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One half pint of rice, or one pint of Indian meal, per man, per week. One quart of spruce beer, per man, per diem, or nine gallons of molasses, per Company of 100 men. Three pounds of candles to 100 men, per week, for guards, &c. Twenty-four pounds of soft, or eight pounds of hard soap for 100 men per week. One ration of salt, one ditto fresh, and two ditto bread, to be delivered Monday morning. Wednesday morning the same. Friday morning the same, and one ditto salt fish. All weekly allowances delivered Wednesday morning. Where the number of Regiments is too many to serve the whole the same day, then the number to be divided equally, and one part served Monday morning, the other part Tuesday morning, and so through the week. Head-Quarters, Cambridge, August 9, 1775.
The commanding officer of each Regiment or Corps is to send a return at orderly time, to-morrow, to the Adjutant-General, of the number of tents or boards which are wanted to cover the men, that they may be provided as soon as possible. They are also to give in the names of such of their men who neither have received blankets, or who lost them in the engagement on Bunker’s Hill. As there are several vacancies in the different Regiments, if there are any particular gentlemen who signalized themselves in the action on Bunker’s Hill, by their spirited behaviour and good conduct, and of which sufficient proof is adduced to the General, he will, in filling up the commissions, use his endeavours to have them appointed (if not already commissioned) to some office, or promoted if they are; as it will give him infinite pleasure at all times to reward merit, wherever it is to be found. Colonel Learned’s Regiment to join Gen. Thomas’s Brigade, and Col. Huntington’s to join General Spencer’s Brigade. Captain Bollard, of Colonel Frye’s Regiment, tried by the late General Court-Martial, for “profane swearing, and for beating and abusing his men.” The Court find the prisoner guilty in two instances of profane swearing, and of beating his men; and therefore sentence him to pay a fine of four shillings for each offence. Captain Jesse Saunders, of Col. Sergeant’s Regiment, tried by the late General Court-Martial, for “frequently drawing more provisions than he had men in his Company to consume; for forcing the sentry, and taking away a gun, the property of William Turner, and threatening the life of Sergeant Connor, cocking and presenting his gun at him when in the execution of his duty.” The Court are unanimously of opinion that the prisoner is guilty of the whole of the charge exhibited against him, and unanimously adjudge that he be forthwith cashiered. The General approves the above sentences, and orders them to be put in immediate execution. To-morrow, the Rules and Articles, formed by the Honourable the Continental Congress for the government of the Troops of the twelve United Colonies, will be delivered out, to be distributed through the several corps of the Army. They are to be signed by the several officers of each Regiment, beginning with the Colonels, and then by the soldiers, in the blank leaves left for that purpose; and after they are so subscribed, they are to be deposited with the Captain of each Company. If there are any officers or soldiers who refuse to sign them, their names, and the Companies and Regiments to which they respectively belong, are to be reported to the Commander-in-Chief, without delay. Mr. John Goddard is appointed by the Commander-in-Chief, Wagon-Master General to the Army of the twelve United Colonies, and is to be obeyed as such. Head-Quarters, Cambridge, August 10, 1775.
It is a matter of exceeding great concern to the General to find, that at a time when the united efforts of America are exerting in defence of the common rights and liberties of mankind, that there should be in an Army constituted for so noble a purpose, such repeated instances of officers who, lost to every sense of honour and virtue, are seeking by dirty and base means the promotion of their own dishonest gain, to the eternal disgrace of themselves and dishonour of their Country. Practices of this sort will never be overlooked, whenever an accusation is lodged, but the authors brought to the most exemplary punishment. It is therefore much to be wished that the example of Jesse Sounders, late Captain, in Col. Sergeant’s Regiment, will prove the last shameful instance of such a grovelling disposition; and that for the future every officer for his own honour and the sake of an injured publick, will make a point of detecting every iniquitous practice of this kind; using their utmost endeavours in their several capacities to lessen the expense of the war as much as possible, that the great cause in which we are struggling may receive no injury from the enormity of the expense. The several Paymasters are immediately to ascertain what pay was due to the different Regiments and Corps on the first day of this instant, that each man may receive his respective due as soon as the money arrives to pay them. It is earnestly recommended that great exactness be used in these settlements: First, that no man goes without his pay; and next, that not one farthing more be drawn than what is justly due. After this the pay may be drawn once a month or otherwise, as shall be found most convenient; in the mean while, the soldiers need be under no apprehension of getting every farthing that is justly their due. It is therefore expected that they do their duty with that cheerfulness and alacrity becoming men who are contending for their liberty, property, and every thing that is valuable to freemen and their posterity. Head-Quarters, Cambridge, August 11, 1775.
Complaints having been made by the inhabitants to the east of Watertown, that their gardens are robbed, their fields laid waste, and fences destroyed, any person who shall for the future be detected in such flagitious, wicked practices, will be punished without mercy. The Commander-in-Chief has been pleased to appoint Stephen Moylan, Esq., to be Muster-Master General to the Army of the United Colonies. He is in all things touching his duty as Muster-Master General, to be considered and obeyed as such. Head-Quarters, Cambridge, August 13, 1775.
A General Court-Martial to set to-morrow morning to try Col. John Mansfield, of the Massachusetts Forces, accused by three of his officers of high crimes and misdemeanors. One Brigadier-General and twelve Field-Officers to compose the Court. PRESIDENT—Brigadier-General Green. MEMBERS—Col. James Reed, Col. Patterson, Col. James M. Varnum, Col. Woodbridge, Lt. Col. Wyman, Lt. Col. March, Lt. Col. Holdon, Lt. Col. Miller, Major Cudworth, Major Sawyer, Major Butterick, Major Angell. Head-Quarters, Cambridge, August 14, 1775.
Major Thomas Mifflin is appointed Quartermaster-General to the Army of the United Colonies. He is to be obeyed as such. As the Troops are all to be mustered as soon as possible, the Muster-Master General, Stephen Moylan, Esq., will deliver the commanding officer of each Regiment thirty blank muster rolls, upon Friday next, and directions for each Captain how he is to fill up the blanks. Head-Quarters, Cambridge, August 15, 1775.
David Henly, Esq., is appointed Brigade Major to Gen. Heath’s Brigade. John Trumbull, Esq., is appointed Brigade Major to General Spencer’s Brigade. Richard Carey, Esq., is appointed Brigade Major to the Brigade commanded by the eldest Colonel. Thomas Chase, Daniel Box, and Alexander Scammell, Esqrs., are appointed to continue to do the duty of Brigade Majors to the Brigades they respectively belong.
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