General, division? (General Artemas Ward), and regimental (Colonel John Bailey) orders kept at Roxbury, 12 December 1775-5 January 1776 during the siege of Boston. December orders from Washington's headquarters in Cambridge concern enlistment of new troops (since most enlistments ran out December 1775) or resigning of the present troops. January orders establish the Continental Army (superseding militia regiments from individual colonies) and publish new rules and regulations. Division orders emphasize better discipline for sentries and guards. Two regimental orders concern a court-martial and an inspection of Col. Bailey's regiment, now partly made up of recruits.

General, division (General Charles Lee), brigade (General Nathaniel Green), and regimental (Colonel Jonathan Brewer) orders, for Captain John Russell at Prospect Hill, Cambridge, 19 June-4 September 1775, during the Siege of Boston. The book opens with general and other orders of 29-31 July. It then reverts to general orders of 19-24 June (closely following the Battle of Bunker Hill on the 17th) concerning the state of alert at Prospect Hill and other fortifications, return of military gear picked up at Bunker Hill, and Washington's thanks to all who fought gallantly at Charlestown. Another order from Washington commends Major Benjamin Tupper for a raid destroying the assignments for Prospect Hill and Winter Hill (Somerville). A brigade order directs Brewer's regiment to serve picket duty at Plowed Hill in the designated area. The form for a return on Captain Harvey's company of the regiment is also included.

A regimental orderly book (Colonel Theophilus Cotton) kept by Sergeant Josiah Tomson of Captain John Bradford's Company during the Siege of Boston at Roxbury, 21 June-22 November 1775. Detailed orders for the regiment (barracked at a waterside farm) concern daily routine of the regiment from reveille to tattoos, orders for the sentries and the Colonel's guard, and attendance at prayer and exercise for the troops. Instructions forbid gaming, discharge of firearms within the camp, and eating of green corn. Also included in the book are lists of the officers, non-commissioned personnel, and privates of Bradford's company.

District (General Artemas Ward) and regimental orders for Colonel Ebenezer Francis' Regiment kept by Sergeant-Major Benjamin Shaw, Regimental Adjutant, at Dorchester Point, Boston, kept for Lieutenant Moses Greenleaf, 16 August-7 September 1776, following the evacuation of Boston by the British in March of that year. General orders from General Artemas Ward, commander of the Eastern District, cover rules and regulations for newly raised regiments, and specific orders covering daily inspection of quarters, unauthorized absence from camp, and transgressions against civilians. Francis' regimental orders reinforce these orders and cover appearance and proper drilling of guards, and reports by sergeants of the guard.

The book also contains a biography of Moses Greenleaf, a list of officers in the regiment, 1 August-1 December 1776, and returns on the regiment and Captain Peabody's company. It is the first of four orderly books in a volume of Greenleaf's military papers, 1776-1780.

General orders (General Arthur St. Clair, Commander on Lake Champlain?) kept for Captain Moses Greenleaf of Colonel Ebenezer Francis' Regiment at Fort Ticonderoga (N.Y.), 23 March-4 April 1777, prior to its capture by the British in July. These orders list court-martial, warn the garrison against venturing forth, recruit men for repair of guns and service in boats, assign scouting and fatigue parties, give instructions for sentinels and guards, and order the gates and sally ports at Ticonderoga and Fort Miller to be closed each evening. Also included are accounts for clothing ordered for Capt. Greenleaf's company and lists of deaths and desertions, deliveries of guns, and men sent to hospitals.

General and departmental (General Alexander McDougall, Commander of the Highlands) orders dept. for Captain Moses Greenleaf of Colonel Benjamin Tupper's Regiment at West Point and Peekskill (N.Y.), 1 January-27 June 1779. Washington's orders from his headquarters at Middle Brook, New Jersey, enjoined officers to prepare quickly for the field and also set up a Conductor of Military Stores for each regiment. McDougall's departmental orders concern cleaning up barracks, buying stores, issuing permits for boats traveling up or down the Hudson, bounties for soldiers enlisting for the duration, recruiting travel, and precautions against enemy attack. Also included is an "Alphabit" (index) of the orders contained in the book.

General, Highlands District and garrison (General William Heath), brigade (General John Paterson), and regimental orders kept for Captain Moses Greenleaf of Colonel Benjamin Tupper's 11th Massachusetts Regiment at Moors House and Robinson House (West Point area, N.Y.), 19 November-23 December 1779. Orders from Washington's headquarters in Morristown (N.J.) concern officers absent without or overstaying leave and a general inspection of the Army in 1780. District and garrison orders concern removal of Maryland and Pennsylvania troops to Morristown, completing barracks, checking the Hudson for enemy activity, and re-enlistment of Massachusetts soldiers. Brigade and regimental orders concern reports on personnel and furnishing the troops with bayonets.

General and one division order (General Israel Putnam) kept for Captain William R. Lee of Glover's regiment in Cambridge during the Siege of Boston, 23 June-8 August 1775. Orders from Washington's headquarters in Cambridge list his requirements for cleanliness, health, discipline, and state of alert for the troops; prescribe specific measures for strengthening the army's lines and redoubts; set forth the organizational plan for the besieging army; and even give the protocol for receiving a general officer into a camp, or receiving enemy envoys under a flag of truce. Other general orders emphasize regular reports on the status of troops ands supplies, the importance of good recruiting, and various logistical problems. Gen. Putnam's order recruits men experienced in handling whaleboats. The book includes a chart of the organization of the besieging army and a number of accounts for officers of Lee's Additional Continental Regiment purchasing uniforms for themselves and their troops in 1777 and 1778.

Note: Although the cover page of this volume says that Lee was of the 23rd Regiment, it is unclear what regiment is being referred to. Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the War of the Revolution and a brief description in the Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society, Vol. IV, p. 152, refer additionally to Glover's regiment as the 21st Regiment. It is unknown whether the reference to the 23rd Regiment reflects an earlier or temporary name for Glover's regiment or is another name for Lee's Additional Continental Regiment, formed in 1777.

General, division [General Friedrich von Steuben?], brigade [General John Stark?], and regimental [Colonel Henry Jackson?] orders kept at Morristown (N.J.) and Peekskill (N.Y.), 23 May-1 August 1780. Washington's orders include a commendation to Gen. Greene's troops for opposing an enemy advance on Springfield (N.J.) and a general order to all officers to require exact compliance in sentries' attention to soldierly deportment and to preserving good security. Division orders concern courts-martial, deployment and provisioning of troops, re-assignment of units, and preparations for battle. Brigade and regimental orders concern mainly duty assignments.

General, brigade, and regimental orders kept by Sergeant-Major Francis Tufts of the regiment near Saratoga (N.Y.) and later the Valley Forge area, 5 September-4 December 1777. A September 6 entry refers to a large force under Generals Lincoln and Ward about to march to the engagements of Saratoga. Much of the following text up to November 9 is faded. The brigade is preparing to march to the Valley Forge area (White Marsh, Pa.). Orders from November 23 to December 4 concern the suppressing of "tippling houses" near the camp and issuing new uniforms daily.

General (George Washington), brigade (General Ebenezer Learned), and regimental (Colonel Michael Jackson) orders as kept by Lieutenant Francis Tufts, adjutant for the regiment at Valley Forge, 30 April-18 May 1778. General orders concern daily returns on the muster roll, weekly divine service, strict uniformity in practicing maneuvers, a new oath of allegiance required by the Congress, and a bonus pension program for all officers and men serving for the duration. Brigade and regimental orders concern guard and duty details, care of the sick, and appointment of brigade inspectors.

Other items include a three-page fragment from a brigade order, a brief account of Tufts' military service by his son, two poems, and his son's account of his conversation from a career as a liquor distiller.

General, departmental and garrison (Generals Alexander McDougall and William Heath), brigade (4th Massachusetts) and regimental (Colonel Michael Jackson) orders kept at West Point (N.Y.) by Francis Tufts, 13 September 1779-31 January 1780. General orders from Washington's headquarters in Morristown (N.J.) concern exact returns of non-commissioned officers and privates who signed on for the duration or other periods, winter furloughs, and an inspection of the entire army in December 1779. Department and garrison orders concern housing and defense of West Point and the surrounding forts, watch boats to detect enemy activities, and weighing the chain boom across the river in winter. Brigade and regimental orders involve maneuver drills for the troops, forage details, and courts-martial. On December 2nd, General Heath takes over as commanding officer of the Highlands deportment. In November, the Maryland, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania brigades march to Morristown for winter quarters.

General department and garrison (Generals Robert Howe, Alexander McDougall, and Benedict Arnold), Brigade (4th Mass. And later the 1st Mass.) and regimental (Colonel Michael Jackson) orders kept at West Point and later Tappan (N.Y.) from 1 June-9 August 1780. General orders from Washington in New Jersey concern uniform details for officers and non-commissioned officers and then for a corps of Light Infantry. Department and garrison orders deal with strengthening the fortifications around West Point and, beginning in July, a shift of troops to the lower Hudson to exploit a possible move by the British in New York City to attack Rhode Island. Brigade and regiment orders concern chiefly promotions, courts-martial, and detail of equipping the troops for their move south.

General, department, garrison (General William Heath), brigade (General John Paterson), and regimental (Colonel Michael Jackson) orders kept by the regimental adjutant, Francis Tufts, 30 May-19 July 1782 in the West Point, (N.Y.) area. The book opens with a description of an elaborate plan for rejoicing on May 30th (with toasts, salutes, fireworks, etc.) honoring the birth of the Dauphin, and Washington later circulates his letter of congratulations to the king of France. Orders at all levels stress drilling the troops. On June 18, Washington expresses satisfaction at the review of the Army by the brigades and thanks Major General von Steuben for the discipline he has instilled. Washington also reports that Congress has recommended discharge and pensions for men no longer able to serve in the field or in garrison. He later calls for inspection of all arms for possible defects and reminds the troops that further inspections of the army will view their maneuvers. This book also contains a two-page index and four pages of duty rosters for May through June for captains and subalterns of the regiment.

General, department, garrison (General Henry Knox), brigade (2nd Massachusetts), and regimental (Colonel Michael Jackson) orders for the regiment as kept by the adjutant, Francis Tufts, 9 December 1782-5 January 1783, near Newburgh (N.Y.). Washington's orders from Newburgh concerned furloughs for officers and actions by Congress in re-organizing the offices of Adjutant General, Paymaster General, the Quartermaster General and the Post Office (as it affects Army mail). Department, brigade, and regimental orders concerned building housing for the troops, uniforms for the Mass. Regiments of the line, courts-martial, and various guard and fatigue details. Included are a number of sample forms for returns on rations and other expenses, as well as watch schedules for commissioned and non-commissioned officers of the regiment.

Note: Because this book was previously filmed, the target information is slightly different from other targets on the film.

General, division (Generals Israel Putnam and Charles Lee), brigade (General Nathaniel Greene), and regimental (Colonel Moses Little) orders kept at Prospect Hill, Cambridge during the Siege of Boston, 26 June-20 October 1775. Includes orders from Washington's headquarters in Cambridge calling for regular reports on the status of troops and their ammunition and stressing the need to keep them clean, well-drilled, disciplined, and on the alert. Division orders concern deployment of troops, furloughs, and the use of pickets; and brigade and regimental orders cover specific assignments for fatigue, picket, and guard duty.

The book also includes a list of field officers established in November 1775, muster lists of companies in Little's regiment, lists of furloughs, desertions, and discharges, and regimental receipts for clothing, guns, and pay.

General, brigade (General Nathaniel Greene), and regimental (Colonel Moses Little) orders kept for Colonel Little from 20 October 1775-31 May 1776 at the Siege of Boston and at New York City. Orders from General Washington's headquarters concerning the state of alert, the establishment of the Continental Army on 1 January 1776, entrance into Boston in March 1776, removal to New York City in April, and the details of establishing a new camp with a new alarm system and deployment arrangements in New York City and environs.

General and regimental orders kept for Colonel Little at Prospect Hill (?), Cambridge, 29 June-9 July 1775, immediately after the Battle of Bunker Hill. General orders from the headquarters of General Artemas Ward, and later (July 3) George Washington, in Cambridge concern state of alert of sentries, unauthorized absences from camp, the importance of responding immediately to any alarm and of good communications with headquarters. A regimental order from Colonel Little calls for tightened security in his unit and proper cleanliness for each company's parade.

Note: Because II.3 is in a different collection than II.2.A-B, it has been given a different number and the dates are not in one chronological sequence.

A brigade order (General John Sullivan) and regimental orders kept for John Mansfield and (after 15 September 1775) Colonel Israel Hutchinson's Regiment at Winter Hill (Cambridge) and Dorchester (Mass.), as well as New York City during sieges of Boston and New York, 19 May 1775-12 September 1776. Gen. Sullivan's order concerns deployment of his regiments. Col. Hutchinson's orders concern courts-martial; returns on personnel, their clothing, and arms; neglect of duty, discharging arms, or gaming; cleanliness; and prohibiting traffic with Boston for fear of smallpox. Gaps exist between 2 June-16 August 1775, 16 August-28 September 1775, and 22 July-12 September 1776 (the only New York order).

The book contains a roster of officers and sergeants of the regiment and a list of men discharged July 1776; a list of colonels, lieutenant colonels, and majors in the Continental Army during the Siege of Boston; and various lists of deserters and prisoners taken by the British at the capture of Fort Washington on November 16.

General, division (General Charles R. Lee), and brigade (General John Sullivan) orders kept for the regiment's commanders, Colonel John Mansfield (through 15 September 1775) and Colonel Israel Hutchinson, at Winter Hill, Cambridge during the Siege of Boston, 13 August 1775-8 July 1776. Orders from Washington's headquarters in Cambridge concern training, discipline, state of alert of the troops, and enlistments for 1776. Division and brigade orders concern barracking of troops, construction of fortifications at Prospect Hill, Plowed Hill, Lechmere's Point, and other points on the left wing of the siege. Following the British evacuation of Boston in March 1776, Col. Hutchinson's regiment was stationed in Boston and later Dorchester Heights. General orders particularly concern precautions against smallpox in Boston, improvement of fortifications at Dorchester Heights, and constant vigilance against the British evacuation fleet, which lingered in Boston Harbor before setting out for Halifax.

The book also contains a descriptive list of 522 officers and men enlisted from Essex County and a roster of carpenters in several regiments, listing their specific tools.

General, division (General Charles R. Lee), brigade (General John Sullivan), and regimental (Colonel John Nixon) orders kept by Sergeant-Major Samuel Frost of Capt. Thomas Drury's Company at Winter Hill, Cambridge, 27 August-22 September 1775, during the Siege of Boston. General orders from Washington's headquarters in Cambridge prohibit the sale of liquor to the troops, detach 800 men for Benedict Arnold's attack on Quebec, and provide commissions for militia officers to serve in the Continental Army. A division order requests personnel returns from both of Lee's brigades. Brigade and regimental orders set duty assignments and order returns on personnel and equipment.

General, brigade (General John Sullivan), and regimental (Colonel Nixon) orders for his regiment kept at Winter Hill, Cambridge, during the Siege of Boston, 5 October-30 December 1775. The general orders from Washington's headquarters in Cambridge concern the hygiene, discipline, and state of alert of the troops. Brigade and regimental orders concern re-enlistment of current troops for 1776 or recruitment of replacements, completing the fortification of Winter Hill and other strong points of the siege, and providing barracks and new regimental uniforms for the troops. Many pages contain calligraphy samples (with the orders overwritten). A few pages carry quotations (apparently from the Bible) or lists of names, including an October 1775 roster of Captain Abisha Brown's company showing rounds of cartridges needed per man.

Note: It is unclear why William Lee may have kept an orderly book for John Nixon's Regiment, when he was a member of John Glover's Regiment (later the 14th Continental Regiment, Mass.).

Eastern Department (General William Heath) and regimental (Colonel Jonathan Reed) orders kept by Sergeant Harris of Captain John Homes' Company from 4 April-26 June 1778 in Cambridge (Mass.). The regiment served as guards for the Convention Army of British soldiers captured at Saratoga in 1777. General orders from General Heath in Boston concern alarm stations for the small departmental garrison, repair of local forts and redoubts, and also a number of orders regarding the transfer of prisoners from Cambridge to another camp, limits of parole for both officers and men of the Convention Army, and courts of inquiry into incidents between the British prisoners and their guards. The book also contains a roll of Captain Homes' Company, a brief write-up of Harris's participation in two wars, and various personal items.

This book appears at the end of a volume that includes Harris' orderly book from the French and Indian War.

Note: Serving 4 May 1758 to 5 May 1760 in Colonel Joseph Frye's Regiment of Massachusetts Militia at Fort Cumberland, Nova Scotia, this orderly book has been divided for this film to include only the Revolutionary War material. The colonial orders can be found elsewhere.

General, brigade (General William Heath), and regimental (Colonel William Prescott) orders kept for Lieutenant Colonel Moulton of the regiment at Sewall's Point, Brookline, and Governor's Island (N.Y.), 1 January-19 May 1776, during the Siege of Boston and the New York campaign. Orders from Washington's headquarters in Cambridge hail the establishment of the Continental Army and its rules and articles (January 1) and deploy his forces for the siege. A brigade order assigns the 7th Regiment to Sewall's Point. Regimental orders tighten up routines for guard duty and barracks inspection. Following the British evacuation of Boston in mid-March, orders to the occupying Continental Army concern precautions against smallpox and the strengthening of fortifications against a surprise attack from the British fleet still lingering in the bay. General orders from Washington's later headquarters in lower Manhattan (April 10-May 19) repeat the process of deploying troops, strengthening fortifications, and guarding against smallpox. Prescott's regiment was initially stationed on Governor's Island to set up positions there.

General, division (Generals Nathaniel Greene and Charles R. Lee), and brigade (General Samuel H. Parsons) orders for the 14th Continental Regiment (John Glover's) as kept for Major William R. Lee during the New York City Campaign, 8 September-29 November 1776. Included are orders from Washington's headquarters in New York City and White Plains (N.Y.) and Hackensack (N.J.) concerning straggling, plundering, care of the wounded, and deployment and supply of forces to maintain constant readiness against enemy action. Division orders reinforce these points, and Brigade orders assign daily picket, guard, and fatigue duties.

District (General Artemas Ward and, after 20 March 1777, General William Heath) and regimental orders kept for Colonel Dike at Dorchester Heights, 23 December 1776-30 March 1777, nine months after the British evacuation of Boston. District orders concern state of alert of troops, keeping forts at the Heights ready for action, and avoiding smallpox in Boston. Regimental orders cover guard details and procedures, returns on personnel, payroll sheets, discharge of men enlisting in the Continental Army, etc. The book also contains a tally of Americans taken prisoner in the New York City area campaign, a separate tally of General Howe's British troops, a patriotic war song, and figures on the Army's monthly pay scales and provision allowances.

Brigade, garrison, and regimental orders kept by Captain Ephraim Stearns at West Point (N.Y.), 28 July-28 September 1780. Garrison orders concern Benedict Arnold taking command at West Point on 3 August 1780, an edict against crossing the Hudson River after dark, and the formation of a detachment of light infantry. Brigade and regimental orders concern the initial movement of Colonel Wade's troops from Great Barrington (Mass.) to West Point, daily guard or fatigue assignments, and courts-martial. On 25 September 1780, Arnold's treason became known, and deployment orders on 26 September of the garrison to reinforce forts and redoubts. The book contains a roster and a return of Capt. Stearns' company.

General and brigade orders for General Greene's Brigade kept at Prospect Hill, Cambridge, during the Siege of Boston, 6 February-13 March 1776. Included are orders from Washington's headquarters in Cambridge allowing militia to join Continental Army units and also about recruiting, colors, equipment, and duty posts during alarms. Brigade orders include duty detail and assignments for officer of the day.

General, division (General Charles R. Lee), and brigade orders for General Sullivan's brigade kept at Winter Hill, Cambridge, 18 July 1775-27 March 1776, during the siege and occupation of Boston. General orders from Washington's headquarters in Cambridge concern training, discipline, and state of alert of the troops, and the occupation of Boston in March 1776. The few division orders concern deployment of troops and arrangements of camps. Sullivan's orders to his unit cover in more detail the housing, drilling, and disposition of his regiments, They include regular reports of the Officer of the Day and the Captain of the Main Guard.

The book also contains a ranked list of field officers in the American army, a list of field officers in Canada, daily returns for each regiment, and very detailed charts of the activities and status of officers and non-commissioned soldiers through June 1776.

General extracts, district (General William Heath), and division orders for the 1st Connecticut Regiment (made up of the former 3rd and 4th Connecticut Regiments) kept at West Point, 4 January-10 February 1782. General orders (extracted by General Edward Hand, Adjutant General) from Washington's headquarters in Philadelphia concern officers' furloughs and servants. Highlands District and division orders concern monthly returns, administrative reports, and courts-martial. The book also contains lists of men furloughed by the 3rd and 4th Connecticut and counts of French and American troops killed or wounded in the siege of Yorktown. Unrelated material includes genealogical records of Joseph R. Fay (born 1778) and other members of the Fay family of Bennington, Swanton, and Cornwall, Vermont. Also included are sheet music for two songs, a poem, and commonplace-like jottings.

Note: The spine of this volume identifies this as the 3rd Continental Regiment. It is thought that a 3rd Con. Regiment (Connecticut) marking was mistaken for a Continental regiment. The 3rd refers to the 3rd Connecticut, a part of what later became the 1st Connecticut Regiment, the name of this regiment at the time the orderly book was kept.

General, brigade (General Israel Putnam), and regimental (General Israel Putnam and later Colonel Experience Storrs) orders kept for Daniel Tyler, Adjutant, 1st Company of the Regiment, 14 June-11 September 1775, during the Siege of Boston. In this period immediately after the Battle of Bunker Hill, general orders from Artemas Ward post guards on the road to Bunker Hill and ordered detailed returns on all regiments. Later orders from General Washington announced the organization of the besieging army into brigades and the "grand divisions" and call for courts-martial of several officers accused of dereliction of duty at Bunker Hill. Brigade orders send troops to Prospect Hill (Cambridge) and to Sewall's Point (Brookline). Regimental orders assign duty stations and prescribe daily exercise for the troops. The book also contains returns on Captain Waterman's company (the 1st company of the regiment) and lists of personnel.

Note: This regiment was not identified in Wright, The Continental Army. The name was taken from Berg, Encyclopedia of Continental Army Units, p. 19.

General orders and a few brief division orders (General Joseph Spencer) for this regiment during the New York City campaign, 17 September-22 November 1776. General orders--presumably from Washington's headquarters at Harlem Heights, White Plains (N.Y.), and later Hackensack (N.J.)--commend two officers killed at Harlem Heights, and also concern straggling, plundering, and deployment and supply of his forces to maintain constant readiness against enemy action. Division orders reinforce these orders and assign daily duty officers. A partial set of weekly returns on the status of personnel of the regiment (between 20 September and 13 December 1776) is included.

General, division (General Charles Lee), and brigade (General Nathaniel Greene) orders for the regiment as kept by Adjutant Bella [erroneously listed on spine label as Benjamin] Whipple at the Siege of Boston, 5 June 1775-18 November 1775. General orders from Washington concern drilling and organizing troops under three grand divisions made up of six brigades. Gen. Lee deploys his two brigades and issues lengthy warnings against lack of discipline and dereliction of duty. Greene also deploys his regiments, makes duty assignments, and oversees details of building strong lines and redoubts.

Note: Entries between 28 June and 19 July are interspersed with the entries for later July in a confusing order. A few brigade orders by General John Thomas of another division also appear.