A step back in time with military police

This military tale is a step back in time.

The first American MP (military police) unit was the Troops of the Marechaussee (pardon my French) which was styled after a French unit was authorized by Congress in May 1778. 

The unit had just 63 men including officers, two trumpeters and four executioners. Most of the unit's troops were German-born Americans, except for two Swill and one Mohawk Indian. 

Their stated mission was to "apprehend and arrest all marauders, rioters, drunkards and deserters and all other soldiers who would be found beyond the limits of their organizations without permission." In today's military they call the latter, being AWOL, or away without leave. A second military police force of 600 men was added later that year to administer the prisoner of war compound at Charlottesville, Virginia.

Then, at war's end in December 1783 (you probably didn't know when it ended?) one of the MP troops' last duty was to escort General George Washington home to Mount Vernon in Virginia. After which the last 12 members were discharged making them the last soldiers to be discharged from the Revolutionary War. No other MP units were found in the U.S. Army until the outbreak of the Civil War.

Roger Gregory is a Vietnam veteran and a business owner in Priest River.