General Orders, 1 January 1779
General Orders
Head Quarters Middle-Brook [N.J.] January 1st 1779.
Parole Happy—C. Signs New Year.
The Brigade Commissaries are to deliver their Hides and Tallow to the Commissary of Hides at Bound-Brook, at least once a week, taking his receipt for the same, and the Commissary of Hides will issue upon the order of the Commandant of Brigades what number of hides may be necessary to exchange for shoes for the use of their respective Brigades; provided that demand does not exceed the number delivered in.
The Officer of the day will in the tour of his duty pay a particular attention to the order of the camp & forbid Tippling-Houses within its’ Vicinity: No person is permitted to sell liquor except such as are capable of giving decent entertainment to passengers or specially authorized upon penalty of forfeiting their liquors, which will be appropriated for the use of the Army.
No soldier is to be out of his quarters after dark; no person is to entertain them after that time under any pretence.
Lieutenant William Bruce and Ensign Samuel Hanson both of the 1st Maryland Regiment are appointed the 1st, Adjutant from the 6th day of June and the 2nd Quarter-Master from the 1st of October 1778—to said Regiment.1
Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
Congressman John Fell noted in his diary that Congress requested President John Jay “to invite Genl Washington to Dine” (, 11:394).
1. William Bruce (1753–1825) served as a sergeant in the 9th Company of Maryland Light Infantry from January until December 1776, when he was appointed a second lieutenant in the 1st Maryland Regiment. He was promoted to first lieutenant in June 1777, and to captain in August 1779, transferring to the 5th Maryland Regiment in January 1781 and serving in the Maryland Battalion from April to November 1783.
Samuel Hanson served as a sergeant in the 3d Maryland Regiment from May until July 1777, when he was appointed an ensign in the 1st Maryland Regiment. He was promoted to lieutenant in August 1779, transferred to the 1st Maryland Regiment in January 1781, and left the army in April 1783.