Board, consisting of Major General Lord Stirling,* Brigadier General Hand, and Colonel Nicola, will assemble at such time and place as may be agreed by them, to examine into the principles of the late arrangement of the subalterns in the Connecticut line, and to report their opinion whether the principles are consonant with those pointed out as the basis of such settlement by the Board of General Officers convened at Dobb's Ferry in August last, and whether the said arrangement ought to be conclusive or not. The papers relative to this business, at Head-quarters, * William Alexander (Lord Stirling), born in New York 1726. Father heir to title Earl Stirling; mother a New York lady; married sister of Gov. Wil liam Livingston, of New Jersey; appointed Brigadier General March, 1776; Major General Feb. 19, 1777; died at Albany Jan. 15, 1783, aged 57. |