A botfly, also written bot fly, bott fly or bot-fly in various combinations, is any fly in the family Oestridae. Their life cycles vary greatly according to species, but the larvae of all species are internal parasites of mammals.
In the spring of 1783, the infant American republic was nearly snuffed-out in its cradle by mutinous army officers in what has been called the âNewburgh Conspiracy.â. British General Cornwallisâ surrender at Yorktown in October 1781 did not result in an immediate end to the war.
Washington, his wife, and his staff stayed there from April 1782 until August 1783, the longest time period he stayed at any headquarters during the war. At Newburgh on August 7, 1782, Washington instituted the awarding of a âBadge of Military Meritâ for troops who demonstrated exceptional courage in battle. In his general orders establishing the award, Washington wrote: