Notwithstanding this, and tho’ the General is determined to convince every man, that crimes of so atrocious a nature shall not be committed with impunity; yet as He is earnestly desirous to shew that he prefers clemency to severity — pardoning to punishing — He is happy to proclaim, the remission of their offences, to all the other prisoners now under sentence, and a releasement to all those now under confinement for trial — He hopes that they, and all others will have a proper sense of this Act of lenity, and will not be ungrateful or foolish enough to abuse it. They will do well to remember that Justice may speedily overtake them, as it has done the unhappy man, whom they have seen fall a Victim to his own folly and wickedness. Those who are pardoned can expect no favor on a second offence. But, Why will Soldiers force down punishment upon their own heads? Why will they not be satisfied to do their duty, and reap the benefits of it?
WGW, vol. 10, 12-26-1777. General Orders.
“It is with inexpressible grief and indignation that the General has received information of the cruel outrages and roberries lately committed by soldiers, on the other side of the Schuylkill: Were we in an enemy’s country such practices would be unwarrantable; but committed against our friends are in the highest degree base, cruel, and injurious to the cause in which we are engaged. They demand therefore, and shall receive the severest punishment. Such crimes have brought reproach upon the army; and every officer and soldier suffers by the practices of such villains; and ‘tis the interest, as well as duty, of every honest man to detect them, and prevent a repetition of such crimes. The General earnestly desires the General Officers, and those commanding Corps, to represent to their men, the cruelty, baseness and wickedness, of such practices, and the injury they do the army, and the common cause. And still further, to prevent the commission of those crimes, the General positively orders. WGW, vol. 19, 8-28-1780. Proclamation of Pardon to Deserters. “Whereas many Soldiers belonging to the Battalions raised by the Commonwealth of Virginia to serve in the Continental Army have deserted from them, and the Honourable the General Assembly of the said Commonwealth apprehending that many of them sensible of their folly and wickedness in violating their faith and Oaths, in dishonourably abandoning the cause of their Country by desertion, would gladly be restored to the favour of their fellow Citizens, by a speedy return to their duty during the war, or for a certain time over and above their several engagements, were it not for the fear of an ignominious punishment, were pleased by an Act passed at their last session, entitled “An Act the more effectually to prevent and punish desertion” which was published “to proclaim pardon to all Deserters from the Virginia line of the Continental Army, who should within Two Months after the publication of the said Act return to their several Companies, if on land, and if at sea, within Two Months after their return, and serve during the War, if so engaged, and if otherwise should serve Two Years over and above the time for which he or they engaged.”
44 WGW, vol. 5, 8-3-1776. General Orders. “The General is sorry to be informed that the foolish, and wicked practice, of profane cursing and swearing (a Vice heretofore little known in an American Army) is growing into fashion; he hopes the officers will, by example, as well as influence, endeavour to check it, and that both they, and the men will reflect, that we can have little hopes of the blessing of Heaven on our Arms, if we insult it by our impiety, and folly; added to this, it is a vice so mean and low, without any temptation, that every man of sense, and character, detests and despises it.”
45 Chubb: “That men will not be judged for their impiety or ingratitude to God, nor for their injustice and unkindness to each other; but only for voluntary injuries to the public; and that even this is unnecessary and useless;” Timothy Dwight, The Nature and Danger of Infidel Philosophy. WGW, vol. 1, 5-29-1754. To Robert Dinwiddie. “I am much concern’d, that your Honour should seem to charge me with ingratitude for your generous, and my undeserved favours; for I assure you, Hon’ble Sir, nothing is a greater stranger to my Breast, or a Sin that my Soul abhors, than that black and detestable one Ingratitude.”
WGW, vol. 2, 10-5-1757. “I do not know, that I ever gave your Honor cause to suspect me of ingratitude, a crime I detest, and would most carefully avoid. If an open, disinterested behavior carries offence, I may have offended; because I have all along laid it down as a maxim, to represent facts freely and impartially, but no more to others, than I have to you, Sir. If instances of my ungrateful behavior had been particularized, I would have answered to them. But I have long been convinced, that my actions and their motives have been maliciously aggravated.”
46 WGW, vol. 19, 8-20-1780. To the President of Congress. “On the whole, if something satisfactory be not done, the Army (already so much reduced in Officers by daily resignations as not to have a sufficiency to do the common duties of it) must either cease to exist at the end of the Campaign, or it will exhibit an example of more virtue, fortitude, self denial, and perseverance than has perhaps ever yet been paralleled in the history of human enthusiasm.” WGW, vol. 19, 9-5-1780. General Orders. “That patience and self-denial, fortitude and perseverance, and the cheerful sacrifice of time, health, and fortune, are necessary virtues which both the citizen and soldier are called to exercise while struggling for the libertys of their country; and that moderation, frugality and temperance, must be among the chief supports, as well as the brightest ornaments, of that kind of civil government which is wisely instituted by the several states in this union.”
47 Hume: “That self-denial, self-mortification, and humility, are not virtues, but are useless and mischievous; that they stupify the understanding, sour the temper, and harden the heart (and of course are gross crimes); That suicide, or self-murder, is lawful and commendable (and of course virtuous);That Adultery must be practised, if we would obtain all the advantages of life: That Female Infidelity (or Adultery) when known, is a small thing; when unknown, nothing;” WGW, vol. 26, 6-8-1783. Circular to the States. “I now make it my earnest prayer, that God would have you, and the State over which you preside, in his holy protection, that he would incline the hearts of the Citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to Government, to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another, for their fellow Citizens of the United States at large, and particularly for their brethren who have served in the Field, and finally, that he would most graciously be pleased to dispose us all, to do Justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that Charity, humility and pacific temper of mind, which were the Characteristicks of the Divine Author of our blessed Religion, and without an humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can never hope to be a happy Nation.” WGW, vol. 27, 12-13-1783. To the Learned Professions of Philadelphia “I am sensible at the same time, it becomes me to receive with humility the warm commendations you are pleased to bestow on my conduct: ... For the re-establishment of our once violated rights; for the confirmation of our Independence; for the protection of Virtue, Philosophy and Literature: for the present flourishing state of the Sciences, and for the enlarged prospect of human happiness, it is our common duty to pay the tribute of gratitude to the greatest and best of Beings.”
48 “That Man’s chief End is to gratify the appetites and inclinations of the flesh: That Modesty is inspired by mere prejudice: That Polygamy is a part of the Law, or Religion, of Nature; That Adultery is no violation of the Law or Religion of Nature; That there is no wrong in Lewdness, except in the highest Incest: That the Law or Religion of Nature forbids no incest, except between the nearest Relations: and plainly supposes, That all Men and Women are unchaste, and that there is no such thing, as Conjugal Fidelity.” Timothy Dwight, The Nature and Danger of Infidel Philosophy, pp. 21-35.
49 WGW, vol. 5, 6-28-1776. General Orders. “The unhappy Fate of Thomas Hickey, executed this day for Mutiny, Sedition and Treachery, the General hopes will be a warning to every Soldier, in the Army, to avoid those crimes, and all others, so disgraceful to the character of a Soldier, and pernicious to his country, whose pay he receives and Bread he eats — And in order to avoid those Crimes the most certain method is to keep out of the temptation of them, and particularly to avoid lewd Women, who, by the dying Confession of this poor Criminal, first led him into practices which ended in an untimely and ignominious Death.” WGW, vol. 10, 2-4-1778. General Orders. “The most pernicious consequences having arisen from suffering persons, women in particular to pass and repass from Philadelphia to camp under Pretence of coming out to visit their Friends in the Army and returning with necessaries to their families, but really with an intent to intice the soldiers to desert; All officers are desired to exert their utmost endeavors to prevent such interviews in future by forbiding the soldiers under the severest penalties from having any communication with such persons and by ordering them when found in camp to be immediately turned out of it. If any of them appear under peculiar circumstances of suspicion they are to be brought to immediate trial and punishment, if found guilty.” “The Camp whores, who have now become more numerous are being used also as nurses.” In John Joseph Stoudt, Ordeal at Valley Forge, (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania, 1963), p. 237.
50 WGW, vol. 11, 3-14-1778. General Orders. “At a General Court Martial ...Lieutt. Enslin of Colo. Malcom’s Regiment tried for attempting to commit sodomy, with John Monhort a soldier; Secondly, For Perjury in swearing to false Accounts, found guilty of the charges exhibited against him, being breaches of 5th. Article 18th. Section of the Articles of War and do sentence him to be dismiss’d the service with Infamy. His Excellency the Commander in Chief approves the sentence and with Abhorrence and Detestation of such Infamous Crimes orders Lieutt. Enslin to be drummed out of Camp tomorrow morning by all the Drummers and Fifers ....”
51 WGW, vol. 13, 10-21-1778. General Orders. Cf. John Joseph Stoudt, Ordeal at Valley Forge, (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania, 1963), pp.70-71, “The Congress has resolved that ten dollars be paid by every Officer and four dollars by every soldier who shall enter or be sent to any Hospital to be cured of venereal disease. These sums are to be deducted from the pay and shall be used for blankets, shirts & other items for sick soldiers.”
52 Isaac Lewis, “The divine mission of Jesus Christ evident from his life, and from the nature and tendency of his doctrines.” A sermon preached at Stamford, October 11, 1796. before the Consociation of the Western District in Fairfield County. By Isaac Lewis, D.D. Pastor of a consociated church in Greenwich.
53 Boller, George Washington & Religion, p. 78.
54 By Isaac Lewis, D. D. Pastor of a Church in Greenwich. Hartford: Printed by Hudson & Goodwin. 1797. ELECTION SERMON “The Political Advantages of Godliness.” By Isaac Lewis, D. D. Pastor of a Church in Greenwich. Hartford: Printed by Hudson & Goodwin. 1797. At a General Assembly of the State of Connecticut, holden at Hartford on the second Thursday of May, Anno Domini 1797.
55 WGW, vol. 36, 8-14-1797.
56 January 1, 1776. GENERAL ORDERS.
57 Philadelphia, November 28, 1796. To GEORGE WASHINGTON PARKE CUSTIS
“You are now extending into that stage of life when good or bad habits are formed. When the mind will be turned to things useful and praiseworthy, or to dissipation and vice. Fix on whichever it may, it will stick by you; for you know it has been said, and truly, “that as the twig is bent so it will grow.” This, in a strong point of view, shows the propriety of letting your inexperience be directed by maturer advice, and in placing guard upon the avenues which lead to idleness and vice. The latter will approach like a thief, working upon your passions; encouraged, perhaps, by bad examples;...Virtue and vice can not be allied; nor can idleness and industry; of course, if you resolve to adhere to the two former of these extremes, an intimacy with those who incline to the latter of them, would be extremely embarrassing to you; it would be a stumbling block in your way; and act like a millstone hung to your neck, for it is the nature of idleness and vice to obtain as many votaries as they can.”
February 18, 1778. GENERAL ORDERS
“The Commander in Chief approves the sentence, but is concern’d he cannot reinstate Lt. Rust in compliance with the recommendation of the Court founded upon his former good Character as an Officer. His behavior in the several instances alledged was so flagrant and scandalous that the General thinks his continuance in the service would be a disgrace to it and as one part of the charge against him was gaming, that alone would exclude him from all Indulgence; a Vice of so pernicious a nature that it never will escape the Severest punishment with His approbation.”
December, 1756. To JOHN ROBINSON
“Dear Sir: It gave me infinite concern to hear by several letters, that the Assembly are incensed against the Virginia Regiment; and think they have cause to accuse the officers of all inordinate vices; but more especially of drunkenness and profanity! How far any one individual may have subjected himself to such reflections, I will not pretend to determine, but this I am certain of; and can with the highest safety call my conscience, my God! and (what I suppose will still be a more demonstrable proof, at least in the eye of the World) the Orders and Instructions which I have given, to evince the purity of my own intentions and to shew on the one hand, that my incessant endeavours have been directed to discountenance Gaming, drinking, swearing, and other vices, with which all camps too much abound: while on the other, I have used every expedient to inspire a laudable emulation in the officers, and an unerring exercise of Duty in the Soldiers.”
58 Farewell Address.
59 June 10, 1754. To ROBERT DINWIDDIE, “I hope Capt. McKay will have more sense than to insist upon any unreasonable distinction, tho’ he and His have Com’ns from his Majest; let him consider tho’ we are greatly inferior in respect to profitable advantages, yet we have the same Spirit to serve our Gracious King as they have, and are as ready and willing to sacrifice our lives for our Country’s as them; and here once more and for the last time, I must say this Will be a cancer that will grate some Officers of this Regiment beyond all measure, to serve upon such different terms, when their Lives, their Fortunes, and their Characters are equally, and I dare say as effectually expos’d as those who are happy enough to have King’s Commissions.”
April 22, 1756. To ROBERT DINWIDDIE, “The supplicating tears of the women, and moving petitions from the men, melt me into such deadly sorrow, that I solemnly declare, if I know my own mind, I could offer myself a willing sacrifice to the butchering enemy, provided that would contribute to the people’s ease.”
60 WGW, vol. 5, 7-25-1776.
61 February 6, 1781. To BARON STEUBEN, “The oaths of the Men respecting the terms of their inlistments were precipitately admitted before the documents could be produced; by which it afterwards appeared, the greater part had perjured themselves, to get rid of the service.” To MAJOR GENERAL ARTHUR ST. CLAIR, February 3, 1781, “It seems a great part of the soldiers of your line have fraudulently procured a discharge by the precipitate admission of their oaths, before the papers relative to their inlistments could be produced.” January 30, 1781. GENERAL ORDERS, “He considers the patience with which they endured the fatigues of the march through rough and mountainous roads rendered almost impassable by the depth of the Snow and the cheerfulness with which they performed every other part of their duty as the strongest proof of their Fidelity, attachment to the service, sense of subordination and abhorrence of the principles which actuated the Mutineers in so daring and atrocious a departure from what they owed to their Country, to their Officers to their Oaths and to themselves.”
August 29, 1780. PROCLAMATION OF PARDON TO DESERTERS. “Whereas many Soldiers belonging to the Battalions raised by the Commonwealth of Virginia to serve in the Continental Army have deserted from them, and the Honourable the General Assembly of the said Commonwealth apprehending that many of them sensible of their folly and wickedness in violating their faith and Oaths, in dishonourably abandoning the cause of their Country by desertion, would gladly be restored to the favour of their fellow Citizens, by a speedy return to their duty during the war, or for a certain time over and above their several engagements, were it not for the fear of an ignominious punishment, were pleased by an Act passed at their last session, entitled “An Act the more effectually to prevent and punish desertion” which was published “to proclaim pardon to all Deserters from the Virginia line of the Continental Army, who should within Two Months after the publication of the said Act return to their several Companies, if on land, and if at sea, within Two Months after their return, and serve during the War, if so engaged, and if otherwise should serve Two Years over and above the time for which he or they engaged.”
May 7, 1778. GENERAL ORDERS. “The Honorable Congress have been pleased by their resolution of the 3rd. of February last to require all Officers as well civil as military, holding Commissions under them to take and subscribe the following Oath or Affirmation according to the Circumstances of the Parties. I do acknowledge The United States of America to be Free, Independent and Sovereign States and declare that the People thereof owe no Allegiance or Obedience to George the Third, King of Great Britain and I renounce refuse and abjure any Allegiance or Obedience to him, and I do swear (or affirm) that I will to the utmost of my Power support, maintain and defend the said United States against the said King George the third, his heirs and Successors and his and their Abettors, Assistants and Adherents and will serve the said United States in the office of which I now hold with Fidelity according to the best of my skill and understanding.”
Valley Forge, March 1, 1778. To BRYAN FAIRFAX, “The determinations of Providence are all ways wise; often inscrutable, and though its decrees appear to bear hard upon us at times is nevertheless meant for gracious purposes; in this light I cannot help viewing your late disappointment; for if you had been permitted to have gone to england, unrestrained even by the rigid oaths which are administred on those occns. your feelings as a husband, Parent, &ca. must have been considerably wounded in the prospect of a long, perhaps lasting seperation from your nearest relatives. What then must they have been if the obligation of an oath had left you without a Will? Your hope of being instrumental in restoring Peace would prove as unsubstantial as mist before the Noon days Sun and would as soon dispel: for believe me Sir great Britain understood herself perfectly well in this dispute but did not comprehend America.”
April 16, 1777. To GOVERNOR WILLIAM LIVINGSTON, “He said, that he could not in Conscience take the Oaths to the State, as he had taken the Oath of Allegiance to the King; that the People in the Country threatened his life, and that he thought he had better return. General Greene asked him, if he had not considered the Matter of taking the Oaths to the State before he came out, as he owned he had seen the Proclamation; but he gave such evasive Answers, that it convinced us, that he only came out to get intelligence and I therefore had him apprehended and sent to Philadelphia, where he has since been Confined.”
“By his Excellency GEORGE WASHINGTON, Esq; General and Commander in Chief of all the forces of the United States of America, PROCLAMATION. Whereas Several Persons, Inhabitants Of The United States Of America, Influenced By Inimical Motives, Intimidated By The Threats Of The Enemy, Or Deluded By A Proclamation Issued The 30th Of November Last, By Lord And General Howe, stiled the King’s Commissioners for granting pardons, &c. (now at open war and invading these states) have been so lost to the interest and welfare of their country, as to repair to the enemy, sign a declaration of fidelity, and, in some instances, have been compelled to take oaths of allegiance, and to engage not to take up arms, or encourage others so to do, against the King of Great-Britain. And whereas it has become necessary to distinguish between the friends of America and those of Great-Britain, inhabitants of these States and that every man who receives a protection from and is a subject of any State (not being conscientiously scrupulous against bearing arms) should stand ready to defend the fame against every hostile invasion, I do therefore. in behalf of the United States, by virtue of the powers committed to me by Congress, hereby strictly command and require every person having subscribed such declaration, taken loch oaths, and accepted protection and certificates from Lord or General Howe, or any person acting under their authority, forthwith to repair to Head-Quarters, or to the quarters of the nearest general officer of the Continental Army or Militia (until farther provision can be made by the civil authority) and there deliver up such protections, certificates, and passports, and take the oath of allegiance to the United States of America. Nevertheless, hereby granting full liberty to all such as prefer the interest and protection of Great-Britain to the freedom and happiness of their country, forthwith to withdraw themselves and families within the enemy’s lines. And I do hereby declare that all and every person, who may neglect or refuse to comply with this order, within thirty days from the date hereof, will be deemed adherents to the King of Great- Britain, and treated as common enemies of the American States.”
62 Farewell Address. “Of all the dispositions and habits, says he, which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician equally with the pious man ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked, where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths, which are the instruments of investigation in the courts of justice? And let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of a peculiar structure; reason and experience both forbid us to expect, that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.
“It is substantially true, that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government. The rule indeed extends with more or less force to every species of free government. Who that is a sincere friend to it, can look with indifferency on attempts to shake the foundation of the fabric?”
63 WGW, vol. 11, 5-7-1778.
64 July 12, 1757. To CAPTAIN JOHN DAGWORTHY, “Sir: I recd. your’s of the 10th. Inst. Covering the Drummer’s Deposition about the Enemys Motions and Designs which I hope will prove as favourable to us as the last Intelligence from that Quarter. I have Transmitted Governor Dinwiddie a Copy of it and would have sent another to Colo. Stanwix did not the Bearer assure me that there cou’d be no doubt of your Expresses reaching him in due time. If you shou’d at anytime hereafter have occasion to send an Express here you need not be at the Trouble of sendg. it further than Pearsalls from whence Captn. McKenzie will immidiately forward it here, the Bearer seems unfit for the Service he is now on being a Drunken delatory Fellow. I am Sir, etc.”
WGW, vol. 30, 3-31, 1789. To Thomas Green. “Thomas Green: I am about to leave my home whether for a length of time, is more than I can tell at present. But be this as it may I expect the agreement to which we have subscribed, will be as strictly complied with on your part as it shall be punctually fulfilled on mine. To enable you to do this, you would do well to keep two things always in remembrance. First that all Bargains are intended, for the Mutual benefit of and are equally binding on both the Parties, and are either binding in all their parts or are of no use at all. If then a man receives [pay] for his labour and he withholds that labour or if he trifles away that time for which he is paid, it is a robbery; and a robbery of the worst kind, because it is not only a fraud but a dishonorable, unmanly and a deceitful fraud; but it is unnecessary to dwell on this because there is no Man so ignorant of the common obligations of Justice, as not to know it; altho’ there are hundreds who do not scruple to practice it at the same time that they would think hard, on the other hand if they were to be deprived of their money. The other matter which I advise you to keep always in remembrance is the good name which common policy as well as common honesty, makes it necessary for every workman who wishes to pass thro’ life With reputation and to secure employment. Having said thus much by way of exhortation I shall inform you in the most serious and positive terms that I have left strict orders with the Major my Nephew, who is vested with full powers to transact all my business, that if he should find you unfaithful to your engagements, either from the love of liquor from a disposition to be running about, or from proneness to idle when at your work to discard you immediately and to remove your family from their present abode. The sure means to avoid this evil is, first to refrain from drink which is the source of all evil, and the ruin of half the workmen in this Country; and next to avoid bad Company which is the bane of good morals, economy and industry. You have every inducement to do this. Reputation the care and support of a growing family and society which this family affords within your own doors which may not be the case with some of the idle (to say nothing worse of them) characters who may lead you into temptation. Were you to look back, and had the means, either from recollection, or accounts, to ascertain the cost of the liquor you have expended it would astonish you. In the manner this expence is generally incurred that is by getting a little now, a little then, the impropriety of it is not seen, in as much as it passes away without much thought. But view it in the aggregate you will be convinced at once, whether any man who depends upon the labour of his hands not only for his own support, but that of an encreasing family can afford such a proportion of his wages to that article. But the expence is not the worst consequence that attends it for it naturally leads a man into the company of those who encourage dissipation and idleness by which he is led by degrees to the perpetration of acts which may terminate in his Ruin; but supposing this not to happen a disordered frame, and a body debilitated, renders him unfit (even if his mind was disposed to discharge the duties of his station with honor to himself or fidelity to his employer) from the execution of it. An aching head and trembling limbs which are the inevitable effects of drinking disincline the hands from work; hence begins sloth and that Listlessness which end in idleness; but which are no reasons for withholding that labour for which money is paid.”
July 25, 1776. GENERAL ORDERS
“Henry Davis tried for “Desertion” is sentenced to receive Twenty Lashes; Patrick Lyons for “Drunkenness and sleeping on his post,” Thirty Lashes.”
