General Orders, 7 June 1779
General Orders
Head-Quarters Smith’s-Tavern [N.Y.] Monday June 7th 1779.
Parole Syracuse—C. Signs Scipio Cyrus.
The Army is to encamp ’till further orders in the following manner as nearly as the situation of ground will permit.
The Virginia division near the road leading from June’s to the Forest of Deane1—The Maryland division near the road leading from Earl’s2 and the Pennsylvania division near the road leading from the Widow Van-Ambra’s,3 both, to the same place—Each division will furnish such pickets & patroles on the avenues leading from the enemy as will be necessary for its own security.
A careful inspection to be immediately made into the state of the men’s Arms and Ammunition.
The troops to have two days provision constantly in advance, if salt meat is to be had—if not, they will only have two days bread in advance and as much beef as will keep.
The officers in general will inform themselves as exactly as possible of the roads and by-paths leading from their respective encampments towards the enemy, the Forest of Deane and West-Point.4
The General was sorry to see thro’out the march a much greater proportion of men with the baggage than could possibly be necessary and that a number of them were without arms, having probably deposited them in the Waggons; the former tends to lessen the operating strength of the Army in a degree which every thinking officer must wish to avoid, and the latter occasions such a destruction of Arms as must add greatly to the difficulty of supplying the troops: It was too observant also that the heavy baggage of the Army has been very little, if anything diminished, and that the pernicious practice of suffering the women to incumber the Waggons still continues notwithstanding every former prohibition. The General recommends these matters to the particular attention of the officers commanding brigades and that they will take the most vigorous and effectual measures to prevent the like abuses hereafter.5
Two Cannon fired from Baron De Kalb’s encampment6 will be the signal of Alarm, upon which the troops will get under arms as expeditiously and as light as possible—The Quarter Master General will furnish guides to attend the several divisions.
Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
Adj. Gen. Alexander Scammell’s orderly book entry for this date includes the following additional general order: “A Subaltern, Serjt Corpl & twenty five privates from the Maryland Line to mount immediately at Smith’s Tavern, as a Guard to The Commander in Chief” (orderly book, 22 Dec. 1778–26 June 1779, DNA: RG 93, Orderly Books, 1775–1783, vol. 28).
1. About five miles of road running in a northeasterly direction separated June’s tavern and the Forest of Dean. For improvement of this road, see General Orders, 9 June.
2. This is likely the same place mentioned in Adj. Gen. Alexander Scammell’s orderly book for 16 June (see General Orders, that date, source note). There apparently also was an “Earl’s Burying Place” in the vicinity of the army’s march through Orange County, N.Y. (see 529).
3. The Van Ambro (Ambrow, Amburgh) property was located in Orange County, N.Y., along the road about two miles north of Smith’s tavern. At Van Ambro’s, a very winding road headed in a generally southeasterly direction for about three miles to the Forest of Dean. For improvement of this road, see General Orders, 9 June.
4. No roads led directly from the west to West Point. It was at least nine miles from June’s tavern to West Point and at least seven miles from Van Ambro’s to West Point.
5. Nathanael Greene’s letter to GW of 6 June addressed these issues.
6. Maj. Gen. Johann Kalb commanded the Maryland division.