General Orders, 20 May 1776
General Orders
Head Quarters, New York, May 20th 1776.
Parole Brunswick.Countersign White.
The Sentries at all the batteries, where Cannon are placed, are to be increased to the number the Brigadier finds necessary; and they are all to be doubled at night: They are not to suffer any person whatever (excepting the rounds, or Officer of the guard) to go into the Batteries at night; nor is any person whatever, but the Generals, or Field Officers of the Army, and officers and men of the Artillery, who have real business there, to be permitted, even in the day time, to go on the platforms in the batteries, or to approach the Cannon, or to meddle with the Rammers, Spunges, or any of the Artillery Stores placed there. The Officers of every Guard, are to see that their men, are particularly alert in executing this order.
No Person whatever, belonging to the Army, is to be innoculated for the Small-Pox—those who have already undergone that operation, or who may be seized with Symptoms of that disorder, are immediately to be removed to the Hospital provided for that purpose on Montresors’-Island. Any disobedience to this order, will be most severely punished—As it is at present of the utmost importance, that the spreading of that distemper, in the Army and City, should be prevented.
Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
At the end of this day’s orders, William Henshaw’s orderly book adds: “The Guards are to be Augmented to the following Numbers: Main Guard Upper Barracks 1 Captain, 2 Subalterns, 2 Serjeants, 2 Corporals, 1 Drummer, 1 Fifer, 50 Privates. Harrisons Brewery 1 Captain, 2 Subalterns, 2 Serjeants, 2 Corporals, 1 Drummer, 1 Fifer, 60 Privates. Commissarys Guard 1 Subaltern, 2 Serjeants, 2 Corporals, 1 Drummer, 24 Privates. Main Guard lower Barracks 1 Captain, 1 Subaltern, 2 Serjeants, 2 Corporals, 1 Drummer, 1 Fifer, 50 Privates. Gen. Putnams Guard 1 Captain, 1 Subaltern, 1 Serjeant, 1 Corporal, 12 Privates. North River Guard 1 Captain, 1 Subaltern, 2 Serjeants, 2 Corporals, 1 Drummer, 1 Fifer, 60 Privates. East River Guard 1 Captain, 1 Subaltern, 1 Serjeant, 1 Corporal, 12 Privates. Guard at Fort Spencer 1 Corporal, 8 Privates. Battery at Ship Yard 1 Captain, 1 Subaltern, 1 Serjeant, 1 Corporal, 24 Privates. Provost Guard 1 Captain, 1 Subaltern, 2 Serjeants, 2 Corporals, 1 Drummer, 24 Privates. Lord Sterling Guard 1 Captain, 1 Subaltern, 1 Serjeant, 1 Corporal, 12 Privates” (“Henshaw’s Orderly Book,” 134–35). The upper barracks stood near the common, and the lower barracks were at the battery at the southern tip of Manhattan. Harrison’s brewery was on the Hudson River just outside the town proper. Fort Spencer stood on Jones Hill north of town (see General Orders, 22 May 1776, n.2).