Major David Bradish was stationed in Providence, Rhode Island, at the headquarters of General John Sullivan, from August 16, 1778, to April 3, 1779. The orderly book (210 pages) contains general orders, brigade orders, regimental orders, reports of courts-martial, punishments apportioned to soldiers, extracts from acts of congress, and other entries. Of note is the entry from January 15, 1779, which records General Washington's court-marshalling of Major General Lee, Major General St. Clair, and Major General Schuyler. Lee was charged for disobedience of orders in not attacking the enemy, for misbehaving (retreat) in front of the enemy June 28th, [1778], and for disrespect of the Commander-in-Chief, June 28 and July 1, 1778. He was found guilty and relieved of command for 12 months. St. Clair was charged for neglect of duty, treachery, in-attention to progress of the enemy, and for shamefully abandoning Fort Ticonderoga and Mount Independence. He, however, was cleared of these charges, with honor. Schuyler was found not guilty of neglect of duty for not being at Fort Ticonderoga.
After the last orderly book entry, a number of pages are missing, following which are brief notes on loan payments from 1782-1786.
David Bradish (1745-1818) was born in Falmouth, Casco Bay (now Portland), Maine, and died there in 1818. He married Abiah Merrill on July 19, 1767. They had several children including two sons, Levi and David, and a daughter, Mary (Wheeler). Bradish was a captain in Colonel Phinius' regiment in 1775, and a major in Timothy Bigelow's 15th Regiment from January 1, 1777, to July 26, 1779.
