The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-09-05
F1orEinr in Washington. Army.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: In the
general order Washington issued June /. 1778.
at Valley Forge 1 find this:
The following will be observed as n standing model
for the order Of march. whether by the whole army.
Q division. brigade. or battalioni When q battalion
receives orders to march each company forms before
its own quarters; the Captain . = " conducts It to
tho regimental parade, where the field officers
" = = form each battalion into eight platoons for
| charging.
When tho whole army marches . . . tho ad.
vanced guard should be from 80 to 200 PAGES in front
OF the column; each advanced guard should also
send forward 4 detachment to serve as an advanced
guard for itself. . = " Thus ono Captain, two
subalterns. six commissioned officers. one drummer.
and nifty men will send out q on-commissione Of
ncer and eight men.
When the road will not permit marching by pla-
toons. the march is to BIO made by four In front.
= " n For example, each officer will divide his
| platoon in sections; q platoon Of sixteen nles makes
four sections.
Our volunteers and regulars are marching by
tours now for tho purpose OF forming a line
quickly.
In the general order issued from %headquar-
tiers at Stanton. near Germantown. Aug. %,
1777. Washington says:
The army Is to march in one column through tho
city of Philadelphia. " y = The whole limo 10 to
march by subdivisions at half distance, tho ranks to
BIO six PAGES asunder. which is to be exactly observed
in passing through the city.
1t is expected that every ohhcer without exception
will keep his post in passing through the city, and
under no pretence whatever leave it; and II any SOL
dier shall dare to leave his ranks he shall receive
thirty-nino lashes at the first hating place afterward.
This method OF disciplining soldiers by fog
Ring sounds strange to modern ears. But they
found ways to humiliate untractable and dis
honest men in 1777. AQuartermaster OF Capt.
Dorsey's troop who was convicted Of desertion
and stealing the horse which he relied Upon to
carry him out Of the lines was sentenced ito
be led around the regiment he belongs to on
horseback. with his face to the horses tail. and
his coat turned wronRside outward. and that
he be then discharged from the army. The
Commander-in-Chie approves the sentence.
and orders 1t to be put into execution imme-
diately."
Two privates charged with mutiny and de-
sertion were convicted at the snmetime. They
were sentenced to receive twenty-five lashes.
But owing to some favorable circumstances"
Washington RENTS the penalty OF whipping"
in this instance.
4 t Valley Forge. May 10, 1777. WashinGton.
s strneE q ffie srs sense anG who VI 9 WAS a sentsnce Tf TO
receive 100 lashes. approved the sentence and
ordered It to be executed Immediately,
May 20, Il WAGNER. tried for desertion, was
sentenced to receive sixty lashes. A member
OF the Tenth Pennsylvania Regiment was sem
fenced to receive 200 loshes for desertion and
stealing O horse. The sentence was approved
and ordered TO be put into execution to-mor-
row morning OH tho grand parade at guard
May 30 177s. a member of Col. Angels regi-
ment was sentenced to receive sixty lasheS at
roll call this evening. at the head OF the regi-
ment he belongs to-" May 81 q member OF
Col. Proctor's regiment was sentenced to re-
ceive fifty lashes for drunkenness, and n mem
her OF tho same regiment received thirty lashes
for attempting to get into Philadelphia"
without permission. The order In this last
case shows tho pitiable condition OF the men
who sacrificed the comforts OF life to sustain
the new Government. This soldier was sem
fenced to receive. 100 lashes, but Washington
says: I'm consideration Of his youth. and his
having received no pay or bounty except, some
clothes, as appeared from Col Proctor's cyl
On the same day another soldier received nifty
lashes for absentinR himself from camp with
out leave. 1t Is ,consoling to read. however.
=" some circumstances appearing in favor OF
j VT the thirty lashes are RENTED"
Senator Lodge is telling us how Washington
had to drill and discipline his armies. The
work he undertook cannot be conceived by the
present generation. Tho resort to force was
rendered unavoidable by the conditions Wash
inRton found whom he assumed command OF
the army.
The findings OF the court-martial and general
orders issued by Washington throw sideliEhtS
on the patriots of 1776 which reveal, pathetic
and tragic experiences such as no historian
can do full Justice to. u, u,