frightened out of their houses, under pretence of their houses being ordered to be burned, and this is done with a view of seizing the goods ; nay, in order that the villainy may be more effectually concealed, some houses have already been burned to cover the theft. I have used my utmost endeavors to stop this horrid practice; but under the present lust after plunder, and want of laws to punish offenders, I might almost as well attempt to move Mount Atlas.'' He then goes on to detail the difficulty he had, in getting a court-martial to convict an officer for stealing.
Again, on the 3d May, 1777, he writes to Congress : " The desertions from our army of \aie\i2iYe)eQnvery considerable'^ The same year. Adjutant-General Reed, writes to Congress : " When the hurry of retreat or action made it difficult to go through the forms of trial, all restraints seemed to be broken through. A spirit of desertion.
cowardice, plunder, and shrinking from duty, when attended with fatigue or danger, prevailed but too generally through the whole army."* It is true, a soldier perils his life ; but other men do the same for money, without any reference