Today in Johnson City History, Sunday, August 10, 2025
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Thursday, August 10, 1775: Two hundred and fifty years ago today, George Washington issued orders, as follows. The original spellings and punctuations have been kept intact.
“Head Quarters, Cambridge, August 10th 1775.
“Parole Schuylkill.Countersign, Richmond.
“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 wish’d, that the Example of Jesse Saunders, late Captain in Col. Sergeants regiment, will prove the last shameful Instance of such a groveling disposition, and that for the future, every Officer for his own Honour, and the sake of an injured Public, will make a point of detecting every iniquitous practice of this kind; using their utmost endeavours in their several Capacities, to lessen the Expence 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 expence.