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Legionville--General Orders

Excerpts From the Daily Log at Legionville 1792-1793

Milestones Vol. 6 No. 3--Autumn 1980

Nov. 29, 1792

The ground being marked out and assigned to each Corps. No instrusion is to be made by any Corps upon the timber growing or laying on the ground of anothers, nor is any wood to be cut for firing except that which is fit for no other use -- The Officers will make it a point to see that the huts of the Soldiery be raised and covered previously to their own -- That business being accomplished, they will have the benefit of as many men as they think proper to raise and complete those for their own accommodation.

Dec. 2nd, 1792

The guards and all axemen in the Detachment under Capt. Faulkner are immediately employed in the erecting the guard houses. The guard will draw three dozen of falling axes which the Officers on guard will deliver to the Officers that respectively relieve them.

Dec. 7th, 1792

The guards for the present will consist of four Lieutenants, four Sergeants, four Corporals and 84 Privates with a Captain to be disposed of as follows, Viz: At redoubt No. 1 on point Independence, one Lieut., one Sergeant, one Corporal and 21 Privates. Redoubt No. 2 on the North side of the ravine, Redoubt No. 3 in front of the angle between the Infantry and Rifle Huts on the left. Redoubt No. 4 or left redoubt, will include the same number of men as directed for redoubt No. 1. All units in the future will be relieved at 10 o'clock in the morning. The Officer of the day will attend to planting the Continental so as to form a complete chain from the mouth of the river near No. 4 Redoubt. Captain Faulkner and Captain Eaton are to join their respective Corps tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock. The Officers of the Army and Mr. Evans (Contractor) will continue with him until further orders. The sawyers and hewers are to continue their duties. One gill of whiskey will be immediately issued to each man actually on fatigue, upon the return of the Commanding Officers of the respective Corps.

The Paymasters of the 3rd, and 4th, Sub Legions will do duty in common with the other Officers until further orders.

Capt. Faulkner will immediately issue 13,600 clapboards for the Infantry.

Dec. 14th, 1792

At a General Court Martial held at this place, whereof, Major Henry Burbeck is the President. The following prisoners were tried on the respective charges exhibited against them;

James Rich of Capt. Sparks company charged with desertion, found guilty and sentenced to receive one hundred lashes, but in consideration of the long confinement and the many sufferings he has already undergone, the Court are induced unanimously to recommend him to the Commander in Chief for a remittance of the above sentence.

Lloyd Blackmore of Capt. Butlers company for killing a heifer on the property of a Mr. Henderson, acquitted of the charge.

John Small of Capt. Sloughs company charged with desertion and stealing Sixty Dollars out of Lt. Robert Thompsons trunk. The Court is of the opinion that the last charge is supported and do sentence him to receive fifty lashes and no more in consideration of his having already received sixty lashes by order of Capt. Slough.

James Wood, Benjamin Coburn, William Wall, James Russel, and Joseph L. Carrol. Privates in Capt. Eatons company - Charged with Desertion and found guilty and sentenced to receive one hundred lashes each for a violation of Section 6th Article 1st of the rules and Articles of war.

John Willmot Hoffman charged with Deserting and taking away with him a rifle, shot bag, and a powder horn, the property of the United States, found guilty and sentenced to receive one hundred lashes.

Sgt. Thomas Davis of Capt. Sparks company charged with being drunk on guard duty found guilty and sentenced to do the duty of a Private for the term of one month.

Peter Johnson of Capt. Guions company charged with Desertion. The Court having deliberately considered the case, find the Prisoner guilty of a repeated violation of the 1st Article 6th Section of the rules and Articles of war and sentence him to be shot to death. Two thirds of the Court concurring therein.

Dec. 18, 1792

The Commissary of forrage will weigh and divide the hay into bundles of one hundred and forty pounds ready to be delivered to the squads of Dragoons or ten horses at 4 o'clock every afternoon together with seventy quarts of Indian corn for every ten horses. The like proportion to all draught and other horses constituted to Forrage. The Dragoons being supplied with hand mills, must break all the corn before it is given to the horses.

Dec. 22nd, 1792

The dirt and filth occasioned by washing of clothing in the run of water in the ravine between the Redoubts, No. 1 and No. 2 is highly prejudicial to the health of the troops. This water generally made use of by the Legion for drinking and cooking.

The Commander in Chief, therefore, most positively orders and prohibits clothing to be washed in that ravine, and directs that in the future all washing shall be on the bank of the Ohio--Should any woman or women or other persons so offending, shall be ducked in the river, three times for every and each offense.

Dec. 24th, 1792

Tomorrow being "Cristmass" day the contractors will issue one extra gill of whiskey for every man belonging to the Legion now on this ground --- All the tails of the cattle slaughtered by the Contractor are to be given in charge to Major Finley in order to complete the caps of the soldiery --- The Hutting being nearly completed, the Legion must assume the appearance of Soldiers. The Commander in Chief wishes the Officers to exert themselves in the completion of their huts. They shall have all the aid which the teams and oxen on the grounds can afford --- after which their attention will be called to the immediate improvement of the appearance of their respective Corps and to parade duty.

Dec. 30th, 1792

The Commander in Chief takes this opportunity to acknowledge the obligation he feels himself under to the Officers of the Legion for their unremitted industry in the completion of their huts for the Troops and rendering the Soldiery warm and comfortable whilst they themselves were exposed to the inclemency of the weather. The attention of every Officer will now be directed to the improvement of the clothing and the discipline of the respective Corps, which must be introduced with the first of the new year at 10 o'clock in the morning. The troops must assume the appearance of and feel themselves Soldiers. The Legion will parade for review in the morning.

Dec. 31st, 1792

Major Finley will immediately issue 240 pounds of patches, 8 pounds of thread and 500 needles for the use of the Infantry, 36 pounds of patches, 19 oz. of thread and 100 needles for the Artilery, and 24 pounds of patches, 13 oz. of thread and 80 needles for the Cavalry.

Jan. 1st, 1793

At a General Court Martial whereof Capt. Porter is President. Richard Dougan and James Stokes, Privates, were brought before the Court charged with Desertion and plead guilty. Wherefore, the Court having considered the heinousness of the crimes find each of them guilty of a violation of Section 6th Article 1st of the rules and Articles of war, and do sentence them to run the "Gauntlope" twice through the Legion of the United States. First from the right to the left and 2ndly back from the left to the right, in the usual manner --- The Commander in Chief confirms the foregoing sentences of the General Court Martial and orders that the punishments take place at 9 o'clock this morning.---The Quarter Masters will immediately order the necessary preparations, and the Adjutants will see that the punishments are "examplary" inflicted.---The ground for review will be pointed out by Major Burbeck who will be so kind as to officiate as Adjt., General of the day. One gill of whiskey will be issued to every man on parade and guard duty only.

Jan. 7th, 1793

The Detachment of Dragoons belonging to Capt. Winstons Troop of the 4th Sub-Legion with Cornet Webb F. Tory are to descend the Ohio for Fort Washington at 3 o'clock this afternoon. Under the command of Lt. Britt of the first Sub-Legion who will take on board the detachment of riflemen belonging to Capt. Crawfords company, after landing them at Mingo Bottom. He will continue his course down the river and make every possible dispatch to his destined post.

The Commander in Chief having given in charge the detailing the troops for the purpose of throwing up lines around the camp tomorrow.---The Infantry will give 120 Privates properly Officered--- The Artillery will give 30 Privates, --- The Rifle Corps will give 50 Privates. It is expected that the Commissioned Officers of Corps and Companies will be present --- The fatigue drum will beat for this matter at half past 9 o'clock and all the tools fit for this service will be in the possession of the troops

Jan. 17, 1793

The Commander in Chief has for some time past with much concern observed the slovenly and unsoldiery condition in which some of the soldiers are permitted to mount guard. Every non-commissioned soldier and soldier warned for guard duty must in the future appear on the Grand parade ground fresh shaved and powdered and with his arms and accoutrements and ammunition in the most perfect order that circumstances will admit. The Commanding Officers of Companies or detachments will be accountable as it is their duty to examine and see that the men belonging to their respective Corps are in proper condition to mount guard duty.

The Officer of the day will cause the guards to perform the manual exercise and such other maneuvers as he thinks proper previous to detaching them to their respective posts. This is to be considered as a standing order and with which all concerned will make themselves acquainted.

Jan. 18, 1793

The Infantry will furnish the guards complete for three of the redoubts and the Provost guards, to be officered from the Infantry or Artillery, as the case may be.

The Rifle Corps at the respective redoubts will employ two or three every day in perfecting the Soldiery in the manual exercise, marching and wheeling in open order and such other maneuvers as may occur causing them to perform every motion with life and every movement with celerity.

The Commander in chief is under necessity of taking notice of the disorderly manner in which the guards are often permitted to discharge their pieces. This is a wanton waste of ammunition in place of making marksmen of the Soldiery.

Jan. 28, 1793

The officer of the day tomorrow will examine the state of each of the redoubts, and whenever there appears any defect either in the banquets of chimneys or in any other part, he will direct the respective officers on guard to cause them to be immediately repaired and put in proper order.

Each redoubt is again to be examined the day after tomorrow by the old and new officer of the day and when any neglect or defect appears, the guard or guards of the redoubt or redoubts, when that neglect or defect appears, the guard shall not be relieved until the repairs are completed.

The Commander in Chief being informed that the guards were detained on the parade grounds this morning for a considerable time, owing to the absence of an officer to take charge for one of the redoubts -should any such neglect happen in the future-- The Officer of the day will immediately arrest the delinquent officer for neglect of duty and disobediance.

Feb. 11th, 1793

Drunkenness is considered by the Commander in Chief as the cardinal crime which lead to every other vice. It is the common cause that stimulates or induces a Soldier to violate any of the rules or Articles of War, which is always attended with disagreeable and fatal consequences. There is nothing so repugnant and distressing to the feelings of the General as to be reduced to the necessity of punishing a soldier. He therefore most seriously calls upon every individual belonging to the Legion of the United States to be guarded against that Vice, which both from duty as well as inclination he is bound to check and punish with out favor or partiality to any and as a first step to guard against this, the respective Qrt. Masters and officers commanding companies and detachments, will not permit any man to receive more than a single ration of whiskey allowed per them and which they are to receive regularly in the future on parade every morning immediately after reveille, and all and every soldier who does not appear on parade in due time (unless on Guard) or whose arms, ammunition and accoutrements are not in proper order, shall forfeit-that part of their daily rations for each and every neglect or default in addition to such other punishments may be inflicted upon them, to be reserved for the benefit of the company or detachment-and for the more effectual preservation of order and discipline.

Feb. 17th, 1793

At General Court Martial held at this place on the 11th and 12th of Feb. 1793, James Flood, alias, John McMahan was brought before the Court and tried on the following charges exhibited against him. Mutinously contemptuously disrespectfully entering the marquee of the Commander in Chief at a dead hour of the night and "felloniously" stealing from thence, Sundrie articles of clothing, a silk purse containing Gold and Silver monies, the property of Lieut. LeButts, Aid-De-Camp to the Commander in Chief, after the said Commander in Chief and his Aid-De-Camp had retired to rest in said marquee. The prisoner pleads guilty, the Court having deliberately considered the case before them are of the opinion that he is guilty of the charge exhibited against him, and do sentence him to walk the "Gauntlope" through the Legion of the United States, slow step naked, and to have his head and eye brows close shaved, and to be branded in the fore head and in the palms of both hands with the letter "T" and to be "drummed" out of Camp with a halter about his neck.

Feb. 19th, 1793

Friday the 22nd Instant, being the anniversary of the president of the United States birthday the review of the Legion is further postponed until 10 o'clock that morning when it is expected that every individual will appear in the true Character of a Soldier which is inseparable from that of a gentleman.

ADVERTISEMENT

Was lost on the morning of the 10th instant, one piece of Country Linnen, containing 400 yards, and one Barrel of tow and flax ditto, about ninety yards, which was lost on the Ohio River and Supposed to be found by this time, an person or persons who shall make discovery thereof to Mr. Abel Henen Merchant in this place, so that the linnen may be obtained. Shall receive ten dollars reward or eight dollars for the piece only ---

The officers who have had small detachments lately joined of men "inlisted" previous to the Thirty first of August and who were not included in the late Gen/I. Muster, are directed to enter them in the rolls, now, making for the month of Sept/r. with a particular remark why they were not formerly included they will also be carried into the pay rolls, for said month of September stating all the advances that may have been made them from the date of inlistment by the public and the whole of the Ballance due to the end of Sept/r. carried out in favour of them with a remark on the margin simular to that in the Muster rolls.

Feb. 20, 1793

At a Gen/rI. Court Martial held at this place on the 13th and by Adjournment until the 15th Instant whereof Cap/t. Campbell is President --- Lieut. Edward D. Turner was tried upon the following charges exhibited against him by Cap/t. William Eaton (viz) 1st for neglect of and inattention to the Gen/I. Orders of the 17th ultimo & 4th instant -- 2nd/y for ungentleman like and abusive treatment towards his superior officer on the morning of 5th instant--The Court after maturely considering are Clearly of oppinion That Liet. Edw/d D. Turner is not guilty of either of the Charges exhibited against him by Cap/t. William Eaton, and further, that it appears clearly to them, that he used every exertion in his power to comply with the Gen/I. orders of the 17th Ultimo & 7th Instant and do.