General Orders, 28 May 1781
General Orders
Head Quarters New Windsor Monday May 28th 1781
Parole Countersigns ——
Each regiment in the New Hampshire Massachusett Rhode Island Connecticut New York and New Jersey lines is ordered to furnish two able bodied men (engaged for three years or during the war) from the first recruits that join them; to be incorporated with the Corps of Sappers and Miners on the same principles with those already draughted for that corps.1
That part of Colonel Van Schaick’s regiment stationed at West Point is to be held in readiness to move on the shortest notice; all detachments or men on other duty from it are to be immediately relieved and called in.2
Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. For the establishment of the corps of sappers and miners, see General Orders, 22 July 1780; see also the general orders for 3 Sept. 1780 and 22 April 1781.
2. GW had ordered six companies of Col. Goose Van Schaick’s 1st New York Regiment from Albany to West Point (see GW to James Clinton, 16 Feb., and to Heath, 3 March, n.1). For their recent disposition and new assignment, see GW to Clinton, 14 and 28 May, and to Philip Schuyler, 30 May; see also General Orders, 1 June.