George Washington Papers

General Orders, 29 July 1776

General Orders

Head Quarters, New York, July 29th 1776.

Parole Jersey.Countersign Kingwood.

The Quarter Master General is directed to furnish twelve Quires of paper, to each regiment ⅌ month—Vizt1—One Quire to the commanding officer of the regiment; One to each Company, and one to the Adjutant; the remaining two Quires to be kept by the Colonel, as a reserve for special occasions, exclusive of orderly books and blank returns.2

Varick transcript, DLC:GW.

“Henshaw’s Orderly Book,” description begins “The Orderly Books of Colonel William Henshaw, October 1, 1775, through October 3, 1776.” Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society, n.s., 57 (1948): 17–234. description ends 198, includes the following orders at the beginning of the general orders for this date: “The two Companys of Colonel Newcombs Regiment on Long Island to join their Regiments immediately. The Chief Engineer finding great difficulty in sinking the Well at Bayards Hill for want of proper Workmen is allow’d to select such Men from any Regiment first applying to the Colonel or Commanding Officer & these Men are to be excused from all other Duties while on this service.”

The following orders appear at the end of this day’s general orders in “Henshaw’s Orderly Book” description begins “The Orderly Books of Colonel William Henshaw, October 1, 1775, through October 3, 1776.” Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society, n.s., 57 (1948): 17–234. description ends : “Some Difficulties having arisen respecting the Men who Engaged to go on Board the Row Gallies out of the Regiments. The General directs that in future when Men are wanted for that Service or of the like kind application be made to General Putnam who will call upon the Commanding Officer of Regiments for such Men as are fit for that Service having respect to the Strength of such Regiments & what it may have furnish’d heretofore on the like Service. And as the General flatters himself every Officer will only attend to what may best serve the general good he doubts not they will encourage their Men to turn out as Voluntiers such only being required & that they be Men of approved Fidelity & Courage. Colonel Baldwin & Colonel Bayleys Regiments to be Muster’d next Thursday the former at 7 oClock in the Morning & the latter at 3 oClock in the Afternoon. These Corps to [be] off Duty one Day previous to being Muster’d.” For similar versions of all of these additional orders, see Dodge, “Orderly Book,” description begins “Orderly Book Kept by Capt. Abraham Dodge of Ipswich, January 1, 1776 to August 1, 1776.” Essex Institute Historical Collections 80 (1944): 37–53, 111–30, 208–28, 368–84; 81 (1945): 87–94, 152–175. description ends 81:171–72.

1. “Henshaw’s Orderly Book,” description begins “The Orderly Books of Colonel William Henshaw, October 1, 1775, through October 3, 1776.” Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society, n.s., 57 (1948): 17–234. description ends 198, reads “to each Regiment per Month to be distributed as follows.” See also Dodge, “Orderly Book,” description begins “Orderly Book Kept by Capt. Abraham Dodge of Ipswich, January 1, 1776 to August 1, 1776.” Essex Institute Historical Collections 80 (1944): 37–53, 111–30, 208–28, 368–84; 81 (1945): 87–94, 152–175. description ends 81:172.

2. For brigade reports on the amount of paper needed, see General Orders, 24 July, and note 1.

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    Washington Papers
    Title
    General Orders, 29 July 1776
    Author
    Washington, George
    Date
    29 July 1776

    Reference

    Cite as
    “General Orders, 29 July 1776,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-05-02-0364. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 5, 16 June 1776 – 12 August 1776, ed. Philander D. Chase. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1993, pp. 489–490.]