Welcome to HNet, GigGuy.
In all seven seasons, 'Mary Kaye's Baby' (S01E03) is the only episode in which the General doesn't appear. I guess the people making the show had no idea by the third episode that the General would become so iconic, and end up being at least as famous as the stars of the show. Many shows in the '70s and '80s were based around a vehicle, e.g. KITT in 'Knight Rider', the Coyote X in 'Hardcastle and McCormick' etc., but early episodes of Dukes weren't like that. The show's formula wasn't really established until filming was moved to California for episode 6, and maybe even as late as the start of season 2.