General Orders, 9 November 1777

General Orders

Head-Quarters, White Marsh [Pa.] Novr 9th 1777.

Parole Providence.C. Signs Newport. Plymouth.

Nicholas Van Cortlandt Esqr. is appointed an Aid-de-Camp, to Major General Sullivan, and is to be respected as such.1

Peter Bryan Bruin Esqr. is appointed a Volunteer Aid-de-Camp to Major General Sullivan, and is to be respected as such.

All the empty waggons, or which can be emptied without great inconvenience, are to be got ready in the several brigades, and assemble this day, at such place and hour, as the Forage Mr General shall direct; and be disposed of by him.

The Brigadiers, and officers commanding brigades, are with as much dispatch, as possible, to have their brigades paraded, & from their own observation, take an account of the articles, of cloathing, indispensibly necessary for the men.

Many of the men mount guard daily, who make a very unsoldierlike appearance—The Adjutants & Brigade Majors will be respectively answerable, that henceforward they bring no man to the parade, whose appearance is not as decent as his circumstances will permit—having his beard shaved—hair combed—face washed—and cloaths put on in the best manner in his power.

Captain Craig of Col. Moylan’s regt, with his party of horse, has taken seven British dragoons, and seven soldiers, with their horses, arms, and accoutrements—The General desires Capt. Craig, Capt. Lee, and the other officers who have distinguished themselves, will accept his cordial thanks, for the enterprise, spirit and bravery they have exhibited in harassing, and making captives of the enemy.2

All the General Officers in camp are to assemble, to morrow, at ten o’clock, in the forenoon, at General Greene’s quarters, to settle the rations—The General Officers will attend this, in preference to any other duty, and make report as soon as they have finished it.3

Varick transcript, DLC:GW.

In Muhlenberg’s orderly book the general orders begin with the following sentence: “Detail the same as Yesterday” (“Muhlenberg’s Orderly Book,” description begins “Orderly Book of Gen. John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg, March 26–December 20, 1777.” Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography 33 (1909): 257–78, 454–74; 34 (1910): 21–40, 166–89, 336–60, 438–77; 35 (1911): 59–89, 156–87, 290–303. description ends 35:172). Weedon’s orderly book contains the following additional order at the end of the second paragraph: “One piece of cannon at Genl. Irvine’s Brigade is to be discharged this afternoon at 4 oClock it being found impractacable to draw the Charge” (Weedon’s Orderly Book description begins Valley Forge Orderly Book of General George Weedon of the Continental Army under Command of Genl George Washington, in the Campaign of 1777–8: Describing the Events of the Battles of Brandywine, Warren Tavern, Germantown, and Whitemarsh, and of the Camps at Neshaminy, Wilmington, Pennypacker’s Mills, Skippack, Whitemarsh, & Valley Forge. New York, 1902. description ends , 122). Muhlenberg’s orderly book also includes the following order at the end of the general orders: “A Detachment of 370 men are to Parade precisely at 3 o’clock tomorrow morning, with their arms & accoutrements, and one Days provisions Cook’d. The Brigade Majors will have their men turned out and see that everything be in order this afternoon, and parade them tomorrow morning with the greatest punctuallity. The Detail the same as for the Guards. Col. Spencer & Lt Col Starr and Major Bruster are appointed to Command this detachment. 24 light Dragoons are to parade at the same time and place” (“Muhlenberg’s Orderly Book,” description begins “Orderly Book of Gen. John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg, March 26–December 20, 1777.” Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography 33 (1909): 257–78, 454–74; 34 (1910): 21–40, 166–89, 336–60, 438–77; 35 (1911): 59–89, 156–87, 290–303. description ends 35:173–74; see also Weedon’s Orderly Book description begins Valley Forge Orderly Book of General George Weedon of the Continental Army under Command of Genl George Washington, in the Campaign of 1777–8: Describing the Events of the Battles of Brandywine, Warren Tavern, Germantown, and Whitemarsh, and of the Camps at Neshaminy, Wilmington, Pennypacker’s Mills, Skippack, Whitemarsh, & Valley Forge. New York, 1902. description ends , 123).

1. Maj. Nicholas Van Cortlandt of New York served as one of John Sullivan’s aides-de-camp at least into the spring of 1779.

2. On 9 Nov. GW’s aide John Laurens wrote Henry Laurens from Whitemarsh, Pa., that Capt. Charles Craig “with sixteen horsemen surprised one of the Enemys Patroles this morning, consisting of seven horse and seven Grenadiers, & took the whole party prisoners without a stroke on either side. . . . This evening Capt. Nichols of the Eagle packet with the Capt. of an arm’d Sloop, were brought to Head Quarters, they were made prisoners by a detachment from Capt. Lees Troop” (Laurens Papers description begins Philip M. Hamer et al., eds. The Papers of Henry Laurens. 16 vols. Columbia, S.C., 1968–2003. description ends , 12:39–41). An entry in GW’s warrant book indicates that Craig was issued a warrant on 14 Nov. for $770 for “7 Horses & Arms &c. taken from the Enemy” (warrant book no. 2, DLC:GW, ser. 5, vol. 18).

3. See a Board of General Officers to GW, 10 November.

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Source Project: Washington Papers
Title: General Orders, 9 November 1777
Author: Washington, George
Date: 9 November 1777

Reference

Cite as: “General Orders, 9 November 1777,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-12-02-0169. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 12, 26 October 1777 – 25 December 1777, ed. Frank E. Grizzard, Jr. and David R. Hoth. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 2002, pp. 177–178.]