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General Orders: Head-Quarters, White-Plains, October 30, 31

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Head-Quarters, White-Plains, October 31, 1776.

(Parole,.)
(Countersign,.)

The General positively forbids any person going down to the lines, and firing upon the enemy without an order from a General officer. Proper scouting parties are to be kept out by each Major-General, for intelligence.

The General, in a ride he took yesterday, to reconnoitre the grounds about this, was surprised and shocked to find both officers and soldiers straggling all over the country, under one idle pretence or other, when they cannot tell the hour or minute the camp may be attacked, and their services indispensably necessary.

He once more positively orders that neither officer or soldier shall stir out of camp without leave: the first from the Brigadier under whom he serves, and the latter from the commanding officer of the corps they belong to. The Provost Marshal is to take up all stragglers; and it is enjoined upon all officers to seize every man who fires his gun without leave, and to have him tied up immediately and receive twenty lashes.

The General desires that the commanding officers of corps will alvyays report their killed and wounded to the Brigadier they belong to, who is to give an account thereof to the Commander-in-Chief,

The Court-Martial whereof General Beall was President having found Captain Weisner guilty of misbehaviour before the enemy in the "attack on Monlresor' s Island," and ordered him to be cashiered with infamy; the General approves the sentence, and orders him to be dismissed the army.

Ensign Joseph Chapman, having resigned his commission, is appointed Paymaster to Colonel Varnum' s regiment.

It is with astonishment the General hears that some officers have taken horses between the enemy' s camp and ours, and sent them into the country for their private use. Can it be possible that persons bearing commissions and fighting in such a cause, can degrade themselves into plunderers of horses? He hopes every officer will set his face against it in future; and does insist that the Colonels and commanding officers of regiments immediately inquire into the matter, and report to him who have been guilty of these practices; and that they take an account of the horses in their respective encampments, and send to the Quartermaster-General all that are not in some publick service.

Wounded men to be sent to Doctor Morgan, at the houses about a mile from the lines on the road to North-Castle.

Peter Buise, of Colonel Haslett' s regiment, convicted by a General Court-Martial, whereof Colonel Hitchcock was President, of desertion from this camp, and found near the enemy' s sentinels, is sentenced to suffer death. The General approves the sentence, and orders it to be executed tomorrow at eleven o' clock, on the crutch of the road which leads to Young' s and North-Castle.

Commanding officers of regiments are immediately to have the arms and ammunition of their regiments inspected, the guns that were loaded before the rain to be discharged in volleys; and they are acquainted that three wagons loaded with ammunition now wait about a mile on the nearest road to North-Castle, in order to serve such as are deficient.

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