George Washington Papers

General Orders, 31 July 1777

General Orders

Head Quarters, Coryell’s ferry [N.J.] July 31st 1777.

Parole: Fortitude.Countersigns: Success.
Victory.

The army is to cross the Delaware with all possible dispatch, and proceed for Philadelphia—Col. Humpton will take the command of the division commanded by General Lincoln.

Varick transcript, DLC:GW. The Varick transcript contains the following entry after the general orders of this date: “August 1st 2nd 3rd 1777 No orders issued” (DLC:GW). Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene did issue orders in GW’s name to the Continental army at its Germantown, Pa., headquarters on 1 and 2 August, however. For Greene’s orders of 1 Aug., see GW’s two letters to Greene, 1 August. Greene’s orders of 2 Aug. read: “The troops are to be Immediately furnished with two Days Provisions, & to hold themselves in readiness to March at a Moments warning—the Tents are to be Immediately separated from all other Baggage—No Officer or soldier to be absent from Camp on any Acct; the Genl. [GW] expects a particular attention will be paid to this Order—the returns called for in yesterdays Orders to be made forthwith. The Commanding Officer of Each Regt. to appoint an Officer to procure such Cloathing as the men are in want of without delay—the old Orderly Books to be taken care of” (“Turner’s Orderly Book,” 479–80). Lt. James McMichael describes the army’s march on 1 Aug. in his journal entry for that date: “At 3 A.M. the General beat; tents were struck and at 6 A.M. we marched, proceeding thro’ the Crooked Billet reached Germantown at 6 P.M., on the plains of which we encamped. Our encampment was very beautiful” (“McMichael’s Diary,” 146).

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