Orderly Books

Three Rivers
Hudson~Mohawk~Schoharie
History From America's Most Famous Valleys

ORDERLY BOOKS of
The Fourth New York Regiment 1778-1780
The Second New York Regiment, 1780-1783
by Samuel Tallmadge and Others
with Diaries of Samuel Tallmadge, 1780-1782 and John Barr, 1779-1782
Prepared for publication by Almon W. Lauber PH.D. of The division of Archives and History
Albany, The University of the State of New York, 1932.

Orderly Book #1, part three

Camp Peekskill November 2nd 1778

Genl Orders Continantal Village November 4th 1778

As the Troops are About to Recieve new Cloaths the Genl hopes and Expects that the Colonels and the Rest of the officers will Giver Perticuler Attention to their Preservation as well for the Sake of their own Reputation And the Appearance of their Corps as the Greate

(107) Crompond (Com pond), Westchester county, N. Y.--eight miles from Verplancks Point.
(108) Written in another hand.

Dificulty which Attends the Procuring them and that they may be the Better Preserved he enjoins it in the Most Pointed Manner that after their Delivery Company Rolls be Kept of the Same with Proper Columns for each Article that they be examied A least once A Week an Actuale View of the Article [ ] (108a) that every Difitency and loss [may be] Satisfactoraly Accounted [for] Neglect of Sufficient Care by the Soldiery to be punished with proper [Severity] According to former Orders to all [ ] (108a) on this Subject there is to be A Strict Regard-The Genl Also hopes that the officers will Pay Constant Attention to the Cleanliness and dress of their men and the fitting of the Cloaths in the first Instance without these they must be Sensible that they Can never Assume the air of Soldiers or Apear to the Least Advantage.

After the Troops have Received new Cloaths the Officers Commanding Regt are to be very Care full in Causing the proper Officers to make Earliest Delivery of the Old Cloaths of the Coats J acketts and Briches fit for Service to the Clothyer for [which] they are to obtain two Receits one to Keep for their own Instisyention(109) the Other to be return'd to Head Quarters. Those of Genl Putnam(110) and Baron De Kalbs(111) Division of Clintons Bregade and Malcoms Post to be Diposited in the hands of the Clothier at Fish Kills, ----the Old Cloaths are to be well Air'd and the Clother is to have them Packed in Secure Casks keeping an account of their Uniform and the whole together as far as Circumstances will Permit that Casks May not be wanting for this Purpose the Old Cloths are to be Returned in those which Carry the new to the Different Brigades

Brigade Orders 4 November 1778

(108a) Word indistinct.
(109) Probably intended for "inspection."
(110) Israel Putnam (Connecticut); made major general of Continental Army June 19, 1775.
(111) John, Baron de Kalb (Bavaria); made major general of Continental Army September 15, 1777.

At A Brigade Court Martial Held in Camp this 9th Day af Novr 1778
by Order of Colo Dubois(113) Commanding officer.
Whereof Lt Colo Regnier is President. The Members being Duly Sworn proceeded to the Tryall of Jacob West(114) private in Colo Dubois's Regt Charged with Desertion & Pleads Guilty

Ensign VnDBurgh(1l5) being Called Upon to Give a Carracter of the pr Declares that he knew him before he was in the Army and he Sustained a good Charracter also Ever Since he has been in the Army till this time he Deserted.

Sergt Vn D. Mark(116) being Swom Says being sent After the Prisoner he found him at a Mr Lambs half A mile Belaw kings ferry at Night About Nine OClock in Bed and was Infarmed by the prisoner that he was Intended to Return to the Regt Next Morning and was then Upon his way was told by the people of the house where he was taken that he Came the Day Before and had been Makeing Shoes whilst there the prisoner Confesses the Above Evidences.

The Court having Considered the Charge Exhibited against him Do Sentence him to Receive one hundred Lashes on his Bare Back.

At the Same Court Martial John homes(117) a private in Colo Livingstons Regt on Suspicion af Stealing a pair of Stockings from the Regt Store when he was on Centry Pleads Not Guilty.

(113) Colonel Lewis Dubois, 4th Brigade, 5th New York Regiment. Heitman, Historical Register, p. 205.
(114) Jacob West enlisted January 1, 1777, for three years in Colonel Dubois' regiment, 5th Company; deserted October 29, 1778; joined November 14. 1778, to January 1782. Archives. p. 227. See p. 51-53 of this volume.
(115) Ensign Bartholomew Vanderburgh. 5th New York Regiment or Ensign Henry J. Vanderburgh, 5th New York Regiment. Heitman, Historical Register, p. 555.
(116) Cornelius Vandermark, corporal, January I, 1777; sergeant, September 4, 1777; private, January 1, 1782. Archives, p. 231.
(117) John Holmes enlisted January 1. 1777 in 4th Company, 4th New York Regiment for the war; served till January 1782. Ibid., p. 213.

Jacob Witney(118) Being Sworn Saith that he had put the Stockings up in packs and Missed one pair while the prisoner was Centinal.

Benjamin Smith(119) being Sworn says Being Sent on Command he Left two pair of Stockings which he had Received of Lt Colo Regnier the Day Before in the [care] of the prisoner upon his Return of Duty. the prisoner informd him that both pairs was Gone and he Did Not know what was become of them.

Homes the prisoner Relieved Smith on the Same Command the 3rd of November, and Informed him as Before Mentioned when he Came to Camp he Enquired Amongst his Mesmates but Could hear Nothing of them also searched the thents Narouly and Could Not find them.

John McColum(120) being Sworn Says that Looking to the Hogshead where the Cloathing was he Saw one part of the Hogshead open and A pair of Stockings partly Loose he then went away and Returned Again and found the Stocking which where Lose Gone he Saw A pair of Stocking in homes's Pocket which he supposed to be the Same that was in the Hogshead upon which he Came away & Informed Colo Regnier this happened while the prisoner was Centinal.

Colo Regnier Declares that he went to the prisoner while he was on Centinal and Asked him where he got the Stockings he had in his pocket he said it was a pair of them he had Received in 'his Charge from Smith Sometime Before the Colo then Called Upon Smith & he Related as Mentioned in his Evidence Above.

Prisoners Defence Says he found the Stockings Between A Board and the tent while he was Nailing them together it being torn he put the Stockings in his pocket and was Called Upon [to be] Centinal while he had them their.

The Court having Examined the Evidences Concerning the Charge Alledged Against him Do find him Guilty and Sentence him to Recieve 100 Lashes on his Bare Back.

(118) Jacob Whitney enlisted February I, 1777 for the war in 6th Company, 4th New York Regiment; omitted November 1779; transferred to 2d Regiment. Archives, p. 216.
(119) Benjamin Smith enlisted in 4th Company, 4th New York Regiment, January 1777; disabled by cold and disease at Valley Forge in winter of 1778; transferred to 2d New York Regiment, January 1781; discharged June 7, 1783. Ibid., p. 213.
(120) John McColum given among the enlisted men in the 4th New York Regiment. New York in the Revolution, v. I, p. 51.

At the Same Court was Brought James Silvey(121) Charged with Stealing two Sheep from Mrs Warner an Inhabitant Near the Continantal Village Pleads Not Guilty.

No Evidences Appearing to Support the prosecution the Court are of Opinion that the prisoner ought to be Discharged from his Confinement.

The Court adjourned till further Orders.

P Regnier Lt Colo President

The Above Sentence are Approved & orderd to be put in Excution this Evening at Retreat Beating
by order of Colo Dubois.
W Popham(122) B M

(121) James Silvia, enlisted from New York City, 1777, in 2d New York Regiment of artillery; in service April 1779. Archives, p. 245.
(122) WiIliam Popham, Colonel Moses Hazen's Regiment, was on friendly terms with Governor George Clinton. and General James Clinton. Clinton Papers, v. IV, p. 831; v. VI. p. 184; v. VII, p. 312, 333, 367.

Head Quarters Fredericksburgh Octr 8th 1778
The order of the 2nd Inst Directing a Delivery of the Serviceable old Coats, Jackets and Breches to the Clothier after the Troops should have Received New ones. was Not Ment to Comprehend such as had been Procured by the Soldiers themselves Either by Purchase or Donation, or Such as had been paid for by Stopages out of their pay.

Those which where to be the Object of Dilevery. now Called for on the Recommendation of the Hon(ble) The board of war as from a view of our Supplies at the time the Measure was Considered as founded Not only in policy but Strict Necessity, as providing the Best Source of Relief to the Soldiers themselves Against Accidents that Might attend the Importation of future Supplies as well as to those whose Unhappy Lot it Might be to become the Subject of hospitals-and Others of the Army for whom Some provisions in this Instance would have been Indispensable-however as Our Quantity of New Cloathing fortunately turns out better than it was at first Apprehended and of Course Removes in Some Degree the Necessity which Dictated the Measure, and as the old Remaining in the hands of the Soldiers will Contribute Much, by a Carefull use and Application of them on Duties of fatigue &c to preserve the New

The order of the 2nd so far as it Respects a Return of them to the Clothier is Dispenced with. But Such Cloathing Coats Jackets and Breeches as have Been Received Either through the hands of the Clothier or Agent or through the States on Continantal Account and which has been Delivered in the Course of the fall or that May Remain un Delivered is Not to be Comprehended under the Description of old and Must be Returned to the Clothier or Agent of the Department in Case New ones are Drawn to prevent Injustice to the publick by Obtaining Double Supplies and to the Troops themselves who otherways would be Upon an Equal footing. The Genl Exspects Apointed Attention, on the party of the officers to this order-and also to former Instructions to their Mens Cloathing and that they will Not only Extend their care to its Cleanliness but to prevent Any MisApplication of it.

The Bearer will take Such men as he knows best Calculated for the terror.

(123) See p. 40.

Continantal Village Novr 18th 1778

Brigade Orders
The Troops will hold Themselves in Readiness to March to Morrow Morning The Genl will Beat at Eight Oclock when the waggons will be Loaded with the Tents and Baggage. The Soldiers will Carry their Camp Kittles.

The Surgeons will Make A Return of the Sick one of them will Stay with them untill Major Campble(124) can procure a Boat to Transport Them to New windsor