The Russellville Democrat., 1881-03-31
wass.Isn,on.s rirss .oraer-Book.

Army and Navy 1cErral
 Among the curious and valuable relics of the revolution now in the possession of Mr. Joseph c c Kennedy, of Wash ington. IS the first orse~. book oI Gen. Washington, commenced by him when he took command of the Continental army al Cammilsc, in July, i775 These orders are about Hevenfy-five in number. and they extend from July to Septem- Der 2i They are not numbered in reg ular succession some of them are very short. frequently containing nothing but the parole and countersigfi, and the de- tails for officer of the day and the officer of the main guard for the following day. Some of them are headed Cambridge Headquarters" others Headquarters" some are merely dated, and some only headed with the day of the month. The handwriting of the orders up to 1 July II is scholarly. but the rest of them, while plainly written, exhibit a ludi- i crous amount of ignorance of grammar | The headquarter clerks were not quite { as well up" as they are nowadays, and I there was then no established standard ! of orthography. In the general orders 1 of July It, l775, we read the following, i given verbatim:
 ! l estly recommended that thursday next 20th instant be observed by the Inhabit- ants Of all the english Colonies upon the Continent as day of public Fasting Humiliation and prayer that they may with united Hearts and Voices, Unfeign- edly Confess their Sins before god and supplicate the ailwise and mercilul Dis poser of Events to Avoid the Deyasta- tions and Calamities of an Unnatural war the Genl Orders that Day to be regularly observed by the forces Under his command in manner Exactly Direct by the proclamation of the Continental Congress-it is therefore strictly En- ioyned on all officers and soldiers, not upon duty. to attend Divine Service at their accustomed places of worship as well in the Lines as in the Encampments and Quarters, and it is Expected that all those who do go to worship to take their Arms Ammunition and Aceouterments and are prepared for Immediate Action if Called upon.
 The following is the text of the first order issued by Washington, As the order book contains no order assuming command, it is presumed none was is- sued:
 I HEADQUARTERS AT CAMBRIDGE. July ,, H [ AffD.---leS HIS ANAlNlAGAltA 1tol " aoAi iDgt0n, Esq. Commander-in.C Chief of the 1 United Colonies of N America.
 The Coln or Commanding Officer of each Regiment is ordered forthwith to make true Returns of the Number of men ill their respective regiments, dis tinguishing those who are sick, wounded or absent on Furlow and also the Quan- tity, of ammunition each regiment now has.
 After Orders o'clock p. m.
 By his Excellency Genl Washington.
 It is ordered that Coln Gloyer's Regi- ment be ready this evening with all the accoutrements to march at minutes warning to support Genl Fulsome of the New Hampshi1 Forces in case his lines sho be attacked.
 It is ordered that Coln Prescotts Regi- ment equip themselves to march this evening and take possession of ye woods leading 10 Leekmere's point and in case of an attack then Coln Glover's regiment to march immedly to ye support.
 None of the orders are signed by staff officer. The orders of July 1 an nounce that Thomas Mifiiin, Esq, is ] appointed by the Genl one of his aide de camps. Joseph Reed Esq, is in like manner secritary to the Gent, and they are III l0iNFt tO De CDuSlU6Etd atiu It. garded as such" The same order an- i nounces 10 the army that The Honble Artemus Word, Charles Lee, Philip Schuyler and Israel Putnam, Esqrs, are appointed Major Generals in the Ameri- can army, by the honble Continental Congress, and due obedience is to be paid them as such"
 In 1775 there was the same elanish- ness in the different colonies that has existed ever since. This was likely to produce trouble, and Washington allud- ed to it in one paragraph of his order of 1 July 4th. He says: "The Continental Congress having now taken all the troops of the several colonies which have been raised or which may be here after raised for the support and defense l of the liberties of America into their pay and service, they are now the troops of the United Provinces of North Amer 1 ica, and it is hoped that all distinctions of eolonies.will be laid aside, so that one and the same spirit may animate the ] whole and the only contest be who shall render on this great and trying occasion l the most essential service to the great and common cause in which we are all engaged.