Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-06-21
Put none but Americans on Guard
Know Nothing Forgery Exposed.


scriptive sentiments advocated therein, this
order" said to have been issued by Wash
ington during the Revolutionary War viz
put none but Americans on Guard" AT
first they gave no historical authority or ref
erence whatever for the "order;" but rs Jared
Sparks, the wel-known compiler and editor
of Washington's writing, declared he had
never, in his researches, seen it, and did not
believe it was ever issued, it was found nee
essary to cite some proof of the authenticity
of the "Order" This "proof" they declared
consisted of a manuscript in the possession of
General Dearborn, and was to the following
effect:
"CAMBRIDeE HEADoUARTERs,
Nav Z, 1913.
general OGDER.-The General has great
reason to be displeased with the negligence
and inattention of the guard who have been
placed rs sentinels on the outpOstS-men
whose characters he is not acquainted with.
He therefore, orders that for the future none
bat Ratires Of h,is country be placed on guard
rs sentinels on the outposts. This order to
be considered a standing enc, and the officers
to pay obedience to it on their part.
Signed FOX, Adjutant of the day.
Countersigned, EXETER,
PAY Roll, DORCHESTER.
/ 1t will be seen that the above does not en-
body the words put none but Americans on
/ Guard" and is a virtual admission that they
at least are q forgery The truth is, however
4 that the "order' cited is such base falsi-
iieation and perversion of WAsHISGToN'.
/ language az to amount to an entire fabrication
it, date, Nav I, l775, stamps it as bogus, 70
Washington. instead of being at Dorchester
Mass as pretended, did not leave Noun
Vernon until July ID, of that year Th'
true "order" of Washington is dated Cam
bridge Headquarters, July z, 1775; parole
Dorchester; countersiga, Exeter" and printed
in Fbrce's american Archives, volume two
PAGE 1,634, as follows:
"The General has great reason, and i
highly displeased with the negligence an'
inattenton Of those officers lOlO hare placed a
ssntyfes ut the oufposts men l0i whose character
tIeg are not acquainted He therefore order
that, for the future, no man shall be GPpOinte
70 these important stations i0ho IS not natiUe 0
his country or has a rife or family IN It, {
i0hom he is kR0t0n 10 be attached. The order
10 be considered rs a standing one, and tn
officer are to pay obedience to it, at thei
peril"
The circumstances of the moment full
explain the purpose of the order. Washing
ton had arrived at headquarters, in Cam
+, bridge only three days before, and finding
want of care in the military arrangement
and having reason to fear that there were j
camp persons favorably disposed to the Brit
ish, then holding possession of Boston, an
watching their Opportunity TO cummunicat
information. to the enemy, directed certai
precautions to he taken in the selection {
j. sentinels, not against foreigners as such, bI
against traitors AMI spies in disguise. TIL
words omitted or altered by the Know Noti
ing forger, which we have italicized, plaC
the intention of the General in the cleare
light and prove beyond question the dis
honesty Of the purposes for which this mt
tilated document has been put into circul.
, ton. 1t is altogether a very curious instanC
= of the base resorts to which fanaticism an
party spirit will not hesitate to stoop.-Cf
I ERgiTeT.